Because of rising prices, reproductions abound. Most advanced collectors have handled enough pieces so that they are able to recognize the copies. If you are a beginner in the field, ask plenty of questions. As with other collectibles, your best bet is to buy from a reputable dealer. Today, the rarest ones can sell for several thousand dollars.
People go about building up their collections in various ways.
Some focus on top manufacturers, while some concentrate on a particular time period. Others will select a theme, like animals or flowers. Some collectors choose to target a material like Bakelite, Lucite, copper, silver or brass. Then there are those people who collect anything that catches their eye. The best advice I can give is to choose something that you love and then learn everything you can about it.