Do you collect anything?
Are you extremely passionate about whatever it is that you collect?
If so, you’re certainly not alone!
People all over the world collect all kind of things ~ comic books, sports memorabilia, postage stamps, artwork, ceramics, figurines, shot glasses, movie posters ~ you name it, somebody somewhere collects it!
And…usually not just one person, but large groups of people dedicated to the collection and preservation of the objects of their affection! Groups and “societies” are formed around the collection of certain items because people want to share their passions with others of like-minded interest.
Some of these people are just downright “rabid” in the pursuit of their collectible of choice ~ not only do they spend a lot of money obtaining their collectibles but they also spend a considerable amount of money on peripheral, related items.
Understanding this, many publishers cater to these groups of collectors by producing magazines, newspaper style periodicals, price guides, and of course books aimed directly at the collectors of specific items.
You can do this too!
There are tons of books in the Public Domain that cater to collectors of specific items ~ many as recently published as 1963.
The best part is that these books are written by experts ~ they are truly books for collectors written by collectors sharing expert information, information that appeals greatly to ravenous collectors.
You can leverage this expertly written content in your own publishing business by using it to produce content for these collector’s markets.
Just the other day, I was cruising around Archive.org and stumbled over the “Chat’s On…” series (and it’s numerous knock-offs) ~ all of these particular books were published before 1923 placing them squarely in the Public Domain.
These books cover topics concerning the collecting and appreciation of old china, Japanese prints and other forms of artwork, earthenware, pewter items, and much more.
As I began to read through them, I realized that they contain just a truck-load of great information ~ both historical and practical, for modern collectors of such items.
Here’s a few samples of what I discovered…
Chats On Old Miniatures (1908)
Foster, J. J., 1847-1923
Chats On English China (1904)
Arthur Hayden
Chats On Old Prints (1906)
Hayden, Arthur, 1868-1946
Chats On Japanese Prints (1915)
Ficke, Arthur Davison, 1883-1945
Chats On Old Earthenware (1909)
Hayden, Arthur, 1868-1946
Chats On Oriental China (1908)
Blacker, J. F
Chats On Old Pewter (1911)
Massé, H. J. L. J. (Henri Jean Louis Joseph), b. 1860
Chats On Household Curios (1914)
Burgess, Fred. W. (Frederick William), 1855-1945
Chats On Military Curios (1915)
Johnson, Stanley Currie, 1878-
Chats On Old Silver (1917)
Hayden, Arthur, 1868-1946
Chats On Postage Stamps (1911)
Melville, Frederick John, 1882-1940
Chats on Royal Copenhagen Porcelain (1918)
Hayden, Arthur
Chats On Cottage And Farmhouse Furniture (1912)
Arthur Hayden
Chats On Old Copper And Brass (1914)
Burgess, Frederick William
Chats On Old Jewellery And Trinkets (191-?)
Percival, MacIver
Chats On Old Furniture : A Practical Guide For Collectors (1906)
Hayden, Arthur, 1868-1946
As you can imagine, there are a ton of “collectors” markets out there and lots of opportunity to leverage expertly written Public Domain content to produce products catering to these markets.
In many markets, you’ll find that passionate collectors are often hungry for this kind of “old-school” information too as it gives them a glimpse into their field of interest and an 0ld-school expert’s perspective rarely seen in more modern publications ~ and collectors often spend crazy amounts of money on information related to the objects of their passion.
Creating products catering to collectors of “stuff” ~ just one more great way to harness the content producing power of the Public Domain!
What do you collect?
Could you use Public Domain content to produce products for this market, share your passion for these collectables with your fellow collectors, and create a nice, new passive income stream in the process?
Let me know what you think…
About The Author:
 Debra Conrad is an online entrepreneur, information publisher, and author that has been using Public Domain material to create profitable products and businesses since 2007. She is also co-author of "The Public Domain Treasure Hunter's Survival Kit" available here. For more info Debra, click here. |
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Another great post Debra! What a rich series of books, this was quite a find. Within minutes I found material for a blog post and discovered something I didn’t know yet.
Thanks for sharing the information about this series. I am going to dig deeper
Arima´s last [type] ..The Ambitious Rocking-Horse
I love these books…. It’s really exciting when we find a huge – content rich – resource like these. I have found some great things to share on my blogs from these books… and it’s all so easy!