Collecting Antique Trunks




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Any shrink can tell what kind of a man you are, by the baggage you keep. But the kind of baggage I’m referring to is the luggage any bellman knows like the back of his hand.

Collecting antique trunks is interesting. You remember an era where families send off their kids to boarding schools and had them take antique trunks with them. Stuffed with books, sweaters etc.

Antique trunks have different styles namely; flat top trunks(steamer trunks are also known as flat top trunks), dome top trunks(also known as camel back trunks or humpback trunks), half or hat trunks, Jenny Lind trunks(peep into the keyhole and see a figure”8” or hourglass shape),oak slat trunks(considered the most rare trunks today),doll trunks ,specialty trunks(for musical instruments ,costumes and make up),pyramidal trunks, wardrobe trunks( characteristically has drawers on one end and a hanging space on the other end) and wall trunks.


If you can spot initials “LV” anywhere in your vintage trunk, then you can be sure you have a treasure in your hands. Louis Vuitton vintage trunks fetch in top dollars. If you have the original keys, tags or label all the more the prices go up.

It is known that a wide selection of vintage trunks can be seen at flea markets in London and Paris such as vintage Louis Vuitton, Hermes and Goyard antique trunks from the 1920s to 1950s.

Especially authentic steamer trunks, you can see and feel they are marvels of craftsmanship. They are engineered to be portable homes. From an outside view antique steamer trunks could be seen as nothing more than beautiful boxes.

Open them up however and a different world reappears. Its features, ran from a foldout ironing board(complete with an iron and built in laundry bag and a shoe case. You can even customize it to fit your laptop, tv, Bose speakers even you vintage martini shaker.

Nobody packs for the journey anymore, now we pack for the trip. If you want to wax nostalgic collecting antique trunks is it.


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Collecting Vintage Drums



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Collecting vintage drums have gain more and more popularity among the drumming community and collectors alike.

Percussion enthusiasts only know how fun it is to beat to the rhythm of your favorite music. But I can’t say the same for the next door neighbor of drummer Dave and bongo Bob.


For a vintage drum to be collectible it doesn’t have to be rare( albeit an important factor). Black Beauties are rare also a collectible, but Radio Kings are not rare but it is also a collectible.

It depends on your interests if you want to collect a whole vintage drums set or separately buy the parts like vintage ride cymbals, vintage crash cymbals, vintage hi-hat cymbals, vintage drum stands, vintage drum thrones, vintage drum pedals , vintage drum rims, vintage drum mounts, single vintage snare drums, vintage bass drums and vintage toms.

Before buying vintage drum set check if there are scratches, hairline cracks, scuffs, patch up jobs, gouges stains, dings, dents, defacements, rust, pitting, spongy, caved in and bulged out areas or any other peripheral signs of wear and tear.

Check if there’s any signs of modification and make sure all parts are original. Originality in condition increases the value of the vintage drum set if you considering reselling it in the future.

Determine the overall tone quality of the vintage drums, make sure it resonate properly. Check out forums and talk to musicians and vintage drum collectors if you want to increase your knowledge about the subject.


Drums manufactured between the 1920’s to 1960’s such as Gretsch, Pearl, Slingerland vintage drums are the most sought after.Rarity, historic significance (like the Ludwig drum set Ringgo Starr used when The Beatles made their first appearance to the American audience in the Ed Sullivan show), preservation of originality and of course the marketplace trends makes a vintage drum set collectible.

It’s always the that market drives the values. Again it all goes back to the supply and demand theory of economics. It’s also true of collecting vintage drum set as with any other collection.

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Collecting Wine



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Once upon a time the typical wine collector is the British aristocrat but those days are gone. The current economic boom in America and its socioeconomic breadth have produced a new batch of men and women who acquire and enjoy fine wine.


People collect everything under the sun, thus this blog is what it’s all about. People collect coins to motorcycles, baseball cards to comic books, The wine collector, however stands alone. He is the only one who destroys his treasures in order to enjoy them.

Wine collecting can be as much a lifestyle as it is a hobby. What a better way to indulge your passion than by retrieving a well-aged bottle from your cellar and sharing it with your loved ones. Having wine on hand also precludes having to dash to the corner liquor store every time someone drops by unexpectedly for dinner or drink.

Yet, a well-stocked cellar enables you to transform an ordinary evening into an instant celebration simply by opening a special bottle.

A beginning wine collector should be aware of purchasing options, importance of proper storage, methods of growing, protecting and managing your cellar. He must have the patience, willingness to learn and enough money to fill his cellar. As your knowledge of wine grows and tastes develop, your collection will expand accordingly.


You can have the option of collecting only Bordeaux, it’s called vertical cellar, regional cellar which focuses only in Burgundy, global cellar- a selection from many of the world’s major wine regions and of course collecting only investment-grade wine which will appreciate in value as time goes by.


When looking to store your collection, whether it’s beginner’s stake of 250 bottles or thousand bottles, there are two standard refrigeration units: A free- standing refrigeration unit or a built-in cellar. The choice you make will depend on your financial resources, the space you have available and your goal as collector.


The fascination of wine and wine collecting is never ending. There is simply too much to know. What makes a good wine, the components that go into it, the types of soil, the different types of grapes, the aging of the wine so on and so forth. You can never really get completely on top of it. No one can know everything. Everyday there is something new to learn.

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Collecting War Relics



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Collecting War Relics

If you count on how many war films have been made you can tell that war fascinates people. And where there is interest, there’s money to be made out of collecting.

You can focus on a specific war like the American Civil war or the two World Wars.

Collectors in this field tend to concentrate on narrow subject areas like military weapons or gas masks.

The first thing to do is to know your subject. Read all you can about history thoroughly.

War is mainly about weapons like shell cases, grenade shells- could be collected. But there is a civilian side to war.
Newspapers of the time are an excellent buy and will probably help with your research as well. You might want to collect letters written to or by soldiers, as well as postcards.

Don’t forget civilian ration books and identity cards, government pamphlets and war posters. War posters were popular especially during the first World War. Through posters the citizenry of the U.S. were reached unlike the second World War, media such as radio and television were predominantly used to recruit aspiring soldiers than mere posters.

The idea is to build up a balanced history of any war you are interested in and collect items base on your research.

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Collecting Beer and Wine Labels




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Label collecting is as attractive as stamp collecting. The information provided by labels is an excellent way of recording certain aspects of commercial life in times gone by.

For wine labels, you could spend a considerable time collecting only ninety-odd chateau labels of the 1855 Bordeaux official classification. And even that would be difficult because some chateaux change their labels designs periodically.


Like for example, Chateau-Mouton-Rotchschild commissions a different label artist to design a new label every vintage year. But that would be a worthwhile investment.


Beer labels whether from the U.S.A. and Britain in particular command better prices. The first nationally popular beer in Britain was ‘porter’. This was a brew that was to gain even greater fame when developed into Guinness.


Then there’s the classic British brew called pale ale. There’s also light ale, oatmeal stout, strong ale, barley wine.

Collecting American beer labels is fascinating because of its diversity. The cosmopolitan nature of the country is a primary reason for a wide variety of beers produced.

Some American beers are no longer made in their country of origin. For instance, porter can no longer be found in Britain, but it still is brewed in the U.S.A. In fact, most American beers owe their origin to brews from abroad, apart from steam beer which is only the really original American beer.

In many ways, wine and beer labels are a superior form of stamp collecting.

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Collecting Vintage Acoustic Guitars



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At one time or another in our lives we fancy being a professional musician. We are proud to play riffs of Led Zeppelin’s Stairway To Heaven even if we can’t finish the whole song.

We love playing our guitars and for some reason we like to collect them as well.. Acoustic guitar collection is still in its early stage but it has been already been heralded as a work of fine art.


Guitars made before World War 2 are considered the most desirable and collectible and goes without saying, fetch in very high prices. Guitars made from various manufacturers such Martin, Gibson, Lyn and Healy and Larson Brothers are the most sought after.


Martin’s flat top steel string guitars are superb in craftsmanship and sound. The earliest models were made during 1840’s to 1920’s. But the most collectible are the 12 and 14 fret steel string models made from the middle of 1920’s to 1944. The playability, sound and workmanship are very excellent.

What is considered the golden era of the flat top Martin guitars are the larger size, 14 fret 000 and "D" sizes from the 1930’s. In fact, The Martin D-45 which was custom made for Gene Autry commands very stratospheric price.


The most desirable when it comes to Martin body size is the 000, OM and D sizes. If you have a Martin guitar check the serial number inside and just above it the style and body size number. Make sure the original parts are still intact and no modifications on the bridge, tuners and frets. These factors affect the value of the guitar.


When it comes to the brand Gibson, archtops are the most collectible. Well they invented the archtop guitar so why wouldn’t they lead the pack? The most desirable and collectible are the larger models made from the early 1930’s to 1959 namely The Lloyd Roar signed L-5’s, the pre war Super 400, Advanced L-5 archtops and the Cut away archtop models from the 1946 to 1959.


Unlike paintings, guitars are usable collections. You don’t have to be CEO of a Fortune 500 company to be able to start collecting vintage acoustic guitars. And while you’re at it, it doesn’t hurt if you could strum and hum puff the magic dragon….

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Collecting Crate Labels



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The hobby of collecting crate labels started in the sixties. People directly involved with the packing plants started the craze. Maybe because they just don’t want to see unused labels thrown away or just rut inside the label storage room.


The crate labels were mostly found on warehouses, packing plants, patent offices and the printing houses itself because they usually kept a copy of their work as a sample. Today, you can get it from mostly and conveniently on the internet like ebay, or other collectors.


The beauty of this small vintage art just look so beautiful with all the bright colors and vividly depicting any kind of themes such as sports, birds, romantic and nostalgic sceneries, the pets and children of the farm owners who custom made their labels when family farms were prevalent at that time.

Since the advent of the corrugated cardboard boxes and packing plants mushroomed just about everywhere, the use of wooden crates for fruits and family farm labels declined.

The crate labels of yore all had different kinds of colors, shades and hues. No two brands of crate labels looked alike.

They made their own ink, which supposed to be a trade secret. The sizes of their crate labels also varies depending of course the sizes of the crates. Like cherries only need a small crate so, they used smaller crate labels as supposed to oranges that needed bigger crates. It did not even have so much text on it.


If you want to start collecting these beauties start with what you like. I think that would be self- explanatory. I mean you wouldn’t want to be surrounded by things you don’t like do you? You can shell out a small amount of money for what is considered a vintage art.

The hobby doesn’t need that much investment. That’s one nice about this pursuit. You can also branch out to collecting can labels, cigar box labels or even vintage advertisement.

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Collecting Yo-yos



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My first encounter with a foreign yo-yo demonstrator was way back in high school. This was in the late seventies. Coca Cola sponsored the event. The demonstrator was Mexican and I remember quite vividly after he performed the usual tricks like around the world, walking the dog and rocking the baby, he showed his very own tricks.

He called it the "spaghetti" he tangled up the strings like a spaghetti, and kind of made a slurping motion with his mouth and there went the string untangled and the yoyo still spinning went right back to his hand.

For his finale, he did a couple of throws, up in the air and then swiftly and skillfully slipped the string knot off his finger and let the yo-yo on perfect cue, amazingly dropped into his left breast pocket. I was totally blown away. His expertise with the yo-yo, such a mundane toy but considered a cultural icon, enabled him to travel around the globe.


Of course the yo-yos of today are not the kind we knew back then. Transaxle ball bearing yo-yos are the crème de la crème, the top of the heap when it comes to yo-yo performance. The "sleep" time (spinning freely) is longer thus you will be able to perform tricks easily as opposed to the traditional fixed axle yo-yos.

Examples of these are Turbo Bumblebee, the Viper and Cold Fusion. They fetch in higher prices naturally but you will be surely the envy of the gang if you own one of these babies.


Yo-yo contests attract enthusiasts and collectors alike. There is a growing demand for collectible yo-yos and other yo-yo related memorabilia such as string packages, award patches, old contest fliers, manufacturer sales catalogs, old trick books and limited edition yo-yos. Yo-yos are also highly cross-collectable.

There are yo-yos with cereal, cartoon character, advertising such as coke and souvenir designs on it.


The highest price ever paid for a single yo-yo was the Pres. Richard Nixon signed yoyo for $16,029.00. And the first flown yo-yo into outer space is the yellow plastic Duncan Imperial this happened in April 12, 1983.


Companies that produced excellent yo-yos are Duncan, Russell, Spintastics, Superyo, Tom Kuhn, Yomega. Bird In Hand, Chico, Hi-ker. Most desirable and collectible yo-yos are usually from the 50’s and 60’s with such names like Litening, Rainbow, Chief, Suede, Day-Glo and Satellite.


Yo-yo is definitely a toy that has survived time and it will be absolutely continue to be played in years to come.

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Collecting Cameos



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Cameos are like miniature sculptures but only carve on the front side called relief. The first known cameos were used as ceremonial clothing by emperors, used as seals, as adornment in helmets, breastplates, swords and some were used by members of the clergy.


The carvings usually depicted profiles of beautiful women, (this is the most popular motif) mythological and biblical themes, and heroes and rulers of a particular period. Cameos usually have contrast in colors, like darker background and lighter foreground.


Cameos are carve in hardstones which a term for gemstone or semi precious stones like amethyst, emerald, ruby, opal, opaque stones such as agate, carnelian , onyx etc. and some are carve in conch shells and corals. Out of 100,000 species of sea shells only about six species are perfectly suited for cameos.


The popularity of cameos surged in early nineteenth century when cameos are mounted on gold, silver or other metals and became fashionable pieces of jewelry such as brooches, necklaces, tiaras, bracelets and earrings.


The more colors a certain shell or hardstone may project the more valuable the cameo is. If the cameos depicted two carvings from one single stone, the more valuable it is. As opposed to two carvings but made from two different stones and you see evident of glue in between then the carvings are definitely a poor attempt at faking it.

Using a magnifying glass, look for chips and cracks on the cameos for it will lessen the value of it. Make sure the cameos are mounted on the original settings or frame. If the demand outstrip the supply, expect fakes and forgeries all over. Asia is now a hub for manufacturing cheaper cameos made of plastic and resin, because it has a shell-like feel to it. Do a hot needle test, if it melts then it plastic.


Cameos carved in hardstones requires more skill and adeptness, they are more durable compared to shells and corals. They are most likely the type of cameos that can be pass on to the next generations therefore hardstone carved cameos are more expensive.
Famous collectors of cameos are Pope Paul ll and Napoleon Bonaparte.

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Collecting Teddy Bears



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The appeal of the teddy bear is universal. That is why both young and old collect them. Teddy Bear signifies unconditional love and acceptance.


The teddy bear dates back 1902 when President Theodore Roosevelt went to Mississippi to settle a border dispute between Mississippi and Louisiana, the host offered the president to shoot the tired little bear tied to a tree. President Roosevelt refused to shoot the bear considered it to be unsportsmanlike.


That good deed towards the bear drew national attention, especially when the Washington Post pblished a cartoon by Clifford Berryman depicting the President and the bear.


An enterprising couple by the name of Morris and Rose Michtom banked on the national interest and made the first stuffed bear and called it Teddy’s Bear with the permission of Pres. Teddy Roosevelt of course and displayed it in their stationery store. The teddy bears sold like hot cakes, thus the first manufacturing company called Ideal Novelty and Toy Company was born.


Some unexplainable synchronicities occurred in the other continent, a German fellow designed and made his first teddy bear. But Europeans were not as crazy for teddy bears as Americans did at that time.

During a fair in Europe an American businessman bought 3,000 teddy bears and brought them to America and sold out the whole stocks. It was the start of European market for teddy bears.


American made teddy bears are slimmer, more spindly. The stitches are looser. While the European made are stockier, the snout longer, and the stitches are tighter thus command higher prices. In today’s world it is customary for companies to outsource their production in Asia because the labor cost is cheaper, so many toys like teddy bears are now manufactured in Asia and very much less costly.


Artist-made teddy bears are totally the "in" thing when it comes to teddy bears. They are handmade, designed and made by the industry’s finest artists, the fur is expensive like mohair and eyes and buttons made of gems. The price for these bears are also expensive.


Look for bears that came from Gund, Knickerbocker, Steiff, Bing and Farnell. Make sure you research and talk with a reputable toy dealer before embarking on buying vintage teddy bears. Let investment be the last of your criteria when buying, the first is you must have genuine like for your teddy bear collection.

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Collecting Glass Bottles



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Collecting glass bottles has a vast scope. As always you need to collect thematically or to just plainly specialized.


One interesting glass bottle collectible is the Codd glass bottle sometimes know as pinchneck which designed and patented by Hiram Codd in 1872.

Another interesting glass bottle collectible is the bitters bottles. They came in wide variety of shapes and sizes and dated back 18th century in Great Britain and mid 19th century in the U.S.A.



Bitters are originally a form of medicine for indigestion. It consisted of angostura and citrus peel infused in alcohol and flavored with cinnamon, juniper and cloves.

The popularity of the bitters in both Britain and U.S can only be summed up in one word : alcohol. All the while enjoying the intoxicating effect people in those days thought they were doing it for medicinal purposes.


Bitters bottles came in variety of shapes like barrels, lighthouses, cannons and several other shapes. The bottles were in amber, clear and mostly greens and the more rare ones are in blue, amethyst and puce.


Another worthwhile collectibles are medicine bottles in the Victorian-Edwardian era. And some other medicine bottles had labels that are exotic, showing oriental scenes ornate or bizarre designs

Ink bottles are also collectible, although they were made for practical purposes not just merely ornamental.
The picture above is a bitters bottle.

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Collecting Cigarette Cards




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Cigarette cards evolve form an earlier tradition of trade cards. Trade card was a sort of a business card back in the old days. It consisted of the names, addresses and advertisements of commercial companies.

Cigarette cards were used to stiffen the American paper cigarette packets.

The popularity of cigarette cards took off right around the 1880’s when chromolithography was applied to pictures.

But the production of cigarette cards peaked during 1920-40. Collecting investors no doubt would hunt for cigarette cards in this era. The most expensive sets would come from this particular period.

The reason being, there were many, many smaller cigarette companies as oppose to today’s tobacco giant companies, thus each of these smaller companies produced their own garden variety of cigarette cards.

The most expensive sets are from the smallest companies.

You can pick up incomplete sets for less prices but you just going to have to do individual hunt for the missing pieces to complete your set.

During the end of the first world war, several large tobacco consortiums were formed consequently putting the smaller companies out of business, thus the production of the cigarette cards began to decline.

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" Give Pez A Chance”



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Trivia: Ebay was founded because the founder Peirre Omidyar’s partner needed a venue to buy and sell her collection of pez dispensers.


Pez comes from the German word for pfefferminz which means peppermint. Pez candy dates back in 1927. They were first marketed as adult mints for people trying to quit smoking. In the today’s world of Altoids and Tic Tac, pez got there first.



Pez were originally sold in small tin boxes. But right around 1950’s the pez dispenser were invented. They were created originally for truck drivers so they could easily pop a candy into their mouths while driving.

After the second World War pez dispensers came out with character heads, this time to specifically target their market: children. The first character heads for pez dispensers was Mickey Mouse in all different versions. Then came out later many other designs for heads like Zorro, Captain Hook, Santa Claus etc.



Baby boomers are also buying pez dispensers because of nostalgic factors. They want to collect something from their memories of happy childhood.


Most expensive pez dispenser ever held in an auction was The Astronaut B pez with white helmet and green stem which had a winning bid for $32,205.00. There are two of them in fact, the other one has blue helmet with blue stem.

They were made as prototypes for supposedly a joint venture deal but the negotiation didn’t’ came through, so there were no mass production that occurred. So that makes the Astronaut B pez dispenser rare.


Another rare pez dispenser was the do-it-yourself that comes in different parts(eyes, nose, ears etc. ) to make your own face, but the manufacturer thought it was dangerous for children under 12 so they discontinued the production.

The do-it-yourself

Pez dispensers are sold as much as $5,000 a piece.



A lot of pez dispensers that didn’t sell were taken off the market back in those days. They were originally sold for a quarter now commands a two to three thousand dollar price tag like the Mary Poppins pez dispensers.



Today lots of people collect the battery operated dispensers, the value would even more appreciate if they keep the boxes that they come in.
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Collecting Cowboy Kitsch




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Honestly? My idea of cowboys is definitely what I have seen on movies and television. The television series "Wild, Wild West," John Wayne movie "High Noon" and the ad for a popular cigarette brand said it all for me when it comes to cowboys.


Hollywood depicted cowboys as a bunch of men who were gun toting, skillful horse riders, bar room brawlers and usually were the ladies objects of affection. But in reality, they were laborers, who were overworked, underpaid and very much under appreciated, who spent more time with their horses than with the ladies.


The history of cowboys dated back after the Civil War ended. The ranch owners hired these homeless soldiers for some ranch work in the west, thus the beginning of the way of the cowboys.


Their main tasks were herding the cattle from one watering place to the next, guard against predators, watch out for straying cattle and stampedes at night. Once they reached the central location, they branded newborn calves, castrated and de-horned older cattle and chose cattle to be taken to the market.


Much of the cowboy’s equipments, attire and skills for cattle ranching were very much influence by the vaqueros of Mexico, who originally got their influence from Old Spain dating as far back as the 1500’s.
The need for cowboys or ranch hands declined when the barbed wire was invented (meaning the cattle were fenced in with private landholdings) and the growth of railroads (which is a faster option for transporting the cattle).
About 3.5 million cattle were driven in herds from Southern Texas to towns in Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming. This event is considered the first gold to come from the west not from the Gold rush.


The era of the old-fashioned cowboy was brief but incredible, spanning only about thirty years but the central folklore, the true grit, admirable character and free spirit of the cowboy still lives on.


Today, rodeo shows and events are held every year for the ranching industry and cowboys at heart. The events showcase the cattle handling skills of these ranchmen, such as lasso and roping, tying steers and bull riding.

Approximately forty thousand people flock to these events annually to participate in rodeo and go shopping for cowboy and ranching related items such as saddles, Stetson hats, Rocketbuster boots, sterling in laid spurs and silver, gold carved belt buckles. Not to mention the attendance of cowboy auction shows. The cowboy industry definitely is bucking for revenues.


Western art has now become a prestigious sector of the American Art. Some western oil paintings fetched in up to seven figures in sales. Then there’s western music industry, which is a multi-million dollar business today.
I’m sure you have your own personal favorite country singers Anything related to famous cowboys whether true-to-life or not like Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, Roy Rogers, Hopalong Cassidy etc. would indeed be collectible.

The cowboy lifestyle is more than just the wide brimming hat, the levi’s jeans, the chuck wagon, the gun slinging etc. Despite the intrigue and notoriety, the cowboy is an icon. He represents hard work, trust and standing up for what’s right.

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Collecting Duck Decoys




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For over hundreds of years both professional and amateur duck hunters used duck decoys to lure ducks to land on field or water within shotgun range. Archeologists discovered antiquated duck decoys believed to be first made and used by the native Americans.

Aside from its original purpose, duck decoys have also an art appeal. In fact, duck decoys are considered the consummate American art form.


There are different kinds of duck decoys such as flying decoys, they simulate ducks joining the main flock, half-body feeder decoys they simulate a duck tipping to feed, motion decoys such as swimmers and shakers.

They have a battery –powered motor. Swimmers move in circles and shakers make ripples. Another kind is the sleeper decoys, they are set on shore or mixed with other floating decoys to send a message to ducks flying that everything’s normal. Confidence decoys, they mimic herons and other waterfowls seen around with other duck decoys to give the spread a real impression.

