collector's item

American  

noun

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

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collector's item British  

noun

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

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collector's item Idioms  

1. 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]

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Etymology

Origin of collector's item

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

In response, she requested the book not be reprinted, and “Survivor” has become a rare and pricey collector’s item ever since.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

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 • Apr. 13, 2024

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 • Jan. 15, 2024

The collector's item was constructed with fabric chosen by world-renowned textile merchant Jakob Schlaepher and featured metallic embroidered stars carefully threaded by the design team at Jacques Azagury.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2023

“This is a collector’s item from Hercules Busts Heads. The first season.”

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan