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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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Smells Like Teen Nostalgia

As baby boomer baubles grow less desirable, collectors turn to Nirvana, G N' R

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(Newser) – Grunge is passé, but the market for its collectibles isn’t, reports Portfolio. Nostalgia plays a big role in determining what's hot, and prices on items of baby boomer vintage, even from the likes of the Fab Four, are starting to drop. Meanwhile, the demand for Gen X artifacts—skateboards, Star Wars figurines, old video games—is on the rise. 

"A guitar of Kurt Cobain's was worth maybe $10,000 a decade ago," says one expert. "Today, you couldn't touch one for less than $100,000.”  

Singer Courtney Love and her daughter Frances Bean Cobain pose as they arrive at a gala on Feb. 8, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Love, the widow of the Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, says she intends to sell most of his belongings.
Singer Courtney Love and her daughter Frances Bean Cobain pose as they arrive at a gala on Feb. 8, 2007, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Love, the widow of the Nirvana singer Kurt Cobain, says she intends to...   (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
A staff adjusts an Andy Warhol painting 'John Lennon' on display at Christie's in London, Thursday, June 14, 2007. The painting is to be auctioned in a 'Post-war and Contemporary Art Sale' on June 20 with an estimated price of 1.2 million to 1.8 million pounds (US$2.4...
A staff adjusts an Andy Warhol painting 'John Lennon' on display at Christie's in London, Thursday, June 14, 2007. The painting is to be auctioned in a 'Post-war and Contemporary Art Sale' on June 20...   (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
Christies Auctions Off Rock N Roll Memorabilia
Christies Auctions Off Rock N Roll Memorabilia   (Getty Images)
An undated file photo shows
An undated file photo shows "Nirvana" lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain. The popularity and price of Gen X memorabilia have surged recently, with Cobain guitars fetching upwards of $100,000.   (AP Photo)
U.S. music producer David Gest poses with some of his collection of entertainment memorabilia at an auction house in London, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. The collection includes more than 120 presentation Gold singles and albums, amongst them are The Beatles songs Yellow Submarine, Help! and Penny Lane as well...
U.S. music producer David Gest poses with some of his collection of entertainment memorabilia at an auction house in London, Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2007. The collection includes more than 120 presentation...   (AP Photo/Sang Tan)
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