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The Collector's Handbook
The Collector's Handbook is a step-by-step guide for collectors. From record keeping and preservation to tax planning and estate disposition/liquidation methods, this handy primer cuts right to the chase on every topic. It is mostly written to the active collector, but pertinent chapters also have "Tips for Heirs" sections to aid non-collectors in avoiding common pitfalls when inheriting a collection. (And once you've read this book, its convenient size makes it perfect for inclusion alongside your collection in a storage vault or safe deposit box.) Written by two owners of Heritage Galleries, the world's largest and most respected rare coin and collectibles dealer and auctioneer, The Collector's Handbook offers sound advice and the experience gained from billions of dollars in collectibles transactions over four decades.
The precursor of this book, titled "The Rare Coin Estate Handbook", was the winner of the Robert Friedberg Award from the Professional Numismatists Best Numismatic Book of the Year.
The precursor of this book, titled "The Rare Coin Estate Handbook", was the winner of the Robert Friedberg Award from the Professional Numismatists Best Numismatic Book of the Year.
122 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
5 people want to read
About the author
James L. Halperin
112 books24 followersJames L. Halperin is an American author and businessman. He attended Harvard University between 1970-1971, where he majored in psychology and later philosophy. After three semesters, Halperin took a permanent leave of absence to pursue a career in numismatics. In 1976, he established a rare coin fund for investors, New England Rare Coin Fund (NERCF). Upon liquidation at auction in April 1980, each investor in NERCF received 460% of their initial investment after commissions and fees.
In 1982, he sold his coin company to a former employee, entered into a 50/50 business partnership with renowned numismatist Steve Ivy and settled in Dallas, Texas. Halperin and Ivy still co-direct Heritage Auction Galleries, of Dallas, Texas, which advertises itself as the world's largest rare coin company and third largest auction house.
Halperin also endows The James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, which supports several health and education-related charities.
He has been married to his wife Gayle since 1984 and they have two sons, David and Michael.
In 1982, he sold his coin company to a former employee, entered into a 50/50 business partnership with renowned numismatist Steve Ivy and settled in Dallas, Texas. Halperin and Ivy still co-direct Heritage Auction Galleries, of Dallas, Texas, which advertises itself as the world's largest rare coin company and third largest auction house.
Halperin also endows The James & Gayle Halperin Foundation, which supports several health and education-related charities.
He has been married to his wife Gayle since 1984 and they have two sons, David and Michael.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 19, 2020
This is a good resource for collecting. It’s thorough and explores many avenues one can take with their collection before and after their death.
It is clearly written from an auction house perfective and works marketing for Heritage Auctions at every chance.
However, I find some parts of this resource based in bias, particularly towards museums. When discussing donating a collection or a portion of a collection to a museum, the authors generalized museums. The implication was that museums would rather have the cash for a piece than the piece itself and were mostly likely to sell a donation out from under the owner or leave it in storage never to be seen again.
It is well known that there are high ethical consequences for museums who sell their collection for any reason. Even in cases where a museum sells to purchase an item of equal value and importance, it’s still considered bad taste.
While it is true that some museums due to size and funding unfortunately don’t have the resources to care for every donation that comes through their doors, one would expect a collector to do the same research on which museum to donate to as one would in choosing an auction house.
Further more, there is outdated handling information in this book. Cotton gloves aren’t used anymore in most institutions as they get dirty quickly, can catch, rip and leave fibers on pieces and desensitize the wearer’s hands. Nitrile is the preferred glove nowadays.
This resource wasn’t written that long ago so I’d expect the authors to have done their research on museum practices as much as they did about taxes and appraisals before writing this. Hence my note about this piece written purely from an auction house perspective. I understand that but once again be more thorough, it reads as if Heritage Auctions or at least these authors think museums are beneath them.
It is clearly written from an auction house perfective and works marketing for Heritage Auctions at every chance.
However, I find some parts of this resource based in bias, particularly towards museums. When discussing donating a collection or a portion of a collection to a museum, the authors generalized museums. The implication was that museums would rather have the cash for a piece than the piece itself and were mostly likely to sell a donation out from under the owner or leave it in storage never to be seen again.
It is well known that there are high ethical consequences for museums who sell their collection for any reason. Even in cases where a museum sells to purchase an item of equal value and importance, it’s still considered bad taste.
While it is true that some museums due to size and funding unfortunately don’t have the resources to care for every donation that comes through their doors, one would expect a collector to do the same research on which museum to donate to as one would in choosing an auction house.
Further more, there is outdated handling information in this book. Cotton gloves aren’t used anymore in most institutions as they get dirty quickly, can catch, rip and leave fibers on pieces and desensitize the wearer’s hands. Nitrile is the preferred glove nowadays.
This resource wasn’t written that long ago so I’d expect the authors to have done their research on museum practices as much as they did about taxes and appraisals before writing this. Hence my note about this piece written purely from an auction house perspective. I understand that but once again be more thorough, it reads as if Heritage Auctions or at least these authors think museums are beneath them.
January 24, 2015
Read this at an estate planning conference in orlando. It is a good summary both for collectors, families of collectors, and attorneys who are just starting in this field.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews