The other day I heard on the news that someone paid $28 million for a piece of Hollywood memorabilia.
The sum is mind-boggling for the average person, and I couldn’t help wondering why people seem compelled to collect things: a question pondered by professionals in various fields (psychology, anthropology, history) and a motivation to seek the truth behind the human desire to gather, categorize, and cherish material possessions.
Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers – Wizard of OZ Movie
Image Source: silverscreenmodes.com/the-wizard-of-oz
Over the years I have collected a number of various useless things, many of which are now stored in my garage somewhere. Whole collections will most likely be sold by my children at a garage sale for five dollars, although some of the items were on the expensive side for my budget. Thus someone else who loves owls or ceramic cats or decorative plates will be happy they made a good deal.
Why did I collect these things? Sometimes I simply fell into collecting. I saw something I liked, usually home decor, and would buy it, only to discover later there were more pieces to the set. I’d buy more. Then a piece of the same type would show up. Soon people would give them to me as presents, “…because Ann always likes owls.” (Not real ones, of course.)
My other impetus for collecting came with travel. I would buy a souvenir of a place I visited, usually something small and easy to pack. On the next trip, I would buy the same kind of thing as a keepsake – because I already had one from the last trip – and eventually it became a collection. My saving graces were that I never collected too many, and I never spent beyond my means. Since the items tended to be home decor, I soon ran out of space…and went to something else.
But what is the psychology behind collecting?
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF COLLECTING
Prior to humans abandoning the nomadic lifestyle more than 12,000 years ago, collecting did not exist. But since then, people everywhere have fallen to the beckoning behavior of collecting. This often resulted, and still does, in vast numbers of unusual objects and unique storage solutions. I’m guessing this desire to accumulate “stuff” has intrigued others for as many millennia as people have been collecting.
The psychology of collecting attempts to identify the reasons why people dedicated so much time, money, and energy to this activity, often collecting items that seem to others as “ridiculous.” “The psychology of collecting also offers insight into variance between similar behavior that can be recognized on a continuum between being beneficial as a hobby and also capable of being a mental disorder.” en.wikipedia.org/ Psychology_of_collecting
Researchers have com e to believe collecting is more than just accumulating things. It is a deeply personal and often emotional journey that reflects the collector’s innermost desires, fears, and aspirations. neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-collecting
The theories fall into four basic categories:
● Consumerism
This set of theories is based on a social and economic order in which the aspirations of many individuals include the acquisition of goods and services beyond those necessary for displays of status and wealth.
● Materialism
Materialism is the philosophical belief that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all things, including mental states and consciousness, are results of the interactions of material things. According to philosophical materialism, mind and consciousness are caused by physical processes, such as the neurochemistry of the human brain and nervous system, without which they cannot exist.
● Neurobiology
Neurobiological theories propose that collecting behaviors can, in some cases, be explained by brain damage or abnormalities in the medial prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for regulating cognitive behaviors such as decision making, information processing, and organizing behavior.
● Psychoanalytic theory
Of the four, psychoanalytic theories -- what drives the compulsion to collect -- are the ones most of us relate to. The psychoanalytic perspective generally identifies four main motivations for collecting:
• Selfish purposes,
• Selfless purposes; as preservation, restoration, history, and sense of continuity,
• Financial investment,
• A form of addiction, now termed hoarding.
Shirley M. Mueller, M.D., neuroscientist, and collector, has studied this phenomenon and writes that 33 to 40 percent of the American population collects one thing or another. Her research convinced her “…not only can there be an instigating factor or factors for collectors to collect at all, or, in a particular area. There also are reinforcing contributors that make the activity worthwhile and pleasurable for which we now know the scientific basis. For example, the rarity of a piece can not only make it valuable, but it can also stimulate certain parts of the brain that register this uniqueness. The scientific research relating to this phenomenon is called the Oddball experiment.”
According to Dr. Meuller, this experiment uses a magnetic resonance machine to measure activity in the brain when the subject sees a string of ordinary objects punctuated by the extraordinary. Specific areas of their brains light up when the unusual items are presented. She theorizes that the collector’s brain may “light up” when the unique object they collect is seen. “It stimulates our brains in areas that connect to our pleasure center. This may also have an evolutionary benefit. We explore the new until we determine whether it is a benefit to us or not.”
Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers – Wizard of OZ Movie
Image Source: silverscreenmodes.com/the-wizard-of-oz
Over the years I have collected a number of various useless things, many of which are now stored in my garage somewhere. Whole collections will most likely be sold by my children at a garage sale for five dollars, although some of the items were on the expensive side for my budget. Thus someone else who loves owls or ceramic cats or decorative plates will be happy they made a good deal.
Why did I collect these things? Sometimes I simply fell into collecting. I saw something I liked, usually home decor, and would buy it, only to discover later there were more pieces to the set. I’d buy more. Then a piece of the same type would show up. Soon people would give them to me as presents, “…because Ann always likes owls.” (Not real ones, of course.)
My other impetus for collecting came with travel. I would buy a souvenir of a place I visited, usually something small and easy to pack. On the next trip, I would buy the same kind of thing as a keepsake – because I already had one from the last trip – and eventually it became a collection. My saving graces were that I never collected too many, and I never spent beyond my means. Since the items tended to be home decor, I soon ran out of space…and went to something else.
But what is the psychology behind collecting?
THE PSYCHOLOGY OF COLLECTING
Prior to humans abandoning the nomadic lifestyle more than 12,000 years ago, collecting did not exist. But since then, people everywhere have fallen to the beckoning behavior of collecting. This often resulted, and still does, in vast numbers of unusual objects and unique storage solutions. I’m guessing this desire to accumulate “stuff” has intrigued others for as many millennia as people have been collecting.
The psychology of collecting attempts to identify the reasons why people dedicated so much time, money, and energy to this activity, often collecting items that seem to others as “ridiculous.” “The psychology of collecting also offers insight into variance between similar behavior that can be recognized on a continuum between being beneficial as a hobby and also capable of being a mental disorder.” en.wikipedia.org/ Psychology_of_collecting
Researchers have com e to believe collecting is more than just accumulating things. It is a deeply personal and often emotional journey that reflects the collector’s innermost desires, fears, and aspirations. neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-collecting
The theories fall into four basic categories:
● Consumerism
This set of theories is based on a social and economic order in which the aspirations of many individuals include the acquisition of goods and services beyond those necessary for displays of status and wealth.
● Materialism
Materialism is the philosophical belief that matter is the fundamental substance in nature, and that all things, including mental states and consciousness, are results of the interactions of material things. According to philosophical materialism, mind and consciousness are caused by physical processes, such as the neurochemistry of the human brain and nervous system, without which they cannot exist.
● Neurobiology
Neurobiological theories propose that collecting behaviors can, in some cases, be explained by brain damage or abnormalities in the medial prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for regulating cognitive behaviors such as decision making, information processing, and organizing behavior.
● Psychoanalytic theory
Of the four, psychoanalytic theories -- what drives the compulsion to collect -- are the ones most of us relate to. The psychoanalytic perspective generally identifies four main motivations for collecting:
• Selfish purposes,
• Selfless purposes; as preservation, restoration, history, and sense of continuity,
• Financial investment,
• A form of addiction, now termed hoarding.
Shirley M. Mueller, M.D., neuroscientist, and collector, has studied this phenomenon and writes that 33 to 40 percent of the American population collects one thing or another. Her research convinced her “…not only can there be an instigating factor or factors for collectors to collect at all, or, in a particular area. There also are reinforcing contributors that make the activity worthwhile and pleasurable for which we now know the scientific basis. For example, the rarity of a piece can not only make it valuable, but it can also stimulate certain parts of the brain that register this uniqueness. The scientific research relating to this phenomenon is called the Oddball experiment.”
According to Dr. Meuller, this experiment uses a magnetic resonance machine to measure activity in the brain when the subject sees a string of ordinary objects punctuated by the extraordinary. Specific areas of their brains light up when the unusual items are presented. She theorizes that the collector’s brain may “light up” when the unique object they collect is seen. “It stimulates our brains in areas that connect to our pleasure center. This may also have an evolutionary benefit. We explore the new until we determine whether it is a benefit to us or not.”
DRIVERS BEHIND COLLECTING BEHAVIOR
According to an article in neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-collecting, a collector’s behavior is driven by one or more of the following:
According to an article in neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-collecting, a collector’s behavior is driven by one or more of the following:
● The Hunt for Completeness and Control
In this case, filling the gaps in a collection results in a deep satisfaction for the collector. It seems to fulfill the individual’s desire for completeness which is motivated by a need for control and order. This search for order can be exciting, but it also can be frustrating. The collector is engaged in the hunt, but always behind on achieving the goal.
In this case, filling the gaps in a collection results in a deep satisfaction for the collector. It seems to fulfill the individual’s desire for completeness which is motivated by a need for control and order. This search for order can be exciting, but it also can be frustrating. The collector is engaged in the hunt, but always behind on achieving the goal.
● Nostalgia
These collectors are gathering memories, links to their past, which may create strong emotions. This is termed the Psychology of Sentimental Items. Studies reveal that the items being collected carry “the weight of personal history and shared experiences” i.e. the identify of the collector.The objects in question can comfort as well as create a sense of continuity in a world that is changing more and more rapidly.
These collectors are gathering memories, links to their past, which may create strong emotions. This is termed the Psychology of Sentimental Items. Studies reveal that the items being collected carry “the weight of personal history and shared experiences” i.e. the identify of the collector.The objects in question can comfort as well as create a sense of continuity in a world that is changing more and more rapidly.
● The Financial Motivation
While the drivers of collecting may be internal, financial investment is also very real. Collecting, particularly works of art, is also motivated by the potential for making a profit someday. Buying for investment melds the emotional motivation with the strategic thinking thrill of collecting.
neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-collecting-things/
While the drivers of collecting may be internal, financial investment is also very real. Collecting, particularly works of art, is also motivated by the potential for making a profit someday. Buying for investment melds the emotional motivation with the strategic thinking thrill of collecting.
neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-collecting-things/
● Social Status and Identity Expression
“In many cases, collections serve as extensions of the collector’s identity, showcasing their interests, expertise, and social status. The act of collecting can be a form of self-expression, allowing individuals to curate a physical representation of their personality and values.” neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-collecting-things/
“In many cases, collections serve as extensions of the collector’s identity, showcasing their interests, expertise, and social status. The act of collecting can be a form of self-expression, allowing individuals to curate a physical representation of their personality and values.” neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-collecting-things/
● Building Connections
Often collections are used, subconsciously or not, as a way to build connections with others, preferably with similar interests. A hobby or collection can lead to rich social connections and community building. Collector conventions, online forums, and local clubs provide opportunities for like-minded individuals to share their passion, exchange knowledge, and form lasting friendships. The The social aspect of collecting is when groups of individuals with common interests develop shared beliefs, ideas, and values.
Often collections are used, subconsciously or not, as a way to build connections with others, preferably with similar interests. A hobby or collection can lead to rich social connections and community building. Collector conventions, online forums, and local clubs provide opportunities for like-minded individuals to share their passion, exchange knowledge, and form lasting friendships. The The social aspect of collecting is when groups of individuals with common interests develop shared beliefs, ideas, and values.
● Loneliness
While this could be related to the driver to build connections, it is somewhat different. Some people collect objects in the absence of healthy interpersonal relationships. Anxious attachment and excessive acquisition can both be explained by loneliness.
According to an article by Karen Wu, Ph.D., loneliness has become an epidemic, and “currently, over half of Americans are lonely, with higher rates of loneliness among younger adults. At the same time, technology has made it easier to acquire things, often with little or no social interaction.” psychologytoday.com/why-do-people-collect-things-it-could-be-loneliness
While this could be related to the driver to build connections, it is somewhat different. Some people collect objects in the absence of healthy interpersonal relationships. Anxious attachment and excessive acquisition can both be explained by loneliness.
According to an article by Karen Wu, Ph.D., loneliness has become an epidemic, and “currently, over half of Americans are lonely, with higher rates of loneliness among younger adults. At the same time, technology has made it easier to acquire things, often with little or no social interaction.” psychologytoday.com/why-do-people-collect-things-it-could-be-loneliness
● Mastery and Knowledge
Serious collectors often become experts in their fields. The pursuit of knowledge about their chosen objects can be intellectually stimulating, offering a sense of accomplishment and mastery.
Serious collectors often become experts in their fields. The pursuit of knowledge about their chosen objects can be intellectually stimulating, offering a sense of accomplishment and mastery.
PSYCHOLOGICAL PROS and CONS OF COLLECTING
Like most behaviors, collecting can have positive and healthy benefits or become negative and problematic conditions.
POSITIVES
● Stress Reduction and Relaxation: The act of organizing and admiring a collection can be meditative and stress-relieving. It provides a structured escape from the chaos of daily life.
● Cognitive Stimulation: Researching and learning about the items in a collection can keep the mind active and engaged, potentially staving off cognitive decline in older adults. The activity provides cognitive stimulation and intellectual growth, ands the collector is engaged in expanding their knowledge base.
● Sense of Achievement: Successfully acquiring a rare item can provide a profound sense of achievement, boosting self-esteem and overall well-being. The sense of accomplishment that comes with building a collection can also boost self-esteem, provide a feeling of mastery, and reinforces a positive self-image.
● Sense of Anticipation: Collecting inherently involves anticipation. “In its nascent stage, yet fulfilled, the collector’s craving allows her to imagine anything she wants about the desired returns the object will bring. We know that it is in this phase that the pleasure center burns most brightly. Once the prize is obtained, the pleasure center quiets. In other words, the anticipation of the reward is more exciting to our pleasure center than possessing it. This explains, in part, why collecting frequently transcends a mere pastime and often becomes a passion. It gives sufficient pleasure that the participant wants to continue it more and more vigorously.” psychologytoday.com/the-mind-of-a-collector
NEGATIVES
Like anything else, collecting can become a negative when taken to the extreme, and the line between healthy and problematic behavior can be very fine. Each of the positives, when taken to an extreme, could become a problematic behavior.
● Hoarding Disorder: When individuals accumulate items to an excessive and often detrimental degree, this can be a serious condition that goes beyond normal collecting behavior. In addition to the collections of things taking up most of the living space, the difference between the two lies in intention and functionality. Collecting is typically an organized, purposeful activity, whereas hoarding involves accumulating items indiscriminately, often leading to clutter, disarray, and dysfunction.
Like most behaviors, collecting can have positive and healthy benefits or become negative and problematic conditions.
POSITIVES
● Stress Reduction and Relaxation: The act of organizing and admiring a collection can be meditative and stress-relieving. It provides a structured escape from the chaos of daily life.
● Cognitive Stimulation: Researching and learning about the items in a collection can keep the mind active and engaged, potentially staving off cognitive decline in older adults. The activity provides cognitive stimulation and intellectual growth, ands the collector is engaged in expanding their knowledge base.
● Sense of Achievement: Successfully acquiring a rare item can provide a profound sense of achievement, boosting self-esteem and overall well-being. The sense of accomplishment that comes with building a collection can also boost self-esteem, provide a feeling of mastery, and reinforces a positive self-image.
● Sense of Anticipation: Collecting inherently involves anticipation. “In its nascent stage, yet fulfilled, the collector’s craving allows her to imagine anything she wants about the desired returns the object will bring. We know that it is in this phase that the pleasure center burns most brightly. Once the prize is obtained, the pleasure center quiets. In other words, the anticipation of the reward is more exciting to our pleasure center than possessing it. This explains, in part, why collecting frequently transcends a mere pastime and often becomes a passion. It gives sufficient pleasure that the participant wants to continue it more and more vigorously.” psychologytoday.com/the-mind-of-a-collector
NEGATIVES
Like anything else, collecting can become a negative when taken to the extreme, and the line between healthy and problematic behavior can be very fine. Each of the positives, when taken to an extreme, could become a problematic behavior.
● Hoarding Disorder: When individuals accumulate items to an excessive and often detrimental degree, this can be a serious condition that goes beyond normal collecting behavior. In addition to the collections of things taking up most of the living space, the difference between the two lies in intention and functionality. Collecting is typically an organized, purposeful activity, whereas hoarding involves accumulating items indiscriminately, often leading to clutter, disarray, and dysfunction.
Hoarding is linked to psychological conditions such as anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). It is an obsession for retaining control. Things provide a protective barrier between feelings of loss or inadequacy, and the behavior is often related to obsessive-compulsive personality disorder.
Extreme Hoarding Disorder
Image Source: Phoenix-Extreme-cleaning-Ireland.ie
Extreme Hoarding Disorder
Image Source: Phoenix-Extreme-cleaning-Ireland.ie
● Over-Spending: While post collectors do not aspire to item like the Hope Diamond valued at $350 million, the activity becomes dysfunctional when the individual does not adhere to a budget and over commits to buy collectibles, leaving other needs unmet. The Hope Diamond $350 million
Image Source: living.alot.com/most-valuable-artifacts
Image Source: living.alot.com/most-valuable-artifacts
● Excessive Feelings of Superiority: People who are motivated to collect for reasons of status or who become highly learned in the topic, might develop attitudes of superiority which hurt others.
● Stress: The emotional need to find the next “prize” could end up adding stress, as could being outbid at an auction.
● Living In The Past: Too much nostalgia could lead some people to live too much in the past.
SOME UNUSUAL COLLECTORS ITEMS
The value of any item is simply the amount that someone is willing to pay. Objects related to celebrities can command some very impressive sums of money, no matter how weird the connection is. A very few of them are:
● George Washington's Hair
Collecting hair is a tradition that goes back for centuries. George Washington’s hair is a coveted collector’s item. His set of hair was sold by Sotheby's in 2016 for $30,000.
● Stress: The emotional need to find the next “prize” could end up adding stress, as could being outbid at an auction.
● Living In The Past: Too much nostalgia could lead some people to live too much in the past.
SOME UNUSUAL COLLECTORS ITEMS
The value of any item is simply the amount that someone is willing to pay. Objects related to celebrities can command some very impressive sums of money, no matter how weird the connection is. A very few of them are:
● George Washington's Hair
Collecting hair is a tradition that goes back for centuries. George Washington’s hair is a coveted collector’s item. His set of hair was sold by Sotheby's in 2016 for $30,000.
● John Lennon’s Fancy Toilet
John Lennon’s fancy toilet from his Tittenhurst Park home in Berkshire was given to the builder, to use as a planter pot, when the home was remodeled. Instead, the builder kept it as a collectible. It showed up on the auction block in 2010 and sold for $11,500.
John Lennon's toilet: Image Credit:The Beatles Shop
Image source: barnebys.com/weirdest-collectibles-ever-sold
John Lennon’s fancy toilet from his Tittenhurst Park home in Berkshire was given to the builder, to use as a planter pot, when the home was remodeled. Instead, the builder kept it as a collectible. It showed up on the auction block in 2010 and sold for $11,500.
