Speculation has nothing to do with a love for the 
hobby. Most of the guys I knew who speculated in 
the comic book market NEVER READ ANY of their 
comic books. They stopped collecting when it 
wasn't profitable.  

Before you decide to speculate, please read 
Extraordinary Popular Delusions and the Madness 
of Crowds -- the chapter on tulipmania -- hell 
throw in Money Mania and The South Sea Bubble 
while you're at it -- people bought tulips and 
turned them around to sell, which artifically 
inflated the price. What happened? Like the comic 
book and sports card market, it eventually 
toppled over. People who don't learn from 
history, are condemned to repeat it, as we 
obviously have the past couple of years. 

If you want to argue that cels are not like comic 
books -- that they're one of a kind object, then 
fine, let's compare it to the modern art market. 
Buyers have been known to dump bundles of money 
in auctions, only to go to galleries the next day 
and try to bargin with the owners. What does this 
mean? That even they can't justify the prices 
they pay. What does it mean for us? Well, someone 
earlier in defense of Anime Link used the 
arguement that the mark-ups in prices are due to 
increases in YJ and ebay auctions, and Japanese 
dealers becoming convinced that they can sell 
cels at these prices. Rick spends more and we pay 
more when we buy from him. Speculation only adds 
to this problem. 

As for collecting being tied in with commercial 
interests -- I've got to disagree with this point 
as well. It's a known fact that the top 
collectors rarely sell their best cels -- if you 
want them you've got to be ready to trade. Money 
doesn't really enter into this equation. What 
does is a passion and dedication for the hobby. 

As well, there's no guarantee you that your cels 
won't be worth less then what you paid for it, in 
a few years. I'd buy tons of cels from a dealer 
who's willing to give me this in writing. I've 
seen comic books and cards go for hundred of 
dollars to being now worth a dollar or more at 
best. Of course conversely the opposite's also 
true. Hopefully you're in the hobby because you 
like cels, and you pay prices that you can 
justify taking a hit for, incase the bottom drops 
out. If you're looking for an investment, go into 
real estate, mutual funds, or a GIC.  

As for whether or not I'd sell my cels -- the 
answers no, unless there's a finacial emergency, 
but it would have to be a big finacial emergency 
for me to do this. I have a comic book which I 
bought for $3 and currently it would go for $80-
$50 on ebay. Will I sell it? No. But if anyone 
has a page of Starman art, anything by Brian 
Hitch, or a good Ranma or Violinist cel, email me 
and let's see if we can work something out. :)