Individually Numbered Collectibles

[tomandshell]

I know that some people could care less about the numbers on their limited edition items. To a certain extent I agree with the comment from the last Sideshow podcast asking if you want to collect the item itself or just the number. Of course the quality of the final product is what matters, and the specific number just proves that you have a genuine piece from the original edition and has no bearing on the quality of the piece.

However, I disagree with the attitude that numbers are completely meaningless. If you could have the Darth Vader PF #1138, for instance, or the Roger Moore PF #007, or Hellboy #666, or any personal number like your birthday or anniversary or plain old favorite number (like 42!) then the number can carry some significance that makes the piece intangibly more special. Other people like low numbers for some strange psychological reason, and a very low numbered piece often goes for more money on eBay--showing that low numbers are desirable and sought after. I don't know anybody who wants low numbers for quality reasons--we all know that low numbers don't give you a better piece, there is just something attractive about a low number to some people.

The idea that just because you are interested in a low number or a specific number that you must not really care about the actual product is a little silly. Of course the most important thing to me is getting a high quality Boba Fett. Getting #42 would just be a bonus. But of course you can still be proud of a fine piece of art while also appreciating the chance to have a specific number on it that adds to your personal feelings of enjoyment.

Anyway, what got me thinking was a recent announcement that the newest line of busts from Gentle Giant will not have hand numbered edition numbers:

Each limited edition piece will feature an alphanumeric serial number that will match up with a Certificate of Authenticity and be stored in Gentle Giant's master database so that any given item's authenticity can instantly be verified. Approximately 7 inches tall.

So how would you feel if Sideshow switched from individual hand numbering to a serial number like GG? Of course it would serve the same purpose of proving its authenticity. But would you still prefer a hand numbered piece giving the specific number out of the edition? I would be interested in knowing how you feel about individually numbered pieces. I can see that the serial number approach with GG will immediately take away the "elite" feel of low or special numbers--it would now be like somebody bragging about having a better driver's license number. But I will miss the old numbering system of xxxx/2500.

What do you prefer?

 

[Bannister]

I know that some people could care less about the numbers on their limited edition items. To a certain extent I agree with the comment from the last Sideshow podcast asking if you want to collect the item itself or just the number. Of course the quality of the final product is what matters, and the specific number just proves that you have a genuine piece from the original edition and has no bearing on the quality of the piece.

However, I disagree with the attitude that numbers are completely meaningless. If you could have the Darth Vader PF #1138, for instance, or the Roger Moore PF #007, or Hellboy #666, or any personal number like your birthday or anniversary or plain old favorite number (like 42!) then the number can carry some significance that makes the piece intangibly more special. Other people like low numbers for some strange psychological reason, and a very low numbered piece often goes for more money on eBay--showing that low numbers are desirable and sought after. I don't know anybody who wants low numbers for quality reasons--we all know that low numbers don't give you a better piece, there is just something attractive about a low number to some people.

The idea that just because you are interested in a low number or a specific number that you must not really care about the actual product is a little silly. Of course the most important thing to me is getting a high quality Boba Fett. Getting #42 would just be a bonus. But of course you can still be proud of a fine piece of art while also appreciating the chance to have a specific number on it that adds to your personal feelings of enjoyment.

Anyway, what got me thinking was a recent announcement that the newest line of busts from Gentle Giant will not have hand numbered edition numbers:



So how would you feel if Sideshow switched from individual hand numbering to a serial number like GG? Of course it would serve the same purpose of proving its authenticity. But would you still prefer a hand numbered piece giving the specific number out of the edition? I would be interested in knowing how you feel about individually numbered pieces. I can see that the serial number approach with GG will immediately take away the "elite" feel of low or special numbers--it would now be like somebody bragging about having a better driver's license number. But I will miss the old numbering system of xxxx/2500.

What do you prefer?

I think the idividual numbering is better. Is this new Gentle Giant thing for the classic busts?

 

[Batty]

Numbering isn't that important to me, but I admit there is something about receiving a low number or one that has meaning to you. I would hate for Sideshow to switch to this. It's nice to have a hand written edition size on a piece and not a bunch of letters and numbers that only means something to some database.

Why, exactly, is GG doing this? Do they have a lot of problems with fakes?

 

[creecher]

Numbers, of course.

The low number desireability came from the old days when the lower numbered article was of better quality. When an item was caste from a mold. The mold would only last so long and the lower numbers were the best casts.

Also, sometimes they'd have a number of runs in an edition size. Say three runs of a thousand, for example. There might be three diffrent molds and the difference was dependant on the number idicating which mold it was from, so not necessarily was the lowest number the best, but the lowest number in a run.

 

[tomandshell]

I think the idividual numbering is better. Is this new Gentle Giant thing for the classic busts?

Yes, they are going to do it for the new classics bust line, and I hope it isn't some sort of test run before they do the same with the rest of their lines.

 

[The Josh]

I don't really care either way honestly. Sure, getting certain numbers are more personal say #009 for any of the Fellowship members, but in the end I dont think about it too much.

