RARE IS ONE of the most misused ter-ms in the collectibles field. It is an anachronism. Collectibles and a large portion of what the field now calls antiques were or are mass produced. If used together, rare and mass produced, e.g., a rare mass produced Beanie Baby, is an oxymoron. Any person using it in this context is a moron.

Collectibles were and are produced in the tens and hundreds of thousands. A fair number were and are made in the millions, especially those manufactured after 1990. Mattel produced over three million (3,000,000-I thought you should see the number written out) 1997 Holiday Barbies, one million more than the previous year.

While I will concede that an object made ...