Create Whimsical Holiday Decorations with Dolls

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Article Title: Create Whimsical Holiday Decorations with Dolls
Author: Stephen Daniels
Category: Collecting, Interior Design
Word Count: 537
Keywords: holiday decorating with dolls, collectible dolls, doll accessories, specialty dolls
Author's Email Address: netbizarticle@gmail.com
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Doll enthusiasts often show their carefully assembled collections with pride in special cases, or leave them packed away for safekeeping... but why not bring out dolls from behind the glass this holiday and show them off? This season is all about magic, and dolls embody the childlike wonder that we all try to recapture at this time of year. It is a wonderful time to display your favorite dolls in new and beautiful ways.

One fun way to get ready for the holidays is dressing your dolls up for the season! There are many doll makers that also make gorgeous costumes and clothing for 18" dolls, and even tiny jewelry and crowns. Choosing rich, vibrant colors paired with gold and silver can turn doll displays into royal holiday celebrations.

Another unique holiday idea could involve special costumes with wings that instantaneously transform dolls into lovely angels or fairies. Placing them on a doll stand amidst a winter floral arrangement can be a perfect centerpiece for a table, or a stunning mantelpiece.

With some patience and creativity, you can create all kinds of holiday scenes using dolls. Using purchased or handmade accessories, you could show dolls participating in your most-loved holiday traditions. Dolls could decorate a doll-sized tree, play in fake snow or make a snowman. They could also light a kinera, a Yule log, a menorah, or even play with a dreidel. How about a doll nativity set? No matter which winter celebrations you take part in, dolls can be a part of your decor.

Many people spend hours elaborately decorating beautiful holiday trees, only to stack presents under them any old way. A special under-the-tree arrangement can set yours apart. Artfully wrapped gifts with large, pretty bows under the tree interspersed with dolls and perhaps other toys, such as teddy bears, can make for a whimsical, old-fashioned display that will add that extra touch to your tree.

You can use smaller arrangements of dolls and toys throughout the room to pull your decor theme together, perhaps tucking a doll and a bear into the corner of an antique chair. Just be sure to place dolls in safe locations where they won't be sat upon or damaged! Remember that your dolls will draw children's attention especially, and they are likely to touch or play with the ones in their reach. Keep this in mind when selecting locations for your treasures.

Decorating with dolls should be fun, and what could be more fun than setting up a scene for a daughter, granddaughter or niece including the doll that will be her present? Having the doll sitting at a tea party, or ready to ride away on the girl's bicycle, could be a scene that will bring a smile to her face when she wakes up and sees it in the morning.

Your unique holiday decor is likely to be a conversation starter, and could serve as a way to get others interested in doll collecting. Children and adults alike will love the whimsy and the beauty of your displays, and appreciate your willingness to share your beautiful dolls in such a wonderful way.

http://www.carpatina.com/ Carpatina offers high-quality fashion and collectible dolls with a stylish, romantic flavor. Dolls come with one full outfit. Carpatina Dolls are available online and at specialty retailers. Powered by http://www.seo-search-engine-optimization.netbiz.com/
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First Edition of Harry Potter Book Could Bring $25,000

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Article Title: First Edition of Harry Potter Book Could Bring $25,000
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, Books, Movies
Word Count: 324
Keywords: Harry Potter, J.K. Rowling, rare book, Heritage Auctions
Author's Email Address: hectorc@HA.com
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By June 1997, J.K. Rowling was beginning anew. After separating from her husband, living on welfare and battling depression, she had completed a novel on an old manual typewriter. The story had been rejected by numerous editors before a small London company took a chance and published "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone."

With her characters about to storm the literary world, Rowling worked to publicize the book. Among the first to interview the author was Elisabeth Dunn, working for The Daily Telegraph. It was the first interview of Rowling to be published in a national newspaper.

The interview was conducted in Nicholson's Cafe in Edinburgh, Scotland, a favorite writing spot for Rowling. At the time, Rowling had recently given up smoking, Dunn recalls. "I hadn't, and throughout our meeting, Rowling continually leaned into the smoke to pick up the secondary nicotine."

Rowling gave a copy of her book to Dunn, who asked that it be signed -- "a novel experience for her at the time," Dunn says. Rowling thought for a moment before writing: "Breathe some more smoke my way! J.K. Rowling".

That paperback book -- the softcover first edition, first printing of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" -- is featured in a rare books auction scheduled for Feb. 11-12, 2010, in Beverly Hills, Calif. The book, offered by Heritage Auctions, could fetch up to $25,000.

"This book is particularly unique because it shows an early Rowling autograph," says James Gannon, director of rare books at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. "The pronounced appearance of the 'w' and 'n' in Rowling's last name is rare. In subsequent years, her signature evolved into a much more fluid, less detailed configuration."

A hardcover, first printing of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" realized $33,460 in October 2007, while a softcover first printing of the same title with a signed card sold for $19,120 in March 2009. The book was printed in the U.S. under the title "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

Hector Cantu and Joe Fay are contributors to Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
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Hunting for Rare Books

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Article Title: Hunting for Rare Books
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, Books
Word Count: 955
Keywords: Rare books, auction, valuable, collecting, collector, collectible, Harry Potter
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When it comes to rare books, James Gannon has some simple advice:

"Handle your books carefully, with clean hands," says the director of rare books at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. "Do not over-open a book, do not keep collectible books in direct sunlight, and do not use a book as a coaster for your coffee cup!"

Yes, Gannon says, he has seen coffee stains on rare books. Maybe that's why serious collectors often hire skilled bookbinders to custom-make conservation cases for their rare books. "It's a smart move," Gannon says.

Here's more from Gannon on collecting rare and valuable books.

Q: What's your best advice for beginning rare-book collectors?
A: Collect what you love. Your passion for a subject or genre will help you educate yourself about the foundation books for that area, and about what to look for in collectible copies of books. Find a few specialist dealers in the area you want to collect and begin a relationship with them. Ask questions about books they are offering, or ask their advice about books you find elsewhere. It is good also to find like-minded collectors to interact with, and follow rare-book blogs or listserves. It is also important to get and read bookseller or auction catalogs, especially those covering books in your field of interest.

Q: What's the one thing you have to look for when buying rare books?
A: You want to find books in the original bindings if possible and in the best condition that you can afford. Each collecting category might have its own standards. For instance, fine press collectors typically want books in pristine condition, and with modern literature a dust jacket in very good or fine condition will represent maybe 80 percent to 90 percent of the value of the book.

Q: Is there anything you are specifically looking for right now?
A: The type of books that excite me are books that are the most important in the history of printing, which might include Isaac Newton's Principia Mathematica, generally considered the most important book in the history of science, or Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. In economics it might be Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations. In medicine, Andreas Vesalius' De humani corporis fabrica from 1543, or works by the Greek physician Galen or Sir William Osler. We are really looking for foundation books in all fields, but classics of literature are a very popular collecting area. We have been especially strong with science fiction and genre literature fields such as fantasy, horror and mystery and detective fiction.

Q: Are there any time periods you are looking for?
A: There are so many great early printed books that essentially encompass all the great thoughts, ideas, movements, discoveries and theories. Virtually every important thing known to man has its early representation in a printed book, even if it occurred prior to printing, such as the editio princeps of Homer or Plato, as well as famous works by Copernicus, Galileo and Albert Einstein, among others. I like seeing significant books from the first 50 years of printing, i.e. before 1500.

Q: What about recent literature?
A: I'm always looking for first or special editions of classics such as Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, Ernest Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises or Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. And let's not forget works by the Bronte sisters, William Faulkner and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Cormac McCarthy is especially hot now.

Q: Anything buyers should be especially wary of when buying?
A: Inscribed copies of modern literature can be problematic, and it is always best to buy copies where there is a known history or provenance of the book. For example, it is always nice to have a picture of the author signing the book to the original recipient and owner. If that is not possible, try to get authentication from a specialist in the field. They know how to identify fake signatures, and often can even identify the forger.

