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?

The AntiqueTrader.com online Auction Calendar has been updated with an index at the top of the page. Click on the state you want to see to go directly to those listings. Use your back button to go back to the top of the page.

To get your auction listed in the Antique Trader calendar (both in the magazine and onine), e-mail showscalendar@krause.com.

Please provide all the relevant information: Auction date, time, auction location, contact information (e-mail, Web site, telephone number).

If you would like it listed online only, send it to me at karen.knapstein@fwmedia.com.

Does the index make the calendars much easier to use? Or was it OK without it?

Buyers at the 2009 Atlantique City show will have access to four expert appraisers March 28-29, 2009 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. Every buyer is eligible for a free appraisal with additional appraisals (as time allows) available at $10 each. Appraisals are prohibited on items purchased at the show.

This year’s spectacular line up of experts includes:

Paula Fox of Bensalem, Pa. specializes in estate jewelry and gems. She will be the gemologist and appraiser at the show. Fox is vice president of the International Society of Appraisers, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter and a ranking member of the National Association of Jewelry Appraisers.

Mark F. Moran senior editor, antiques and collectibles books for Krause Publications in Iola, Wis. is a generalist. He has been a contributing editor to Antique Trader magazine, editor of Antique Review East magazine, producer of Atlantique City and editorial director of F+W Media’s Antiques Group. He is the author of more than 20 books on antiques and collectibles.

Linda Roberts, president of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the International Society of Appraisers will offer appraisals on general items. Roberts and her husband Howard own White Orchid Antiques & Appraisals in Media, Pa.

Ellen Schroy, editor of 24 consecutive editions of the Warman's Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide, will returns as a general appraiser. Beyond her work as a noted author in the antiques industry, Schroy contributes to Antique Trader and has appeared as a guest on nationally broadcast television and radio shows.

Todd Peenstra, an appraiser and consultant based in Annapolis, Md. is an expert on fine art and antiques. He has worked with both world renowned collectors and first-time art and antiques buyers at the prestigious M.S. Rau Antiques. Peenstra has years of experience as a buyer, seller and appraiser of the finest works of art and antiques on the market.

“Atlantique City is one of the few shows that offer free appraisals with such a broad range of talent,” says Show Promoter Eric Bradley. “The majority of the people who take advantage of our appraisal services are interested in learning more about an item picked up at a sale or whether a treasured family heirloom has any value.” Bradley notes that appraisals at Altantique City are professional opinions of value.

Atlantique City show hours are 10-6 on Saturday, March 27 and 10-4 on Sunday, March 28. Advance ticket holders gain access to the show at 9 a.m. on Saturday. To buy tickets and learn more about Atlantique City, visit the Web site at www.atlantiquecity.com. For Atlantique City exhibitor information call 800.526.2724.

The online box office for the March 2009 Atlantique City Show is now open for business. Atlantique City will take place March 28-29, 2009, at the Atlantic City Convention Center. We look forward to bringing you hundreds of America’s finest dealers in one easily accessible and exciting show.

Save $5 off the on-site ticket price and enjoy early admission to the show when you purchase tickets in advance.

Shopping Sprees Return!

You can win one of two $500 shopping sprees sponsored by Barbara Gerr Antiques of Galloway, N.J. Show buyers can enter a daily drawing for a $500 shopping spree in the appraisal/bookstore area of the show floor or right outside the Barbara Gerr Antiques booth #1000.

One winner will be randomly chosen each day to win the shopping spree.  You must be present to win and the shopping spree is good for purchases made at the show.

Collectors love Atlantique City

Dealers cover the Atlantic City Convention Center with 18th, 19th and early 20th century period antiques and fine arts including Tiffany lamps and metalwork, American folk art, European and American bronze, drawings, prints, fine furniture, Asian art and antiques, glass, porcelain and silver. Exhibitors will be coming from 41 states and Canada, Great Britain, Europe and the Orient.

Decorative arts from every major period will be in evidence: Art Deco, Aesthetic, Georgian, early American, Art Nouveau, Victorian, Modernism, and Arts & Crafts. Fine estate jewelry, Roseville, rare gems and important collections from every corner of the globe will be for sale. Antique and vintage toy dealers will bring cast iron, dolls, tin windup, vintage robots, cars, Victorian, paper and Baby Boomer-era items.

Experience the unusual curiosities at Atlantique City.Coin-operated machines, neat finds, advertising, medical and scientific technology, clocks and rugs – whether you can spend $5 or $500,000, you’ll go home with something from Atlantique City!

Show hours are Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Advance ticket buyers admitted at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Are you going to the Atlantique City show? Are you planning on attending another show this spring?

Feel free to log your reply here on the Antique Trader blog.

Antique furniture is functional as well as beautiful.

How do you protect your prized furnishings from damage while they are in use?

Post a reply here, in the Question of the Week forum thread, or e-mail sandra.sparks@fwmedia.com and let us know.

6th ANNUAL PALM BEACH JEWELRY, ART & ANTIQUE SHOW RETURNS PRESIDENTS’ DAY WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 13- 17
    Over 200 International Exhibitors Featuring Extraordinary Collections
 
(Palm Beach, FL) – The Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique show has become a traditional, “must attend” event every Presidents’ Day weekend with thousands of dealers, private collectors, museum curators, investors and high-end interior decorators traveling to the Palm Beach County Convention Center to search for treasures and purchase some of the most unique and coveted fine art, jewelry and antiques in the world.

This year the Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show will take place February 13-17, 2009 and feature over 200 renowned, world-class dealers showcasing fine art, sculpture, furniture, silver, textiles, bronze, jewelry, objets d’art, porcelain, ceramics, pottery, watches, clocks, Asian art and antiques, Persian carpets, glass, and more ranging in date from the antiquities to the 20th century.   An educational Lecture Series, free to the public, will further enhance the show each day with industry experts offering their extensive knowledge and background on a variety of captivating topics.

“The extraordinary collections available to view and purchase, all in one place, all at one time, paired with the level of expertise these dealers impart to our guests, cannot be found anywhere else in the United States.” said Kris Charamonde, Co-owner and managing partner of the Palm Beach Show Group.

An Opening Night Private Preview Party benefiting the Historical Society of Palm Beach County will kick off the show affording their supporters and guests with the first opportunity to view and purchase art and antiques before the show officially opens to the public on Saturday.

WHAT:        Palm Beach Jewelry, Art & Antique Show

WHEN:        February 13 – 17, 2009
        
HOURS:        Friday, February 13          Preview Party, by Invitation Only
        Saturday, February 14         11am-7pm
        Sunday, February 15         11am-7pm
        Monday, February 16         11am-7pm
        Tuesday, February 17         11am-6pm

WHERE:        Palm Beach County Convention Center
            650 Okeechobee Boulevard
            West Palm Beach, Florida

ADMISSION:    $15 daily, $25 for a 4-day pass

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Call 561.822-5440 or visit www.palmbeachshow.com

29TH ANNUAL BALTIMORE SUMMER ANTIQUES SHOW PRESENTS OVER 550 INTERNATIONAL DEALERS, 60 ANTIQUARIAN BOOK DEALERS
The largest summer antiques show in the nation returns
to the Baltimore Convention Center September 3-6, 2009

(Baltimore, MD)— Art and antique aficionados from across the country and around the world will celebrate the final days of summer at the 29th annual Baltimore Summer Antiques Show, September 3-6 at the Baltimore Convention Center.  Guests will have the unique opportunity to view and purchase from the collections of over 550 international dealers drawn from the United States, Canada, France, Italy, and England all in one place, all at one time.  Showcased collections of fine art, jewelry, silver, porcelain, American folk art, decorative accessories, furniture, glass, textiles and more ranging from the antiquities to the 20th century will line aisle after aisle at the largest summer antiques show in the nation.  The show also includes a 60-dealer Antiquarian Book Fair offering rare books, first editions, fine manuscripts, autographs, and unusual bibliographical material.

Adding to the event’s cultural experience, the Baltimore Summer Antiques Show will once again present an educational lecture series that is free to the public as well as show attendees.  The lecture series includes presentations on a wide variety of topics by respected dealers and industry experts.

The incredible diversity of dealers combined with the solid quality of items as well as educational programming makes the Baltimore show a significant event for guests and exhibitors alike.  

WHAT:            29th annual Baltimore Summer Antiques Show
    
WHEN:            Thursday, September 3 - Sunday, September 6, 2009

HOURS:            Thursday, September 3     12 pm – 8 pm
            Friday, September 4           11 am – 7 pm
            Saturday, September 5     11am – 7 pm
            Sunday, September 6        11am – 6 pm

WHERE:              Baltimore Convention Center
                Downtown at the Baltimore Inner Harbor
                One West Pratt Street
                Two Main Entrances:
                West Pratt Street Lobby
                Charles Street Lobby
            
ADMISSION:         Tickets:  $12.00   Good for all show days

FOR MORE         Call the Palm Beach Show Group at 561-822-5440 or visit
INFORMATION:        www.baltimoresummerantiques.com.

INAUGURAL D.C. SPRING ANTIQUES SHOW DEBUTS MARCH 2009

Largest International Antiques Show of its Kind in the Nation’s Capital
to Showcase Fine Art, Jewelry and Antiques


(Palm Beach, Florida) – The inaugural D.C. Spring Antiques Show will open its doors at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center March 6-9, 2009 with a showcasing of fine art, jewelry and antiques premiering as the largest antiques show of its kind to be presented in our nation’s capital.  

Over 300 of the world’s most renowned antique dealers, including A.B. Levy, William Cook, The Silver Fund, Mark J. West, Toulouse Antique Gallery and T.K. Asian Antiquities will present impressive collections from every genre including fine art, jewelry, glass, Political memorabilia, porcelain, furniture, decorative accessories, carpets, Americana, sculpture, silver, textiles and more dating from the antiquities to the 20th century.  Additionally, an educational lectures series will feature an all-star lineup of speakers, from published authors to industry experts, covering a wide range of topics and genres.  

The D.C. Spring Antiques Show is owned and operated by the Palm Beach Show Group, one of the nation’s leading producers of fine art, antique and jewelry shows.  Scott Diament, co-owner and Chief Operating Officer of the Palm Beach Show Group, recognized the need for an antiques show in D.C.  He stated, “I was surprised to find that our nation’s capital, a significant destination for historical enthusiasts and serious art collectors, lacked a large high-end antique show.  D.C. is a natural choice for our next antique show and we are excited to introduce our nation’s capital to some of the finest collections of antiques, art and jewelry available for purchase in the world.”

Exhibitor and craftsman Dino Pampillonia of Pampillonia Jewelers in Washington, D.C. shares, “We’ve been doing shows with the Palm Beach Show Group for years and the caliber and reputation of their shows is extraordinary and one of the best in the industry.  D.C. has needed a large, quality antique show of this size for years and we’re happy to be a part of it.”

WHAT:        D.C. Spring Antiques Show

WHEN:        March 6 – 9, 2009
        
HOURS:        Friday, March 6          11am-7pm
        Saturday, March 7         11am-7pm
        Sunday, March 8         11am-7pm
        Monday, March 9         11am-6pm
        
WHERE:        Walter E. Washington Convention Center
        801 Mount Vernon Place, NW
        Washington, D.C.

ADMISSION:    $12 admission, good for all show days

FOR MORE INFORMATION:  Call 561.822-5440 or visit www.dcspringshow.com

Hi All,

I know it's going on elsewhere as well, but it seems as though New Orleans — being what it is, an exciting city packed with culture, history, and mystique — has a perpetual spotlight on it. This is NOT the kind of thing it wants to be known for.

After 5 burglaries New Orleanian gives up, moving to Austin

by Ramon Antonio Vargas, The Times-Picayune

Francisco Galicia had to laugh when he noticed that his city tax bill this year included a new line item: $200 for enhanced police protection.

In the past 13 months, Galicia has been burglarized five times, each crime dealing a fresh blow to the longtime New Orleans resident's ambition to restore his flooded rental property on South Gayoso Street in Mid-City.

Click here to read the rest of this heart-wrenching story that will get your blood boiling.

Galicia is a wood craftsman by trade who restored antiques at MS Rau Antiques for nine years.

Feel free to post a reply with your comments.