The Compulsive Collector

2012 & My Cat Collecting Continues

2012-01-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

My friend, Danna Crawford, aka Powerselling Mom, posted this blog on PracticalEcommerce - 100 Top - Interesting eBay Categories. And I don't disagree with her that those are interesting. In fact I found one I never really looked for on eBay - Immigration Lists that one is fascinating to me because I do Genealogy - can't find anyone I'm related too but found some of my inlaws and outlaws relatives.

I was wondering about some of the other categories on Danna's list so I think I'll explore them over the next few months and share here... But meanwhile, I've continued to add to my "cat collection" but these were two real cats - feral kittens who are now learning how much trouble there is to get into INSIDE the house. Here are the "Whippersnappers of Levittown" - 2 girl princess cats

This is Whipper - she's the smaller one..but feisty - except with me. She hates me...

This is Snapper - the bolder braver one... she only likes me when I have food or a toy in my hand.

tThey join the "Boys" - the Vice Presidents

So, you know I've been busy - the girls are only about 6 mos old now and we've only had them inside since Mid-December. Lots of learning going on..and now I need all those tabby cat statues, postcards, pictures, art work etc. that I used to be able to pass up.

See you next week, meanwhile in comments post which categories of Danna's blogpost you like best and we can explore them!

Even Collectors Can't Know "Everything" so...

2011-09-01T04:38:00.000-07:00

You know by now, I'm terrible at keeping up with posts here. Part of that is I'm currently overwhelmed with vintage collectibles that are my inventory for eBay selling. But I have a resource for you that is just too good to pass up. First a disclaimer - THIS IS AN AFFILIATE LINK! So I'm making money if you buy this eBook or even if you buy it as a smart phone download.

That said, I still think this book will be an amazing resource. It's called The Home Run Guide and will be available as both an eBook and a smart phone download. There are 90 topics, here are some of them:

Handbags and handbag related things
Ephemera
Southern Heritage Cookbooks
LongabergerGolf Collectibles
English Registry pottery
Music memorabilia
Vinyl records
Golf Collectibles

The Guide is due out in late September 2011, so, I recommend you order your "Pre-Launch" copy now at the introductory price of $25 because you know you're not gonna be happy when you come back later and it's sold out.
HOME RUN GUIDE - Pre-Launch Price

We've been on hiatus but we're back

2011-07-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

Do you know that feeling...the one where you know you SHouLD do something but you just can't make yourself?? Well I have that feeling about blogging...I like writing, I just don't want to do it on a "schedule" so I tend to keep putting it off...in this instance for like 5 months. BUT I'm back, and I'm going to tray to be more faithful here.

So stay tuned... come back in a day or so and bring a friend...

Meanwhile, you waant to make a collection - find the other 27 Rock/Music stars who died too young and collect their music...it's not just this generation that's done that. It's a long and infamous history... see who you can find..

And if you want a great read?? Gather up the First Editions of this series and read it in sequence... I am on Book Five and love it!! (and I sure hope book 6 doesn't take years..)

#Fire and Ice Book 1

Real Or Repro ?- part 3

2011-02-19T14:33:00.000-08:00

A Compulsive (Obsessive) & Very Thorough Train Collector

2011-01-23T11:38:00.000-08:00

Here, all these years I thought my husband was compulsive and obsessive..

One of my Favorite Sellers MYMOMSBOOKS

2011-01-13T05:05:00.000-08:00

The birth of My Moms Books was summer of 1999 after my mom’s passing in June of that year. My Mom was a avid reader with a home full of bookshelves. She always instilled the love of reading and respect for books. So what would you do with her books?

Around this same time in my life I purchased web tv and vola shopping on line. After reading in a few web tv newsgroups about selling online I discovered Half.com a book selling site. At that time Ebay did not own Half as it is a divionsion of Ebay now. On Half you could list books for free till they sold.

This wet my appetite how fun my Mom’s books went to a new home and not a land fill! About a year later and hanging with my web tv friends a girl in Texas mentioned Amazon. I was scared, hmmm the rules were different, could I do this? Still free to list. So I jumped in. Best jump I ever made, did you know books sell faster on Amazon? Ok I’m hooked a book seller is born. Other sites soon followed Alibris, Biblio with my books showing up in Borders and Barnes and Nobel.

Books weren’t the only “stuff” Mom left me. It was time for Ebay. (and a laptop computer) I sold all sorts of things with the idea of clearing out the stuff. My family was also growing with many clothes and treasures of our own to clear out of the over stuffed house. Someday we would like to build our retirement home and move. This stuff needs to go.

Still enjoying my book selling passion I started to source books at library sales, garage and estate sales, thrift stores always an eye open. Learning as you go.
My motto became “Sell what you don’t want buy what you want” How perfect for the budget.

As the years went by my husband’s parents needed our care. We decided to live together for ease of care. Now we have another household to liquidate. A big family homestead that has gone thru depression years with the belief of never throwing anything out. EKKK! Hubby and I are getting older, remember the retirement home?

How do you live in two locations and sell? Our retirement home is only accessible nine months of the year due to a private rural road. We do go back and forth between homes for Doctor appointments for Mom and Dad and other family obligations in our home town. Not always easy as they are three hours apart.

When you sell on line you need to ship timely. My stores go on vacation hold while I’m gone. With the exception of my Ebay store My Moms Books. I have an out of town notice letting my shoppers know when I will return and when their item will ship. I also communicate with them via email.

With all this combined / down size household stuff I need a place to store. The logical place is the attic of the retirement home. I now sell from there on Ebay as My Moms Books Attic. I only do auctions and Buy It Now’s . I have set up a photo area and shipping area for convince there.

I ship from my friendly little Post Office in our closest town. They are so nice! Just like my home Post Office community. You know when you sell on line you get to know the postal employees like family.

While at the retirement home I have my laptop, printer, scanner, camera and high speed internet. All the comforts of home office. Many times I list books and items there that I will sell from the home house. Just pack them up when I leave.

To help make listing items at two locations effortless I use The Art of Books and Turbo Lister. Both programs allow me to switch items between stores and locations as needed. When I list items they are assigned a sku with a location corresponding with a Rubbermaid tote bin. Organization is key in this operation.

I love what I do and will keep fine tuning as I go.

It’s not hard if you plan on paper what sites you sell on, the requirements of confirming shipments timely.

1. What inventory is in what location.

2. What sites you can sell this inventory from each location.

This was my first full year of this new business model. Next year will be bigger as I move stuff the two house way!

Click a link and save gas shopping at My Moms Books

Thank You for stopping by!

FREE Shipping Special for Ebay,ioffer and Bonanzle

Pay for your heaviest item rest ship FREE

http://www.mymomsbooksatebay.com

http://www.ioffer.com/shops/mymomsbooks

http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/mymomsbooks

http://www.alibris.com/bookstore/mymomsbk

http://www.amazon.com/shops/mymomsbks

http://www.biblio.com/?aid=BSCB357312

Not really a collectible but..

2010-11-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

I grew up going to Wanamaker's in Center City Philadelphia and watching "The Tree of 1000 lights" and took my son (although he denies it now) and all the younger brothers and sisters to see it every year.

Here is an amazing performance... 683 local choir members from the Delaware Valley organized and singing... in the Wanamaker's Gallery which is now Macy's.

Brought tears to my eyes... seriously -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ab8QzT-ziw4

Check it out!

China Rolling Pins - Baby, Toy or Doll-size

2010-09-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

Looking for a new collection?? My email friend Sterling sent me these pictures of the collection he and his wife have put together of rolling pins. I featured some of them back in December 2009 ROLLING PINS.

