This year marks the 26th anniversary of the CIB. In 1982, a group of dedicated collectibles marketers and producers met at the International Collectibles Exposition in South Bend, Indiana. Their mission was to explore ideas for an important new means of communication with collectors. These visionary leaders foresaw an "information explosion" in the collectibles field, and they banded together to develop an organization that could share this growing body of information with collectors of limited editions.

That exploratory meeting led to more conferences, brainstorming, and planning sessions. By November of 1982 — just four months after their initial meeting — the founders of CIB were ready to unveil their concept.

The CIB was founded to offer collectors information on the most fascinating companies, artists, craftsmanship processes, and product introductions in the world of limited editions. Even more important, the CIB pledged to create and publish an authoritative Price Index listing thousands of the most actively traded works of art in contemporary limited edition collecting.

Over the years, the CIB has published dozens of books, newsletters, and price guides, and presented numerous seminars on the secondary market, insuring collectibles, and a host of other pertinent topics. The Bureau evolved into the definitive source for collectors to call, mail, and e-mail their queries about their collecting hobby. Collector Editions, the official CIB magazine, brings collectors up-to-date information about their favorite collectibles.

Today, the CIB website offers collectors a free registration. With that registration, members can access information regarding clubs, repair and restoration services, searches for secondary market retailers by manufacturers brands, and a free weekly e-newsletter: "CIB Hot News." For those wanting actual secondary market prices, access to a 2002 archive of the Market Guide and Price Index can be purchased, as well as individual values for insurance purposes. The 20th edition of the CIB Collectibles Market Guide and Price Index was published in 2008. The collector is, and will always remain, the focus on the CIB. Executive Director Linda Kruger and her team look forward to corresponding with collectors and learning more about their interests, questions, and suggestions. The best years are yet to come!