THE THRILL OF THE HUNT...
GaryO, a collector friend I met through the VeVe Community, attended NYCC 2024 (which I couldn’t attend), and while there, texted me to ask if I was interested in joining an amazing opportunity he was chasing. I excitedly agreed.
While there, he managed to acquire a pair of NYCC 2024 ComiCon EXCLUSIVE Frank Miller Variant Physical Covers for Amazing Spider-Man #59. Gary battled huge crowds, but successfully acquired the limited release had our books signed by both David Yu & Daniel Crothers, CEO & COO of VeVe as part of their phygital offering at the show.
Even better, Gary RAN to the CGC booth and pleaded for a rep to witness the signing, right as the day was ending and CGC's booth had already closed for the day.
Gary had pulled it off. Our books were signed and better still, allowed us to acquire our VERY exclusive VeVe / CGC 10.0 Physical Partner Pins. So, off went the books to CGC, where we are thrilled to announce their return as 9.8s! What a rush…but now, what to do with these newfound prized assets?
SLABS JUST LOOK SWELLF-ON-THE-SHELF!
For we collectors of physical comics, posters, sports memorabilia, and Pokémon cards, safeguarding these treasured items is something we may not all consider, though. I mean, dang those graded slabs just look awesome on our shelves, right? Hiding them away in boxes, or maybe even safes is sometimes just so...sad to think about.
However, thinking a little more calamitous, what of those pesky threats posed by wildfires, floods, extreme storms or theft that can lead to irreversible loss of valuable collections. Did you know a transaction between a comic buyer & seller typically isn't protected? This made me look into my own collectibles insurance policy and sure enough, it covers a fraction of their value.
EVEN IF they could all be easily replaced, you can’t always replace a signed copy or a book that was given to you by your dad as a birthday gift and so on. Emotional attachments are nearly impossible to “insure.”
So, some use safety deposit boxes, watertight bins, boxes or home safes to protect their prized or graded assets, and of course, some of us simply have 'em on our desks, mantles or wall shelves.
COLLECTIBLE CALAMITIES OCCUR...OFTEN
On a recent X stream by THE COLLECTORS HUB, revered physical comic guru (YouTuber & now lover of VeVe Digital Collectibles) SLEEPYN COMICS told a story of a chap who’s cherished comics, all beautifully displayed on his wall shelves, were ruined when said shelves failed and the books crashed to the ground, unprotected, uninsured. So of course, Sleepyn went and re-enforced his own shelves with heavy metal supports and so forth - smart!
Who caught the recent YouTube SWAGGLEHAUS put out on some devastating physical comic losses? As he said, how many of you hold adequate insurance, or at a minimum keep your collections UPSTAIRS where at least floods may have less risk?
Or NOTORIOUSMOONBOI, who sadly shared his story (below) of a flood that wiped out his $1,000,000 comic collection that would have left most collectors VOID of ever considering a return to their beloved hobby…
"I appreciate you sharing my story Chris, as I do hope it sheds some light on how devastating losing your favourite assets can be & helps anyone on the fence trying to decide if they should protect their collections or not.
It happened in 2005 in NY - my entire neighborhood flooded when the state was forced to open dams before they broke. I had been collecting since 1984 when I got my first baseball cards at age 7. I collected everything from complete Pokémon to baseball card sets from Upper Deck to Stadium Club and countless boxes of comics from 80s90s.
I had every hockey player’s card like Gretzky rookies, Mario and Gordie Howe from his second season. One of the worst things I lost was a collection of national geographic magazines my great grandparents collected and gave me. Complete years from the 60s to 2000. I lost Beanie Baby originals, all the first editions. It was sad.
Their value wasn’t that much back then, but in 2022 I couldn’t stand to imagine as I had multiple binders with complete Pokémon magic sets…so the addition of new entrants to the space like Rarible or Fanable are DEFINITELY going to be looked at very seriously, as I welcome digital asset opportunities. VeVe brought me back through digital ownership, so it only makes sense our entire industry evolves this way.”
These devastating examples are all over socials, constant reminders to do what you can to protect your collections. BUT HAVE YOU?
I’m sure as hell guilty of NOT doing everything I should. Further, the storage & security methods we most employ often limit our ability to regularly enjoy and engage our items, you know…like READ the comics or take our PSA Pokemon Cards with us whenever we go to show off and stuff like that…but Fear Not Friends!
VAULT Your Graded, Physical Assets…AND Enjoy Them Too!
Advancements in technology now offer innovative solutions that allow us to both securely protect and actively engage our assets. That is, ENHANCE our enjoyment of collecting.
One such development is the TOKENIZATION of physical assets via blockchain technology.
By converting a physical item into a digital asset, or non-fungible token (NFT), collectors can enjoy a virtual representation of their collectible (say, wherever you are via your mobile phone), while the physical item remains safely, securely stored.
DIGITIZATION IS HERE & IT'S GOOD FOR THE COLLECTIBLES INDUSTRY
Once stored, each item is then digitized and converted into an NFT, allowing owners to view, read, and enjoy their collectibles anytime via a mobile device. This approach not only provides peace of mind regarding the safety of the physical item but also offers flexibility in how the asset is utilized.
Fanable is in the prelaunch / invite-only testing phase, but this is hinting at how applying tokenization to authenticated physical collectibles is the future. And not just for comics & Pokemon cards, but anything contractually-based that used to require TRUST - auto loan documents, mortgages, educational degrees.
If you may have been avoiding the news lately, the entire banking system of the US is currently engaging in tokenization of its financial systems. Get ready people, things are about to get interesting!
Collectors can sell, gift, or trade their NFTs across borders seamlessly, knowing that each transaction is securely recorded.
This opens enormous market potential, allowing collectors to reach global audiences without the logistical challenges of transporting physical items.
Think about that - you simply trade the DIGITAL CONTRACT (Blockchain NFT Ledger), which digitally records the transaction to move ownership from one person to another.
It is TRUSTLESS - it cannot be tampered, the physical asset remains safe in its vault while you can download the NFT on your phone to read it whenever the feeling tingles you to do so.
PHYGITAL COLLECTING IS VERY REAL
Integrating physical collectibles with NFTs can enhance the overall collecting experience. For instance, platforms like VeVe or DCNFT (Candy Digital) offer app-based marketplaces where users can buy, sell, and trade premium licensed digital collectibles, directly minted onto blockchain as licensed digital firsts (not reprints, not facsimiles).
These platforms often provide interactive features, such as augmented reality, in-app show rooming that can be easily shared in the app's community feed or externally on social media and soon, VeVeVerse (metaverse) environments, allowing collectors to engage with their items in novel ways.
All while offering access to some of the most coveted brands & IP of all time (LucasFilm / Star Wars, Disney, Marvel, Back to the Future, Banksy, James Bond, Star Trek and 100’s more).
Check out NFT EVENING News for a FANtastic description of the VeVe Platform too!
Thus, the digitization of physical collectibles with digital technologies has the potential to offer comprehensive solutions for collectors seeking security, enjoyment, and flexibility.
By leveraging services like Fanable.IO, collectors can ensure their valuable assets are protected from physical threats while embracing the dynamic possibilities the digital age continues to present us with.
I can’t wait to update everyone in the months ahead as these platforms release their capabilities to our fandoms!
Thanks For Reading
