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Rare collectables a new hot spot for investment

2011-07-06 14:51    Ecns.cn     Web Editor: Ma Cunyu
Light House was normally distributed by the factories that people worked for.

"Light House" was normally distributed by the factories that people worked for.

(Ecns.cn)--Have you ever imagined that soap, liquor or coupons might be worth a fortune? If not, here are some rare and unusual collections that might change your mind.

Old soap

It used to be fairly common for families in Beijing to use "Light House," a rectangular, brick-like soap normally distributed by the factories that people worked for, according to 60-year-old Ms Liu.

"They came in handy when you needed to wash cloth on a washboard," said Liu, "but they were gradually replaced by washing powders. I did not have enough space to store them after I moved house, so I threw them out in the early 1990s."

Bad move. Ms Liu would be shocked to know that a single "Light House" bar of soap is now worth 60 yuan ($US9.2) at Panjiayuan Antique Market in Beijing.