Opus as an Investment
An Opus is more than just a luxury publication. It’s an investment.
Why alternative investments?
Over 10 per cent market returns per annum from stamps, books and autographs offer the perfect investing platform to diversify your wealth. Such a belief is underpinned by a variety of performance monitoring indices in this sector.
The Fraser’s 100 Index, one of the worlds leading experts in autographs and collectables acts as a definitive guide to the autograph market performance. Indeed the 100 most popular autographs have shown very impressive growth over the past 6 years with a cumulative increase in value of 174 per cent, with some seeing value growth in excess of 400 per cent.
Demand is outstripping supply for the rarest and most sought after items.
In my view they are the most undervalued of all areas of collecting, especially when you consider what people are paying for even second rate paintings
Malcolm Forbes – Forbes Magazine, commenting in autograph values
Security
Collectable tangible asset investments do very well over time because their supply is highly restricted. Prices rarely go down as they are underpinned by a huge worldwide collector base. Indeed, with an ever-diminishing supply and increases in demand, together with loss through damage, destruction and donations to museums, there is a consistent increase in prices for rare items in excellent condition. Paper is a perishable commodity, providing an inherent increase in the scarcity value to the investor over time.
None of my other investments give me the joy that autographs do, because they make me feel that I am holding a piece of history in my hands
Malcolm Forbes – Forbes Magazine
Liquidity
Rare and unique books and autographs, which benefit from being portable, are internationally traded in all currencies and the price is never capped. Over 30 million collectors worldwide protect both the price and liquidity. This market alone represents a global business of over $10 billion per annum.
The internet has opened up the market for rare books and collectables and provides increased visibility and tradability. Auction prices very often exceed listed catalogue prices on limited edition books and autographed memorabilia. Moreover, auctions and the internet are now reducing the spread on the buy and sell price, which in turn provides increased confidence to both collectors and long-term investors alike.
Diversification
There are still few investors or financial advisors who have identified the benefits of diversification into alternative tangible asset investments. That is why time and time again throughout history, financial wealth is destroyed when there is a stock market or house price crash, as many investors are overexposed in these areas. Investments in collectable tangible assets like limited edition autographed books have, historically, been broadly unaffected by political and economic vagaries and therefore can offer protection and insulation to an element of your net worth.
Future prospects and outlook
The recent trend of low interest rates and low inflation has changed the historic perspective, providing ideal conditions for maximum growth potential when compared to returns available from mainstream investments.
The fundamental market forces of supply and demand suggest that limited edition collectable books will continue to rise in the future, and historical evidence is that collectable books have proved to be a consistent and reliable long-term investment. Due to their higher levels of disposable income, a large percentage of current collectors are in the 45 to 60 years age group (according to the UK Government Actuary Department).
With official British government figures showing an expected six million extra over 50s by 2012 in the UK alone and 28 million by 2040, the next 35 years look set for a boom period for collectables as baby boomers invest disposable income in hobbies and alternative investments such as rare limited edition books. This increased interest for a limited supply premium product can only have positive effects on prices.
We are also seeing the emergence of the powerful and wealthy new economies, especially Russia, India, China and the Far East. A new breed of collectors in these countries are looking to buy rare and unique items of luxury and scarcity in vast numbers.
Exclusive club
Excellent investment returns are complemented by the feeling of emotion and pride from owning an important and rare piece of history. No other alternative investment can offer such an eclectic range of emotions and benefits. How many people do you know that own a Super Bowl XL Opus, personally signed by every living MVP in the history of the Super Bowl, or a United Opus signed by the great icons from Manchester United’s rich and amazing history?
