Patch Collections Are Valuable

I want to remind everyone today that patch collections are valuable. In fact they are probably more valuable than you realize. Unfortunately though some collectors who have been collecting for decades end up giving their collections away, or selling it for a fraction of what it is worth after they decide to stop collecting. I want to warn people against this, because you are devaluing the market price for patches for everyone, and also missing out on a big sum of cash for yourself. Furthermore, you are giving your prized collection often to people who don’t understand their true value, or appreciate them for all they are worth.

In fact a friend of mine recently sold his collection, which mind you was very large, for a small fortune. He really took pride in his collection and understood their potential value, so he made sure he got the market value for the collection, and sold it to someone who truly understands their value. He spent more time than many want to, and sold many of them individually on ebay, however it really paid off. He took the cash that he sold his collection for and used it to move to Colorado and to purchase a hot tub in Fort Collins where he ended up settling down. My friend said the hot tub dealer gave him a great deal on the jacuzzi, but mind you, hot tubs typically sell for around $10,000.

I’m not suggesting that your collection is worth thousands of dollars. It took my friend almost three decades to accumulate his collection and he was rather obsessed with the hobby. So I don’ think many people have collections quite of this magnitude, but I would bet that your collection is worth more than you think. Read More…

Why Patches?

Police and aviation patches have become a hallmark of this country and the institutions that protect it. From the early days of golden stars in the wild west, that differentiated the good guys from the bad guys to the more modern stitched patches that represent the different ranks and academies.

Police patches have become a popular thing to to collect because the stitch work and variation between different locations has made a wide range of different types of patches. Coming in different shapes, patterns and colors each one varies quite a bit and makes for a great looking collection once you have over 25.

As I have mentioned before, most of the patches represent different eras and are nostalgic to people who lived through certain time periods. The police patches additionally are like passport stamps, and you can collect a patch from each of the 50 states, some of which are harder to locate and make for a great addition to the collection.

In a funny way its similar to those kids and their pokemon, except in this case we are talking about collectibles that have roots in history, and not some mythical creature represented by a card. Collectibles are collectibles however, but I prefer something with a bit more meaning.

Why Collect?

Collection is not understood by all. Often times people ask me why I am so adamant about collecting police and aviation patches. My answer for people is pretty simple, there will never be another one just like it again. Most of the patches in my collection will never be created again, and are symbols of a previous era. They represent different times in history and different eras in aviation.

Collectibles are more than material objects, they are time periods that are now solidified in an object. For many, there patches bring them back to a certain time in history or a different point in their life. For younger generations they are symbols of a previous time and invoke excitement and interest.

Beyond what collectibles represent, there is the simple joy of hunting down hard to find collectibles. For me, collecting police and aviation memorabilia has become a life long adventure. Long drives across the country to find hard to locate patches at shows and with soon to become friends. Collecting brings like minded people together, and I have met many good friends through my travels. My collection has expanded over the years, but most importantly so has my friendships.

Whether it is the love of history, the journey to find rare collectibles, or the enjoyment of meeting similar people, there is something to love about collecting.

Tell me what you like about collecting below.