John Lennon's toilet: Image Credit:The Beatles Shop
Image source: barnebys.com/weirdest-collectibles-ever-sold
● Winston Churchill's False Teeth
Winston Churchill was voted number 1 in BBC's 100 Greatest Britons list, and the interest in owning something he possessed is great. Churchill had a natural lisp and wore dentures for his speech defect.
Winston Churchill's false teeth: Image credit: © Bonhams
Image Source: barnebys.com/weirdest-collectibles-ever-sold
The set of teeth was saved for many years. They were offered at auction for the first time in 2010 when a small UK-based auctioneer sold them for $18,400. In 2011 they were sold by Bonhams for $23,300.
Winston Churchill was voted number 1 in BBC's 100 Greatest Britons list, and the interest in owning something he possessed is great. Churchill had a natural lisp and wore dentures for his speech defect.
Winston Churchill's false teeth: Image credit: © Bonhams
Image Source: barnebys.com/weirdest-collectibles-ever-sold
The set of teeth was saved for many years. They were offered at auction for the first time in 2010 when a small UK-based auctioneer sold them for $18,400. In 2011 they were sold by Bonhams for $23,300.
● Queen Victoria's Bloomers
British royal collectibles are most sought-after, but items directly connected to the royal family are rare finds at an auction. In 2015, collectors had the opportunity to bid on custom-made panties belonging to Queen Victoria. The bloomers were by auctioned for $14,600.
Queen Victoria's underwear
Image source: www.irishmirror.ie
If these really belonged to the queen, I would have expected them to go for a lot more. After all, she was also the Empress of India and one of the longest-reigning monarchs in history.
British royal collectibles are most sought-after, but items directly connected to the royal family are rare finds at an auction. In 2015, collectors had the opportunity to bid on custom-made panties belonging to Queen Victoria. The bloomers were by auctioned for $14,600.
Queen Victoria's underwear
Image source: www.irishmirror.ie
If these really belonged to the queen, I would have expected them to go for a lot more. After all, she was also the Empress of India and one of the longest-reigning monarchs in history.
● Lee Harvey Oswald's Coffin
The high interest in JFK's killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, was proven when his coffin came up for auction in 2010. That happened because Oswald’s family -- to put a rest to the conspiracy theories about Lee Harvey Oswald's body not being buried -- approved his body be exhumed.
Lee Harvey Oswald's coffin: Image credit: © Nate D. Sanders
Image Source: barnebys.com/weirdest-collectibles-ever-sold
The body was identified through dental records and it was definitely Lee Harvey Oswald. The original coffin was replaced with a new one and later buried in Fort Worth, Texas.
The original coffin, sold by Nate D. Sanders at auction, went for $87,000.
● William Shatner's Kidney Stone
Actor William Shatner took his place on the list of unique collectables when he sold one of his kidney stones. Although he did it for a charitable cause, it's still awfully weird. The selling price ended at $25,000 when it was sold in 2006 via Julien's Auctions.
● Ronald Reagan's Blood
An attempt to assassinate U.S. President Ronald Reagan took place on March 30, 1981. Reagan was shot and seriously wounded after a speech held in Washington, D.C., and was taken to George Washington University Hospital in serious condition. Blood tests were taken, but someone managed to steal one stoppered glass vial with Regan's blood in it and a hospital document about Regan.
The blood-thief was never identified, as far as I could tell from the internet, and the blood and certificate ended up in the hands of a collector. This glass vial was sold via an American auction house in 2012 for $3,550. In the same year it was offered at auction by PFC Auctions, and the high bid was over $30,000. Eventually, the seller decided to donate the blood to the Reagan Presidential Foundation.
