collector's item

noun

1. an article or object of particular interest or value because of its uniqueness or scarcity.

collector's item

noun

1. a thing regarded as being exquisite or rare and thus worthy of the interest of one who collects such things

Word History and Origins

Origin of collector's item¹

First recorded in 1930–35

Idioms and Phrases

An object of great interest, value, or rarity, as in This necklace is a collector's item . Originating in the early 1900s as collector's piece , a usage still common in Britain, the term in its present form is occasionally transferred to persons as well, as in The Beach Boys became a collector's item on the tour . [c. 1930]

Example Sentences

Mr Jackson Jnr said the restored console was "definitely" a piece of equipment that could be used to make music again, but equally could be a collector's item.

From BBC

The collector’s item – handed out in change to a local man – is the same shape as an ordinary 20p piece.

From BBC

To get the in-demand collector’s item now, people are paying anywhere between $150 to more than $1,500, according to listings and bids found on eBay and Facebook’s Marketplace.

From Los Angeles Times

Patrons are more than willing to wait in hourlong lines for the $49.50 ceramic figurine that has become a highly coveted collector’s item.

From Seattle Times

The campaign says it has around 2,000 caucus captains — identifiable by their signature gold and white caps, which have already become a coveted collector’s item in Iowa political circles.

From New York Times