Well they recently sent me more pictures but these are of 22 "baby" or doll rolling pins. Aren't these just the cutest things?? I've loved the patterns in the top pin shown in picture #2 and the scoop shown in picture #4 for years. Periodically I get pieces, then trade or sell them but now I'm rethinking that practice. These are too pretty to let go!

For more information about collecting rolling pins, My Rolling Pin (My First Kitchen Gadget Books) is available there (pointing back over my sentence )Search Amazon.com for antique rolling pins

The Short History of Trading Cards

2010-08-14T12:47:00.000-07:00

I wrote about this before but wanted to discuss Trading cards again. The obvious reason is I have some listed and has others listed last week (August 10th, 2010) on my "other" eBay Id. Here's what I know about trading cards - admittedly I am NOT an expert.

In the late 1800's, tobacco companies, among others, inserted cards into cigerette packages. They also tried "silks" small silk banners

This is for sale on Bonanzle here ZIRA TOBACCO SILK

and Felts..many of which were flags of different countries - I've seen whole quilts and blankets made of these

This felt flag, from a series produced for tobacco tins I believe is for sale on Bonanzle here - French Flag

In 1894, James Duke, effectively eliminated ALL of his competition by patenting the "cigerette making machine" and strangling his competition (He owned American Tobacco company) in the tobacco industry with the resulting demise of many card producers.

In 1908, he once again began distributing cards in cigarette packages but from there was incredible variety in the cards available. In 1911 the Government busted up Duke's cartel and once again, when he disappeared so did many of the trading cards. BUT candy and gum companies stepped into the breech.

In the 1930's Goudey revived the "quality" card in trading cards putting it in a pack of bubble gum. But by World War 2, they'd been left in the dust by GUM maker of the Horrors of War cards I'm going to post some pictures of and links to next.

No one had ever seen a set quite like The Horrors Of War cards when they debuted. The art work alone was sensationalism and graphic, so intricate and the headlines or titles so topical that it was so successful, they issued 288 cards.

The 3 most prized cards, are also the hardest to find, the Hitler cards.

The Horrors of War were torn from the headlines of the time - the Spanish Civil war occurred between 1936 and 1939 - many of the cards in the set refer to battles, events or atrocities that occurred during it.

Other cards referred to the 2nd Sino Japanese war which occurred between 1937 and 1941 and which eventually blended into World War II.

Look at some of these: 4 Horrors of War Cards including #1

The headlines on that group include 1 Marco Polo Bridge is Scene of First Fighting =Slightly rounded corners and back has some slight yellowing.

5 Chinese Pursuers Shoot Down Jap Planes - corners are slightly rounded but the back is still very clean and the color is bright.

2 - Chinese "Big Sword" Corps Resists Jap Forces - rounded corners, worn edges, yellowed back and corner crease on the upper right corner of the front that runs thru the airplane on the right (the red one) down thru the neck of the man with the sword to the edge. - there is another small crease at the tip of the corner as well.

6 Suicide Squad of Japs is Blasted at Woosung - the corners and edges are a bit soft (not horrible) and the back is yellowed but over all VG condition.

6 More Examples of Horrors of War Cards

For 38 more auctions of Horrors of War, please visit my other id on eBay - Superjunk - click this line to go straight there HORRORS OF WAR

Toffee Cards: The Tobacco Years

The Price Guide to Golf Cards Part 1; Tobacco Cards

Cigarette card cavalcade: Including a short history of tobacco
Combo Magazine #8 (Latest News & Prices for Comics & Non Sports Cards)

Pokemon Collector's Value Guide: Secondary Market Price Guide and Collector Handbook (Collector's Value Guides)

The 3 Stooges (Non-Sports Trading Card) #42

Previous blog posts on the same topic:
Trading Cards did not start with Pokemon!

The Philadelphia Gift Show and Blogging for B&M - what it teaches us

2010-08-05T06:26:00.000-07:00

Last week I went to the Philadelpia Gift show looking for products to supplement my antiques and collectibles sites. Frankly, in this economy, books and colletibles and antiques are NOT anyone's highest priority. That's a shame but reality. The Gift Show management had several seminars set up for attendees which I took advantage of. And even though I've been "blogging" or trying to for the last year or more,, I learned a lot - Here is my synopsis -
1. remember that this was geared to B&M retail GIFT SHOPS (sort of.. more on this in a minute)

The seminar was given by Brian Linton - his credentials are here - http://www.brianlinton.com/
http://www.sandshack.com/
http://www.unitedbyblue/.
He's basically just like us... 2 arms, 2 legs, 2 hands, 2 eyes and a serial entrepreneur. He presented a lot of info in a very short time and at his website he has the slides available. Definitely take a look at the slides - VERY concise and informative.
So, here is what I learned -

TIPS:

1. USE the same format and layout (logos, artwork and color) on ALL your pages so your blog pages should match your website pages (and/or eBay pages).

2. Keep blog posts under 400 words - (short and sweet)

3. Give away "secrets" , tips, ideas etc. 10 at the most (at one time). People like "Top 5 Reasons to use Twitter" types of posts.

4. Link each post to some of your previous, RELEVANT posts. So I should be linking to ONLINESELLING

5. You can find free images from Flickr.com - search under "creative commons" - those images are free to use for headers, logos etc. IF you credit the originator. Make sure you give a link to the originator and mention them.

6. Find competing blogs and comment there - Competing blogs are good, because by commenting there, you'll draw their readers. Try to only comment on BIGGER ones.
7. contact the blogger (#6) about doing a guest post on your blog -
8. set up a "community" by doing that with more than one.

9. Integrate your blog into your website (he explained the mechanics of it and I do understand it but will explain it more AFTER I finish the Problogger book and putting MY blog on wordpress.

It involves making a sub-domain in your url for your blog..

8. Embed Videos from Youtube (same idea as #5) use the ones available under creative commons - give credit - make the video relevant to you topic - (and there are a lot to choose from)

9. Share Customer product reviews on your blog - this is a little hard on an antiques blog but my friend Kat could do it on her blog or her Facebook Fan Page because SHE sells shoes and skin therapy products.

10 - On your blog - ASK A QUESTION and allow comments so you build "community". - I think this takes time to build up but it does work.

11 Announce new product lines (this was geared toward B&M stores but remember that is US ... we're etail so it should work for us)

12. Write product reviews - if you try something - software, merchandise, service - write a review...(I'd say be careful of negative reviews so you don't get sued. You can say I didn't like it but I wouldn't say something like "the biggest piece of "s***" i ever bought"

13 - WORDPRESS can manage your entire site... (this goes with integrating your blog into your site.) use plugins (he had a list of them which I saved somewhere (Picture me, head down ina trunk, throwing stuff ALL over the place looking - LOL - that will be me later -) - I'll post them in a follow up

** just saying "good info" etc and no name and/or no link to YOUR blog or website is a waste of your time. You need to use a signature link inside the comment if you are allowed - similar to what I've done on Suzie's AskTheeBayQueen blog - SHE is more of an authority than I am so the link there has benefits because if someone clicks thru - it gives ME credibility with Google cause it comes from HER site not mine.

Brian has the slides from both his presentations up on slideshare and you can get the link from his website HE DID - and his slides from his facebook presentation which we didn't sit thru cause we was hungry.... so we went and ate... the soup was good (does that constitute a product review? Maybe)

http://www.brianlinton.com/

#blogboost

We're having a sale..are you sending kids back to school?

2010-08-03T08:48:00.000-07:00

Well I call them kids cause I'm older than dirt but I was thinking of both little kids going to nursery school or pre-school and bigger noisier kids going to college??