Q: What are your thoughts on collecting rare books as investments?
A: I do my best not to give specific investment advice with regard to how rare books will perform in the future. Of course some collectors think along these lines, and no one wants to buy a collectible that they think might lose value down the road. So my best advice is to look at the recent price history of a specific title, edition, author or category. Empirical evidence shows that rare books have retained or appreciated in value very well. There have been price adjustments depending on trends in technology, or in taste (some authors who used to be popular are no longer in vogue and their prices have fallen, such as John Galsworthy or Walter de la Mere). Generally, the best performers in the future will be those in demand. For instance, literature collectors might ask themselves: "Which of the currently available books will people still be reading for fun 50 years from now or 100 years from now?" Homer has stood the test of time, as has Shakespeare and many others, but what about Joyce, Tolkien, Rand, Salinger, Capote, Morrison, Pynchon, Kerouac and others? Each collector will have to answer this question for themselves.

Q: Most people have houses full of books published over the past decade or two. Is there an example of a recent book that's climbed in value?
A: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, the true first edition of the first Harry Potter book, is by far the best example of a recently published book attaining a very rapid rise in value in the marketplace. The publisher made very few of them. Supposedly only about 500 hardcover copies were printed. Almost all were purchased by British libraries. So collectible copies in fine condition and without library markings are rare, with prices ranging from $20,000 to $40,000.

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
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John Dillinger Belongings Head to Auction Block

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Article Title: John Dillinger Belongings Head to Auction Block
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, Hunting, Movies
Word Count: 371
Keywords: John Dillinger, Johnny Depp, hunting suit, Rod Serling
Author's Email Address: hectorc@HA.com
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Mike Thompson vividly remembers the knock. It was 1971 and he was a teenager.

"I opened the door and standing there was Rod Serling from 'The Twilight Zone' and another gentleman," Thompson says. "They were working on a documentary and they wanted to interview my mom. I invited them in. It was surreal."

Thompson's mother was Frances Dillinger, the younger stepsister of notorious bank robber John Dillinger. Thompson telephoned his mom, but she was working and said she might not be able to break away. "Serling waited for a while, but they had to leave," Thompson says. "They couldn't wait."

His mom's reaction was not too surprising, Thompson says. "She always kept quiet about John. We never thought too much about it."

But since Dillinger's death in 1934, the legendary status of the infamous gangster has only grown. He robbed at least 20 banks during the Great Depression, escaped from jail twice and was idolized by many as a modern-day Robin Hood. He's the subject of numerous books, with his life of crime most recently told by Johnny Depp in the movie "Public Enemies."

Since shortly after Dillinger's death at the hands of federal agents outside Chicago's Biograph Theater, his family has held several items belonging to Dillinger, including a pocketwatch, hunting suit, rifles, a shotgun, and the wooden gun the family says Dillinger used in a daring jail escape. Also up for auction is the dollar bill removed from Dillinger's body on the day he was shot.

One of the more personal items is a note Dillinger sent to his father, letting him know that his life of crime was not his father's fault. "Dad," Dillinger says in the handwritten letter dated Sept. 29, 1933, "most of the blame lies with me."

The items belonging to the Frances Dillinger family are being auctioned by Dallas-based Heritage Auctions on Dec. 12, 2009.

More than 70 years after Dillinger's death, the family continues living under the legacy of their famous relative. Thompson's son works for a federal law enforcement agency.

"When they did his background check, they saw that his great uncle was John Dillinger -- public enemy No. 1. But my son is doing something good, something he likes. I'm glad he went this route," Thompson concludes with a smile.

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
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Newly Discovered 1860 Campaign Banner Breaks Auction Record

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Article Title: Newly Discovered 1860 Campaign Banner Breaks Auction Record
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, History, Investing
Word Count: 322
Keywords: Abraham Lincoln, Ronald Reagan, Heritage Auctions, Booker T. Washington, politics
Author's Email Address: hectorc@HA.com
Article Source: http://www.contentcrooner.com
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A rare political banner issued by the campaign of a Kentucky lawyer who unsuccessfully ran against Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 presidential elections sold for nearly $100,000 at a November auction.

John C. Breckenridge previously had served as President James Buchanan's vice president and was one of three candidates who ran against Lincoln. After his loss, Breckenridge was elected to the U.S. Senate, but was expelled for supporting the rebellion that led to the Civil War.

Breckenridge's 1860 campaign banner was not known to exist until the example put up for auction was discovered in the floorboards of a house. The banner resembles the U.S. flag, with a portrait of Breckenridge in the upper left corner. Over 13 red and white stripes are the words, "For President, John C. Breckenridge, Vice President Gen. Jos. Lane."

Experts at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions called it "perhaps the most important American political textile to appear at auction." It sold for $95,600.

"Collectors stepped forward for this excellent opportunity," said Tom Slater, director of Heritage Auctions' Americana department. "The importance of a find like this cannot be overstated. It is a milestone in the history of political-items collecting, and the sale of this Breckinridge flag easily erased the previous record high for a political flag."

In February 2007, Heritage Auctions sold a campaign portrait flag featuring Abraham Lincoln and running mate Hannibal Hamlin for $83,650.

The auction featured other significant sales, including a 1766 clothing button protesting the Stamp Act that sold for $8,962, and a rare Ronald Reagan pinback 1980 campaign button, which sold for $1,195.

A china mug picturing America's sixth president, James Monroe, with his name spelled "Munroe," sold for $14,340. A paper lantern from 1864 picturing Lincoln opponent George McClellan -- which would have illuminated nighttime political rallies and parades -- sold for $7,170. A turn-of-the century button depicting Theodore Roosevelt entertaining African-American leader Booker T. Washington for a barrier-breaking dinner in the White House sold for $6,871.

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com). For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
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Comic Legend Joe Kubert Opens His Vault to Fans

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Article Title: Comic Legend Joe Kubert Opens His Vault to Fans
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, Arts and Crafts, History
Word Count: 661
Keywords: World War II, Joe Kubert, war, Sgt. Rock, Heritage Auctions, Tarzan
Author's Email Address: hectorc@HA.com
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One of comics' legendary artists and creators was barely 12 years old when he began a career that would lead to work on some of comics' most popular characters. But ask Joe Kubert about the most fulfilling part of his journey and he won't mention his work on Sgt. Rock, Hawkman, the Flash, Tarzan, Enemy Ace, or Batman.

"The most satisfying work is the work on my table right now," Kubert, 83, says from his studio in New Jersey. "The more I can get into the work I'm doing, the more satisfaction I get from the work."

On cue, Kubert tells how his latest work -- a graphic novel about a Special Forces team fighting in Vietnam -- was born, starting with the soldier he met decades ago while working on the Tales of the Green Berets newspaper comic strip to the true Vietnam war stories that "made the hair on my neck stand up." The book from DC Comics is due in stores in early 2010.

It's the latest accomplishment in a storied career. "It's funny," Kubert says, "but I got into this business thanks to pure, unadulterated luck."

It began with typical classroom drawings. One of Kubert's junior high friends liked the art and said he should show it to a relative who worked at MLJ Publications, a pulp and comic book house whose most successful title would be Archie.

"It was an entirely different world and business at that time," Kubert says. "Comics were 10 cents apiece with 64 pages of material. They needed a lot of stuff coming through, and that gave guys like me an opportunity. I made some drawings, pencil sketches, and took the subway into New York went up to MLJ. They were very kind. They gave me some real art paper to work on and said, 'Come back again and we'll take another look.' After a year or so, I got my first work. It was a six-page story that paid me $5 a page, which was a heck of a lot! It was more than my father made!"

Over the decades, Kubert would work for DC Comics, EC, Harvey and Timely, drawing, writing, editing, inking and coloring some of the biggest characters in comics. In 1976, he founded the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art. He completed the acclaimed graphic novels "Abraham Stone," "Fax From Sarajevo," "Jew Gangster," and "Yossel: April 19, 1943." He was inducted into the Harvey Awards' Jack Kirby Hall of Fame in 1997, and the Will Eisner Comic Book Hall of Fame in 1998.

"Anyone who was a kid from the 1940s through the 1980s will recognize Kubert's distinctive style at a glance," says Jared Green, vice president of business development at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. "He drew almost every Sgt. Rock story for decades and the cover to almost every DC war comic. Not only is he a favorite among fans, but when other comic book artists talk about their influences and whom they admire, his name is invariably mentioned."

