> 1) Can you think of a collecting fad more lasting than baseball cards?

Aside from art, which someone else mentioned, I'd think religious artifacts might be a contender.

> 2) What's your most valued collection?

I've got an impressive comic book collection, but that's not my most valued collection. I'd have to say the original comic art I have is my most prized collection possession. Right now, it's just one piece (if you don't count the stuff I've drawn for Planet Earth (and other tourist traps) and several other published comic strips). I've got the splash page of Zot! #18. It's page one of part two of the "Ring in the New" storyline. More importantly, it's the page that reveals the winner of the "Pie In The Face" contest. (The pie passes through 9-Jack-9's face -- he's insubstantial -- and hits Zot himself, full on.)

I'd like to get more original artwork from Scott McCloud's Zot! series, especially from issue #33 ("Normal"). I'm also looking for artwork from Howard Chaykin's American Flagg, Blackhawk, and Black Kiss series. Covers, interior pages, whatever.

-Faux "This message is a good place for people looking for Christmas gift ideas for me." Pas