Investing in a (Steiff) Bear Market

'Collectibles as an asset class are growing'

With the line graph of the global economic forecast taking on the look of Elliot Spitzer's career trajectory, some investors are turning away from the markets, looking instead to collectibles as an alternate investment opportunity. Instead of hot deals, how about Hot Wheels? Say "bye" to Bear Stearns and "hi" to Steiff Bears.

As reported in the Tuesday edition of Glasgow, Scotland's The Herald, Stanley Gibbons is realizing an increase in sales as investors look to divest and diversify.

The United Kingdom's largest collectibles retailer, Stanley Gibbon's (best known to many as "the most famous name in philately") sales rose 21% last year, to 20.2 million pounds (40,416,166 as calculated on Xrates.com)

"Collectibles as an asset class are growing, and tighter economic conditions are resulting in an increasing number of investors turning to our products as a means of protecting their wealth by diversifying their asset holdings," Gibbons chief executive Mike Hall told the paper.

Hall noted that his company's stamp and autograph indices are available on Bloomberg information terminals for institutional investors.

So, break out the Dinky Toys, the vintage Pez dispensers and pre-War Cracker Jack prizes - and bring on the bears!

(Too-cute Steiff bears pictured from the Etalents website. We got this same look from our broker when we asked him about the Dow today.)