Antique & Collecting News

Are you looking for a new Christmas Tree this year? Bill Quinn of Christmas Tree for Me has been producing tree videos for several years. They are a terrific way to really get the overall feel of a tree.

Bill's new videos for 2011 include two 100% PVC-Free trees - the Williamsburg and Princeton. (Note: the lights still have PVC.)

Shown above is the Mixed Country Rustic, loaded with pine cones, grapevines and has three different tips on the branches.

• Picking the Right Tree
• LED Christmas Lights
• The Adventures, Tragedies and Near Misses of Decorating

©Christmas Tree for Me

Buying a New Christmas Tree? originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Friday, November 18th, 2011 at 06:50:49.

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In 2008, the U.S. Postal Service honored American author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlilngs with a 41-cent commemorative postage stamp in the Literary Arts series

Enjoy learning how to collect and use valuable old silver serving pieces. Terry Kovel identifies a variety of specialized serving pieces and tells you their intended purposes, so you can use the stuffing spoon or asparagus server your grandmother gave you.  

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Kovels Komments is a free weekly electronic newsletter about antiques & collectibles with insider tips, news, marks and more by national experts.

http://e.kovelsonline.com/html.asp?XZY6209152UTF27

• Size: 5"
• Wrought Iron
• Very Old

Thoughts, comments, guesses?

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Last week's Mystery of the Week.

• Ten Most Challenging Mystery Antiques
• Around About: Pictures of the Week

Mystery Antique of the Week originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 at 20:37:52.

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Several years ago, when putting out Christmas decorations, I needed to figure out a way to display all the little odds and ends I'd been given or collected over the years. The Santa wreath was the result of a lot of hot glue, florist wire and a grapevine wreath.

More holiday wreath ideas.

Image ©Barb Crews

What to do with all those little Santas? originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Sunday, November 13th, 2011 at 22:05:01.

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Vintage Pyrex looks great when displayed as a collection, but you can also use the pieces.

Terry Kovel shows reproduction gas pump signs - Texaco, Sky Chief, Richfield Ethyl and Ashland - mostly from the 1980s. Find more information on advertising collectibles in the advertising section of Kovels' online price guide, and in our book,  Kovels' Advertising Collectibles Price List.

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Ah, what would Christmas be like without the switches, coal in the stocking and whisking off the naughty little boys and girls?

It wouldn't be a European Christmas, that's for sure. It's been fascinating researching and reading all about these bad boys of Christmas. Not St. Nicholas, but his companions, Krampus, Hans Trapp and Black Peter.

Did you grow up with any of these legends? Or do you have different ones remembered from childhood?

• Krampus, The Devil of Christmas
• The Story of St. Nicholas
• The Christ Child and Hans Trapp

Hans Trapp, St. Nicholas and Krampus! originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Thursday, November 10th, 2011 at 07:01:43.

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A thoughtful selection with the person's interest and life-style in mind can bring back the good old days of Christmas.

Kovels Komments is a free weekly electronic newsletter about antiques & collectibles with insider tips, news, marks and more by national experts.

http://e.kovelsonline.com/html.asp?XZY6174286UTF27

An advent calendar can be as simple as candies on a tree, tiny holiday pictures that are viewed each day before Christmas, fabric wall hangings with a favorite character or a huge replica of the house in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

In the early 1970s I found a special wooden one that could be personalized with family hobbies, names, pets, etc. At the time it was a HUGE purchase -- $60, but since it has now lasted forty years, it certainly has been worth it.

If you have young ones in your family, look around and see if you can find one that is special enough that it will be cherished for years. Or consider making one yourself -- there's still plenty of time to create memories.

Find out more about Advent Calendars, prices of vintage calendars or buy a calendar and start a new family tradition this year.

For the computer-age family, how about a digital, animated calendar? Jacquie Lawson (wonderful animated card designer) has produced a desktop calendar for your computer. The cost is minimal, but so worth it. I bought several of them last year and "gave" them to family members to use on their computers.
JacquieLawson.com

©Bronners.com

Advent Calendars originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Wednesday, November 9th, 2011 at 10:09:59.

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Considered one of the most beautiful coins of America the 1907 high relief Saint-Gaudens double eagle attracted a highly skilled counterfeiter.

Considered one of the most beautiful coins of America the 1907 high relief Saint-Gaudens double eagle attracted a highly skilled counterfeiter.

This beautiful item is an early 19th century piece and was made in Switzerland.

Thoughts, comments, guesses?

THE ANSWER

Last week's Mystery of the Week.

• Ten Most Challenging Mystery Antiques
• Around About: Pictures of the Week

Mystery Antique of the Week originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 at 21:48:10.

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This beautiful item is an early 19th century piece and was made in Switzerland.

Thoughts, comments, guesses?

Want to find out when the answer is posted ? Subscribe to the weekly Collectibles newsletter.

Last week's Mystery of the Week.

• Ten Most Challenging Mystery Antiques
• Around About: Pictures of the Week

Mystery Antique of the Week originally appeared on About.com Collectibles on Tuesday, November 8th, 2011 at 21:48:10.

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The article is on collecting, recognizing and restoring rare and antique furniture in South Asia and in other parts of the world...

Back in the late-Victorian era, folks were collecting a type of business card that was quite clever and colorful. Today these interesting paper goods are still being added to collections. Learn more about Victorian trade cards, including which examples are most attractive to ephemera buyers today. Read more...

Victorian Trade Cards: The Business Cards of Yesteryear originally appeared on About.com Antiques on Monday, November 7th, 2011 at 00:59:59.

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An enterprising woman from Texas embellished some very interesting handbags beginning in 1959. Throughout the '60s many ladies carried these bags, and today vintage accessory fans avidly seek out the most rare and pristine Enid Collins handbags for their collections. In fact, these bags that sold for very reasonable prices when they were new now sell for $300 or more. Read more...

Collecting Enid Collins Handbags originally appeared on About.com Antiques on Monday, November 7th, 2011 at 00:54:07.

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Serious coin collectors should take time to learn a few tips on how to detect and protect themselves from buying counterfeit or altered coins.