The last knife pictured is a magnificent example most collectors aspire to own.

Philip Shimkin, a collector, said he thinks most collectors prefer trading than selling.

For most collectors, the cash value of an item can be an afterthought.

The room itself would have made most collectors drool in envy.

Rare maps are not only fascinating objects, but very accessible to most collectors.

It's just one card out of a set that most collectors aren't interested in.

Governments had got heavy on stolen Iraqi goods and most collectors and buyers were fighting shy.

Altogether ten tons of this iron have been collected, and specimens of Canyon Diablo Meteorite are in most collectors' cabinets.

But the greatest collection of all is that of M. Philipp la Renotiérè, of Paris, known to most collectors as Herr von Ferrary.

Most collectors are motivated by pleasure and not investment although rare books can be very valuable.

'I'm not sure how much you know about collecting in general or record collecting in particular, but most collectors specialise in a certain field.