COLLECTIBLES OF THE FUTURE: DON'T-PITCH LIST INCLUDES TIES, CREDIT CARDS, HOTEL KEYS, TOYS

In 2025 a vintage clothing collector might look for a Rush Limbaugh tie. Another collector might search for an Elvis Presley credit card.

Another might scour flea markets, estate sales and yard sales for something as simple as a hotel key.

Clothing, character toys, movie memorabilia, modern-era games, playing cards, cereal boxes with sports figures, Matchbox Cars, certain Hallmark Christmas ornaments and much more are among items predicted as future collectibles.

"Vintage" clothing (there is a difference between vintage and second-hand) has long been the target of antique collectors, from Victorian to modern styles. Among the vintage-to-be wear are ties, a "Johnny Come Lately" on the collectible list.

Paul Simon, the politician not the singer, set a standard with his famous bow tie. Today's ties have taken that fashion statement a giant leap forward.

Designer ties by Nicole Miller and Tobasco, and an abundance of character ties featuring everything from the Peanuts Gang and Mickey Mouse to politics and pinups, are sure to find a place in vintage clothing stores in 25 years.

Some of the highly collectible ties of today are those designed by the late surrealist artist, Salvador Dali, and the "Rooster" label ties of the 1960s, which have suddenly become "pieces of art."

Also watch the Limbaugh Labels, which feature bright and very bold colors, for future collectibles. The Limbaugh ties, which carry the national radio talk show host's signature on the label, sells new for about $40. They may be twice to three times more valuable in a quarter-century.

Collecting vintage clothing has been and will continue to be a favorite pastime and passion for many in the newest millennium, which kicks in at 12:01 a.m. on New Year's Night 1999.

Toys have long been high on collectible lists and will remain in vogue in the new century.

Paul Allee cited an example of what one can expect.

One good example, said Allee, who has antique booths in Antique Centre in Cape Girardeau and follows the antique show scene, is the wind-up tin toy car of the Flintstones, which was introduced during the 1960s.

"That toy cost about $3 then," said Allee. "If you can find one today -- about 30 years later -- in its original box, it's valued at about $600."

Any character toy, or watch, especially featuring television and movie cartoon character, will continue to increase in value. The secret is to keep the box it came in."

Allee tells of one antique and collectible toy "prospector" who visits retail toy stores after Christmas of each year, selecting about $200 worth of toys to put back. "He never takes them out of the box."

Lee Ann Hansen, of Hansen's Collectibles, points to a number of future collectibles.

"Cereal boxes featuring sports figures will be good," she predicted. Recent cereal boxes have featured a number of baseball stars on them -- Yogi Berra, Ken Griffey, Lou Brock -- and others feature Olympic stars and other sports.

Hansen is also high on toys, including Hot Wheels and a number of toys being handed out by fast food establishments.

"The Star War figures now available at one fast-food chain are a good example," said Hansen. "With the event of Star Wars Triology Movie, youngsters of today will be seeking Star Wars collectibles for a long time to come."

Among fast-food restaurants that include toys with children's meals over the past few years are McDonald's, Hardee's, Burger King and Taco Bell.

Mary Robertson of Annie Laurie Antiques sees a collectible future in 20th century games -- especially TV games such as "Nintendo," and other movie personality games.

Jane Cox of Campster School Antiques predicts a future in tobacciana collectibles -- lighters, advertising, cigar labels, pipes, etc.

Gregg Hahs of Heartland Antiques is looking at "fad" clocks as collectibles of the future, saying: "Fad clocks of the '50s and '60s are already valuable. That trend will continue." The O.J. Simpson collectibles will increase in interest.

The B. Ray Owen "don't pitch" list includes:

Credit cards. Plastic money is becoming collectible.

Since the credit card made its debut more than 40 years ago, thousands of companies have issued cards, among them such offering as the "Elvis Card," and animal rights groups offering cards with puppies and kittens. Like the people who collect old license plates and plaster them to the side of a barn, decorating with old credit cards has endless possibilities.

Hallmark ornaments: Holiday Barbie, the Rocking Horse series, sports medals featuring Babe Ruth, and many other Hallmark Christmas ornaments are already on the collectible list. Each year, more will join that list. Watch for the "First in a series" of Hallmark ornaments. Prices will escalate in a hurry on these items.

Matchbox Cars: My son is 22, but I still recall spending endless hours in his younger years with the Hotwheels and Matchbox cars. Some of the early and rarer cars are already pricey. With new models coming off the assembly line every day, the modern models will join others on the collectible list.

Hotel keys: The new "keyless" entry system (plastic cards) of most major hotel chains has taken away the souvenir value of the hotel key (which is why most hotels got rid of the real keys in the first place.) Look for the "real" keys to become pricey.

Beanie Babies: These mini-stuffed animals are new to the collectible scene, and they're hot. Expecially hard to find are certain designs of the small bean-bag playthings and some of the early introductions.

Floppy-eared rabbits: With the abundance of craft malls these days, it only stands to figure that some of the best-dressed bunnies will hippity-hop down the trail to Collectible Land.

Trading cards: Baseball, basketball, football and other trading cards, that have been in the collectible spotlight several years will remain there. One of the newest sets to watch for will be the Topps Stars Basketball Card set, which will salute the top players of the NBA's first 50 years.

Richard Nixon: On the political scene watch for Nixon items to pick up in value. Like Elvis Presley, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe, President Nixon appears to be more collectible than ever.

All suggestions aside, the MOST collectible item is simple to predict. Anything that is special to you and your family -- these are the collectibles that are priceless.