And the reason is my friend Kathy - KDMORE-Crafts-and-more custom makes blankets, throws and lap robes. So you could send that "most favored child back to Yale or Harvard with a blankee!!

They can have Simpsons, Horses, Motorcycles, Teddy bears or STARS!!- they can be sofa bed size... they can be just "nap" throws.

Little ones can have their favorite animated characters, including TRANSFORMERS, but also Princess Tiana, Dora, Disney or CARS! WHOA! I want the pink ribbon one myself.

Course these can be made for Gram, Gramps or Grumpy for watching tv too - I have a red one with puppies on it...guess who uses it the most?? Yep the two siamese...

Now I'll tell you a secret - if you wait til tomorrow? It's 10% off... TEN! (and they are very reasonably priced already.

Go tell her you saw it here first!! THROWS, BLANKETS, LAP ROBES and nappers!

More About Non-Sport Trading Cards pt 3

2010-07-29T01:09:00.000-07:00

Webkinz Trading Card Game TCG Booster Box (36 Packs)Every time my husband decides to "pay a bill" I learn a new category of collectible. Well this time I am sort of a learning a new one - I've written here before about non-sport cards, specifically the HORRORS OF WAR cards he sold some of several months ago. Well he's liquidating again so I'm showing you some additional versions of those cards as well as some others.

Horrors of War was a set created in 1938 and hand drawn - some of it is truely gruesome and no way would we let our kids collect anything like that today.... ? well maybe - I mean we did have the Garbage Pail kids and kids today have "TWILIGHT MOVIE TRADING CARDS" complete with Vampires.

See???

Now sort of in between those and the supersweet Webkinz or there are some older sets like

MARS ATTACKS!

Those Mars Attacks are from the Original series in 1962. and these JETS ROCKETS SPACEMEN cards which I think have great "pulp fiction" type

illustrations and color.

Ok...stand by for Part 4... meanwhile I'm happy to feature YOUR collection if you want to. Just email me.

Back to Non-Sport Trading Cards

2010-07-10T03:40:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I showed you some non-sport cards called THE HORRORS OF WAR and some space and western cards, well, you Civil War buffs have your cards too.

Here are some I have just sold CIVIL WAR

and some that sold recently on eBay * There are MULTIPLE sub-categories under non-sport trading cards - two of the largest in terms of listings are "animation" and GARBAGE PAIL KIDS...those outumber even the ubitqus Pokemon this week! Whodathunkit?? I mean they recalled them for heaven's sake years ago...

Ok, that's it for today - GARAGE SALING TIME!! Hoisting anchor...

Collecting First Editions 101 - Part 2

2010-06-24T06:54:00.000-07:00

I have a list of definitions of condition and book collecting terms on a special "custom" page in my eBay store. The page has a list of
"bookspeak" terms on it. You can visit and look through it at will - no obligation and all that. It will help you with some of the more "professional" sellers on eBay or Amazon or anywhere.

Here's part 2 of figuring out if a book is truly a First Edition or not:

Publishers used a variety of methods to note that this book was their First Edition - not always consistent and not anyway consistent across the industry so here's a list of the things I've seem (but you have to buy the McBride book I talks about on the previous post to see who used what method.

Here is a list of some additional designations that were used:

Colophon - on the page of information at the back of the book... some designation that it was the first edition - typically in my experience a sentence to that effect.
Copyright page (will have a notation FIRST EDITION) - sometimes FIRST AMERICAN EDITION - which means the REAL first edition was published in some other country. A lot of mine are published first in the UK.
FIRST PUBLISHED - same as First Edition as long as there's no list there of additional editions
First Impression or First Printing - on the back of the title page with no additional printings listed. For instance, the edition of THE CAINE MUTINY that I have listed on eBay right now says 14th Printing. Because some folks want the FIRST of everything, they also want not just the First Edition but the First Printing (or impression) so some publishers will say 2nd printing or 3rd printing. Not all do this though. (a whole OTHER blog post)
Letter Line - a sequence of Alphabetic letters. Typically starts at A and works up (usually about 10). The first letter denotes the First Edition so if the A is missing, you don't have a first edition in your hands.
Number line - same concept starts with 1 goes to 10 normally and if the 1 is missing and the line starts with 2, you have a SECOND edition not a first on your hands.
Same Date - early on in the 20th century some publishers put dates on title pages (some still do) but a First edition was denoted by the SAME date being put in the back of the title page. So if it said 1887 on the title page (mine have all be at the bottom of the page or right above or below the publisher's name), then the First Edition said 1887 on the back of the page too. If it says 1888 or 1901 then it's not a first edition.

Now the main problem I have with this system is, it ain't really a system. Each publisher just does what they want. So if they want to join the 21st century I think the ABBA or the Copyright Office of the Government is going to have to enforce some standardization so "we" the buying public, many of whom are fascinated by First Editions, even obsessed with them can figure it out easier. So companies like eBay & Amazon & Biblio, who use standardized catalogs for booksellers to list with, can set up some filtering in the catalogs and stop all the carp from being listed as a First Edition when it's really a 2nd,3rd or 25th edition.

And BTW there are companies like "THE FIRST EDITION LIBRARY" which is NOT a library but a publishing company who produce a FACSIMILE copy of First Edition books... it's not a real first edition folks. It's a copy. And it says so right on it in multiple places. So if you buy one of them, and it said in the listing FACSIMILE COPY, don't you dare ding the seller cause YOU made a mistake. Hear me??

How to Start Collecting First Editions or Not

2010-06-18T15:38:00.000-07:00

First of all, let me tell you my opinion of First Edition Collections. NOT WORTH THE TIME! And especially if you're collecting 20th or 21st Century Modern Fiction.

Why you ask (you did ask, right?) Well because the other 20 million of us who bought the same books as First Editions, put the Dustjackets in to mylar covers and squirreled them away, do not need any more competition. Seriously though, everyone is collecting "signed" first editions from people like Janet Ivanovich and Stephen King and....and....

The charm of Signed editions used to be that NO one else had one. So what is the point if everyone else has one?? There's reduced monetary value some times to the point of worthlessness. The signature from some authors would be worth more if you cut it out of the book and framed it with something else of interest. Like a postcard. That's my 2 cents... not worth much but..so be it.

Now if you still want to start collecting these then get yourself some reference material.

The first book I bought and I still use a later edition of it was A Pocket Guide to the Indentifications of First Editions by Bill McBride. And it really is a pocket guide. It's not very expensive either so you can easily but one for your purse or one for the glove compartment of each car.

Here's how you use it - open the book you're contemplating buying, and look at the copyright page. Who is the publisher? Now flip to the publisher's name in the McBride Guide - it will tell you how the publisher normally identifies their first editions. Here are a couple of examples of the designations:

Col - Colphon - page of information about the book usually found at the back of the book (blog author's note - more often in older books in my experience)

CP - Copyright Page
FAE - words FIRST AMERICAN EDITION must appear on the back of the title page with no additional printing indicated.

Now every publisher listed has a designation like one or more of these to indicate how they designated their first editions so Ziff-Davis UK says FPu(y) - FPu translates to "words First Published must appear on the back of the title page with no additional printing and the y means a year following any other identification method so for a Ziff Davis UK published book to be a "True First" the minimum would have to be, on the copyright page it will say FIRST PUBLISHED Sept 1986 (or just 1986).

More tomorrow (yeah I'm gonna milk this for a few days, I'm in the #blog30 challenge and I'm days behind..so I'm gonna use this one for while. LOL )

Down below is a widget with a sideshow that has the McBride book in it. If you click onthe picture it will take you to that book on Amazon and you can buy it. Be nice and buy one for your friend, husband, wife, son, daughter or book buying buddy. In Full Disclosure, the theory is I get referral money from amazon if you do. In reality? it's never happened yet.

Amazon.com Widgets

Summer Reading on Amazon

Collecting Skeletons..well not really...Genealogy today

2010-06-15T07:32:00.000-07:00

I got started in family history because of my love of history in general and because I could nver understand how come "they" had such a big family and we had this small nuclear bunch.... (they being anyone who had more than 6 cousins and 4 aunts).    Since I'm still "collecting skeletons" and I'm as compulsive about this as "The Compulsive Collector" is about his books, trading cards, postcards, coins, fish, autographs etc, I figured I'd post this today. I just sent it to Rootsweb to the Manning mailing list so you might see it there too. It's "part" of the story of my mother's family.
My maternal Great-Grandmother was Marcella Bridget Manning -
daughter of Michael Manning and Sarah.

She died in 1905 at 40 years old leaving 5 daughters under the age of 18
parentless (her husband James Forrester had died in 1897 when the youngest was
not yet born). She had married James in April of 1888 in Scranton Pa but died
in Wilmington De.

Marcella was one of several children of Michael Mannion and Sarah Manning (they seem to have switched spellings at will or just ahead of the bill collectors or was it one step ahead of the the law?). She and Michael are on a ship's log as coming here in 1880. Then I lose her until she marries in Scranton, Pa in 1888.

Marcella had one sister Elizabeth who married Patrick Canavan (who
witnessed James Forrester's citizenship application) but there was also what I assume is a brother, Henry Manning ,who 60-70 years ago or more was in Wilmington, De. Two other sisters were Margaret Mannion married but name unknown and Frances Mannion, allegedly married to John McHale and was for many years postmister of Lahardane in County Mayo, according
to my great aunt Frances (Forrester daugher of Marcella). (no dates on any of
these and not independently verified yet).

When Marcella died in 1905 she left 5 daughters: her oldest daughter, my great
aunt Annie S Forrester was about 14. She and Frances (#2 and 2 years younger)
were put into service (maids?) by their aunts. WHICH AUNTS?? WHERE??

Elizabeth the 3rd daughter was sent to boarding school in Baltimore briefly. In
1916 - 7 she married Joseph Bradley my grandfather and had 3 children before
dying of "tuberculosis of the intestine" in 1924.

Marcella II who was 10 was sent to a convent to become a nun and died in 1911 at about 12-14 years of age. I don't have her birth certificate but I have her
interment info from the cemetary/family plot.

Margaret Forrester, the youngest who would have been only 8 when her mother Marcella I died must have been sent to the same convent or board as one of her sisters. When she was alive I hadn't started collecting the family skeletons so I never thought to
ask her. She died in 1967 after a life-long battle with Parkinson's disease. She spent a lot of years working at Whitman Chocolates factory here in Philadelphia and we loved getting Whitman's samplers from her. She was also the one who gave us Silver Dollar coins that she bought at coin shops for us. (maybe my sister still has hers but I think we all "spent" them as kids or young people...didn't save them at all)

Aunt Annie Forrester lived to be 83 and spent a good part of her life in Hemstead NY where she worked at some military cafeteria for pennies. She died in 1972, in Philadelphia. She and Aunt Frances who died in 1980, had bought houses several doors apart on West 53rd St in West Philadelphia.  They spent at least 10-15 years there in the late 50's and early 60's.

Aunt Frances Forrester was quite the "looker" in her younger days and worked as a buyer for Gimbel's Department Store in Philadelphia in the China and glass dept (wonder where I inherited my love of porcelain, glassware and china from?). In the early 1950's she went to work for "The Women's House of Correction" in Philadelphia as a matron. (she was a jail guard). She was the kindest, most loving person but she brooked no nonsense even from the criminal ladies in her care. (and my mom used to say bad enough I find out you did anything, God Help You if Aunt Frances gets her hands on you).. She lied to get jobs as a young girl, making herself older to qualify so when she was 60 she had to keep working for 10 years because her employer thought she was 50.   Til she was 75+ she had her hair died a lovely auburn red and dressed quite elegantly even when she retired and was just "around the house" all day. She was the one who told us we could be anything we wanted, if we just tried hard enough.

My great aunts were all remarkable women who, other than my Grandmother
Elizabeth, never married but they all helped raised Elizabeth's children after she died. My dad joked that he was the only man to get married and end up with 3 mother-in-laws.

SO the particular collection of skeletons I'm looking to complete are the Manning/Mangan aunts and their grandparents. If anyone has any info or and if you're related, I'd love to hear from you.

Next time I'll tell you about the "other" side of the family. War heros and all.

Beth Donahue Cherkowsky

Real or Repro Part 2 - the answer!

2010-06-13T17:38:00.000-07:00

Kudos to CatLadyCate of CatladyCate's Rlegant Glass on Tias and ebay for knowing that the telltale (well one of the telltale) hints is the knob on this green Sharon "dish".   The knob on the original "butter dish lid" was so close to the lid that you really couldn't get your fingers in there to hold it well if you grabbed it by the knob.   On this one, even klutzy me could.

But this is actually a "fake" Cheese dish. I say Fake because it was privately produced in 1976. And there are more "clues". The reason I call it a "fake" cheese dish is the bottom.   The bottom of this is wrong - it's about 1/2 way between flat and a salad plate with a rim of glass to hold the top in place. This rim is thicker and holds the lid in the circle better. Well that's not how the original butterdish was. And while rumors abound of an ORIGINAL amber cheese dish, none have been reported. The original butterdish bottom has just a slight indentation and the lids "slid" around more...which accounts for how few survived in mint condition or even how few just survived in any condition.

And further if you look closely at the picture I put here, you can see the "join" where the side meets the patterned top. See how thick the "seam" is at the top of the side? The original flows over without that definitive line of thick glass

So what do I recommend?? Well Gene Florence includes a definitive "REPRODUCTIONS" section in his Collector's Encyclopedia of Depression Glass. And he expands it as he gets wind of new reproductions.   So I keep a copy of the current editon on hand for reference.

Thanks for playing along, come back soon. I'm sure I'll think of something to write about. Maybe the Iris and Herringbone reproduction tumblers.. if I can remember where I put them.

Real or Repro? This is my #blog30 post for today

2010-06-12T13:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, now that I've alarmed you, I mean reproductions or imitations of REAL antiques and collectibles. Depression Glass is rife with them but so are other categories of thing like Head Vases, Oil Laps, and books.

So here are a couple of Depression Glass things as an example because if I can be fooled...so can anyone. (not that I'm so smart but I have the real Compulsive Collector here to help me sort them out). I sell Depression Glass on eBay so I should know a little about it, especially since I've been collecting it personally for like 35 years. BUT it just proves even veterans can be fooled.

In Depression Glass, I collect Blue Royal Lace. Guess what's reproduced there?? The tumblers. In Pink Cherry blossom the shakers..(I mean come on, there were only 3 known to have been made, and you think you found a set in the fleamarket for 3 dollars? Think about that?? BUT the "repro people" also reproduced the shot glasses

Madrid, which I spoke about in an earlier post was "reissued" by the company that bought Federal's molds as well as by Federal itself, in 1976 and marked. So look for the 76 in the design (around the border).

This is a cookie jar bottom I bought after about 10 years out of the collecting aspect because I thought it was a "newly discovered" color. Yea ..not !!

Ok, so why should I have known it was wrong?? Because, Mayfair (which made this pattern) did not make a cobalt blue like this. and the pattern on this one is spread...see the 2nd picture? see how the flower is spread out? well that's typical of when a mold is made of a real pattern item and then used to remold into new pieces never made or to use reproduced molds to make colors never produced. AND besides that cobalt blue, which is what made me drool over this is way way too intense. This cobalt blue is more typical of that era .

(sorry it's small but it's all I have at the moment) but see how much more transparent and translucent it is?

The piece below is a Green Sharon piece - Sharon was made by Federal glass but THIS is not real. There are two things that should have tipped me off...see if you can figure it out and I'll tell you tomorrow ... (post your guess in your comments.

Ok - don't forget to submit your guesses as to "how" to identify this one as real or repro...

Below is a peice seen at a local event and IT's FAKE and this person (after more years in the business than me) should have known it was NOT genuine. ... (the blue one in the middle I mean. )

Trading Cards did not start with Pokemon!

2010-06-11T16:46:00.000-07:00

Contrary to what my 7 year old nephew believes, collecting, and trading, TRADING CARDS did not begin nor will it end, with Pokemon cards. In fact, Pokemon is the natural heir of the category. But cards have been collected for a long long time. The proof is in the pudding so to speak, The first grouping of cards are "HORRORS of WAR" cards from a set produced in the late 1930's

This next set was also produced in the 1930-40 era. It's called "Scoops" but could have been called "Ripped from the Headlines" It consists of pictures that embody the headlines of the era. This one is the sinking of the Morrow Castle. It went down within site of shore with 137 people lost. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Morro_Castle_(1930)

The next 4 cards are from a series called alternately SPACE CARDS or TARGET MOON and were based on the Sci-Fi of the 40's and 50's.

And the 50's 60's is represented by Trading cards from TV shows like Wagon Train, Gunsmoke and Have Gun Will Travel -

Non-Sport Trading careds as they are referred to these days continue to be a healthy collectible and the assortment available includes Tv shows, Movies and autographed versions. The value of the cards shown here is not high dollar-wise (they average $3-4 for these sets.. SOME go higher but not most) but putting together a complete set, requires some diligence and effort. So pick your favorite show, or movie and start collecting.

Armed Forces Day - TODAY! May 15,2010

2010-05-15T07:18:00.000-07:00

For the last nine weeks I've been watching Pacific and compairng the stories there with things I've heard from real vets. If anything "PACIFIC" has sugar-coated how life was for the "warriors" who fought that battle.

One of my dad's cousins was in the South Pacific. Dad talked once or twice about him but only years later did I find out that his cousin Tommy died on Iwo Jima in a "non-combat" related incident.

My mother's brother served in the Navy and was captured on Corregidor and made the Bataan Death March. He survived time in a Japanese mainland Prisoner of War camp and came home with tuberculosis. He eventually died of a form of cancer that is most often seen in Japanese men. A guy of Irish-American descent?

My parents both served during WWII - both stateside. Dad was a Staff Sgt instructor for the Army Air Corp - eventually being Air Force. Mom enlisted when her brother was captured on Corregidor and served for 3 years in the WACs.

So I always gravitated to the medals and the patches that our various armed services wore/used. However several years ago I bought a lot of old news wireservice photos at an estate sale. Many of them were from the Marine Corp public relations dept. Now I'm listing the last couple of dozen for sale on eBay and was surprised to turn over one and see a list of names of a gunnery crew and a hand-written notation "Cape Gloucester". Which happens to be one of the sites featured on the show PACIFIC (long way round the barn my dad would say to get to the point) . So I thought before I sell them all I'd show them to you along with some other military collectibles for the next few weeks.

Partly it's because today is Armed Forces Day. Intended as a day for us to pay tribute to the currently serving forces. And then on the 31st we celebrate Memorial Day - to celebrate those who served and didn't go home.

Armed Forces Day in the US is the 3rd Sat of May - the culmination of ARMED FORCES WEEK. Typically during that week the various military bases in the US have open houses and present a variety of educational events providing insight into careers and lives within the services. We'll talk more about Memorial day later. But get your flags out today and keep them ready for the next couple of months - lots of flag-flying days coming up!

Meanwhile, here are a couple of my military pictures and links to those on eBay.

This is a wire service photo from WW1 - shows "Americans with a Machine Gun Corps" in France airing out their clothing after time spent in the trenches. Look at the tent behind them ! The holes were ripped by shrapnel. And just imagine spending one night let alone several months living in that tent with at least one other person! This was taking in 1918 - My grandfather was there and for all I know he's in this photo. The wire service paper attatch doesn't mention the names of these soldiers - Doughboys!. It does say it was for release July 22, 1918.

This is another early 20th century photo- of the Army 27th Pursuit Squadron - over Selfridge Field in Michigan

This one is Marine Artillerymen on Bougainville setting up an observation post in a tall mahogany tree. They hoist the guy up and he nails boards to the tree as he goes and then they use the boards like a ladder to climb up and use the observation post to dirct fire at enemy installations. The Marine doing the board nailing is swinging a few feet above the head of the one on the far left who is olding the rope he's tied with . This one is undated but has all that information on the back. And says OFFICE U.S.Marine Corp Photo. It's not listed yet but well be on eBay eventually

This is another Marine Corp"official Photo" but none of the guys are named.

Marine Corp Gunnery Crew on Cape Gloucester

this one is currently listed on eBay

Black & white photo from the Marine Corp Press office shows the following men (identified onthe stamp on the back side)

Left to right front to back:
Platoon Sgt james C Culler, Timberland NC
second row:
Corp John Keanrs of Aliquppa Pa
Sgt Eugene Cunliffe, New LImerick maine,
Sgt Alvin Montgomery, Pittsburg Pa
next Row:
Gunnery Sgt, Gord Heim, Balitmore MD
Corp Ray Kindcaise, Gauley Bridge WB
Master Gunnery Sgt, Wallace Anderson, W Orange NJ
Corp John Thull, Rutland VT
Corp Harold Peters Oakland Ca

Ok more later -

Who knew?? A Play...about ? FIESTA! WOOHOO!

2010-04-22T08:13:00.000-07:00

Newspaper story about Fiesta - not mine so it's REALLY good

Ok, so I know about compulsive collectors - I married one.. I "might" be one. BUT who knew someone wrote a play about one of the objects of our affection? Not me. BUT they did...check out that link - it's from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

More on Fiesta when I get into the garage next week and pull out the 3 vast tubs of it that are on the bottom of the back pile...for which I need the brawny strenght of my heir apparent. So in other words, I ain't moving them without help.

But there's lots of colorful pictures on that site and some more right here to hold you over.

Left is a 10" "medium green" dinner plate (it looks olive cause it is sitting on blue cloth. YUCK don't do that! LL) and right is a turquoise Cereal bowl 5.5" across about 2" deep - I'll measure it as soon as I get those tubs out here. ... see the rings in the middle? CLUE to age! especially on certain pieces.

Ok, that has to hold you for a couple of days.... maybe -

Visit my website at http://www.antiquedaze.com/ or my ebay store at http://www.depressionglasswarehouse.com/ for more goodies..included some very used Fiesta.

A Godzilla Collection (and Ultraman) for the Ages...

2010-03-27T19:11:00.000-07:00

From the collection of my favorite Godzilla collector - and other Japanese movie monsters....

2010-02-14T00:44:00.000-08:00

Ok, enough with the snow already - I'm not even a skier...or a snowman builder!

This is my backyard fence..and my neighbor's fence... Pretty but...??

And this is my butterfly bush....again, it's pretty but...it's not really supposed to be

white.

And this mess down below?? THIS is why I froze with no electricity and no heat and no hot tea or coffee for 1 full day and no INTERNET...for two days. That's one story shed the dang tree is leaning against and those 2 "sticks" they are each 1/2 of the branch...I am soooo buying a chain saw this summer.

OK! The groundhog was right - 6 more weeks of winter...and probably 10 weeks of piles of dirty snow.... Please God, could we have spring right now?? Your friend in Penna....frozen stiff...

Do you know this woman?? YOU DO! Marsha Collier!

2010-01-10T11:29:00.000-08:00

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcbayarea.com/video.

I LOVE this site! Collectibles Corner TV

2010-01-05T07:26:00.000-08:00

First of all, she stole my idea. I would love to do what she does in terms of showcasing collectibles. And maybe this year I will pull that together after I start collecting Social Security next summer and don't have to list more/sell more to eat anything or pay a bill.

More than that, she pulls together, video, audio and INFORMATION!! Gotta love it! Ok, this is the first day of my new blogging routine so try to check back...better yet SUBSCRIBE - right over there is a button >>>>> that way, you get a "headsup email" when I actually do a new post! And please stop by our new, activated website and take a peek at the new stuff being listed there. I'm thinking this week I should work on Valentines and valentine post cards...what do you want to see?? leave me a comment and I'll see what I know. (not much !)

Collectible China Rolling Pins by Harker

2009-12-20T08:29:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, I listed a china rolling pin on ebay, that had been hanging in my cabinet for years. I thought it was Harker but wasn't sure. Well in good time, someone came along on ebay and identified it for me. And in the conversation, I found out he collects Harker Rolling pins, so I asked for pictures. Aren't these just great??

He told me he has 65 of them. I'm so jealous. I always liked these and have never seen some of the ones he's pictured here. I think the one I sold was #68 in the top picture. Hopefully, he'll come back and show us more later.

The only thing I could find on Amazon was this Pfaltzgraff version but I'm still looking so check back later.
PFALTZGRAFF APRIL ROLLING PIN W/ WALL HOLDER

Skateboards? Who Knew they were so collectible?

2009-12-16T18:45:00.000-08:00

Surely not me - I tried my son's way back when (when I was at least 14 years younger. Darn near broke my neck... LOL but check out these
Skateboard collection-

I wonder what's on ebay? I'd put a link but they don't allow me to make EPN money with it any more so..happy hunting (check SPORTS Equipment)

Easton Press Masterpieces of Science Fiction

2009-10-31T21:11:00.000-07:00

This is actually a sort of self-serving post. Myhusband collected this entire series of books, along with many others in Easton Press's 100 Greatest Books series and also some from the Greatest Fantasy (I forget the correct phrasing but the same concept - the most important, influential books in Fantastical literature)

Like the rest of the world, we've been forced to liquidate things we'd have preferred to keep and the Masterpieces of Science Fiction is the latest "lamb" on that altar.

So let me tell you , in case you don't know, just a little about these books.

First, they are are all First Editions. They faithfully reproduced the First Edition - mistakes and all. BUT they marked them as facisimile first editions. I have only had one idiot get pissed cause he thought he was getting a real first editon. And truthyfully, many times, the Easton Press edition is worth more than the true first.

2. They have beautiful leather bindings with gorgeous blind-stamped gilt decoration.

3. The page ends are all coated in gilt and each book came with a bookplate to be affixed, and a "Collector's Notes" page.

4. The Collector's Notes explains which version of the first edition they used (meaning who owned the one they used to reproduce it) and what the author had going on in his life and his writing at the time it was published. There are folks who just collect these Notes.

5. Some copies of each book included in Easton Presses series are signed by the author. These books are also limited quantities - some particular books are so limited you might not ever get one.

And tomorrow I will be listing the last 10 from my husband's collection - so please bid ifyou're a book collector or if you need a holiday gift for a discriminating book collector.

Here's the link - http://budurl.com/EastonPress

If you don't collect books or can't afford to bid, please tweet these

I just found a great site for collectors

2009-10-16T16:52:00.001-07:00

I'm always toodling around the net reading articles - I wish I got paid for doing that. BUT tonight I found a website I really love (well it's one of many)

http://collectibles.suite101.com/article.cfm/fiesta_home_decorations

I also like thevintagelist blog but I'll have to get you a link for that.

Go check out the suite101 site! Fiesta - something I have to get busy and drag out of the storage area and list.

List more - sell more - because now I owe Dell more... (a lot more)

Post Cards - a snapshot of when and where and even who

2009-10-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever gone on vacation and NOT mailed back a post card saying "wish you were here"?? Me either - I always send at least one and ahve since I was in my late teens. My excuse was my little sister. She's 14 years younger than I am so when I went to London as a 21 year old, she was 7. And I could maile 3-4 postcards a week for 1/3 of what a long chatty and basically illegible letter would say to a 7 year old. So I sent her postcards. Knowing her?? She still has them some place.

Likewise when she when on a long roadtrip with a family friend to New Mexico and Colorado?? She sent postcards cause it was less expensive.

Now I'm over 60 but I still send HER a postcard when I go somewhere new - like eBay Live in New Orleans in 2004 and eBay Live in Chicago in 2008. (the only two places I've gone lately.)

All of which makes me sympathetic to postcard collectors. And from 2004 to now, I've pickedup maybe 2000 post cards at auctions and garage sales. And in line with that, I've been learning more about them. And I'm gonna share some of MY learning and experiences with you here. Please Warned - this is not the bible, it's not carved in stone - different folks, will experience different results.

A Brief History

Postcards started in the late 1800's. At first Congress authorized printing of the cards with the name written on one side and a a picture on the other. There was no stamp and no postage denoted. Then they authorized one that had the name on 1/2 of one side and a message area on the other side and had a square with the note inside "1 ct postage".

Those, continued til 1921 about. They included, personal postcards where people went, got their kids pictures taken and put on a postcard and mailed it to the family and inlaws. Or Newly weds got a photo put on a postcard and sent it home saying Wish you were here.

During WWI for a brief time postage went up to 2 cts. Then back down to 1 ct until 1950.

In that period the post card industry flourished here and abroad. Internationally, people began to collect the "greeting" type cards, like the Halloween postcards or the Christmas ones. Some artists developed a reputation for wonderful art on ostcards, like Clapsaddle, Brundage and Griggs.

Some deveopled a reputation for WEIRD art - like Louis Wain who drew cats but anthormorphised them...His cats were the hoodlums of the postcard world. Wain himself ended his life in an asylum after a mental breakdown and you can clearly see his disintegration over time if you collect enough examples of his art.

Hillary DePiano Blog Tour Questions -

2009-09-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

Well I know a good deal when I see it so when I saw Hillary's post about her blog tour in ColderIce's chatroom last week, I jumped on it. ! Hillary kindly agreed to be a guest blogger here and TODAY is the day!!

HURRAH!

Now, since I'm knee-deep in "fantasy bras" for the BLING MY BRA fundraiser for the Susan G Komen Foundation, which I'm organizing for October, I decided to start by asking Hillary if she had has regular mammograms, beause Breast Cancer is the #2 killer of women in this country (in February we'll work on the #1 killer)

Here are Hillary's answers -

1. Do you have a mammogram regularly - if not, why not?

I get a mammogram every year. I know how important it is to use preventative maintenance.

2. Do you know anyone who has breast cancer now or had it and recovered?

I do not know anyone who has had breast cancer.

3. If you have a daughter or if you magically inherited one, what would you tell her about breast cancer to make her aware of it as the #2 Killer of women in this country? (or would you tell her? If not, why not?_

My family has a history of skin cancer so while that is a very different animal, we definitely take care to take every precaution possible. I don't have any kids yet and probably won't for a while yet but health education will always be a big part of our family.

NOW, even though I'm consumed by the Bling My Bra campaign right now, not I decided to go check out Hillary's new site Http://www.pricednostalgia.com and her blog http://www.thewhineseller.com ROCKS so I figured she'd be a good one to ask these next two questions of, and she didn't disappoint -

4. Completely off-topic, if you were a superhero, WHO would you be?

I've always thought that the most useful superpower would be the ability to pause time like Hiro on Heroes. Then I could simply pause time, get all my work done and then un-pause so that I could enjoy time with my family and friends. It would be great to be able only use time for the people I care about and do my work in that "extra" time when everything else is frozen. (HEY HIllary - next time you pause it, let me know ahead of time and i will definitely join you in "catching up".)

5. What is your "secret super power"?
AND Obviously, her superpower is perfect for an internet seller, on eBay or anywhere -

I don't know if this qualifies but I have noticed that I am rather good at making things sound better than they are. This makes me good at marketing and sales and also comes in really handy whenever I need to help someone with their resume.

Well that rounds out Hillary's visit today but we hope to have her as a guest VERY soon on http://www.rrbradio.com where we talk ALL things ecommerce-related.

The next show is tomorrow (9/16) tonight at 8:08 PM. Come and listen as we talk to Cindy Shebley and Cliff Ennico about their new book The eBay Marketing Bible. (and Hillary as soon as we can pin her down to a time!)

And if you're having "blogger's block" and can't think WHAT to right about next? Hillary's got a whole blog post full of ideas onthe The Whine Seller so go read it! She's really very good. Oh and buy her new book for Trading Assistants. !!

The Last of MY Blue Royal Lace Depression Glass

2009-09-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

This is sort of a mourning - I have collected Blue Royal Lace Depression Glass for 34 years. I love it. I think the pattern, Royal Lace, made by Hazel Atlas from 1934 to 1941 is one of the prettiest patterns in Depression Glass or even just in the world of glass dinnerware.

Hazel Atlas made this pattern in Crystal, Pink, Green and Blue with some random pieces in other colors like Amethyst. We have a irridized amber Butter Dish bottom too. But the main colors were the first 4 I mentioned.

Tomorrow evening some lucky bidder will win the last of MY personal collection of Blue Royal Lace. It's Butterdish (aka BUTTER DISH) that is as near mint as any I have ever seen. We have had 3 others over the years and an assortment of pieces but this one was MINE. And I'm selling it since I've sold most of the rest of the collection.

One day in the near-distant future I might find another or buy one on ebay but this one has been special to me. Other than my brother and sisters, this has been with me longer than anything except my husband.

Farewell dear Butterdish - I hope your next owner loves you like I do!. Come back and be mine again if they don't!

Click here to see the - butterdish

RARE Vintage "Cat" Sunglasses! UNUSUAL!! - eBay (item 170369066282 end time Aug-12-09 19:46:51 PDT)

2009-08-10T08:25:00.000-07:00

Oh soooooo cool! I love these - The $$$ is not in the budget right now but where there is one there will soo be another. so I'll wait!

RARE Vintage "Cat" Sunglasses! UNUSUAL!! - eBay (item 170369066282 end time Aug-12-09 19:46:51 PDT)

Science Fiction - paperbacks -

2009-08-10T06:41:00.000-07:00

Ok I told you in the first post here, I was married to "The Compulsive Collector". Well, even I didn't realize how nuts he'd gotten. He's cleaning out the bookshelves the other day and decides certain books, which he "HAD to HAVE" just weeks ago, he's never going to read. (he doesn't like the writing or the stories...isn't that what LIBRARIES are for? to test the waters?????? HuH?)

SO this week, I'm listing his "extras" and his castoffs. I can't tell you how many copies of the same ACE paperback versions of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Pellucidar he gave me to sell. But, it's definitely more than 1.

Now I do understand the problem that when you buy multiple lots, you end up with multiples of the same book. And for some of these series (like Burroughs' Martian Series) the only way to get a complete set is to buy many multiple lots. They just don't sell as singles at a price that lets a seller make any profits after fees on the various venues. BUT.... 5 copies so far.

So why wouldn't you, as they came in, select the best version and kept that and immediately start compiling a "lot" to be resold?? I ask you?? He gives me crap all the time about shoes..well I have 17 pair but I accrued those over 35 years of working (mostly over the last 7 years of working). In the last 4 years I bought 1 pair of shoes. ONE. NOT 120.

SO.... if you're looking for reading material, come to my ebay store, http://www.depressionglasswarehouse.com click on the store category PAPERBACK BOOKS and there are about 12 lots or more of Science Fiction and Mystery/Crime/Romance paperbacks...as well as the 500+ books I've listed so far. (with a mere 2000+ more to go- THOSE I bought to read mostly - and did mostly read. AND that collection took 54 years to accrue. - I gotta work on the shoe collection more I think. LOL

If you read a post and it's gone

2009-08-07T08:09:00.000-07:00

It's because ebay made new rules for the EPN program and posting links on blogger is now illegal. I don't know why they don't just close the program, close the site and then see how sales go.

Barbie - The Queen of the Doll collection

2009-07-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

Barbie in a custom made, seed pearled, Victorian costume
OOAK Barbie Doll Hand Crochet Seed Pearl Dress - eBay (item 370234595648 end time Aug-23-09 10:26:33 PDT)

I grew up too late for Barbie. I was 14 in 1962 (go ahead, I'll wait while you do the math. YES I am that old. ) But I bought a lot of Barbies for my youngest sister - who had NO clue where they are right now.

However, I've had lots of Barbie dolls the last 13 years. We originally sold toys on eBay, primarily action figures, but I always got hold of whatever Barbie Dolls my toy wholesaler could provide because the MOMS who brought their sons in to my b&m store liked to look at and frequently bought the Barbies.

The one above belongs for now to my friend Dar. I bought the holiday Barbies for both of my nieces and I bought some in Europe - and now that you remindd me of it, I'm going to go list it on ebay too - i'ts a 1996 International Holiday Barbie.

And very festive in her green velvet top and white satin striped skirt.

My favorite Barbie sayin gis "I had to grow up to be Barbie. The B*)&#) had everything. ! )

Let's Do Lunch - boxes that is

2009-07-18T04:48:00.000-07:00

I've got more info to show you on this but for this minute - here's a link to a story I saw on AOL this morning - about a Superman lunch box that sold for $11,500. Wish it had been mine. But even some of those plastic 1980's lunch boxes are worth reselling on ebay. For now read the story and I'll come back with more links and tips in a few...

Lunchboxes

My Glass Whatsthis for the week! ID'd!!!

2009-07-16T04:05:00.000-07:00

I bought this pretty piece of orange custard for 10 cents - I think at a rummage sale. It's really pretty and I thought it was maybe part of a two part sherbet (Blue Royal Lace by Hazel Atlas has some short ones that are two part but the glass part fits into a metal base and obviously THIS is a glass piece.

BUT - this morning I had one of those friendly "Ask the Seller a Question" popups on my computer screen and it was another knowledgeable ebayer who told me this is indeed a base but, it's to a Westmoreland Glass FAIRY LAMP. Now I'm not as well versed as this person but now that she's told me what it is, I can really see it. And here's my whole ebay listing with more photos. And I'm off to research Westmoreland Fairy Glass Lamps for you.

Vtg Westmoreland Peach Custard Glass Fairy Lamp Base

For the Love of the (Board) Game | GeekDad | Wired.com

2009-07-03T08:17:00.000-07:00

This blog post on Wired by Geekdad

For the Love of the (Board) Game GeekDad Wired.com

Brought to mind how we used to have "game nights" when I was growing up. Now keep in mind, I'm talking back in the dark ages of the 1950's. Practically Medieval. We played checkers, Chinese Checkers, horserace, Monopoly, Scrabble, and something called DUTCH BLITZ.

