One "best" thing from many areas, like an exquisite pocketwatch or a unique ring. Fortunately, I have a few friends and relatives who make it their business to give me "best" things on my birthday and at Christmastime.
posted on January 30, 2004 02:48:45 PM new
Hispanic and Indian textiles and weaving, baskets and pottery. Indian and Civil war relics and paper items like maps, letters and books. Cowboy kitch from the 30's -50's. Horsehair tack, headstalls, bozelles, reins and bridles...not much, the barn is only half full of my crap
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Mi abuelita me dijo "en boca cerrada no entran moscas".
posted on January 30, 2004 05:31:23 PM new
Sort of partial to Lamps.
Really like Oil lamps.
Buy to sell, but some of them find a permanent spot in the house.
posted on January 30, 2004 06:02:59 PM new
Since so many of us have stated that we collect books, may I sidetrack this thread just long enough to ask which books?
Profe already said he collects Indian and Civil War materials.
I collect short stories, used to collect odd volumes of Dickens' works for their illustrations (but this past Christmas was given a beautiful matched leather set, thus ending that pursuit) , and I'm always on the lookout for english translations of French Revolution memoirs. I'd like to have a decent set of the Harvard Classics but can't afford one. Oh, and I've got a small pile of very old carpentry/construction books that come in real handy when renovating old homes.
posted on January 30, 2004 06:30:34 PM new
I collect all literature, fiction and poetry. I did have a lot of modern first edition fiction but I made a "fortune" (Hahaha), selling those books on Ebay. Actually, I didn't value those books too much but they were very popular when I began selling on Ebay a few years ago. I find a lot of good books at local estate sales. Recently, I found a first edition of For Whom the Bell Tolls...for four dollars.
You mentioned Dickens...I found a complete set for 25.00.
posted on January 30, 2004 06:40:37 PM new
Many fields I’d love to collect but 4 kids tend to max. out my budget.
As a dealer and father of 4, I’ve found that ‘necessity never made a good bargain’, although I have handled some lovely bits.
So my current collection is only made up if what I consider ‘dead stock’ in my shop;
I’m never ‘stuck’ with good bits.
Just can’ get my head around dealing in ; books, coins, stamps, medals.
They just don’t interest me much.
I do have many antiques reference books.
A tip for my vendio peers that are book enthusiast;
For a fantastic price guide, check out http://abebooks.com/ : shh! Keep it under your hats.
Dadofstickboy, I had a fantastic banquet lamp go through my hands about 2 months ago, I think it was American.
C19. Heavy cut blue on clear glass overlay, pear shaped font, matching column, and a triple stepped marble and ormolu bronze base, approx. 30” tall without burner, chimney or shade.
I had it for a whole 2 hours.
posted on January 30, 2004 07:06:37 PM new
My interests coincide with Helen's. Literature, poetry, and add philosophy to the brew, a pinch of Judaica, along with some Jung, stir with Shakespeare, and a couple of great Argentine and Russian writers.
(How could I forget the Russians? The Grand Inquisitor!
You have the right to an informed opinion -Harlan Ellison
[ edited by snowyegret on Jan 30, 2004 07:07 PM ]
posted on January 30, 2004 07:20:14 PM new
Hi Kraft. I am a 'little bit of this, little bit of that, collector. It seems I have phases of fascination with everything from kitchenware,jewelery,clothing, books, glass,etc.etc. I guess anything I find novel at the time! But at least when the love affair with said objects are over, I can turn to selling them out on ebay. lol!
posted on January 30, 2004 08:28:57 PM new
Wrought Iron candelabras and sconces. I am SO prepared for a power outage. Most of my friends know not to bother buying be either since they can't fingure out which ones I'll like or hate so instead they buy me great candles.... I have a cabinet full of them. I'm eyeing one more candle purchase though... it's abouta foot across and four feet high and the company will make it in any color and scent combination I want. I'm just having a hard time justifying a $500 candle in my mind.
~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~ • ~~~
If it's really "common" sense, why do so few people actually have it?
posted on January 30, 2004 09:18:13 PM new
regarding books, I'm also partial to old religion and esoterica, anything by or about Masons, Templars, Rosicrucians, penitentes, and Zane Grey first editions. I almost have a complete set of those...still need "The Call of the Canyon".....
I only sell on FeeBay to keep the $ turning over to feed my addictions, once in a while, I break even
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Mi abuelita me dijo "en boca cerrada no entran moscas".
posted on January 30, 2004 09:27:54 PM new Since so many of us have stated that we collect books, may I sidetrack this thread just long enough to ask which books?
Frances Hodgson Burnett (both her kid & adult novels)
Beauty & the Beast
Science fiction in general, but also the novels of Andre Norton and Hal Clement in particular
Leslie Charteris' Saint books
to name a few
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Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on January 31, 2004 05:40:29 AM new
Bunni, I like cookbooks although I hardly ever cook! hahaha!! And I do like the feel of the old leather bound books. (There is just something very powerful when you hold one and turn the frail pages.) I think it is parchment paper I am thinking of?
Anyway, my father had a huge library of books and dictionaries. The rhyming dictionary, the browser dictionary, origin of words dictionary -- so many unusual dictionaries of all sorts. I can't even remember most of them, but I'm sure that is why I am always picking up dictionaries at garage sales. lol. .
posted on January 31, 2004 01:46:08 PM new
I collect perfume bottles, and clear glass baskets. I love vintage costume jewelry, but I only hold onto it temporarily - because I can't wear most of it (allergic to nickel). Judging by the shelves and drawers overflowing with videotapes - I think I collect television shows.
On the book side - I have books about decorating, needlecraft, personal finance, and biographies. I also have lots of antique and collectible guidebooks. I love science fiction books, especially anything Star Trek or by Arthur C. Clarke. In years past, I read a lot of Westerns. Lately, I haven't been reading much at all. A couple of my favorite books are Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and Ray Bradbury's Farenheit 451. Wow, now I want to go read a book - but I have auctions to list!
posted on January 31, 2004 02:40:14 PM new
I used to collect, vintage fishing tackle and , vintage guitars and instruments, and a few civil war battlefield dug relics. Then oneday, I overheard some old collectors talking at a auction, commenting to the effect: That you spend half of your life collecting junk and spend the other half attempting to get rid of the junk. This made me think! Maybe I have to much junk and I did! So I sold the bulk of it. So what I have left, I fish with it, play the old instruments, and some things, I still just look at. But as far as collecting goes, I choose to collect fond memories, it requires virtually no space!
posted on January 31, 2004 05:42:04 PM new
I hunt and collect those key tags that say "If found drop in mail box - or mail to and an address - etc." But not the ones from Motels. Old businesses like department stores and manufacturers. I'd keep an old Hotel but I have never seen any. Usually they are brass and a few aluminum.
posted on February 1, 2004 08:01:17 AM new
Orientalia. Anything Chinese or Japanese from very early on (my earliest is 17th century) right though the 1960's. I've got a case full. I haven't added anything for a while, but once in a while my brother brings me a nice piece. It's actually all over the house.
