sensei wrote:Actually I guess this makes me
a "big time collector"
as I seem to have no problem finding something good for sale.
I read the various grumbly posts by other collectors who keep saying that the anime art market has gone South and all the good cels are past and gone. But I don't see it. It is true that for some series the inventory has vanished almost completely: the interesting early CGI series Kamikaze Kaitou Jeanne, for instance, for which I've seen only one lot go up in the last 3-4 years (on Mandarake). But overall I've found myself diversifying, watching for series for which eyeworthy art does show up for sale and being very patient on the rest. Just last week a nice batch of TnN OP/high-end character cels popped up on YHJ, and the same has happened in other series as well. There is inventory out there still, even it it's not the hog heaven that existed a few years after some important series wrapped up.
it is true that since there isn't much to collect from the shows I started on, in the past year I have widened my selection on titles. as time went by I also found myself becoming pickier on the titles I mainly had collected. honestly though, I hope to see most of my wishlist cels showing up for bid/buy during my anime cel collecting career(I'm guessing between 5-10 years).
I've gotten used to it over time, and feel it has the advantage of encouraging you to place your max bid when you go to bed, and then go get a good night's sleep, knowing that if you're outbid, it's by someone who honestly wanted the item more than you.
I agree. that way I also have something to looks forward to wake up in the morning