 

[Fritz]

Honestly, I couldn't care less about the edition number. No offense to anyone that does, I just personally don't. I didn't even mind the certificate of authenticity idea that had the number on it like the older GG pieces. I care more about the edition size not the actual number of the piece I have. If lower numbers were of better quality then I would most certainly want a low number item.

 

[Darth Madden]

I think its cool to have individualy numbered pieces (the only one I have is Jabba's throne) but for the most part I could care less about a specific #. Of course it would be cool to have a #1138 Vader (or some other personal #) but I would NEVER pay more because of it or be upset that I didn't get it.

 

[kodiak8658]

Individually numbered items help to retain the item's value better as opposed to a serial number with an open edition. That may come in handy if you decide to trade the item down the road or would help to maximize your resale value if you ever needed to sell your item. With the amount of buying, selling, and the changing of tastes towards different lines, you would think all collectors would want a numbered edition.

 

[Lord Aykroyd]

Numbers all the way! Handwritten preferred. :chew

 

[urbanfreddy]

Numbers to me don't make a Difference I’m just lucky that I could afford buying sideshow pieces over $200, collecting for me is not about the number but the enjoyment of buying a sideshow piece,Then worrying about what number I receive. The joy i get is hearing my daughter say daddy when you die is this all mine.

 

[Eli26]

What is the significance behind number 1138 for Darth Vader?

 

[tomandshell]

What is the significance behind number 1138 for Darth Vader?

THX 1138 was an early George Lucas film and he kind of hides the number 1138 as an "easter egg" in his other movies.

 

[kodiak8658]

What is the significance behind number 1138 for Darth Vader?

George Lucas' film school project...THX-1138.

EDIT: Dang Tom, you certainly are quick to the keyboard stroke!

 

[tomandshell]

Yes, I...

Oh, keyboard stroke.

 

[kodiak8658]

Yes, I...

Oh, keyboard stroke.

LOL

 

[Agent0028]

I haven't got the slightest idea what numbers I have on any of my collectibles, so the numbers don't really matter to me. Although if I got 0028 that would be kinda neat. Anyways the numbers don't really matter to me, but I do like the numbers more than an alphanumeric serial code.

 

[King Darkness]

It's nice to have a hand written edition size on a piece and not a bunch of letters and numbers that only means something to some database.

Exactly!

Not intrested in the number, or the extra value a lower number may have, but a hand written edition size is much cooler than computer crap.

 

[EVILFACE]

Depends on the product/number, but for the most part, numbers are pointless because they are random.

A Jason figure with #666 would be kewl. A Jason figure #32, who the flip cares.

 

[gideon]

from tomandshell

Other people like low numbers for some strange psychological reason, and a very low numbered piece often goes for more money on eBay--showing that low numbers are desirable and sought after.

This is a good topic and always gets people angry for varied reasons. I suspect because most people do not understand why art objects were numbered in the first place.


There are two main reasons for numbering a product.
1) to assure the customer that it is indeed a limited edition and the numbering helps assure them of that fact.
2) in mainstream art circles, numbering was an important part of the process of print making since the actual making of prints from stones degraded the stone and each subsequent print was of less quality - thus of less possible value. The actual original art became the print and there was no other way to capture that image other than the print.

Certain individuals may have reason for wanting certain numbers (as you explained in your opening post) but they have no wide or universal application like the two reasons above. I love your phrase "for some strange psychological reason" - thats very descriptive and spot on.

When you deal with something like Sideshow or Gentle Giant, these are machine made products cast from an originally scuplted piece which are then assembled by hand. They are copies or reporductions. The whole degrading process given in reason #2 simply does not exist or come into play because the first one produced is of no difference than the 100th or 746th or any other number. One could argue in theory that if they produced a zillion items then the quality might be degraded, but with the low numbers of SS items, that does not come into play. In fact, where true art prints are carefully numbered to reflect the order in which they were produced, SS items (with the possible edception of the bronze Gandalf) are simply randomly numbered and in no way reflect the order of their manufacture.

For these reasons the second reason for numbering does not apply to SS items.

The only one that stands any ground is the first - to assure the customer that the run is indeed a limited edition. But even that depends on the honesty and integrity of the company selling you the item. In the art world there have been cases of multiple runs using the same numbering system and distributed to different parts of the world. Years ago there was a van that came into the hands of the police. In it were tens of thousands of sheets of heavy duty paper containing the signature of Salvador Dali on the bottom corner. The owner explained that they simply wanted to make sure that they could make signed reproductions long after Dali had died. Further investigation showed the company had used multiple runs of the same numbers.

Of course, the artists signature is suppose to be as assurance that the reproduction has been examined by the artist and meets their high standards. Dali was in no position to assure anyone of anything since he was signing thousands of blank sheets. The image would be added later - in some cases, long after he was dead. For Dali to engage in this was a violation of his artistic ethics.

I would favor hand numbering over serial numbers.