Antique Trader Blog - Ephemera

Halloween features: oldies but still goodies

Karen — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 19:16:12 GMT

Here are some classic Antique Trader Halloween features to help get you in the Halloween "spirit."

* Bite into Halloween postcards

* Frankenstein in the Modern Era

* Vintage Halloween postcards

* The treats of trick-or-treat time

* Postcards that go bump in the night

* Spooky delights: Halloween collectibles

* Economy may boost vintage Halloween collectibles

* Black postcards provide another, more rare, Halloween topic

My favorite is the "Postcards that go bump in the night" feature ... the real photo postcard of the mummy is so fascinatingly creepy.

Do you have a favorite?

— Posted by Karen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Antique Trader spotlights Woodstock collectibles

Karen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 20:52:44 GMT

Yes, that's right. In our latest issue, which went out in the mail today, has a wonderful cover feature on Woodstock and Woodstock collectibles.

Here's a look at the cover (click on it to go to www.antiquetrader.com):

CLICK HERE to read the cover story: Collecting Woodstock

Valuable marketing tool for dealers: hold a show before the auction

Karen — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:31:16 GMT

This struck me as an innovative way to generate valuable pre-auction publicity, help educate the public and be a good citizen all at the same time.

Poster Auctions International and Long Island’s Cradle of Aviation Museum are teaming up to launch an exhibition of rare, early aviation posters. The exhibition, held on location at the museum opens tomorrow and runs through Oct. 18. The exhibition includes posters from private collections located around the world as well as the museum's permanent collection

Once the exhibit wraps up, the posters (not those from the museum's permanent collection) will be returned to Poster Auctions International in time for its bi-annual auction of rare, vintage posters on Sunday, Nov. 8.

What an interesting opportunity for both experienced and novice collectors visit a new museum to see a rare collection in one place at the same time. And what a savvy method to whet the appetite of poster dealers and collectors.

Can antique postcards be mailed? Yes!

Karen — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 23:33:03 GMT

From a reader:

"I have an elderly friend who has what appears to be a paper postcard.
It is very thin and we wondered if it was a true mailable article? Certainly not in today's world of processing machines.
We would appreciate any info you can supply. If need be I might be able to make a copy."
-John Short

Yes! Your friend may indeed mail an antique postcard. Even though it may be thin, he can place proper postage on it and bring it to the clerk window at his local post office. There he will have to request a "hand cancel" for the stamp. The postcard will then be processed by people, rather than machines.

It's a great way to say hello. Who knows, it just may introduce someone to a new hobby of postcard collecting.

-Posted by Eric Bradley

Have you entered the Treasure Hunt this month

Karen — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 18:20:00 GMT

The end of July is almost here, meaning the end of the July Antique Trader sweepstakes.

In case you missed it, the July Treasure Hunt Sweepstakes is featuring Dames, Dolls & Delinquents and the Antique Trader® Collectible Paperback Price Guide as prizes.

AND, in addition to those books, we're giving away some beautiful blank note cards (graciously provided by Heritage Auction Galleries) that feature illustration art from the Charles Martignette collection.

Make sure you visit http://sweepstakes.antiquetrader.com today and enter for your chance to win ... you'll be glad you did!

If you haven't already done so, you want to sign up on the Antique Trader home page (http://www.antiquetrader.com) for the free e-newsletters so you get fresh news and notifications delivered right to your in-box ... including when we launch new sweepstakes and contests.

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Find us on Twitter HERE.
• Find us on Facebook HERE.
• Visit the Antique Trader Web site HERE. Sign up for our FREE newsletters!
• If you really like what you see, get your very own subscription to Antique Trader HERE.

• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your FREE online ads HERE.

Take a break and play with some toys

Karen — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:50:12 GMT

Make plans to visit this show in Dover, Del., on July 26. Toy shows like this are a great out-of-mall experience. They bring back great memories or introduce you to something you never knew you wanted.

The Delaware Antique and Collectible Extravaganza will transform Spence's Bazaar, 550 S. New Street, Dover, Del., into what's being billed as Delaware's largest free outdoor antique and collectible show.

Managed by promoters Toyshows.org, the show attracts antique and collectible dealers from the east coast who sell a wide variety of merchandise. Vintage furnishings, artifacts, jewelry, porcelain, ephemera, glassware, advertising collectible's and toys will be featured.

Admission is free. Show hours 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sales are prohibited before the 9 a.m. opening Rain date is scheduled for Aug. 2. For more information on attending or participating in the show, go to our web site, Toyshows.org or call 856-302-3606.

As always, Antique Trader urges attendees to contact the promoter before traveling extreme distances.

Now's the time to invest

Karen — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:24:06 GMT

This week's issue had a few articles devoted to 'affordable' collections as well as a column on how to collect without cash.
The two themes were the subject of this week's editor's note. They reminded me of our current economic crisis and how it should not deter veteran and novice collectors from getting out and enjoying the hobby.

You can’t escape the economy no matter how hard you try. Unemployment. Rising prices. Store closings. It’s to be expected that people are worried more about their mortgages than they are about adding a new gem to their collection.

This week’s issue is devoted to the idea that a quality and interesting collection does not require a seven-figure bankroll. Now more than ever collectors need to be reminded that the precious objects in their home are a source of escape, education and excitement.

As Mark Roeder explains in his column on page 14, to be a collector is not synonymous with being a ‘horder’. Being a collector means to be inquisitive, a researcher or an aficionado of fine design, among other things. Nor should ‘affordable’ be translated as ‘cheap.’ Many important collections were started with rather modest means. Important collections are built by people willing to spend time learning about their collection and preparing for the next purchase. That means reading reference books, talking with experts and inspecting items you already own.

“Most are so busy seeking out new additions that they don’t pay attention to what is right there in front of them,” Roeder writes. “Enjoying what you already have can not only be just as enjoyable as adding a new piece.”

Rearranging your collection or putting others away to make room for long forgotten treasures is a fulfilling way to get reacquainted with your items. Everyone has an item or two (or more) that could use a bit more research. Perhaps it’s time to weed out a few items.

Our cover this week focuses on two diverse, yet similar, collecting areas that are seeing ‘green shoots’ among collectors.

Nostalgic ceramicware items from the 50s and 60s can be found at most every antiques show, country auction or flea market. As you’ll see in Walter Dworkin’s piece, excerpted from his book “Price Guide to Holt-Howard Collectibles,” every collector can afford many vintage pieces. While it is true values for Holt-Howard’s Pixieware collectibles are on the rise, an afternoon at any one of the nation’s larger flea markets or antiques malls will result in a find. Remember to take Dworkin’s advice when shopping: Never pay top dollar for a chipped or damaged collectible.

Melody Amsel-Arieli’s article on canning labels is an interesting look at the history and art of a relatively new collecting genre. Most labels can be found in every price range and a majority of them are valued at $10 or less.

Canning labels are just now entering an era of their own. Amsel-Arieli writes that collectors are charmed by their beauty or historical value. Like vintage ceramicware, can labels can be found here and there however an Internet search will generate many more leads.

No matter what your collecting passion may be, don’t let a temporary economic downturn steal your enjoyment in antiques and collectibles.

Get out and enjoy the hunt.

Eric Bradley
Editor

Quick links to Antique Trader articles

Karen — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:55:42 GMT

For your convenience:

Sunny skies greet shoppers at Centreville, Mich., market
Going green with antiques at Marin County Antique Show
Barnes & Noble outlet hosts vintage book fair
Jackson’s death sparks surge in collectibles prices
Collect.com Auctions scores strong debut
Antique advertising association schedules annual convention
Third Reich rarities highlight July Affiliated auction

We have a lot of great information that's new on AntiqueTrader.com this week. There's even more information in the magazine.

You can subscribe to the print version for just 63 cents an issue! http://tinyurl.com/lsl677

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

AntiqueTrader.com article links

Karen — Fri, 01 May 2009 21:09:25 GMT

Hello shortcut lovers!

Here are quick links to some of this week's Antique Trader articles:

Former owner gets carried away with old mill

From accident to innovation: Celebrating the craftsmanship and artistry of ancient Roman glass

Ask Antique Trader: Seldom-seen Cincinnati dog table is valuable Victorian piece

The mischief makers (naughty children on postcards)

Once upon a time: The history of Little Golden Books®

Sew there! Buttons can be a window on history

Collecting classic cookbooks: Repasts from the past

Rich Penn auction prices are rock solid at Spring Spectacular in Stone Mountain, Ga.

Rare Seminole shoulder sash is top lot in Cowan’s auction

Seven major Crowell decoys in Copley’s July 15-16 sale

Robin Starr named director pro tem of Skinner’s fine paintings department

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Visit the Antique Trader Web site HERE. Sign up for our FREE newsletters!
• If you really like what you see, get your own subscription to Antique Trader HERE.

• Learn more about Antique Trader HERE.
• Reference books available about your favorite collectibles HERE
• Antique Trader message boards HERE.
• Browse the Antique Trader Classifieds or place your free online ads HERE.

Antique Trader's new sweepstakes

Karen — Fri, 01 May 2009 13:50:54 GMT

Well, with the end of April comes the close of the April Treasure Hunt Sweepstakes, for a copy of the Guide to Fakes and Reproductions.

But with the beginning of May comes the launch of our newest sweeps: for a fan-carved bird with accompanying postcards.

If you will recall, in February we ran a story on the old-world fan-carving tradition. (You can read it HERE.)

Fancarversworld.com (http://www.fancarversworld.com) has been gracious enough to allow us to give away one of these beautiful hand-carved, fan-carved birds. Thank you Fan Carver's World and Sally and David Nye.

The Grand Prize winner will win the bird and a set of fan-carving postcards. Four runner-ups will each win a set of postcards.

So visit http://sweepstakes.antiquetrader.com/EntryForm.aspx and enter once each day!

Good luck everyone!

(By the way, even if the graphic hasn't changed, you're still entering for the fan-carved bird ... the Web site hasn't caught up with the calendar yet ...)

— Posted by Karen Knapstein

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

• Visit the Antique Trader Web site HERE.
• If you really like what you see, get your own subscription to Antique Trader HERE.

Shortcuts to antiques and collectibles features

Karen — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:14:44 GMT

Do you have little patience for looking for feature stories?

I have a treat for you: here are some quick links to Antique Trader feature articles right here on the Antique Trader blog!

Pardon me, but do you have the time? (Collecting vintage watches)

PEZ: 92 years and counting

Charlie Chan, international man of mystery

The game is afoot! Who is Arthur Conan Doyle?

Take these postcards with a grain of salt

How about a little history? The Quad Cities’ quirks

Modern art movements relegated the queen’s paintings to the attic

Ask Antique Trader: How to fix an old cane seat

Exploring the whalers’ art: Scrimshaw enthusiasts from around the world gather in Massachusetts

As always, feel free to contact us and let us know what you think and what you would like to see more (or less) of!

One of my personal favorites in this week's issue is the Charlie Chan feature. (I never knew he was based on a real person.) It took me back to watching the Saturday afternoon movies on TV as a kid (and my Mom saying "It's nice out! Go play outside!" ... I think so she could watch it in peace by herself ...)

I also enjoyed this week's Art Markets column. It was nice to get a glimpse of Queen Victoria the woman as opposed to Queen Victoria the monarch.

Sandy's favorite article in this issue is "Who is Arthur Conan Doyle?" She said once she was too old for the Hardy Boys, she turned to Arthur Conan Doyle ...

— Posted by Karen

Worth more than a thousand words

Karen — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 19:45:36 GMT

“A picture is worth a thousand words,” but not just a thousand words. A picture is worth so much more, as they can cause the viewer empathetic pain, pleasure, sadness, joy. They can make you sit and ponder their intricacies and nuances for time that you don’t have to spare.

These are significant moments frozen in time.

One nice thing about the art of photography is that the artists can produce such prolific bodies of work, providing an eager collecting community plenty of opportunities to expand their collections.

Jeff Vallee “Harvey” from the series “ This time tomorrow, where will we be?” Courtesy iGavel.com.

Currently, iGavel is holding an online photography auction celebrating American photographers and benefiting the Americans for the Arts organization.

The show features the work of more than 40 artists, including Jock Sturges, Les Krims, Ben Watts, Cass Bird, Jason Nocito, and Vincent Laforet. Opening bids are $300.

This auction is going on through April 30, 2009. (Click here to learn more about the online photography auction benefiting Americans for the Arts.)

Eduard Steichen, Lilac Buds, Mrs S., 1906. Courtesy iGavel.com.

Also, through May 13, is the Spring Online Auction of Photographs presented by Daniel Cooney Fine Art.

(Click here to learn more about this online photography auction opportunity.)

— Posted by Karen

Added benefits of collecting

Karen — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:10:15 GMT

When I was in college (which is more years ago than I like to admit), I used to get together with a few friends and play Trivial Pursuit (the original Genus edition). Fun times, fun times!

Occasionally my cousin John would join us. John is a stamp collector. He caught the bug from our grandfather (whose birthday is today, in fact — Happy Birthday Grandpa! ... he's 90 today). But I digress ...

John never went on to school after high school. He's a regular blue-collar kind of guy. But I tell you what: John kicks my butt at geography and 20th century history. And I went on to college to get a degree in history!

I believe my dear cousin is so good in those areas because of his stamp collecting hobby. Holding an item in your hand from another country, another time, piques your curiosity so you have a reason to learn more about whatever it is. And it doesn't really matter what it is. It could be a matchbook, a postcard, a piece of furniture or treen — it really doesn't matter.

I think these old items we tend to collect give us a reason to learn more.

What do you think? How much more to collecting is there than just gathering? Is the acquisition of a piece the starting block for you? Or is it the finish line?

Post a reply here and let us know what you think.

(By the way, I usually came out ahead on the Science & Nature and Arts & Literature questions.)

— Posted by Karen

FREE online classified ads

Karen — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:52:03 GMT

Collect.com offers free classified ads

Everyone wants to get something for nothing, and now that's possible, thanks to Collect.com’s free classified ads.

“The classified ads are completely free — no gimmicks, no strings attached and no limit to the number of classified ads that can be placed,” said Dianne Wheeler, the community leader for collect.com. “This is a great way for collectors to sell the items that they don’t love anymore — and shop for new ones that they will — without pricey consignment fees or drawn-out bidding wars.”

Placing an ad is easy. Just visit www.collect.com, click on the collectibles area that applies to your item (Comics, Music, Sports, Militaria or Antiques and Collectibles), and add in the details. The Ad Wizard walks you through every step of the process, including writing the description and adding a photo of the piece that’s for sale.

The free classified ads are the first of numerous improvements that are scheduled to come to collect.com this year, Wheeler said.

Produced by F+W Media, the world’s largest hobby and collectible publisher, Collect.com is an online community where collectors can discuss and display their finds, keep tabs on the value of their collections, connect with buyers and sellers, read about the latest hobby news and more.

CLICK HERE to sell your collectibles (or post a wanted ad) with Collect.com free classified ads.

A note to postcard enthusiasts

Karen — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:58:06 GMT

If you're interested in postcards, or ephemera in general, and have been a visitor to postcardcollector.com, you may have noticed that past few weeks that the content has been disappearing. That's because we've been in the process of moving those articles to http://www.antiquetrader.com/postcards/.

I've finished up moving the articles and they're available for your perusal at the URL listed above.

What will happen to postcardcollector.com? If anyone tries to visit that URL, they will automatically be redirected to the postcard page on antiquetrader.com.

Let us know if you have any questions. You can contact either Sandra Sparks, the former editor of Postcard Collector (sandra.sparks@fwmedia.com), or me (karen.knapstein@fwmedia.com).

— Posted by Karen

Features, features, and more features

Karen — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 13:53:22 GMT

We have a great, jam-packed issue this week ... We hope you're as excited about it as we are.

Let us know what you think! You can post a reply here with your thoughts/comments, or log on to the Antique Trader message boards HERE.

Here are links to some of this week's articles:

Ask Antique Trader: Color of faux mahogany hard to change

Duck decoys fly beyond utility: they’re art

Postcard Album Update: Other baseball cards

Hats of yesteryear

Art DuckO exhibit celebrates North Carolina waterfowl

Bunnies, buns and bouquets

The old shell game: Pysanky eggs

So many shows ...

Karen — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 16:47:25 GMT

... and so few pages.

Here are some new show previews for your perusal:

Antiques street fair is the place to discover treasures

Black cloth doll exhibit to be featured at California Country Antique Show

New train service makes getting to Atlantique City easier

Ocean Grove, N.J., Postcards, Books & Paper Show

59th Oregon, Ill., Antique Show

Postcard and paper show has new look, new manager

Cheerios (& more) go retro

Karen — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 16:18:40 GMT

Target and General Mills have teamed up to appeal to consumers' desire for simpler, more prosperous times.

An article in Ad Age reports:

General Mills, Target Play On Consumers' Nostalgia

General Mills has given Target a month-long exclusive on retro box designs for some of its best-selling cereals, Cheerios, Honey Nut Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puffs and Trix. The package-food company is giving away T-shirts with the old designs as part of the deal. Consumers with five proof-of-purchase labels will be entitled to a free shirt at cerealwear.com. Consumers who would rather just buy one can go to the site and spend $5 to don a defunct Mills design.

(Read the full story here)

What do you think? Will you go cuckoo for these Cocoa Puffs?

Is this just the first step that marketers will be taking to play on nostalgia? Will the trend continue with other products? Will these boxes become collectibles in their own right?

How much are these cookbooks worth?

Karen — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 21:43:12 GMT

Just how much are these cookbooks worth?

Well, it really doesn't matter, I guess, because someone's going to win them for free! Yes, that's right — FREE!

You see, for the March Antique Trader Treasure Hunt Sweepstakes, we're giving away a selection of cookbooks along with the Antique Trader Collectible Cookbooks Price Guide.

I have to tell you, it was a lot of fun sitting down and looking through all these books. Just so there's no misunderstanding: these books are NOT new. Most of them were purchased at auction. And now, someone who enters the Antique Trader sweepstakes in March is going to win them, along with the price guide and a copy of The Tasty Trader, which was published in 1998 and is subtitled: Culinary Delights from the Employees of Antique Trader Publications, Inc. It makes me hungry looking through it, and it may just become a favorite book for the winner.

Make sure you enter once each day for your best chance of winning!

You can click on the banner below to enter the sweepstakes.

GOOD LUCK!

Postcards, postcards, and more postcards

Karen — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 22:45:30 GMT

I'm making real progress migrating all the old Postcard Collector articles (from postcardcollector.com) over to the AntiqueTrader.com postcards page (at http://www.antiquetrader.com/postcards/). Once the articles are all moved, that site will be redirected to AntiqueTrader.com.

I'll probably be converting images and copy/pasting all through the night (in my sleep).

Here's one of my postcards. It's a real photo postcard of the Knapstein Brewery from New London, Wis.

It's a beauty, isn't it?

Do any of you collect anything directly related to your name?

I don't really mind cabin fever

Karen — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 14:56:52 GMT

as long as I'm someplace surrounded by books or interesting old things.

But this past weekend it actually got up near 30 degrees, and I find myself wanting to get out & visit some of the shops I haven't been to in what seems like ages.

I'm going to make a list of shops to visit before the end of the summer. One of the first stops will be the Dane's Home in Waupaca, Wis. We've always had good luck finding great old antiques there. Antique finds abound! Even if we don't walk out with anything, it's time well spent. And it's a fantastic old three-story building, too!

Years ago (I think way back when he still put some effort into impressing me), my husband bought a gorgeous cut crystal vase for me for Valentine's Day. I think they even wrapped it for him. No one thought to take the price tag off the bottom of the vase though. I still can't believe he spent that much on a Valentine for me.

I have to say that's by far my favorite Valentine ever!

By the way, do any of you participate in picking up vintage Valentines and passing them along for Valentine's Day? Or any other greeting cards for that matter?

Let us know. What a great way to go green!

I think next year I'm going to turn the Christmas cards I've received in the past into postcards and recycle them by sending them on their way to new recipients. After all, many cards are just too beautiful to stash away in a drawer. I'd feel better about sharing them with at least one more recipient.

— Karen

Sometimes tough decisions have to be made

Karen — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:39:31 GMT

Yes, it's all about the books again.

Something had to be done.

The library was utter and complete chaos. Books stacked this way and that ... choices had to be made. That's my main task today. Picking and choosing which books will stay on the shelves, which ones will be stored and kept, and which ones we can let go.

One of the books I chose to let go (a rather large, heavy business law book that I had purchased at one of the university book store clearance sales back when I was in college), my daughter decided to use as a weight in building her "fort" in the living room.

I was ready to put it on the free table at work, but my daughter found a 1963 dollar bill pressed between the pages. And I heard my husband say something like, "That's why we need to look through all of them before we get rid of them." But he thought that book was from one of the caches purchased at auction.

I know that's not the case, but I honestly don't remember putting the dollar in there. It must have been in there since college, which is about two decades ago now! More years than I care to admit most days...

So, my task will take much, much longer than originally anticipated so I don't inadvertently send pressed treasures along to someone else.

Have a great weekend everyone! And always keep an eye out for those treasures that may be hiding right under your noses!

Have any of you ever found anything like that where you didn't expect it? Have you had any "near misses" like this? What was it?

— Karen

Perpetuating the Postcard Pastime

Karen — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 23:05:27 GMT

My husband recently changed jobs. He was miserable at his former position, which he had held for 17 years, so after months of indecision and doubt, he made the jump to a new career that will be much more rewarding and satisfying for him. However, it will take him away from home for weeks at a time.

We have a six-year-old daughter who will miss her father terribly. Like most kids, she is a collector; she will gather and save everything from pinecones to rocks from the driveway to drawings from her friends.

To take some of the sting out of him being gone, I gave my husband the directive that he should send her postcards from all his destinations. I even sent him on his way with a supply of 27-cent stamps (the current postal rate for postcards, in case you haven’t sent any recently), and he promised to send her cards from everywhere he goes.

I gave her an album that the cards will fit into (as long as he sticks with standard-size cards), and now she’s set to start a collection that she will cherish for the rest of her life. Children always like getting their own mail; I can’t think of a better way to initiate a child into what could be a rewarding life-long hobby.

The first postcard should arrive from Arizona any time now.

And postcards are easier to store than pinecones, too.

— Karen

Speaking of books ...

Karen — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 15:00:56 GMT

If you're able to take advantage:

College Women’s Club of Montclair (a branch of AAUW) presents:

HUGE USED BOOK & MUSIC SALE

November 13 – 16, 2008

Thousands of items at GREAT PRICES!
SPECIALS: GIANT collection of BASEBALL BOOKS!!!
LARGE section of Religion/Philosophy/Judaica
EXTENSIVE section of Autographed Books
EXPANDED Art, Photography, Architecture sections

Hardcovers & Paperbacks in all categories * LPs * CDs * DVDs
Audio & Video Tapes * Sheet Music * Software * Ephemera

OPENING DAY
Thursday 9:30 am- 9 pm
OPENING DAY ONLY - $10 ADMISSION
from 9:30 am – 1 pm; no admission fee thereafter
Friday 9:30 am – 9 pm
Saturday 9:30 am – 7 pm
Sunday 1 pm – 7 pm
*No Half-Price or Bag Days*

** SCANNER USE RESTRICTED**

College Women’s Club of Montclair
26 Park Street, Montclair NJ
Info 973-783-7040
CWCbooksale@gmail.com

Open most Sat. mornings to receive donations. Please call to verify before bringing donations.

Proceeds Fund Scholarship Awards for Local Students

No yard sale-ing for me, but a project off the list

Karen — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:25:58 GMT

This past weekend, I did something I haven't done in a long, long time: I turned down the invitation to go yard sale-ing. And I would do it again, too. You see, I had a huge project sitting in my dining room that I really needed to get taken care of.

About a month ago (gosh, has it been that long already?!) my husband was checking out the auction bill for an auction in Plainfield, Wis., which is a little over an hour away from our house. He asked me that morning if I wanted to go, and I said I couldn't because my daughter was having friend over early that afternoon. He told me they had over 2,000 books at this auction (which caught my ear) and brewery memorabilia (which is right up his alley).

I said it sounded like an awesome auction, and that I had a feeling that the books would go dirt cheap. I didn't need any books ... my library was already stacked and packed with books lined up to read ... but I think you have to take advantage of opportunities like this when they arise.

That made up his mind. He said (and this is word for word, folks): "I'll take the truck and see if I can get you some books."

Some books. He came home with a truckload of books and it cost him a whopping $30 ... no exaggeration on the amount of books or the price! I couldn't believe it. I expected a few box lots, but not a truckload. I LOVE auctions!

So, I had to sort through all these books. I've been working on it here and there, but the bulk of the boxes still had to be gone through. Yes, there were the seemingly requisite collection of Readers Digest Condensed Books and "vintage" Harlequin Romances... but I have to admit, there were relatively few that I wanted to part with.

But I did it! I got them all sorted and the "keepers"—15 boxes worth of "keepers"—put in storage. (We'll see just how tough those Plano snap-together shelves really are.) A shame to have to store them, yes, but until I get more bookcases, it will have to do.

... now I just have to move out the "senders"—and there are nine boxes of those—and my dear husband won't have an excuse why he can't start putting the tin ceiling in the dining room.

Hmmm. I wonder, did he get the books for me? or for him (to buy some precious procrastination time to start that project)? I guess it doesn't matter; either way, it was a win-win.

— Karen

We're excited about this week's issue!

Noah — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:47:45 GMT

Here's the newest issue of Antique Trader coming at you! And we're excited about this issue ... We've got features on: the history of pop-ups; bubble gum cards; and paper dolls. You might say this issue of Antique Trader is focused on ephemera, but we also have our detailed coverage of auction news, Kyle Husfloen's column "Kyle on Antiques," and much more!

Check it out!

The latest issue ...

Noah — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 13:24:26 GMT

Here's your newest issue of Antique Trader:

Snapshots of history

Noah — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:12:04 GMT

They say a picture is worth a thousand words – and I don’t doubt that for a minute. Take a read through – and look through – our cover story and I bet you’ll agree.

Life magazine, the second version of it, was the first all-photography U.S. news magazine and dominated the market for more than 40 years. The magazine sold more than 13.5 million copies a week at one point. People couldn’t live without those pictures. Were the images powerful enough to change history? Not necessarily. But they definitely captured snapshots of time, of significant events, of our history.

If I say, think of Alfred Eisenstaedt’s shot of a nurse in a sailor’s arms, snapped on Aug. 27, 1945, as they celebrated Victory Over Japan Day in New York City, is there a person out there who can’t visualize that photo in their mind? Not likely.

I am a big fan of photography. As a mother, of course, I take hundreds of pictures every year to eventually scrapbook. But as an observer, I am drawn to gripping images that move me to tears. Move me to think. But also enjoy photos that bring an immediate smile to my lips or a laugh in my belly. Photography is quite powerful.

I recently got my hands on anniversary compilations from two large news magazines. The subject matter: 1968. With war abroad, riots at home, fallen leaders and lunar dreams, Time magazine is calling it “The Year That Changed The World.” And here I thought it changed because I was born that year (you do the math). I figured something good had to come of that year – though I am no competition for landing on the moon!

The special publications are an emotional read. The history is incredibly interesting but the photos can tell the story, no matter how celebratory or tragic, without words. That’s why I plan to keep these “anniversary” magazines. I’m not building a collection. I don’t care about their potential worth. For me, they hold a piece of history. A snapshot of the world the year my history began.

And that’s one of the reasons people held onto their Life magazines and others. One glance and they are transported to a different time, a different place. They recall once again where they came from and see how far they’ve come.

Antique Trader would like to know if you collect something – vintage magazines, books, posters, you name it – that evokes emotion or serves as a historical reminder or a personal one? Please share them with other readers by e-mailing robyn.austin@fwpubs.com, or post a reply here.

Peace.

A pretty penny expected at auction for first edition 'Emma'

Noah — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:44:42 GMT

Just a tiny mention here at The Press Association regarding the upcoming London sale of a rare three-volume first edition set of Jane Austen's "Emma," inscribed by the great woman herself to her governess.

I will plead ignorance here and tell you I've never read "Emma," or seen any of the film, PBS or BBC adaptations of it. Austen just isn't my thing, really, but I respect her place as a huge and enduring literary figure, and actually do regret the gap in my literary knowledge. Back inmy early 20s, when I was working a night job at Shakespeare and Co., on lower Boradway in NYC, my focus was really on Faulkner, Nabokov, Cormac McCarthy, Russel Hoban and a plethora of great Russians. Perhaps when my daughter gets a little older, and I have time to read a real book in large chunks, I'll pick up Austen. Oh well.

The books are expected to bring about 50,000 pounds, or $100,000, depending on the exchange rate when the sale takes place June 24.

Not just a Jewish girl - The Jewish girl! Anne Frank postcard found

Noah — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:24:02 GMT

This story has made the various rounds of media - electronic, tv and print all - about the discovery of a postcard from Anne Frank - she of the famous diary bearing her name - to a friend just before the family went into hiding from the nazis.

I've held back from writing about it for various reasons. One was to let it make the rounds and see what sort of life it took on. Then the gem of the Web presenting me with exactly what I was waiting for. This headline: "Card from WWII Jewish girl discovered in Dutch shop." It comes from the Chinese Xinhua news agency - which I like to frequent for just this reason. Here's a word to them, though: Anne Frank is not just a Jewish girl. She's the Jewish girl.

When I was growing up, Anne Frank was revered everywhere. School, my home, my synagogue, and at the Jewish Community Center, which decided to honor Anne the year I was 14 by producing the play version of The Diary of Anne Frank. I was up for the part of Peter - Man, how I wanted that part! I would've been great, too! - as the director, his name was Fred if I recollect correct, tried without gusto to find a younger Anne, he eventually cast the older pretty boy in the part. I think Fred later offered me a part in the "ensemble" cast of the JCC production of Grease, but I never even called back. My acting career was over by then. This good thing was gone.

Anyway, the postcard... It's a wonderful piece of ephmera, and a testament to the longevity and continued relevance of a Anne Frank's story. It is a tangible link to a girl whose unyeilding faith in the goodness of humans, even as they sought her destruction, has continued to inspire countless thousands of people more than 60 years after her death in a German concentration camp.

It's a shame she is not alive to see how inspirational her brief life and writings have been to so many. It's interesting to ponder if it would still mean the same had she lived.

Auction of recently uncovered Arbus photos abruptly canceled

Noah — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:34:52 GMT

Wrote about this a few weeks ago. A dealer in NYC sold a box of pics he found in a box lot for $3500. Turns out there was a trove of unknown Diane Arbus photos in there - very interesting ones, to be sure - and they're worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The dealer who sold them is suing the dealer he says duped him out of the find of his life. The sale was supposed to have happened yesterday, I think. Turns out it was abruptly canceled. Both the New York Times and our friend Kristi Roberts at Here Be Old Things have been covering this pretty well, so I'll leave it to them. Kristi was going to the sale, and even went by the showroom to get a sneak peak.

I know that a lot of times it's buy and sell at your own risk in this business, and that they seller should have known that he was giving away a fortune at such a small price - the first clue should have been when the buyer who bought the box said, "there's nothing in there worth much at all, but I'll give you $3500 right now for the whole thing, no questions asked. 'kay?"

Money is money, I suppose, and there are no rules that say you have to play fair. Or are there? The speculation is that the original seller may just hve succeeded in his lawsuit. We'll see later.

Lincoln letter goes for more than $3M

Noah — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:16:45 GMT

And to think that I was willing to take a triceratops over this, if given the choice...

I love Honest Abe, but I stand by my decision. Besides, I just spent that last $3.4M on a new yacht. I'm a bit tapped at the moment.

This is the Yahoo story, just breaking. Pretty cool, I have to say.

Papa's Brand New Bag on the auction block

Noah — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 15:57:43 GMT

When James Brown died on Christmas Day 2006, he left behind a lot more than one modern music's greatest catalogs of work, he left behind a life filled with turmoil and an estate that has been the subject of constant wrangling between his family, his adult children, his ex-girlfriends and his ex-wives.

Finally, Christie's has stepped in and said, "That's enough!"

I actually don't know if that's what Christie's did, but either way, the venerable auction house will be auctioning of the possesions of the Godfather of Soul sometime this summer. This sale will include Brown's awards, instruments and all kinds of various posessions.

No matter what you think of the man personally, his influence on music was, and is, undeniable. He blended together many sounds and came up with something that was totally original, and musically, in his prime, there was absolutely no one more important. The interlocking parts of his songs were pure genius and made countless millions of people understand not only how music worked, but that they too could follow a few simple rules and enjoy playing music. For that, I do have to say, I miss Brown greatly.

To see him covered with a jacket and walked, exhausted, off stage accompanied by one of his crew, only to ruh desperately back to the mic for one last chorus, or word - then to hear the crowd shriek with delight - makes you understand that he truly was... the hardest working man in show business.

And I'd love to get me one them guitars...

Who can resist a rampaging ape? King Kong poster rages to $345K

Noah — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:01:38 GMT

Really, aren't we all suckers for monkeys?

This massive and very cool King King poster recently brought $345,000 at a Profiles in History auction, and it's a real beauty. At 81-inches x 81-inches, it's also about the size of the big simian himself.

I love the detail on this poster, and Kong just looks like he's about ready to rip everyone a new smile. What I don't like is that they have Fay Wray running in terror with Robert Armstrong and Bruce Cabot. We all know that Kong and Fay shared an unforbidden love that the world wasn't ready for back then. the studio could have, at least, put a hint of empathy in her eyes as she watched Kong destroy Manhattan. I still say the humans deserved it...

The new owner of the poster isn't mentioned, but I'd be willing to bet it's a heavy hitter, if not Steve Geppi himself, who has the greatest collection of rare movie posters in the world at his museum in Camden Yards in downtown Baltimore, MD.

Atlantique City Day 2

Noah — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 13:04:22 GMT

Howdy folks. We made it through Day One of the March 2008 Atlantique City Antiques Show and, if I may speak for the staff and crew of Atlantique City - and I reckon that I can - Day one was pretty fantastic.

By the 9 a.m. early opening we had at least 2000 people lined up outside the door, many of them grabbing copies of Antique Trader and our various publications at the show, and the trafic flow was steady all day. While official numbers aren't available yet, I'd say we had at least 5,000 people come through the convention center and they seemed interesting. Quality is high, and uniform, and we heard some good comments from dealers.

The appraisal event went very well, too, highlighted by a superb Judy Garland dress, straight off the MGM lot, that ended up in - of all places - Milwaukee, WI. We have to wait and see if the pics cvame out, but I'll post them if I will.

At the end of the day we also hosted a gathering to fete Ellen Schroy and thank her for all her hard work - 28 years worth - on the Warman's Price Guide. Nice stuff, and Ellen is a great lady. She'll be missed on Warman's, but it's a good opportunity for Trader to get her byline in the paper, as we did with the 4/9 issue.

Sunday is usually a bit slower at shows, but there can be some serious buying going on, so we're keeping our fingers crossed for our dealers and ourselves, for a good day today, a smooth load-out tonight, and a nice easy flight home tomorrow morning. Last October we got delayed in Philly for 12 hours. Yuck.

Looking forward to getting home, getting back to work and regular blogging, and seeing my family. I love the East Coast, and have a lot of good memories from these shows and my childhood summers spent here, but I want to get back to Stevens Point, WI - wide open spaces, nice people and great beer - and get back in the swing of day-to-day life and work.

See you there.

Atlantique City - At last!

Noah — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 12:52:14 GMT

Howdy!

After a long week of vacation last week - agonizing, as you can imagine, spending so much time with my lovely wife and daughter in Phoenix and Las Vegas - I got into Atlantic City last Wednesday night. Travel was 13 hours from Vegas, with a few nighmarish waits in TSA lines at all airports.

It's time for good antiques and the Atlantique City Antiques Show.

We have spent two exhausting days getting the show ready, but as I write this morning, the show floor at the Atlantic City Convention Center looks beautfiul, there is a crowd of 2000 people waiting outside the door and we are hoping for a good show. We know it looks good, and quality is ubiquitous. Now we are waiting for the buyers.

The weather here is a bit chilly and overcast, which means good weather for antique buying, and the attitude seems to be optimistic, which is half the battle when there are such problems with the economy. I don't, however, have to tell any Trader readers that.

What I can tell you is that I'm excited for the opening of this show, proud of the hard work we've done and ready to see this thing come off a success.

If any of you out there are coming today or tomorrow, or go this weekend and read this later, give me a holler and let me know what you think.

I'll post more later today, hopeufully with some pics, but no promises...

Postcard collecting is alive and well!

Noah — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 20:21:27 GMT

From Sandy … not Noah or Karen!

Postcard collecting is alive and well

That was the feeling I got when I attended the 30th annual Michiana Regional Postcard Show on March 15 in South Bend, Ind. The doors opened at 9 a.m., and by the time I got there about 10:15, the aisles were already crowded with shoppers. It sometimes took quite a while before a dealer could break away from customers to chat with me.

To find out more about the show, postcard collecting and Postcard Collector magazine visit www.postcardcollector.com

I wear two hats

Noah — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 20:13:12 GMT

Sandy Sparks here, posting on Noah's blog. While the cat's away...

When I'm not wearing my Associate Editor - Antique Trader hat, I can be found wearing my other headpiece, that of Editor - Postcard Collector magazine.

National Postcard Week is the first week in May. Every year readers send in a sample of the postcards they make to celebrate their special week. Some are completely hand-made, some are photographs, some are computer-generated, but all are creative and fun. Postcard Collector shows them off on the pages of the magazine and this year, on the magazine's Web site: www.postcardcollector.com.

Want to join the fun? I can't promise to make you rich and famous, but I do promise to enjoy every postcard sent and yours might even make the cover!

Put your creativity in gear and make a postcard. Send it, in an envelope, please, to:

Postcard Collector
700 East State St
Iola WI 54945
attn: PC Week

If you want to trade with other postcard makers, add a note to that effect. Who knows? You might discover one more thing to collect — postcards!

Questions? Email me at sandra.sparks@fwpubs.com. I'm looking forward to seeing your creations.

Seven charged with selling fake fine art prints internationally

Noah — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:35:32 GMT

Good for the authorities that busted this ring, and good for fine art lovers!

Just goes to show that you should always know your source, and know their reputation! Nowhere is a dealer's rep more important than in antiques and art.

Just what I've always wanted! A corn flake that looks like Illinois...

Noah — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 15:19:13 GMT

Um... I'm... I'm just not sure what to say about this, or why I'm even posting it...

I feel a little confused, and fragile... Somebody hold me...

Trader Question of the Week: What's the single most valuable antique you've ever bought at a show?

Noah — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 21:23:20 GMT

I guess it's only fair to open this question up to a broader range of sources, so let's say then: What's the single most valuable antique you've ever bought at a sale of any kind? How's that?

When I go to a shop or a show, I tend to forget value and buy with nostalgia. This doesn't take me back too far, to the 1970s and early 1980s, so I always end up with a beaten-up Star Wars action figure, or dog-eared football card of some Dallas Cowboy I loved as a kid.

Once, though, on a lonely Sunday while waiting for a movie to start in Downtown Waupaca, WI, I wandered into an antiques store to try and find something for my daughter. After an hour of looking, and believing I would leave empty-handed, I came to the last booth and saw it: A Lawson Wood print of two monkeys and a bear with the caption, "A good story, well told."

I loved it immediately. The giggling bear, one wise ape scratching his chin with amusement, and one more monkey telling the story with an arm draped over the bear and a casual hand about to make the final point. The ground is littered with apple cores, nuts and banana peels. Simply awesome.

Monetary value? Who knows? Sentimental, seeing my daughter's face light up whenever she looks at it and points, then says, "Papa!"?

There's no value that can be placed on that.

So, what's the single most valuable antique you've ever bought at a sale of any kind?

Send your answer to me at noah.fleisher@fwpubs.com, or post your answer in the comments below.

Despite it's corporate blindness, good ephemera deals on eBay still exist

Noah — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 13:48:09 GMT

For some reason it was very hard to write the headline to this post and not sound like I was trying to speak like Yoda...

"Hmmm... On eBay good ephemera buys still there are... Blind is eBay corporate... they must unlearn what they have learned..."

But I digress.

Marty at Ephemera Blog has posted this about another post he read and enjoyed about eBay still being the place to get good buys on ephemera, and he's right. Put aside your feelings about eBay corporate acting like a bunch of dolts in hurting it's dealer base and you can see, just by reading Marty's post, and the post he links to, that they're right.

As Master Yoda might say, "By your anger blinded be not... Good buys on ephemera there still are..."

This would make me sick, too: Man says he was cheated on Arbus photos

Noah — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 21:33:46 GMT

Interesting little twist out of NYC, courtesy of Here Be Old Things.

A guy bought a box of photos, with a bunch of Diana Arbus photos in there. A dealer paid him $3500 for them. They're expected to auction for multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Name of the game? Dishonest dealer? You decide.

They've even heard of Hammerin' Hank in Canada!

Noah — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:15:30 GMT

Hunt Auctions sold a rare signed letter by a young Hank Aaron for more than $22K over the weekend.

I only use the glib headline because it came across the google alerts on the Canadian Press.

All I'll say, Mr. Bonds and Mr. Clemens, is that - above all with fans - class still counts.

Amazing Helen Keller pic found

Noah — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:27:26 GMT

I heard this on NPR this morning as I drove into work, then saw it again on the front page of my Web browser when I logged on. This is a link to the Yahoo story, but you can find it almost anywhere.

It is a newly discovered picture of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, taken at the beach when Keller was eight. In it, as you can see, Sullivan stares intently at her puil, who seems totally at home and content, holding her tecaher's hand and - most importantly - a doll, the first word she was taught.

I have always been especially moved by the story of Keller and Sullivan, and not just because Keller became one of the great humanitarians of the 20th century.

This photo makes a good argument for the inherent intelligence a person is born with, and the human need to communicate, even when - to the outside world at large - it seems as if there is no way to do so. Keller was born blind and deaf, and was seeimingly a lost cause because of a terrible temper and being prone to violence as a child.

Now, I would have been, too, if my perfectly functioning brain had no way to process or express information, yet there was an inherent understanding there. If ever there was an argument for Noam Chomsky's theory of language as a priori, then Keller is it. All it took was a little patience from Sullivan to bring it out in the girl, and one of the great humans in history was allowed to flower. What a moving and interesting story it is, and made all the more remarkable for such a great photo.

As for the photo itself, taken casually in 1888, and stored in a family collection for almost a century, it is - almost - a masterul composition. The print is a bit faded, but the black and white are nicely contrasted, and the viewer is immediately drawn to the tenderness of Sullivan's gaze and, subsequently, to the placidness of Keller's. There is a great love and respect between the two, and it is only later - almost an afterthought - that we see the two holding hands just above the doll in Keller's lap. It is not hands in the midst of communicating, just simply touching and communing. Any of us who have ever had our own children or grandchildren hold our hand in the same way know of the intimacy and familiarity of this lovely touch. Truly, it's a beauty of pic, made more astonishing for its subjects. I do not even want to degrade it by speculating what it could bring at auction, as it probably will never come on the block and is priceless for what it conveys about two of history's most remarkable women.

As an important peice of material culture and history, it is indeed a masterpiece and indeed without peer.

The photo is in the hands of the the New England Historical Geneological Society. Here is a link to the press release and the photo, as pictured above.

This is one of those unexpected, and moving stories that comes around out of the blue, and for which I am very grateful. Check it out.

Antique Trader 3-19 preview, comin' at ya'

Noah — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:45:09 GMT

Here's a first look at our March 19 issue, a special for the Atlantique City Antiques Show, which is owned by Trader's parent company, F+W Publications.

It'll be a glossy front with an extra 5,000 copies distributed at AC on March 29-30, 2008 at the Altantic City Convention Center.

I'll be there. If you are around and want to say hi, please do...

In Case of Apocalypse, break stylish glass

Noah — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 20:26:16 GMT

This was widely covered, and hailed in the MSM the last few days. I don't know... Philosophically speaking, I find it a little daunting and frightening. A tangible reminder of the damage that humans are wreaking on the planet at alarming places.

It's the Svalbard Seed Vault in Longyearbyen, Norway (nice name). You can see the below pics here.

Architecturally, though, I think - in fine Scandanavian Moderne fashion, I might add - the building is pretty awesome, a real tribute to the modern aesthetic, not that visitors to the planet eons from now will appreciate the differences in Lloyd Wright and, say, Gropius...

It's as if, in a million years or so - hopefully longer - if the planet is rid of humans and retakes everything, then we're visited by our future progeny returned to the homeworld to see exactly where they sprang from - stick with me - thart they would find not only the seed as proof that we wanted to preserve our existences, but a really cool building refelctive of the best of modern design of the time. Man... Won't those bionetic cyborgs be impressed.

Most importantly, the American eggplant will survive.

From the Web site:

Svalbard Global Seed Vault: Arctic Seed Vault Opens Doors for 100 Million Seeds

Ceremony Marking Unprecedented Effort to Protect Global Agriculture Draws World Leaders and Seeds from Over 100 Countries

LONGYEARBYEN, NORWAY (26 FEBRUARY 2008) - The Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened today on a remote island in the Arctic Circle, receiving inaugural shipments of 100 million seeds that originated in over 100 countries. With the deposits ranging from unique varieties of major African and Asian food staples such as maize, rice, wheat, cowpea, and sorghum to European and South American varieties of eggplant, lettuce, barley, and potato, the first deposits into the seed vault represent the most comprehensive and diverse collection of food crop seeds being held anywhere in the world.

Alternate Online Auctions - What are you using?

Noah — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 17:45:40 GMT

Just wondering, as I negotiate the explosion of sales and sites that have sprung up in response to eBay's "changes," what sites, exactly, are you going to either to supplement your eBay sales or to use as a whole other alternative?

I'd like to check them out, possibly start offering some reviews and interviews.

Anyone? Anyone?

Let me know in the comments section here, preferrably, or at noah.fleisher@fwpubs.com (as long as email's working by today...)

Is eBay trying to fill a leaky bucket?

Noah — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:34:34 GMT

I like this story about eBay after Whitman on the Forbes Magazine Web site, even if it is a bit too much re-hash and a bit too much corporate speak.

The writer, from Wharton College, outlines some interesting options that eBay and CEO-elect James Donahoe might take to shore up some of the problems it has right now. The article is, however, stictly from a business perspective and fails to approach the human side of the story, which is what we all know is going to drive the future of the business.

There still seems to be a disconnect between the corporate side of eBay and Wall Street to the nuts and bolts dealers who live and die in the trenches of online auctions.

One of the main thing I took away from the above article was thatr eBay will be looking to make inroads into Asia in order to beef up its revenue and return to the glory days of bazillions of dollars. Interesting philosophy, but if a bucket is leacking water from a hole, and you simply fill it at the same rate, there's certainly no net gain and - eventually - you're going to run out of water.

Antique Trader Blog - Ephemera

More antiques article shortcuts

Halloween features: oldies but still goodies

Antique Trader spotlights Woodstock collectibles

Valuable marketing tool for dealers: hold a show before the auction

Can antique postcards be mailed? Yes!

Have you entered the Treasure Hunt this month

Take a break and play with some toys

Now's the time to invest

Quick links to Antique Trader articles

AntiqueTrader.com article links

Antique Trader's new sweepstakes

Shortcuts to antiques and collectibles features

Worth more than a thousand words

Added benefits of collecting

FREE online classified ads

A note to postcard enthusiasts

Features, features, and more features

So many shows ...

Cheerios (& more) go retro

How much are these cookbooks worth?

Postcards, postcards, and more postcards

I don't really mind cabin fever

Sometimes tough decisions have to be made

Perpetuating the Postcard Pastime

Speaking of books ...

No yard sale-ing for me, but a project off the list

We're excited about this week's issue!

The latest issue ...

Snapshots of history

A pretty penny expected at auction for first edition 'Emma'

Not just a Jewish girl - The Jewish girl! Anne Frank postcard found

Auction of recently uncovered Arbus photos abruptly canceled

Lincoln letter goes for more than $3M

Papa's Brand New Bag on the auction block

Who can resist a rampaging ape? King Kong poster rages to $345K

Atlantique City Day 2

Atlantique City - At last!

Postcard collecting is alive and well!

I wear two hats

Seven charged with selling fake fine art prints internationally

Just what I've always wanted! A corn flake that looks like Illinois...

Trader Question of the Week: What's the single most valuable antique you've ever bought at a show?

Despite it's corporate blindness, good ephemera deals on eBay still exist

This would make me sick, too: Man says he was cheated on Arbus photos

They've even heard of Hammerin' Hank in Canada!

Amazing Helen Keller pic found

Antique Trader 3-19 preview, comin' at ya'

In Case of Apocalypse, break stylish glass

Alternate Online Auctions - What are you using?

Is eBay trying to fill a leaky bucket?