Pieces of original Kubert art from his personal collection are featured in Heritage Auctions' comics and comic art auction scheduled for Feb. 25-26, 2010. Among the items for sale is Kubert's original cover art for Star Spangled War Stories #157, published by DC Comics in 1971. It has a pre-auction estimate of $4,000 to $6,000. His cover art for The Unknown Soldier #247, from 1981, also is expected to fetch between $4,000 and $6,000.

For Kubert, it's a way to share his art with fans. After all, he says, he's an artist, a writer, an editor, a teacher -- though not necessarily a collector. "I would be doing what I'm doing even if I wasn't getting paid," Kubert says. "It's something I have to do. I have two sons in the business now, Adam and Andy, and they are doing very well. To have them feel the same way about their work ... it's a miracle. It's the cherry on top of the whip cream."

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
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Hulk Comic Book Sells for $125,000

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Article Title: Hulk Comic Book Sells for $125,000
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, Movies, Men's Issues
Word Count: 415
Keywords: Hulk, Heritage Auctions, Marvel Comics, Stan Lee, Spider-Man, Fantastic Four
Author's Email Address: hectorc@HA.com
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A near-mint edition of The Incredible Hulk #1, considered one of the most difficult Silver Age Marvel comics to find in high grade, has sold for $125,475.

Barry Sandoval, director of comics operations at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, said the auction Nov. 19-21 showed that the vintage comic market remains "quite strong."

"Collectors took full advantage of great prices on a broad and striking array of superb books and vintage art and our consignors fared just as well," Sandoval said. "We had seven consignors bring in more than $100,000 and four of those surpassed $200,000."

The Hulk was Marvel's second Silver Age superhero series, with his first issue dated May 1962. It was preceded by the Fantastic Four. Spider-Man and Thor followed before the end of 1962.

Unlike the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man, the green giant was not an overnight success and the book was canceled after six issues. "It's probably why so few copies of the first issue survive," Sandoval said. "Those that did were mostly in poor condition, as the midnight blue cover background ruthlessly exposed even the smallest imperfection in any given copy."

The Hulk issue sold at Heritage Auctions' November sale was CGC graded near mint 9.2.

At the same auction, a CGC near mint 9.4 unrestored copy of Human Torch #2 sold for $92,612. "This comic, which comes from the Gary Keller Collection, was purchased by Keller in 2006 for $74,750," said Sandoval. "In just three years, the book gained almost $18,000 in value. The fact that it went for more now shows what a savvy collector he is and also that the market is still strong."

A CGC-certified very fine/near mint 9.0 copy of Showcase #22 Green Lantern, one of the two highest graded copies known, sold for $59,750. Keller's collecting savvy showed once again as this comic, also bought by Keller in 2006, more than tripled in value over what he paid for it, Sandoval said.

Original Peanuts comic strip artwork also performed well at the Heritage auction, led by a June 25, 1961, Sunday strip featuring Snoopy. It sold for $53,775.

Heritage Auctions set a record for original fanzine illustration art with Steve Ditko's Comic Crusader #4 Mr. A "Debaters" splash page, from 1968. It sold for $38,837 against a pre-auction estimate of $5,000-plus.

Todd McFarlane's original 1989 cover art for Amazing Heroes Preview Special #170 sold for $26,000. "In 1989, there was no bigger star in comic art than McFarlane and this cover appeared when he was still the regular artist on Amazing Spider-Man," Sandoval said.

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com). For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
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Ring Linked to Media Tycoon William Randolph Hearst Up For Auction

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Article Title: Ring Linked to Media Tycoon William Randolph Hearst Up For Auction
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, Jewelry, Investing
Word Count: 342
Keywords: William Randoph Hearst, Marion Davies, Heritage Auctions, Gone With the Wind, jewelry
Author's Email Address: hectorc@HA.com
Article Source: http://www.contentcrooner.com
------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------

Kendall Brown was only a teenager, but he already was being mentioned in the national gossip columns of Louella Parsons.

It was the 1950s and Brown kept company with some of America's most famous celebrities. His dad Horace had a small role in "Gone with the Wind," and appeared as a bit player in numerous Hollywood movies. Along the way, the elder Brown befriended media mogul William Randolph Hearst and his companion Marion Davies.

In the months following Hearst's death in August 1951, the relationship between Davies and Brown blossomed and the two were married (Horace's own wife had died 10 years earlier). Visitors to the home included Clark Gable, Dick Powell, Glenn Ford, Mary Pickford and Joe Kennedy.

Ken Brown and his brothers were immediately thrust into the celebrity spotlight. "We were in Life magazine," says Brown, now 77. "One day, [champion boxer] Jack Dempsey's daughter showed up at our home in Beverly Hills to meet us, and we started dating."

The first Christmas after his father married Davies, the actress gave her new husband and stepsons cat's eye rings made from one of her favorite brooches. "I later learned that Hearst had given Marion the brooch on one of their trips to Europe," Brown says. "It was a special gift."

Brown's father, who died in 1972, lost his ring, while the rings given to his brothers are now in private hands. After all these years, Brown has consigned his ring to Heritage Auctions' upcoming jewelry auction, scheduled for Dec. 7-9, 2009, in Dallas. The cat's eye chrysoberyl, gold ring -- inscribed "To Kendall Xmas '51 From Marion" -- is expected to fetch between $10,000 and $15,000.

"People today see Marion Davies as William Randolph Hearst's mistress," Brown says. "In those days living with somebody was taboo. But she was much more than that. She was a smart woman. She was adventurous. She was a pilot and flew her own plane. She was charitable and gave to children's hospitals. Marion was the nicest person I ever meet in my lifetime and we all loved her very much."

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------

Movie Poster a Treasure for California Family

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Article Title: Movie Poster a Treasure for California Family
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, Movies, Investing
Word Count: 341
Keywords: Sherlock Holmes, Freaks, antiques, movie posters, collecting,
Author's Email Address: hectorc@HA.com
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------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------

In 1978, Anne Stafford was shopping for a gift for her husband's birthday.

"He is a B horror movie fan and he loved Dracula and Sherlock Holmes and stuff by Roger Corman," says the California mom.

Stafford ended up in an antiques store, not certain what she was looking for or what she would find when a stack of movie posters caught her eye. She began flipping through the sheets when one in particular stood out. "When I saw it, it was just stunning," Stafford recalls. "I knew I had a terrific hit on my hands.

"It was the perfect gift," she continues. "There were maybe 10 movie posters on that table, but honestly I don't remember what the others were. I just remember the 'Freaks' poster."

Stafford paid $10 for the 14-by-36 inch poster and her husband was delighted with the gift.

When released in 1932, 'Freaks' shocked moviegoers. It was based on a short story about circus performers published in February 1923 in Munsey's Magazine. Rather than using actors in costumes and makeup, director and producer Tod Browning cast real performers as "freaks."

It was too much for audiences of the time and MGM quickly pulled the movie from theaters. The studio called it an error in judgment, but decades later, it would become a cult classic at revival houses and on college campuses.

For 30 years, the Staffords had little idea that the poster hanging on their wall was one of the last remaining original posters for the controversial movie. "Movie posters from the original release are virtually unheard of," says Grey Smith, director of vintage movie posters at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. "It's one of the hobby's greatest rarities."

While researching the poster, at least one dealer offered the Staffords $60,000. But the family decided an auction was the best option for them. In March 2009, an East Coast collector purchased it for $107,550 at a Heritage auction.

"We all like nice things," Stafford says, "but we certainly can't take it with us. We enjoyed it for 30 years. It was fun having it."

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------

Mel Ramos Sets Himself Apart from Pin-up Art Legends

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Article Title: Mel Ramos Sets Himself Apart from Pin-up Art Legends
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, Men's Issues, Art
Word Count: 499
Keywords: Mel Ramos, Pamela Anderson, Heritage Auctions, Gil Elvgren, pin-ups, pinups
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------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------

Many art historians consider Mel Ramos a part of the pop art movement, grouping him with Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Tom Wesselmann, and James Rosenquist.

His nudes first caught the public eye in the 1960s when pin-ups were a popular part of American culture. In recent years, original pin-up art by artists such as Gil Elvgren, Earl Moran and Enoch Bolles have attracted attention from collectors, and auction prices for their images of scantily clad women have shot up.

But Ramos doesn't consider himself a pin-up artist. "No," he says from his California studio. "I'm not part of that group."

Ramos, 74, says his inspiration was another art form. "I was attracted to comics back then, because of the eroticism before the Comics Code was imposed," Ramos says. "After that, comic books got kind of boring. The drawings in those early comics books of Sheena and all those sexy comic queens, that's what attracted me. Originally, I was just doing comic book images the way they appeared and then I decided I wanted to make them look more realistic, so I started adding the faces of celebrities, which I still do."

Superman, Wonder Woman and the Green Lantern all got the Ramos treatment. His Sheena, Queen of the Jungle -- like many of his images -- features vivid colors within sharp contour lines, with the subject's name spelled out in big letters. A private collector recently consigned Ramos' classic Sheena painting to Dallas-based Heritage Auctions.

The New York Times has pointed out that modeling comic-book bodies on those of real women -- movie stars like Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe -- was Ramos' innovation. "So despite their nonrealistic comic style," the Times said, "Mr. Ramos' women had an erotic presence that comic-book women of the day never had."

His later works combined nudes with well-known brands, including images of women, for instance, inside a Baby Ruth candy wrapper or kicking back on a giant roll of Lifesavers. He's also known for his "peek-a-boo" paintings, where women are visible through keyholes. Ramos says he's working on such a painting for actress Pamela Anderson.

Although he owns an original Elvgren painting, Ramos says he's never been particularly inspired by the work of America's great pin-up artists. "The [Spanish painters], Joaquin Sorolla, Diego Velasques, those were the main influences when I was younger," he says. "I aspire to those kind of heights."

As for contemporary artists, Ramos is more likely to identify with his colleagues and friends Tom Wesselmann and Allen Jones. "Most of my career, I have received the brunt of criticism from nudity in my work. It's controversial. I've been the target of feminists over the years. Not so much anymore. But Tom and Allen, we've suffered the same abuse because of the erotic implications of the work.

"When Picasso or Matisse did a painting of an undraped model, a nude model, they were called nudes," Ramos continues. "When I do it, they're called pin-ups. Somebody has a pre-occupation with this. I certainly don't. I consider myself a painter."

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------

Tuareg Crosses of Agadez

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Article Title: Tuareg Crosses of Agadez
Author: wayne kiltz
Category: Jewelry, Import Export, Collecting
Word Count: 428
Keywords: tuareg, tuareg silver, african jewelry, african, jewelry, cross necklace, africa improts
Author's Email Address: africa@africaimports.com
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------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------

Theses silver crosses are uniquely shaped and are named after the town of Agadez from where they originate. The cross bears the jewelers mark on its back. The beaded necklace contains four cylindrical decoratively embossed silver segments. These distinctive crosses are a true work of art and identified as such by the signature of the craftsman on the back of the piece. Written in Tomasheck or Arabic script, there are many different crosses such as these throughout Africa. One estimate is that there are different patterns of crosses in existence.
The different crosses come from different towns; and identify where people come from. They relate back to ancient times before Islam; when tribes were heavily influenced by Christianity. The cross may be the same symbol as in Christianity. It also has been known to symbolize the four corners of the world.
Originally, crosses were passed down from father to son. The father would say to the son: "My son, I give you the four corners of the world, because one can not know where one will die". The cross is often given as a gift among African people, and they will say to the receiver "No matter where you go God and I shall always be with you and protect you". Many Tuareg people in Africa believe that the arms of the cross will disperse all evil from the individual, thus keeping him out of harms way. The crosses are traditionally made from Tuareg silver.

Tuareg silver is the most luxurious jewelry worn in most West African countries. Many Tuareg people who can afford to wear it will save it for only the most special occasions.

The Tuareg people of the Sahara wear jewelry made out of this silver as an indicator of wealth, position and origin.

The highly esteemed Tuareg silversmiths create a wide array of jewelry objects that all tie together using the traditional berber markings that you will see on most of the Tuareg jewelry sold at Africa Imports.
These etchings are clean cut, concise, geometrical and repeated over and over again through all of the Tuareg silver. In much of Islamic culture, realistic images are considered to be sacrilegious; hence the geometric patterns. The markings stand for ancient blessings of good fortune and symbols of protection for the wearer.

This jewelry is so sophisticated and stylish, yet so full of African meaning. Tuareg silver itself is an alloy of silver and copper, which gives it a brilliant golden tone. This is not a sterling silver, and is sometimes made from silver dollars that have been melted.

Wayne Kiltz is the founder and owner of Africa Imports. You can find over 100 other articles on African art, culture, and fashion at www.africaimports.com

See more African Jewelry at www.africaimports.com/items.asp?Cc=Jewelry
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------

American Dolls: Perfect Gift to Make Little Girls Dream Come True

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Article Title: American Dolls: Perfect Gift to Make Little Girls Dream Come True
Author: Joy Davenport
Category: Collecting, Hobbies
Word Count: 527
Keywords: our generation dolls,american dolls,baby doll accessories,little mommy doll,vintage barbie dolls
Author's Email Address: lsmm2008@gmail.com
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------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------

If you are looking into purchasing some American dolls, there are a few different things that you will want to consider, depending on your reasoning behind the purchase. Firstly, you will have to decide on why you are collecting these dolls in the first place. If you simply want to have some nice looking dolls around the house, you can simply use your own personal preferences when making a final decision. If you are looking at these dolls as an investment, however, a little more effort will have to go into the decision making process. If you are able to find a rare doll or even some rare baby doll accessories, you can look at the initial cost of these items as an investment, as they will allow you to sell them for much more in the future.

The first thing that you should do when looking for American dolls is research the types of dolls that people are looking for because you never know where you might stumble upon one. Good collectors can find hidden gems at garage sales and flea markets, which can eventually be sold for much more. Looking online is a good place to start, as you can get a great deal of information just by reading a few articles. By looking online, you should be able to come up with a list of dolls and baby doll accessories that you want, which will give you a guide on what you are looking for. It is also wise to include the price with this guide, just to make sure that you do not pay too much for one of these dolls.

What many people do after this step is visit doll shows, although be prepared to pay high prices if this is the route that you go. This is because the people who work at these shows are well educated on the subject and know the exact value of each doll that they are selling. Only go this route if you happen to find some American dolls that you absolutely cannot live without because any rare dolls will cost you a pretty penny.

If at all possible, buy dolls that are still in their original packaging. There are two reasons for this and both have to do with the end value of your doll. First of all, dolls and baby doll accessories that are still in their original packaging will always be in much better condition than dolls that have been tampered or played with. Secondly, the packaging can assure you that you are buying the doll that you believe you are buying. There are now so many replicas out there and figuring out what it an original and what is a replica can be difficult unless you are an expert on American dolls.

Do your research and stick to your game plan and you should not have any trouble finding the American dolls that you want. By coming up with a list and then only purchasing dolls that come in their original packaging, you can avoid mistakes and can make sure that you are getting fair value for any money that you spend on these products.

Everything You've Ever Wanted From Dolls can be found here: http://www.generationdollsblog.com. We have variety of durable, child-friendly, chemical-free, and yet affordable such as Our Generation Dolls, American dolls and more.
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------

Charles Martignette: Pin-Up Pioneer

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Article Title: Charles Martignette: Pin-Up Pioneer
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Art, Men's Issues, Collecting
Word Count: 1893
Keywords: pin-up art, Gil Elvgren, Charles Martignette, Playboy, Hugh Hefner, pinup, Vargas, Heritage Auctions
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------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------

As a guitarist for the rock band Soul Asylum, Dan Murphy is not easily impressed. He's seen quite a bit during his group's 25 years of touring.

But ask him about meeting Charles Martignette and Murphy remains astonished. As a collector of original illustration art, Murphy first talked to Martignette over the phone 13 years ago. Not long afterward, Murphy scored a personal tour of Martignette's legendary art warehouse. When Martignette and Murphy arrived, it was 1:30 in the morning.

"We were there until about 2 the next afternoon," Murphy recalls, "going through piles and piles of art. Charles had these huge racks against the wall and he'd pull out an Enoch Bolles painting, or an N.C. Wyeth painting. There were Henry Clives, Rolf Armstrongs, Gil Elvgrens. It was amazing."

Murphy pauses.

"If a person could have a single love, that was Charles's love, and yes, that made him a kook, to be that obsessive about a single thing."

BUYING, SKIMMING, SELLING
Charles Martignette began collecting original illustration art in the early 1970s "with a credit card and a $350 line of credit," says Louis Meisel, an art historian and owner of the Louis K. Meisel Gallery in New York City. "With that credit card, he bought three illustrations, sold one for $1,000 and kept the other two. When the Norcross Greeting Card Company went out of business, Charles went to them and bought 90,000 pieces of art, 5-by-7 inch watercolors, everything they'd ever published. He paid what worked out to be maybe a penny apiece. Well, Charles sold them for $10 apiece at flea markets. That's how Charles worked. That's all he did."

It was a system he followed for most of his life: buy, skim, sell. With his strategy in place, Martignette focused his collection on original pin-up art.

"Charles was into sex ... nudes, girls, the pin-ups," explains Meisel, who established a business partnership with Martignette in 1980. Beginning in the 1920s and peaking in the 1960s, illustrations of women in sometimes-provocative poses were used to sell everything from magazines to auto parts to wall calendars. "These were just wonderful, beautiful images, and Charles was into that," Meisel says. "These all-American girls were in every gas station, in every workshop in America. It was stuff we grew up on."

The masters of pin-up art -- Gil Elvgren, Rolf Armstrong, Alberto Vargas, Earl Moran, Enoch Bolles -- were all on Martignette's "want list." But Martignette wasn't a passive buyer. He often went directly to the artists or artists' families and made offers for whatever they had. Other times, he went straight to the people who commissioned the art. "Charles would travel to these obscure calendar companies, knock on the door and walk out with Vargas pastels," Murphy says. "He'd go to Brown & Bigelow, or the Louis F. Dow calendar company and he would say, 'Hey, I'm a historian and I'm trying to write a book on this stuff.' "

At the time, Martignette had few competitors. He kept the finest pieces, and sold the rest. "In those days," says Todd Hignite, a consignment director and illustration art specialist at Heritage Auctions, "much of the art establishment roundly ignored illustration art, often considering it nothing more than cheesecake or kitsch at best and trash at worst."

One man who took notice was Hugh Hefner. The Playboy magazine founder in 1980 began publishing a series of articles featuring Martignette's collection. And, true to his word, Martignette wrote his book, "The Great American Pin-Up," co-authored with Meisel. Today, it's considered the bible of American pin-up art.

As his collection grew, Martignette expanded beyond pin-up and glamour art. He was soon pursuing important works by illustrators like Norman Rockwell, Joseph Christian Leyendecker, William Herbert Dunton, and Harvey T. Dunn. As Martignette once wrote: "These pictures, which were once a part of every American's daily life, now serve as reflective mirrors that capture moments in time and depict slices of America's past life at home, at work, in sports, fashion, romance, adventure and education."

ENTERING THE FINE ART WORLD
Mel Ramos began painting nudes 50 years ago. But don't call it pin-up art, he says.

"To me, they [pin-up artists] were all commercial guys," the California artist says. "I was kind of a snob when I was younger, and I thought these guys were just illustrators. They weren't fine artists. It was only when I saw my first Norman Rockwell show, whom I also considered to be a commercial illustrator, that I realized, 'Jesus Christ, this guy is one hell of a painter!' and I changed my attitude a little bit about that, as I have with Gil Elvgren, who's also a real journeyman painter."

Martignette was familiar with the criticism.

"Charles always argued that his favorite artists were prolific, masterful realists," says Ed Jaster, vice president and director of illustration art at Heritage Auctions. "He argued that these guys could flat-out paint. If you're questioning the subject matter, I think the argument can be made that nudes are a staple of artists. What's the difference between Sandro Botticelli's Birth of Venus and a Vargas girl? Why is there this disdain by the art establishment?"

Meisel bluntly questions the ability of the art world to define "fine art," pointing to a recent sale by a British artist. "Last year, he sent 200 paintings to auction, all these things that people thought were very famous. They were essentially new pieces, copies, made by him and his staff and they sold for $200 million. After that, pieces of his original works came along, and they went for a third of what people paid for the copies! Yet these are the people who sneer at the pin-ups in your house.

"Illustration art," Meisel continues, "has always been a legitimate art form. Pin-ups done in the 1930s, '40s and '50s, people will care about them and respect them 300 years from now."

"They are the original American pop artists," adds Hignite, "speaking to the cultural moment as importantly as later artists such as Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. More people are realizing this."

This widening appreciation for illustration art began only in recent years, experts say, placing Martignette ahead of the curve in collecting a genre that continues growing in importance and value. "With a lot of these artists," Hignite says, "prices are not going to stay where they are. It's the tip of the iceberg of what the market is going to be."

When he died unexpectedly in 2008 at age 57, Charles Martignette left behind his life's work: the largest private collection of American illustration art in the world. The collection was crammed, room after room, into a warehouse near his Florida home. Its scope is unmatched, containing perhaps the finest pieces of America's top illustrators.

"Charles was always refining his collection," Hignite says, "always keeping the best of the best. It's impossible for a collection like this to be ever compiled again."

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF KNOWLEDGE
Charles Martignette was consumed by his collection. Friends called it an obsession.

"Charles was an eccentric man," Meisel says. "He was a night owl. He would go to bed at 7 in the morning. He didn't care about clothing. He bought stuff at thrift shops. He didn't manage his money well. He inherited $800,000 from his grandfather and he lost it all gambling. But Charles knew about illustration art more than anyone in the world. He knew where a piece was published, when it was published and he had all the magazines featuring the illustrations. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge."

He was particularly pleased, says Murphy, when art by Gil Elvgren and other pin-up artists recently began reaching record prices at auction. "He knew the true value of this art years ago, before anyone else," Murphy says.

Not long ago, Martignette admitted that he hadn't sold more pieces because his collection was neither archived nor organized. "I have a lot of storage facilities," Martignette told the Portland Oregonian, "rooms packed with hundreds of wooden crates and boxes. To get to one painting sometimes takes two men, working four to five hours each, moving 190 wooden creates to get to the painting in the back of the room. And I have a lot of rooms in my life."

In February 2008, Charles Martignette died of apparent heart failure. In the following months, experts from Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, the nation's largest collectibles auction house, arrived at his Florida warehouse and began the delicate process of tagging and shipping three truckloads of artwork to Dallas for auction. About 4,300 pieces from Martignette's inventory are scheduled to be sold in more than half a dozen sales over the next several years.

In life, Martignette was eager to share his obsession. His pieces were exhibited at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History and the National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C. The Brooklyn Museum, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Carnegie Institute Museum of Art, and the Museum of the Rockies also exhibited Martignette pieces over the years.

Now, Martignette will be remembered as a passionate collector who championed the idea that illustration art is one of the most poignant reflections of 20th century American culture. "He was a true visionary," Hignite says. "He was obsessed with illustration art, valuing it as a uniquely American art form when few others did."

MASTERS OF PIN-UP AND GLAMOUR ART
The Charles Martignette collection includes works by these legendary illustrators:

+ Rolf Armstrong (1899-1960) is considered one of the best pin-up artists of the early 20th Century. His work appeared in Pictorial Review magazine during the 1920s and he was among the top artists at Brown & Bigelow.

+ Enoch Bolles (1883-1976) is among the top Art Deco era pin-up artists, with his work most notably gracing covers of Film Fun magazine.

+ Gil Elvgren (1914-1980) is one of the most prominent pin-up and glamour artists of the 20th century. Best known for his pin-up paintings for Brown & Bigelow. Also did advertising and illustration work for The Saturday Evening Post and Good Housekeeping.

+ J.C. Leyendecker (1874-1951) is best known for his men's fashion advertisements, particularly the Arrow Collar Man. He was Norman Rockwell's predecessor as the top cover illustrator for the Saturday Evening Post.

+ Earl Moran (1893-1984) rocketed to fame after being featured in a 1940 Life magazine story. Worked for Brown & Bigelow and hired a young Marilyn Monroe to model for his paintings. Completed publicity posters for Hollywood movie studios.

+ Patrick Nagel (1945-1984) is best known for his Art Deco-inspired illustrations for Playboy magazine, and for designing the Rio album cover for the the pop music group Duran Duran.

+ LeRoy Neiman (b. 1927) is best known for his bright, semi-abstract paintings and screen prints focusing on athletes and sporting events. Considered by many to be the premier sports artist in the world. Hired by Hugh Hefner to complete illustrations for Playboy magazine shortly after its launch in the 1950s.

+ George Petty (1894-1975) produced pin-up art for Esquire and True magazines, and various calendars. Petty's art was widely mimicked by military artists as nose art decorating warplanes during World War II, including the Memphis Belle.

+ Alberto Vargas (1896-1982) worked on Hollywood movie posters in the 1930s. In the 1940s, he created iconic World War II pin-ups for Esquire magazine known as "Varga Girls." His work later was feature in Playboy magazine.

+ Fritz Willis (1907-1979) produced illustrations for the nation's top magazines, including Esquire. He developed the "Willis Girl" for Brown & Bigelow calendars in the early 1960s.

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------

Super Collector Stephen Geppi

Hector Cantu offers the following royalty-free article for you to publish online or in print.
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Article Title: Super Collector Stephen Geppi
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, Art, Games
Word Count: 1958
Keywords: Collecting, Geppi, Superman, Walt Disney, Heritage Auctions, comic books, price guide
Author's Email Address: hectorc@HA.com
Article Source: http://www.contentcrooner.com
------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------

Stephen Geppi doesn't hesitate when asked to talk about his childhood.

"When I was 5, the first thing I learned to read from was a comic book," Geppi says as he recalls his boyhood in Baltimore in the 1950s. "I remember my mother bringing home comics. They were all over the place. Subsequently, I became an avid comic fan. I can't say I was a collector in the sense that I understood condition. I just loved them."

Over the next 50 years, that love would create one of the world's most important collectors of American pop culture. "You'd be hard-pressed to find another CEO who could tell you off the top of his head what the cover of Colossus Comics #1 looks like," says Barry Sandoval, director of comics at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, the nation's largest collectibles auction house. "His passion for American pop culture is unparalleled and his collection is one of the finest ever put together."

Geppi's love for pop culture became a full-time pursuit in the 1970s when he opened a comic book store in the basement of a TV repair shop. That quickly grew to four shops and, subsequently, ownership of a company that would become Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of English-language comic books that today represents top publishing powerhouses like DC Comics, Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics.

Along the way, Geppi founded Gemstone Publishing Inc., which publishes titles such as The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, The Official Price Guide to Pop Culture: 150 Years of Character Toys & Collectibles, Hake's Price Guide To Character Toys, and North American editions of Disney comics. Other Geppi companies include hobby games distributor Alliance Game Distributors; and Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles. Most recently, he opened Geppi's Entertainment Museum at Baltimore's Camden Yards, which bills itself as America's premier pop-culture museum.

Like most passionate collectors, it's not all about the money for Geppi. When he was 9, he recalls finding comic book back issues in a neighborhood liquor store.

"There were these little boxes in the back room," says Geppi, 59. "They were a nickel apiece. Then the owner introduced the quarter box and the 50-cent box. He finally gave me a job at the store to support my fix, my habit. He would say, 'How do you want to be paid, kid, with comics or with money? It makes no difference to me.'
"I always took the comics."

Q. You were born in the Little Italy section of Baltimore, and you were forced to quit school early to work, correct?
A. When I graduated from St. Leo's School, which is now closed, I took the entrance exam to Calvert Hall High School, which was the quintessential high school that all of us guys wanted to go to. I aced the [entrance] test ... but unfortunately that's the day I found out I was poor. We found out it cost $400 a year to go there and I was devastated that we couldn't afford that. I eventually went to Mergenthaler. It was a very good vocational school. I took up printing. In January of my ninth-grade year my mother and father officially split, and she was getting ready to go on welfare. It was terrible. So I had to quit school and go to work to support my mom and I've been working ever since. When I was 19, I landed a job at the United States Post Office. I was a letter carrier.

Q. Were you still a collector at this time?
A. When I started working, somewhere along the line I stopped buying comics. You never really stop enjoying them. They just kind of get away from you. School. Girls. Other hobbies. Parents. That was my case. I worked for the post office from 1969 to 1974. In 1971 or 1972, I went on vacation and my nephew, who at the time was 7 or 8, was reading a comic book. I was looking over his shoulder. It was a Batman. I started getting this tremendous nostalgic flashback and I decided when I got back home I would try to find some old comics again. I made a point, every time I was on a mail route, to ask people if they had comics.

Q. And people actually gave you comics?
A. One lady had a son about my age who was in college, and she let me see this collection of about 2,500 comics. It took her three months to get his permission to let me buy them. I think I paid $125. I was thrilled. Around that time, I discovered The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, which was in its third edition. Armed with comics I didn't want and as I continued to advertise and find comics, I had to have an outlet for the excess. So I started going to these little comic book conventions, always on the weekends, and lo and behold, before I knew it, I was making more money on the weekends than I was on my job. I loved my job but this was a dilemma for me. If you wanted to go to conventions every weekend, you had to have about 200 years seniority at the post office to have Saturdays off. So there I was with a good, steady job and I'm quitting to open a comic book store in the basement of a TV repair shop.

Q. When did you start including more pop-culture memorabilia in your collection?
A. I focused on Golden Age comics, even Silver Age comics, but I really hadn't at that point branched into too much of the stuff you see in the museum now. I was appreciative of it, but I was focusing on Golden Age books. But little by little, I started to get into that stuff, whether it was original art, Big Little Books, posters. Being a voracious collector, once you get everything on one side, you go into another category and you have that same attitude.

Q. What were some early acquisitions that got you excited?
A. In the early 1980s, I bought the Pennsylvania Collection, as its known in the pedigree world. I paid $20,000 for it. That was a big number to spend at the time. I bought a collection from a guy in Jamaica Estates in New York for $55,000. I came home with 21 shopping bags of Golden Age. It was quite a collection.

Q. What were some of the lessons you learned from those acquisitions?
A. I learned early that condition was critical from an investment standpoint. The higher the grade, you couldn't get stuck. No matter what you paid for a high-grade book, even if it was over market, if you sat on it long enough it would eventually turn into a good investment because they're not making them anymore. Today, with the stock market and real estate market in the tank, I've been waving the flag. I even wrote an editorial for the local business newspaper. All these years we've been the Rodney Dangerfields of investments. I couldn't help myself but to say, "Hey, you're all finally realizing what I told you, that the real, true supply-and-demand market, if that's what escalating value is about, is over here in collectibles." While all this [economic news] was going on, Heritage Auctions was having record auctions, prices were going through the roof. And why? Because people are recognizing that this stuff is really, truly something that can't be replaced. You don't wake up looking at some newspaper that tells you your Superman #1 is worth half of what it was yesterday. One of the lessons I learned that really served me well was instead of putting my money in traditional things, I just kept snowballing and snowballing my wealth through buying and selling collectibles. And it has served me well.

Q. Is that when you realized that you could invest in more than just comics, things like toys, movie posters, animated-cartoon art, TV memorabilia?
A. The same principles applied. I didn't have the same knowledge initially, but I knew if I bought high grade ... not to say that you can't make money in lower grade, but in blue-chip investing, it's clear. When you buy a Walt Disney poster and there's only one known, and it's in high grade, you have to pay the price or you don't get it.

Q. What do you do, as far as research, before you make a purchase? Or is it all gut feeling now?
A. At this point in my life, I know what I'm doing. But there are cases where you have to do a little more homework. Every once in a while, no matter how much you know, you can get fooled on something. Even the most incredible expert in whatever hobby can still get fooled if they're not doing all of their due diligence.

