Collectors know Toy R Us stores are not just for kids, except in the case of the three-story ferris wheel at the Times Square store.

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As with most collections -- prices can range from just a few bucks for paper items such as postcards to thousands of dollars for antique presidential items. Serious political collectors usually collect for an investment, but you can still collect on a budget and have fun with political and presidential memorabilia.

Prices and Values of Political Memorabilia
Collecting Campaign Pins
^{(c)Barb Crews}

Want to retire on the proceeds from your collection? Start sticking twenty dollar bills inside the cookie jars now. That way it will be a sure thing that you'll get money out of the jars in the years to come.

Although I wrote this article with cookie jar collectors in mind, it can fit almost any collection. One mistake that really comes back to haunt collectors is values -- many expect everything to go up in value and always to be worth more than they paid. Sorry folks, it doesn't happen all the time. Yes some things go up in value, but lately it seems to be the exception not the rule and it doesn't happen very often with newer pieces unless they are very limited and very sought after.

• Ten Mistakes Made by Cookie Jar Collectors
• Top Ten Cookie Jar Resources

^{(c)Barb Crews}

It was only three years ago that Frankoma Pottery was purchased by the Merrymans, this past week the company has another new owner - Joe Ragosta from Tulsa. As reported by the Tulsa World, Ragosta said "I've always been a collector of antiques, and I recognize a great name when I see one."

It's also been reported that the factory will become an Oklahoma Visitors Center. Between that designation and new management, here's hoping that this third (non-family) owner will become the charm!

• Learn More About Frankoma
• New Owner and New Visions
• Frankoma Prices
• Pictures and Prices