The full-body floating decoys which are weighted so they won’t keel over and they have anchor and strings so they won’t float too far. Field decoys come in full body, shell and silhouette models.


Duck decoys come in standard size measures 15 inches to 16 inches and magnum size measures 18 to 20 inches. There are companies who manufactures super magnums which measure 21 inches or longer. Some decoys are made of wood, cork, molded plastic and foam.


Decoys must be set in the right spread where ducks can see them. With skillful duck calls hunters can be sure their hunt would be fruitful. Just make sure the decoys aren’t too glossy with frost, they have to be in their natural color just like real ducks.


When it comes to collecting, the age old question of authenticity always comes up. Flawless duck decoys make buyers suspicious but decoys that have too many chips and scratches won’t make them attractive enough either.

It’s always a healthy balance of condition and rarity that make duck decoys collectible. Or any other collectibles for that matter.


To collect duck decoys really depends on your budget and tastes. If appearance or aesthetics is important to you or a certain duck species or decoys made by known carvers like Elmer Crowell and Charles Perdue then by all means collect them. The most important factor is you collect thematically.

The highest price paid for a single duck decoy is approximately $800,000 plus at a certain auction.


Always check out Duck decoy catalogs or Ebay to constantly keep abreast of the prices, sales and items.

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African Americana / Black Memorabilia Collecting



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African Americana or what is popularly known as Black memorabilia is a huge slice in a collecting community pie.
There had been a notable upsurge in the demand and market for these collectibles in the later part of the seventies. "Roots" the popular book and television series written by Alex Haley made people especially African Americans curious about their heritage. And collecting black ephemera is a crucial format to learn about their culture and history.


The scope of African American History is very wide. It dated back when the first voyage of the human cargo shipped the first batch of slaves from Africa to America.

There are many artifacts remnant of the slavery period. Among these are slave tags, slave chains , braided whips, shackles, neck collars, plantation ledgers, branding irons, certificates of freedom, bills of sale, slave auction papers etc. These relics command prices of stratospheric level.

There was one pottery item made by a slave and signed "x" (the "x" signature means it was made by a slave) created during the 1800’s and were sold for a whooping $30,000.


Another collectibles are from pre-civil rights era, the Harlem renaissance, the Jim Crow era. Collectibles like Mammy, Sambo , Aunt Jemima, Uncle Moses dolls or figurines, salt and pepper shakers or anything that feature Black characters which has caricatured characteristics like oversized lips, wide eyes etc.

The collectibles in this particular era stereotyped African Americans in a derogatory way.


Segregation signs like "Whites Only," KKK robes and hoods, KKK membership pass cards are also popular. Sheet music of Gospel songs, travel guides that listed "colored only" hotels, resorts and restaurants and anything related to popular African American figures like letters and programs of speaking engagements of Dr. Martin Luther King are very much in demand. If you have a literary bent and interests books by Maya Angelou and James Baldwin are also desirable.


Some collectors of Black memorabilia likes to collect to appreciate and value and preserve history, some collectors buy these items to destroy them and some collect to profit from their collections.


How you associate the Black memorabilia items, is the important factor in buying them. If the objects makes you feel uncomfortable and sensitive then don’t collect these items.

If the objects make you feel good, because they remind you of the hardships of your ancestors but survive all the atrocities of prejudice and made sure it will never happen again by all means accumulate these collectibles.

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Collecting Antique Maps



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Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you come across a two hundred year old map of the exact town you were born or a city you now live in? That’s the unequal pleasure and enchantment that antique maps hold.


To collect antique maps all really depends on where your interests lie. If you are fascinated by the maps which great explorers like Ferdinand Magellan, Captain James Cook, Christopher Columbus and Hernan Cortes got their hands on then all the better. These kinds of maps command astronomical prices but they can surely be profitable investments.


You may want to collect antique maps because of your geographical interests or for some related global events or industries. Some have fascinations for maps of smaller islands that are top vacation destinations like the West Indies, Bermuda and Malta. Some follow the works of a certain cartographer, among the famous ones are Ortelius,
Blaeu, Bowen, Tallis and Homann.

Some like world maps which make them highly decorative for they are larger than usual and colored which make it favorable for framing, and maps that have some certain mistakes in it like the known California as an island map. Deciding on which maps to collect really depends on the individual tastes and budget.


You shouldn’t have to worry about fakes in antique maps for they are very expensive to make but one should be wary of photo reproductions of old maps. Run your fingers on the paper and feel the texture, if it’s smooth then its not genuine.

Check if there are no evident plate marks around the perimeter, if the margins are trimmed not wide, if there are legends or notations on the borders with dates and the names of printing houses .
Use a high powered magnifying glass called loop and zoom in, if you see matrix of small dots arranged geometrically that make up an image well that’s a true blue reproduction.

These are just the tell tale signs of a photo reproduction of a map. If you want expert opinion you can consult reputable antique map dealers they will always be happy to serve you.


Factors in maps like creases or folds, staining, molds and soils, browning of the whole paper, if the map is glued or pasted on cardboard or pressboard, tears and rips, if the margins are wide or trimmed, if the color is faded, if the map have highly interesting features like cartouches, sea monsters and ships etc. All these factors have an effect on the value of the map.


It when comes to color of the maps, some maps were issued colorless. Sophisticated and knowledgeable collectors avoid colored maps because the coloring only obscures the beauty of any engraved map that’s one of their profound beliefs.


Storage of these wonderful historic prints are to be taken much into consideration. Like any other works of historic art, they should not be exposed to direct sunlight.

The use of UV filtering glass or Plexiglas is highly recommended to avoid fading. The storage place should have ideal temperature of preferably 70 degrees F and humidity about 50% and should be kept constant, major fluctuations is a big no no.


Although pre 17th paper are not acid free, we should preserve it in an acid free surroundings like rematting or reframing of maps to aid these artworks for longevity. There is this new product that comes in various forms that absorb and de-sorb moisture to protect the artwork.

Are you ready to buy one or two maps that you find interesting? Here’s a tip, road and subway maps maybe the collectibles for the future.