Q. In 2003 you purchased the very first G.I. Joe doll for $200,000. It was the carved-wood prototype handcrafted in 1963 by Don Levine while he was at Hassenfeld Brothers, later re-named Hasbro Toys. Why was that important to you?
A. I don't know if prior to that I had a desire for it. I remember the great job Heritage Auctions did in hyping it and even though I bought it post auction, I liked owning something that was unique. Not only was it the first G.I. Joe, but it was the first action figure. As you branch out as a collector, you start to recognize what's unique.

Q. In 2006, you opened Geppi's Entertainment Museum at Camden Yards to spotlight the role of entertainment in mainstream culture over the past 250 years. Describe the transition from a personal collection to one put up for public display.
A. In the back of my mind, it always bugged me that as these comics were going up in value, they didn't get the respect they deserved. Typically, you'd go to a comic convention and, no disrespect, there was a guy trying to sell you a $10,000 comic book and he's in an undershirt with mustard stains on it. How are you supposed to gain confidence that this is a good investment? So I always thought that if this stuff truly is rare, is desirable and part of Americana, if it was displayed and put in the atmosphere it deserves, it would get much more respect and would attract more investors and collectors.

Q. In 2007, you decided to auction original cover art for several editions of The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, as well as Carl Barks' Disney paintings and original art by Hal Foster, Chester Gould and Jim Steranko. When do you decide to sell?
A. The museum in many ways is like a giant retail store disguised as a museum, and that doesn't mean there are "for sale" prices on anything. In most cases, nothing will ever be for sale. But you have to facilitate change from time to time and in some cases it's just upgrading. For example, if I have a very fine copy of Donald Duck Four Color #9 and I get a near mint to mint copy, I can put one in there and take the other one out and sell it. It keeps revenue rolling.

Q. What do you look for when you work with an auction house?
A. I'm looking for large audiences and good advertising networks. Quite frankly, because I'm only one human being, I look for someone who can do all the work. That's valuable. Heritage Auctions is a really important part of the industry. With Heritage and the fact that there's third-party grading, it's starting to establish a more predictable marketplace. I started out getting the Heritage catalog for comics and then I checked off to get all the catalogs. I flip through them and find myself sometimes buying coins or something other than comics.

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------

How To Begin Your Own Coin Collection

Art Gib offers the following royalty-free article for you to publish online or in print.
Feel free to use this article in your newsletter, website, ezine, blog, or forum.
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Article Title: How To Begin Your Own Coin Collection
Author: Art Gib
Category: Collecting
Word Count: 447
Keywords: coin collecting supplies
Author's Email Address: artgib@gmail.com
Article Source: http://www.contentcrooner.com
------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------

While I was working at a frozen yogurt joint some years ago, I occasionally received exotic coins from my customers while I was acting as their cashier.

Many of them, as you might guess, were simply from Canada or Mexico, but I recall receiving a five-cent piece from Barbados, along with a few other bits of currency from far off countries.

Through my mistaken encounters with foreign coins, I learned the appeal of coin collecting. This age-old fascination has come so far and caught the fancy of so many people because, unlike some types of collecting, it is neither time-consuming nor too costly.

First, you should make some kind of decision regarding what types of coins you wish to focus on. There are special albums that aide in the display of cents, nickels, dimes, quarters, half-dollar, and dollar pieces.

If you think you may be interested in multiple categories, then you can easily purchase coin collecting supplies like albums, folders, and archives for several types of currency at a local hobby store or online through a specialty shop.

To begin your infant assortment of coins, you may want to check out local live auctions, pawn shops, or, naturally, search web-based auctions.

When you go into stores--grocery stores or eating establishments--ask them if they have received any foreign coins. Whenever we had them at work, we felt clueless as to what we should do with them.

Keep in close contact with friends and family, letting them know about your collecting endeavors. Whenever you get wind of one of them taking a trip abroad, ask them to bring you back some of the native currency. Of course, you should probably offer to pay for it.

The same obviously applies whenever you go overseas yourself. Make sure to stow a coin or two safely in your luggage or somewhere you won't be tempted to spend it.

Approach your older relatives to ask them if they have any coins from their childhood or their country of origin that they would be willing to part with. Oftentimes, as people age, they try to scale back their possessions, so that means you can reap the benefits that result.

Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming coin shows in your area. You don't necessarily have to go to buy anything, but it can give you a better idea of what appeals to you and will help you to become acquainted with dealers and fellow collectors that will point you in the right direction.

Coin collecting is a fascinating hobby that gives you a valuable peek into the past. It doesn't cost much to get started--just pull the change from your pocket and take a good look!

Coin Supply Express (http://www.coinsupplyexpress.com/) is committed to helping you build and protect your coin collection by providing you with a wide range of coin collecting supplies at discounted prices. Art Gib is a freelance writer.
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------

Collecting Vintage Jewelry

Hector Cantu offers the following royalty-free article for you to publish online or in print.
Feel free to use this article in your newsletter, website, ezine, blog, or forum.
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- Please send a copy of the publication, or an email indicating the URL to hectorc@HA.com
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Article Title: Collecting Vintage Jewelry
Author: Hector Cantu
Category: Collecting, Jewelry, Wealth Building
Word Count: 1505
Keywords: vintage jewelry, collecting, Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Heritage Auctions, gold
Author's Email Address: hectorc@HA.com
Article Source: http://www.contentcrooner.com
------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------

As the gold market continues its strong performance, dancing around the $1,000-per-ounce mark, more collectors are turning to vintage jewelry to add a unique touch to their wardrobes. Vintage jewelry expert Jill Burgum of Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, gives advice on how to make sure your money is well spent.

Q: What's your best advice for beginning jewelry buyers and collectors?

A: My most common advice is don't be afraid to ask questions, whether you are buying from reputable dealers or from shops. There is also a lot of information you can find online. The Internet is a great way to educate yourself. Also, don't expect that a modern jewelry seller or store will know much about vintage or estate jewelry. They often don't because it's simply not their market.

Q: Does "antique, vintage or estate" jewelry mean lesser quality?

A: Not at all! The common thread among those terms is that the item is previously owned, and there is a lot of value in purchasing estate or previously owned jewelry. First, you can get great deals. The premium paid when purchasing a brand new piece at full retail price will not be transferred once that same item is resold. It's an excellent way to purchase designer names at a fraction of the original price. Also, purchasing estate jewelry is a fantastic way to acquire pieces with "Old World" craftsmanship. This is a lost art. Production costs are prohibitive in today's market, making it unrealistic from a cost perspective to do a lot of the precision handwork you can find in older pieces of jewelry. Purchasing estate jewelry is also a wonderful way to acquire platinum-set jewelry. Traditionally, platinum jewelry holds its value better than gold jewelry. And don't forget that you can find diamonds at a fraction of what you would pay at a new jewelry retailer. The savings can be amazing, up to 75 percent.

Q: What's the one thing you have to look for when buying vintage jewelry?

A: Condition, condition, condition! Don't overlook damage such as missing prongs, bends and dents.

Q: Anything buyers should be especially wary of?

A: I'm always careful when selecting items that appear as Art Deco. Ask if they really are Art Deco or "Art Deco style" or "Art Deco reproduction." There will be a significant difference in value and potential resale. You should also ask if the piece is original. Was it always a pendant-brooch or was it originally a brooch that someone altered to make it wearable as a pendant, too? Was the bangle watch originally an Art Deco watch that was later centered in a gold bangle? This is referred to as a "marriage," meaning a combining of elements, and it affects the piece's originality and value.

Q: Anything else?

A: Make sure what you are buying is what it is purported to be. Gold vs. gold-filled. Real vs. synthetic. Gemstones vs. glass. You don't want to purchase a gold jewelry item without gemstones and think that it will go up in value. The gold market fluctuates on a daily basis, but typically not in big enough swings to where you can make money, especially if an item is acquired when the gold market is high.

Q: So how do you distinguish between a good piece and a not-so-good piece?

A: Make sure to check for the quality of craftsmanship, finish, gemstones and repair. Ask yourself if the item is nicely detailed with clean or crisp edges. Check closely to see if the piece displays serious wear. Are there dents or cracks? Are there any signs of repair? Sometimes, yellow gold solder has been used to repair platinum jewelry by unskilled bench jewelers. Definitely keep a keen eye out for signs of lead solder repairs on antique jewelry as this affects the piece's value. In the case of a bracelet, is the construction stiff vs. flexible? The more flexible piece is better designed and manufactured. Is the piece scratchy? That is a sign of either a new piece or lesser quality of manufacture. If gemstones are involved, are the colors clear, bright and lively? Are they of medium color? Generally, more commercially made items have lighter gemstones of lesser quality, meaning mass production. For diamonds, check the quality. Avoid diamonds that look like snowballs or diamonds appearing like gravel due to heavy inclusions.

Q: What are some of the most collectible names in vintage jewelry and why?

A: There are too many to list, but there are a few "top of the top." Some of the firms noted for their exquisite designs and craftsmanship include Van Cleef & Arpels, Cartier, Mauboussin, and Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co. Their true vintage pieces, made prior to 1960 in Paris, command a premium. There are the rare designers, who are so exclusive that their pieces are unsigned, as in the case of JAR. Others produce limited quantities of very high-quality designs and to come across their works is the equivalent of finding treasures. These include Rene Boivin, Carven French, Pierre Sterle, and Janesich. Among contemporary names, Bvlgari, Harry Winston, Graff, and H. Stern all utilize the finest in both diamonds and colored gemstones.

Q: There seems to be controversy as to whether vintage jewelry is a good investment. What's your take?

A: For the most part, I don't consider the majority of jewelry to be what most individuals would traditionally think of as a good investment. It typically isn't high finance. Is it a money-maker on down the road? No. So why the interest or why should you purchase or care about vintage jewelry? Vintage jewelry, as with contemporary jewelry, is largely an emotional purchase. You have to ask: Does it make me feel good? Does the piece excite me? Do I get a visceral reaction or enjoyment? If the answer is yes, then that particular piece is a good investment in terms of the pleasure value. In my opinion, jewelry is meant to be worn and enjoyed. There is also the sentimental value factor that you attach to items. Was it the one-and-only engagement ring a woman wore? Was the item received for a special occasion such as the birth of a child, a birthday or a milestone? Or was the piece passed down through the generations of a family? Sentiment cannot be measured on the open market. It is entirely and uniquely personal.

Q: What if someone still wants to approach this as an investment?

A: To make a true financial investment, you may want to target designer name materials, because they have a better tendency to retain value or, in some instances, even increase in value. Or you may want to consider larger or higher quality diamonds or rare gemstones for investment purposes. Generally speaking, the items that will hold value are going to be beautifully executed and include fine diamonds or colored gemstones set in gold or platinum. As an aside, I would point out that there are far more pieces out in the marketplace that are unsigned vs. signed, but that should not be a negative factor or a reason to overlook them. Beautiful construction combined with fine materials will always be saleable and in demand.

AN EXPERT'S INSIGHTS
Noted vintage jewelry expert Jill Burgum, who received degrees in bench jewelry manufacturing from Bowman Tech and Stewart's International and previously worked at Butterfield & Butterfield, offers these tips for today's vintage jewelry market:

+ Trends: Jewelry follows fashion trends, even when looking at vintage and estate pieces. "Right now," Burgum says, "1970s fashions are hot -- so is yellow gold in textured forms. But be careful. The odds on nugget jewelry and rope chains coming back in style are not good."

+ Quality: When establishing a jewelry wardrobe, look for timeless designs -- a simple pair of moderately sized hoop earrings, three-stone rings, a tennis bracelet, diamond solitaire pendant, or stud earrings.

+ Care: Be aware of how you store your fine jewelry. "Don't toss it into a jewelry box," Burgum says. "Diamonds will scratch other gemstones as well as other diamonds."

+ Upkeep: Keep your jewelry clean -- it looks so much better, brighter and fresher. "Occasionally check to make sure stones are tight and not loose. Make sure your pearl necklaces do not have stretched silk cord -- an indicator that they should be restrung before a potential loss or breakage occurs."

+ Recycle: Keep in mind the "green factor" when looking at jewelry. If you have items that are (to you) outdated or damaged, turn it into cash that can be applied towards the purchase of something else you would like, or use the money to pay bills or take a trip. "The metal," Burgum adds, "can also be melted and made into another item. Gemstones can be removed from one item and utilized in another. Be creative."

Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------

Building Model Toy Trains May Be the Perfect Hobby for You

Tony Austin offers the following royalty-free article for you to publish online or in print.
Feel free to use this article in your newsletter, website, ezine, blog, or forum.
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Article Title: Building Model Toy Trains May Be the Perfect Hobby for You
Author: Tony Austin
Category: Collecting, Recreation and Leisure
Word Count: 651
Keywords: model toy trains, model trains, toy trains, trains
Author's Email Address: info@modeltoytrain.net
Article Source: http://www.contentcrooner.com
------------------ ARTICLE START ------------------

Everyone who is looking for a fun and fascinating hobby, just look at model trains. This popular hobby has been around for decades with the earliest model trains dating from about 1840. As the hobby has progressed, model toy trains have gotten not only more realistic, but also more detailed in landscaping and scale. Today, there are several popular options for the new hobbyist.

The first thing to understand when it comes to model trains is how the scale is measured. All model trains are in proportion to their life sized counterparts, but the scale varies depending on the desired use and display. For indoor displays, the most common scale is H0, featuring a scale of 1:87. These trains are around 2" tall and between 4 to 12" long. If you want to place model toy trains in your backyard, you will likely be looking at G or garden scale, which has a proportion of 1:24. There are many other sizes as well, ranging from the matchbox size Z scale all the way to a train that can be rode with scales of 1:4 and 1:8. These quaint trains are often seen in amusement parks, but can be purchased by a private owner as well. Wherever your interest lies, you can find the perfect scale for your needs.

Once you have decided on the scale that is right for your personal collection, you can start to decide on how to display your model toy trains. Some collectors like to focus specifically on the trains and collect them for a freestanding display. However, much of the fun of model trains is creating an entire landscape to scale. In the business, this is known as creating a layout or scenery building. Many collectors recreate a specific historical place or scene. Fantasy scenes are also a popular choice. The scene is created in the same scale as the train, down to the rocks, trees and bystanders. For the hobbyist, this is often the most enjoyable part of collecting model trains.

As a model train enthusiast, there are many resources available to you. If you live in a fairly populated area, it's likely that you will be able to join a model railroad club. Joining a club gives you access to the knowledge base of other enthusiasts who enjoy model toy trains. These people can give you advice and sources for trains and supplies. Also, many clubs feature shows in which members can have the opportunity to set up their model trains for public display. In addition, many urban areas feature trade shows that can also increase the availability of materials and information.

To power your model trains, you have several options. The most common power source for model toy trains is a DC current that is delivered through the track system. Some trains do run on batteries, but it is uncommon for a small gauge train. Small gauge trains that use battery power are considered childrens' toys by most enthusiasts. However, large outdoor gauges often employ batteries because it can be difficult to get a consistent power source out of doors. In addition, for these large models, a full steam engine is regularly used as the power source. Working steam engines are also becoming a bit more common in smaller gauge model trains. Obviously, these can be quite intricate in such a small size.

People who build model trains for a hobby get a great deal of satisfaction from the endeavor. Model toy trains are just plain fun. However, they also speak to a lost age, create nostalgia and appeal to people who enjoy old fashioned engineering and design. Whatever the reason, the craft is easy to break into. Setting up a basic display can be quite affordable and it is easy to build on as you learn more. These are just a few of reasons that you may find model trains to be the right hobby for you.

A true enthusiast of model toy trains; Tony Austin shows how a love of model trains can bring joy and happiness to every model train hobbyist. Be it expert or newbie, this form of transportation brings fascination and wonder. You can see more model trains at http://www.modeltoytrain.net.
------------------ ARTICLE END ------------------