Own an Original American Declaration of Independence

Investments come and go.  Half the time you have to be taking a gamble.  Will this ornament or souvenir be the one worth millions in years to come?  Will those shares really soar high with the market?  Will the endowment policy really cover my mortgage in twenty years' time?

But one way to take the guesswork out of it is to purchase something which has already stood the test of time.

Original historical documents belong in a museum.  But if they're on the market, then their value will never deplete. 

Of course, you have to choose the right thing.  You must do your homework.  Is this item really as rare as its purveyor suggests?  Is it actually one of a kind?  Will its history speak for itself or is there a chance that fashions will change?

When an original print of the American Declaration of Independence is involved, then the answer is probably that it's a great investment.  Which is why it was bought within hours of appearing on Amazon Collectibles.  A lot of money changed hands with that one.

It's not just political history that is represented there.  The world of sport and entertainment is where the bulk of memorabilia originates. Some of it is for collectors only - like pristine posters of obscure B-movies or modern day celebrity items.

No-one knows how valuable an autograph of Justin Bieber may be in ten or twenty years. It may fade with the star; or get cast into the stratosphere, if his longevity is fixed. But you can take a punt on an autograph of, say, Charlie Chaplin.  His fame has already stayed the course.  It's unlikely to fade away now.

At the time of writing, nearly $300,000 would net me an entire collection of personal correspondence between President Ronald Reagan and a fan. 

It covers a span of over fifty years, beginning from his film star days and ending up in politics.  It also includes letters from his mother Nelle and wife Nancy.  A true glimpse into the life and mind of one of America's most prominent figures.

For the less wealthy collectors, $35 would buy a prop from the TV series, The Pacific.

There are instruments belonging to or autographed by the likes of Paul McCartney, BB King, Bruce Springsteen or the Monkees.

In the world of sport, there are helmets galore.  Some have protected some very famous heads over the years.  You could even take home an authenticated piece of the Yankee Stadium turf; or a framed photograph of a legendary NASCAR driver.

It's difficult to say what will be there when you investigate, because unique souvenirs have a tendency to appear just once.  Then they're grabbed by whoever was on at the time with the funds and the desire to own them.

My personal distraction was the original film props from geek classics like Star Wars, 2001: Space Odyssey and, of course, Ghostbusters.

Even if you haven't the bank account credit to purchase something for yourself, it is worth checking the section out.  It's like wandering through a cyber museum or a world of fond memories.

Happy hunting!