Sources:
https://www.kindafrugal.com/14-crazy-expensive-collectibles-ever-sold/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology_of_collecting
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mind-of-a-collector/202010/collecting-an-urge-thats-hard-to-resis
thttps://neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-collecting-things/
https://www.invaluable.com/blog/collecting-psychology/
https://listen-hard.com/social-and-cultural-psychology/collect-things-psychology/
https://www.thecollector.com/what-makes-art-valuable/
https://collectorizing.com/2024/09/19/the-wild-world-of-collectibles-what-makes-their-values-soar-and-sink/
https://www.barnebys.com/blog/top-10-weirdest-collectibles-ever-sold
https://www.kindafrugal.com/14-crazy-expensive-collectibles-ever-sold/
https://disruptorsmagazine.com/the-psychology-of-collecting-why-we-gather-and-hoard/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-modern-heart/202211/why-do-people-collect-things-it-could-be-loneliness
Researchgate.net/publication/336587786_Collecting_as_routine_human_behavior_motivations_for_identity_and_control_in_the_material_and_digital_world
https://living.alot.com/entertainment/15-most-valuable-artifacts-you-can-find-in-museums--12806
https://www.workandmoney.com/s/weirdest-things-sold-on-ebay-acd719963f994cec
The high interest in JFK's killer, Lee Harvey Oswald, was proven when his coffin came up for auction in 2010. That happened because Oswald’s family -- to put a rest to the conspiracy theories about Lee Harvey Oswald's body not being buried -- approved his body be exhumed.
Lee Harvey Oswald's coffin: Image credit: © Nate D. Sanders
Image Source: barnebys.com/weirdest-collectibles-ever-sold
The body was identified through dental records and it was definitely Lee Harvey Oswald. The original coffin was replaced with a new one and later buried in Fort Worth, Texas.
The original coffin, sold by Nate D. Sanders at auction, went for $87,000.
● William Shatner's Kidney Stone
Actor William Shatner took his place on the list of unique collectables when he sold one of his kidney stones. Although he did it for a charitable cause, it's still awfully weird. The selling price ended at $25,000 when it was sold in 2006 via Julien's Auctions.
● Ronald Reagan's Blood
An attempt to assassinate U.S. President Ronald Reagan took place on March 30, 1981. Reagan was shot and seriously wounded after a speech held in Washington, D.C., and was taken to George Washington University Hospital in serious condition. Blood tests were taken, but someone managed to steal one stoppered glass vial with Regan's blood in it and a hospital document about Regan.
The blood-thief was never identified, as far as I could tell from the internet, and the blood and certificate ended up in the hands of a collector. This glass vial was sold via an American auction house in 2012 for $3,550. In the same year it was offered at auction by PFC Auctions, and the high bid was over $30,000. Eventually, the seller decided to donate the blood to the Reagan Presidential Foundation.
Sources:
https://www.kindafrugal.com/14-crazy-expensive-collectibles-ever-sold/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology_of_collecting
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mind-of-a-collector/202010/collecting-an-urge-thats-hard-to-resis
thttps://neurolaunch.com/psychology-of-collecting-things/
https://www.invaluable.com/blog/collecting-psychology/
https://listen-hard.com/social-and-cultural-psychology/collect-things-psychology/
https://www.thecollector.com/what-makes-art-valuable/
https://collectorizing.com/2024/09/19/the-wild-world-of-collectibles-what-makes-their-values-soar-and-sink/
https://www.barnebys.com/blog/top-10-weirdest-collectibles-ever-sold
https://www.kindafrugal.com/14-crazy-expensive-collectibles-ever-sold/
https://disruptorsmagazine.com/the-psychology-of-collecting-why-we-gather-and-hoard/
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-modern-heart/202211/why-do-people-collect-things-it-could-be-loneliness
Researchgate.net/publication/336587786_Collecting_as_routine_human_behavior_motivations_for_identity_and_control_in_the_material_and_digital_world
https://living.alot.com/entertainment/15-most-valuable-artifacts-you-can-find-in-museums--12806
https://www.workandmoney.com/s/weirdest-things-sold-on-ebay-acd719963f994cec
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