For a hardcore collector, vintage items definitely have their own sentimental value. For example, if they manage to have the oldest collection in the world, for them it is not just a collection, but a valuable relic. In Malaysia, for example, there are many collectors of vintage items who are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of ringgit to own historical artefacts that are rare and unique.
Yet as we understand it, the ‘gloomy’ economic situation today has forced most people to sell the things they loved to stay afloat. This is also what is faced by a collector, Jeroong Wia or Wan Irfayuim Azim. Perhaps many do not know, Jeroong Wia is a collector who managed to own the world’s first Converse branded shoes. However, for the sake of survival, he reluctantly had to let go of the shoes based on his sharing on Facebook. He wrote that,
“For the sake of surviving, I reluctantly had to give up the world’s first collection of Converse shoes produced in 1917 under the name Converse Non Skid. Everything is still complete except for the rotten shoelaces and also the sole of one shoe that is slightly broken. This item is a collection item, not an item to wear (unless you are the owner of these shoes, please). These shoes came along with a pair of basketball shorts with knee protectors for basketball games at some point in the past and the pants are dated 1916.”
He went on to explain that there is another pair of these shoes in the Converse museum in Boston. So he offered collectors to have a chance to own a part of history and the price he put on the ultra-rare shoes was RM40,800.
Some might see this price as too high but in less than 24 hours, the shoe was bought by another collector, Dynamo Rasqputin. He announced the purchase on his Facebook, explaining that collecting vintage items is a form of investment as well. He said,
“We will see how much I can sell these shoes in the foreign market. For those who say that I’m stupid, I promise I’ll prove once again that it’s a new age investment. I will prove that collecting vintage items is a branch of business as well.”
Hope things go well with Jeroong Wia after he has received the payment for the shoe and congratulations to Dynamo Rasqputin for becoming the new owner of the ultra-rare pair of shoes.
Also read: M’sian Unknowingly Had RM0.01 Balance On Her PTPTN Loan, Becomes RM515 Debt After 6 Years