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Collecting Space Memorabilia




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"That’s one small step for man and one giant leap for mankind." Those are the immortal words spoken by Neil Armstrong as he stepped into the sea of moon sand for the time in history on July 20, !969 exactly four days after Apollo 11 took off from Kennedy Space Center and landed safely on the moon.


Ever since that historic moon walk, anything related to that event is collectible. There is a huge appetite for those items that it had become a commodity what with all the increasing value put on those space flown artifacts.


Posters, medallions, stamps, covers, photographs, space art paintings, emblems, flags, space suits, helmets, gloves, charts, maps, logbooks ,astronaut autographs, patches and actual space flown hardware such as parts of the spacecraft itself and most of all the moon dust, pebbles, sand and rocks.


Every collector opts to specialize in one item only. Like building a mission patch collection or astronauts autographs etc. Purchase items from reputable dealers. It is recommended that the item sold should have proper documentation. To guarantee that the item is properly released and authenticated.

Without the documentation, the item sold or bought, is by default property of U.S. government. It is illegal to own these collectibles without the papers.

Among the popular space collectibles are from the Soviet manned missions, Mercury, Gemini and Apollo eras, specifically Apollo11, the first landing and Apollo 8 the first manned orbit of the moon. And due to the popular Hollywood blockbuster movie Apollo 13 related items are quite collectible too.


Owning these items meant it’s the closest you ever get to the moon. Not to mention you own a piece of American space history. Baby boomers are among the largest group to collect these collectibles because they grew up in the 1960’s space race and feel quite nostalgic about the bygone years and it’s a popular notion that they have a lot of cash to burn as well.


A black and white lunar chart created by NASA in 1970 and signed by a member of each Apollo mission that landed on the moon-Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Edgar Mitchell, Dave Scott, Charles Duke and Gene Cernan was sold for a whooping 16,000 U.S. dollars back in the late nineties.


When people look back let’s say three hundred years from now, the defining moment of the twentieth century will be the moon walks.

There hasn’t been a manned launch to the moon since 1972.

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Spy Memorabilia Collecting




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You may be wondering what is the purpose of intelligence or counter-intelligence services. Do their spies just kill other spies? Well, for those un-initiated the primary tasks of an intelligence agent are recruiting moles and mainly acquiring information and passing it on to the handler.


The job of the handler is to pass it to the analysts who will convert billions of bits of data into useful intelligence product. The finished intelligence products are classified information needed by military and political leaders to make better decisions and consequently shape international foreign policies.


The purpose of their work is to prevent war or any military surprises. Through their brave and patriotic work we have avoided going over the threshold of a hot war.


The staple of the spy trade is tradecraft. Tradecraft is the term use for the methods, devices and techniques applied by the spy in clandestine intelligence operations. These devices are mainly concealment devices, objects used to hide top secret documents. These are the most sought after collectibles in the spy memorabilia collecting.


Specifically the espionage artifacts before and during the Cold War are the best ones. Like the Steineck wristwatch camera used by the U.S. Air Force intelligence officers in the 1950’s, The World War ll tool kit which includes a sabateur’s fountain pen which conceals igniters for detonating explosives, Stasi pens which hides a microdot viewer, eyeglass case, cigarette lighter and pack that conceal cameras and ashtray, globe and phone that serve as listening devices.


These are really interesting and intriguing collectibles because it made used of human ingenuity but at the same time limited by human frailties.


These are real world spy artifacts. On the other hand the fictional spy characters James Bond, Maxwell Smart and Austin Powers collectibles have also a wide following but these are just, you know fictional.


There are a garden variety of espionage board games between 1930’s and 1970’s you can collect. Or you might want to start collecting memorabilia of your favorite real world spy like Kim Philby, John Walker and the notorious Alrich Ames.


There are lots of books on the subject and plenty of spy museums to visit. You can do extensive research because you have to get an understanding of how spies operate in order to understand and know what spy equipments look like for they were used secretly at that time.
The great seal above is actually a bugging device.
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Collecting Hawaiin And Surfer Surfing Posters




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Surf movie poster were a way to advertise a certain movie about surfing in the 1950’s and 60’s. The promoters pasted or tacked them on telephone poles, school auditoriums, and car windows. The kids took these posters off and bring it home and display on their bedroom walls. Thus the hobby of collecting surf movie poster was born.


Bud Browne started it all and filmed a movie documentary about surfing. They would filmed it on 16mm and filled it with footages of people surfing and scouting places with perfect waves to ride on. Soon after other filmmakers followed suit with variations as filming not only documentary but beach party movies as well. The movie ‘Gidget’ clearly depicted the surfing lifestyles with campy entertainment scenes.


The surf movie posters are relics of that era. They came in various sizes 8"x 11", 9"x 12" and 11"x 14" unlike the monolithic generic movie posters in those days which measured 27" x 41".
The value of surf movie posters are determined by factors of rarity, condition and demand.



They are graded mint, near mint, very good, good , fair and poor just like the way they grade comic books and baseball cards. If you are serious in collecting posters for fun and investment purpose(like thinking of selling you collection in ten years) you should carefully take care of your items like not folding ,marking or exposing it to light or even UV lighting. It’s common sense how you take care of your goods.

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Aloha Shirt




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Still on the series of collecting Hawaiin kitsch. Aloha shirts or Hawaiin shirts as the rest of the world term this piece of clothing made of exotic, colorful fabrics. The shirts first appeared in the 1930’s.

When Hawaii became a state in 1959 aloha shirts became even more popular along with long flowing muumuus.


Local artists created styles and designs that depicted the lifestyles, experiences and of course the environment of the South Pacific Islands such as the warm balmy breeze, white sandy beaches, crystal blue waters, palm trees and golden sunsets.


Aloha shirts which are manufactured for local use are considered formal, actually wearing them is a cross between formal and informal for you can wear them on the streets on ordinary day and you can as well wear aloha shirts on official business meetings, during weddings or any other important occasions. It is socially accepted norm of dressing whatever the occasion.


Ellery Chun trademarked the name aloha shirts after it become a bestseller. He made the shirts out of unsold fabrics in his store. Soon after, local residents, surfers and tourists came bustling into his store to buy his creations. It was such a big hit especially when celebrities like Elvis Presley and Harry Truman wore the shirts.


Vintage prints and textile from the 1930’s and 40’s are extremely collectable today. They fetch in prices as much as thousands of dollars a piece.


Aloha shirt is as symbolic as any Hawaiin treasure.

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Collecting Hawaiina Gifts Collectible Keepsakes



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With the modern commercial air travel in the 1950’s somebody who was ‘somebody’, Hawaii was the place to be. Since more and more tourists came to the tropical islands the need for more souvenirs was clear.

Tourists like to take a piece of tropical paradise with them when they went back home.
Savvy business minded folks capitalize on the great market and soon after, the souvenir industry was booming.


The craze caught on and they termed it Hawaiina. To collect Hawaiina gifts collectible keepsakes is a sort of labor of love. There are many to choose from, like the popular hula girls lamps that was first made as carnival prize give away but the demand was high.

The hula girl lamps were now sold exclusively from stores . Before the prices of hula girl lamps would fetch at five dollars a piece. Today an authentic piece would fetch at three thousand dollars.


Then there’s the hula girl nodder or what is popularly known as the dashboard hula dolls. They were imported from Japan and they too became so popular .


Really there is one item for everyone in the family. For dad, there’s a tiki mug, for mom there’s a wooden calabash platter, for sister there’s a whole array of colorful sarongs, ukuleles for your musical friends and for big brother a wooden vintage hawaiin surfboard and hula grass skirt costume for little baby sister.


Just go to your favorite hawaiin site or store and indulge and get the feel of fun and excitement of the tropical island paradise.

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Collecting Tiki



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Tiki is a representation of ancient hawaiin gods that is skillfully carved in stone or wood. Sometimes too tiny to be worn as an amulet or too large that it could tower over a human being.


There is that familiar grimace and big elliptical snarling mouth that is believed to drive away evil. They were mostly seen scattered around the temples at that time.


During the cruise ship era in the 1930’s when people began visiting Hawaii, they brought souvenirs from their trip in the tropical islands and tikis were one of them. Tikis became popular in mainland U.S. thus creating a popular culture or suburban art movement called Polynesian Pop.


Soon after, tiki themed bars, motels and bowling alleys spread like wildfire across the America. For the people, it represented a frame of mind that is laid back, relaxed, fun and all the taste of the tropics. It was sort of escapism from the harsh realities of life.


But until in the 1970’s the trend fizzled out. Tiki bars and restaurants closed down. There were a multitude of things related to tiki that is sold like tiki matchbooks, mugs napkins, unkillable palm fronds etc.


Lately the second wave of popularity of the tiki is once again here. There’s a certain nostalgia of that time which is dubbed as the lounge and swizzle sticks era. So if there’s a need for certain things there are consequently a market for it.

There are abundant supplies for tikis and all its related memorabilia that are sold whether original or reproduction. Tikinews.com and tikifarm.com provide a place for ‘tikiphiles’ to hangout and browse about their collection.


There are certain conventions as well for tikiphiles where they can don their garish hawaiin shirts, exchange recipes of their favorite tropical drinks and dance the hula all night long and just feel the ‘ambience’ of the tropics and just soak it up.


If you want to start tiki collecting make sure the mugs do have sharp details and collect from the bars and restaurants that are no longer in business and look at the manufacturer legend at the bottom of the mugs.

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Collecting Vintage Kou Milo Ukeleles Uke



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Hawaii contributed slack key guitar, steel string guitar and the dimunitive ukulele to the family of musical string instruments. The ukulele catches the world’s attention because of its tone and size.


Although the first ukulele was first made in Braga, Portugal that’s why it was called barginha before it got in the hands of the natives in Hawaii by way of Portuguese migration to the Hawaiin islands in !777.


Joao Fernandes was the first ever public performance playing the ukulele. The Hawaiin Royal family at that time like it so much that, local manufacturers made its foray in mass production of the instrument.


The world was first introduced to the hawaiin music and the ukulele was in 1915 during the celebration of the completed Panama Canal. Seventeen million people experienced the whole hawaiin musical genre that it became very popular considering the world population at that time. The music and the ukulele went well with the fashion at that time too.


Carrying the ukulele while wearing straw hat, raccoon coat and striped blazer was very vogue at that time. The ukulele is light and portable, playing it, sure made everyone you around smile.

The ukulele went through a musical roller coaster. Popular one time and in the closet the next. There were many factors , the great depression in the 1920’s, rock and roll, Vietnam.


Authentic vintage kou milo ukeleles are pretty much hawaiin made, had a legend ‘tabu’ on every ukulele made at that time. Hawaii had triumphantly gained a patent on the instrument. Although the rest of the world make ukuleles but the hawaiins can proudly call it their very own.


Depending on the preference of the collectors, one thing they would consider is the manufacturer. Companies like Martin, Gibson , Lyon etc. are considered of the best quality. The most popular ones are made by C.F. Martin Company of Pa.

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Collecting Hawaiin Surf Surfing Collectible Boards




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Let’s face it, the hawaiin experience is where it all started. Early hawaiins rode the waves using half logs just to test their manhood.

Hawaii being the ‘Mecca’ of the surf world , means owning anything hawaiin as far as surfing is concern would be the most coveted.


Did you know that in early times the folks in Hawaii before cutting a tree to make surfboards, would first bury a fish underneath the tree? Yes it’s a form of ritual, an offering to the gods. They applied various forms of incantations and consecration as part of their ritual.


Surboards were made from different kinds of trees using bone and stone tools to shape it. Balsa was the most widely used wood because it’s lighter. But modern surfboards are now made in polyurethane encased in fiberglass and polyester to make it even lighter but sturdier. There are also surfboards that are made in aluminum or carbon fiber.


When it comes to hydrodynamics, some makers apply fins on their creations.

There are now variety of surfboards to choose from starting with hawaiin made balsa wood, longboards, shortboards, hybrids, retros, eggs, bigboys, midrange and guns.


The craze of collecting surfboards and its memorabilia like surf books, magazines and posters are today bigger than ever. Collectors say the thrill is in the hunt and validation of the find.

You don’t have to connect yourself to a body of water to really savor and enjoy your surfboards, although you can. But surfboards nowadays are also the focal points of any residential or commercial establishments as their main theme or décor.


The monetary values of surfboards are subjective. There are no surefire measure. One key is just to collect the kinds you really like. You could place ads in a physical newspaper or advertise online if you want to buy, trade or sell your surfboards.

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Collecting Hawaiin Kitsch




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Hawaiina or collecting all things hawaiin are sought after collectors for years or even decades.
For hawainna collectors owning a piece of tangible artifacts brings back a time when you are in a tropical paradise, away from all the cares of the reality of the world.
It brought a taste of the tropics that promise fun and excitement.

Hawaii being one of the top tourist destinations of the world provided visitors a lot of gifts and keepsakes from their exotic island travels, thus the souvenir industry in Hawaii today, is big business.

Little odd and ends, like hula girl lamps, hula doll nodders or popularly known as dashboard hula dolls, surfboards, aloha shirts, ukuleles, hawainn vintage posters, and tikis are among the things collectors would like to own.

Hawaiina’s heyday were in the fifties until seventies. They even dubbed it as Polynesian Pop and America just naturally embraced it. James Michener’s best selling novel The Tales of the South Pacific and the broadway musical hit South Pacific were all proofs that hawaiin influence were marked in the American cultural landscape.

Although Polynesian Pop waned in the seventies, it made a huge comeback brought on by scenesters in their twenties and a generation younger than baby boomers .
And from the rate I’ts going Hawaiina or Polynesian Pop or whatever you would call it, is here to stay.

So let this introduction be the first of its series on hawaiin kitsch collecting.
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Collecting Art Noveau




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Towards the end of the nineteenth century many of the more progressive artists grew tired of the heavy, ornate architecture, decoration and design of the time, which still contained the obvious influence of Classical, Baroque, Renaissance, Rococo and other styles.

Then there was a reaction called a revolt. It took the form of a return to simplicity, craftsmanship and a flowing line. The result was Art Noveau.

Today, Art Noveau pieces are quite expensive and from an investment point of view they would seem to be oversubscribed just like the stock market. This is because of two major points: first, the period of this style was relatively short(around twenty years) and secondly , much of it was hand –made.

Combine those two facts together its fairly obvious that the quantity of Art Noveau are limited. The law of supply and demand is driving prices up and the same law should ensure that those prices rise even higher.

Although Art Noveau is now sought after and the prices are generally beyond most pockets bear in mind that this style penetrated all aspects of life and many household articles can be found that won’t make a large hole in your pocket.

Ceramic tiles are one example. Thousands of fireplaces , bathrooms surrounds and hallways in old houses are decorated with Art Noveau tiles and firms demolishing such houses are usually careful when removing them.
If you decide to collect tiles, your investment will increase at a greater rate if you collect in sets. That would be sufficient to cover a small coffee table or what have you.

Like most things, Art Noveau furniture often reaches a stage of deterioration where it is either thrown away or sold cheaply. If you have the opportunity obtain such pieces, scrutinize them carefully because it might have furniture fittings that are distinctive and collectable.

If you have an interest in books, keep an eye for illustrated books of this period. A title that a bookseller might consider unimportant because of the lack of popularity of the author might well be worth buying for the illustrations or the design on the cover.

Finally, don’t forget the everyday objects that are easily overlooked. Examples that spring to mind are picture frames and cheese dishes.
Such items can still be picked up relatively cheaply and compiling a collection of either would constitute an excellent investment.

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Collecting Matchboxes


Collecting Matchboxes and Match Booklets

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The first friction match was invented by Dr. Charles Sauria in France in 1831. The fact is that the collecting of matchboxes, booklets and containers is already well established and can show a good profit if you really get to know your subject.

There are three main areas for collecting-specially made match containers, original matchboxes and match booklets.

The most decorative and possibly the most profitable are containers that were specially made to hold matches.

Some of the best examples of special matchboxes are in gold or silver, made by master craftsmen. Others were decorated with enamel and sometimes studded with precious stones. There are also containers made in pewter, pinchbeck, brass , electroplate, etc.

The collecting of original matchboxes is a little more difficult because at that time nobody thought they would ever be collected.

Before the introduction of phosphorous, early matches produced such a firework display of sparks and a cloud of toxic gas that the manufacturers were compelled to spell out the danger on their matchboxes like "Matches can damage your health" long before cigarettes.

Match booklets since their introduction in America around 1890, have been collected in albums just like postage stamps. And of course when there’s interest and demand, there’s money.

The main reason for match booklets becoming collectable is because from the start they were used as an advertising medium and so had a lot of attractive diversity, and they can easily be mounted in an album.

So depending on your interest and budget you can collect specially made match containers, matchboxes or match booklets.

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Collecting Banknotes/ Paper Money


This came into common usage in Europe in the latter part of the seventeenth century, in the form of bills, drafts and promissory notes used by bankers and merchants.

But the history of paper money goes back beyond that time, and is genrally accepted as having originated in china around a.d.700.

It took the form of paper drafts and developed into paper money redeemable in coin around a.d. 1000

It is interesting to note that these early banknotes were issued in great number with little or no regard for the economy.

The result was raging inflation and the downfall of the government in this case a dynasty. Nearly two thousand years later we still have the same trouble. Will we never learn?

Apart from the traditional old paper money there is a great potential in the banknotes of new or emerging countries.

Quite often a coup will overturn a government and the new leader immediately orders the elimination or withdrawal of that country’s currency so that he can get his own portrait on the new issue. This sort of situation could well lead to a shortage of a particular note.

One collector of banknotes framed his collection in a glass with a black velvet cloth as a background. His collection has also increased substantially in value and as decorative scheme , the effect is absolutely stunning.

Top 10 most desirable and collectible Art Nouveau style interior design objects to decorate your house.

                                               Top 10 most desirable  and collectible Art Nouveau style interior design objects to decorate ...