A family friend, Miss Dolly, (reall name Ida Rae Bragg) who was my Girl Scout leader found that card game, as a self-published game, from a flea market upstate somewhere in Penna (might be Zern's in Zieglersville but frankly I don't remember).

Dutch Blitz is Solitare on Speed with 3 ofyour best friends (or worst enemies...which ever). 4 sets of cards - you take turns putting your cards out on the piles but sometimes you end up all playing at the same time. You can't put the same color twice so if 7 is yellow, 6 has to be one of the other colors, like blue. And when you can not put down one of your own cards, you have to draw. When you get rid of all the cards in the pot and all the ones in your hand, you yell DUTCH BLITZ at the top of your lungs. Then all the points are tallied and the most points wins. Til you play again. As kids we got really fast but none of us could beat my brother Dave (and later my younger brother Eddie got almost as fast- WAY faster than me.)

So, while you are "stacationing" at home, go find some old board games and start a new family legend. Dave's invincibility lasted til he met my 7 year old twin nephews from my husband's family and the two of them beat ALL of us old folks. Now where did I put that Dutch Blitz game?

SuperSoaker 20th Anniversary ? CAN IT BE???

2009-06-14T06:42:00.000-07:00

Sure can - who'd a thunk it? Not me. My son had at least 3 of these...and kept them fully loaded at all times. In case we were invaded by aliens or supersoaker carrying thugs? Dunno but it's BAAAACCKKKKK!!!

Check out this anniversary edition (and buy one for you and one for Dad for Father's day- the rain has to end sometimes and water fights??? a good thing in the summer!) Or he can shoot squirrels with it...that's my plan anyway.

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Handcream and new blogs and new websites

2009-05-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

For the record, I still love the Camille Beckman handcream that I got from Kat at katskloset. For the first time in about 20 years, my fingers are healed and not chapped, chipped or cracked. And, I still have most of the tub left. It seems to last a lot longer than most of the others which I have to use repeatedly all day long. This one, 2-3 times a day seems to keep my hands from drying out. So, got to KatsKloset.com and buy yourself some. HERE are some links to her items on eBay -Camille Beckman on Ebay

I have two new blogs- John Lawson, ColderIce, told a group of us recently to only have one blog but frankly, I think the people who read this blog, might not be interested in the same topics as those who would read my Onlineselling blog - but please post your comments and tell me - should I combine all these into one?

Meanwhile here are the two new blogs right here on Blogger - depressionglasswarehouse.blogspot.com and antiquedaze.blogspot.com

AND the new website is almost ready for prime time. Not quite, some glitchy things with the email/newsletter handling and something I haven't figured out with the payments. BUT...soon, you'll get an invitation to a grand opening..

OT - Kind of - HAND CREAM!

2009-04-18T15:31:00.000-07:00

Ok so even THE Compulsive Collector won't hold hands with me any more since my hands are soooooo dry. And it's painful since the fingers crack at the slightest pressure. About a month ago a friend who sells online too sent me a tube of Camille Beckmann> Glycerine Hand Therapy.

The one I received was English Lavender but there is French Vanilla and Mango and Honey Musk and...well you get the idea.

HERE are some links to her items on eBay (there used to be links here- til eBay in its usual stupid fashion made them all illegal) Camille Beckman on Ebay And these are more of the Camille Beckman on Amazon. (so if you hate one you can shop on the other.) I LOVE this

At this point, I've been using it for about 2 weeks and my hands are much less dry, much softer and not so prone to splitting. A GOOD THING! Next time I think I'll try the Mango....

My friend's items are also in her store which is www.katskloset.com

and then there is my store -no hand cream but lots of books and some depression glass.

LOTR, Twin Peaks, Depression Glass

2009-04-08T07:02:00.000-07:00

I don't normally blatantly list my auctions - but frankly -like a lot of other people these days (most of them on Wall Street) I need a bailout. AND so I'm pushing up more auctions than I had been. SO, if you collect Lord of the Rings memorabilia, Twin Peaks items or Depression Glass? Come on in! I have lots for you to bid on this week!
FA:Ending soon!–60+ issues of Wrapped in Plastic, Depression Glass, Art Pottery, Signed Lord of the Rings Trading Cards – OOP set – 3 lots!

Sign up for my newsletter at cougartoys@yahoogroups.com

New to selling online? Want to add another venue? Need multiple streams of income?
Are you a seller who’s tired of ebay or not making enough there? Come and talk with other sellers and let’s explore The
River The Ranch and The Bay on a new “show” on Talkshoe. Wednesday night at 8:08 PM Eastern Time.
http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=34406&cmd=tc
And then there’s THE WATERCOOLER! Come and chat www.talkshoe.com - http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/33125 – Thursday at 8:15 PM EST
Get in motion. Do something moving forward. Take a step and then take one more. “
http://www.depressionglasswarehouse.com
Issue #5 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Apr-03
Issue #4 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Windom Earle Chess
Issue #72 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Chris Isak
Issue #34 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Fire Walk With Me
Issue #69 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Bobby Briggs
Issue #33 Feb 1998 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine
Issue #32 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine XFiles Lynch
Issue #68 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Twin Peaks Japan
Issue #31 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine TP King Arthur
Issue #66 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Aug 2003
Issue #30 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Unseen Twin Peaks
Issue #65 Eraserhead Wrapped in Plastic Magazine
Issue #30 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine
Issue #6 Film Threat Twin Peaks Movie Exclusive Raimi
Issue #29 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine
Issue #57 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine David Lynch
Issue #28 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Lost Highway
Issue #55 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Haring Theroux
Issue #27 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Jack Nance Memory
Issue #54 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Red Room
Issue #26 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine 10th Anniversary
Issue #53 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Twin Peaks last
Issue #25 10-1996 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Trigger
Issue #52 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine All Souls 4-2001
Issue #24 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Carel Struycken
Issue #51 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Dune River Edge
Issue #50 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Unseen Twin Peaks
Issue #49 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Log Lady
Issue #48 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine
Issue #47 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Kubrick
Issue #46 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Twin Peaks 10th
Issue #44 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Straight Story
Issue #43 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Kimmy Robertson
Issue #42 Lost Highways Wrapped in Plastic Magazine
Issue #41 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Pete Weir
Issue #12 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine X Files 2nd ptg
Issue #1 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Oct 1992 1st Ptg
Issue # 67 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Cooper Mystic
Special Issue #75 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine 9-2005
Issue #74 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Wild At Heart
Issue #73 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Literary Issue

Issue #72 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine James Marshall
Issue #71 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Laura Palmer
Issue #70 Wrapped in Plastic MagazinTwin Peaks Season 2
Issue #7 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine 10-1993 J Cruise
Issue #63 24 Garry Bullock Wrapped in Plastic Magazine
Issue #62 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Lara & Sheryl Lee
Issue #61 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Jules Cruise
Issue #60 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Fire Walk Deer
Issue #6 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Aug 1993 Wild Palm
Issue #59 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Killer Bob Cooper
Issue #58 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Robert Engels
Issue #36 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Hill St Blues
Issue #35 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine June 1998
Issue #23 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Twin Peaks Northern Exposure
Issue #22 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Madchen Amick
Issue #21 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Unseen Twin Peaks
Issue #20 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Kenneth Walsh Int
Issue #19 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Other David Lynch
Issue #18 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Mark Frost
Issue #17 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Harley Peyton
Issue #16 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine 5th Anniversary
Issue #15 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine Michael Anderson
Issue #10 Wrapped in Plastic Magazine April 1994
Vtg German Porcelain Yellow Cake Plate & cover Flowered
Vtg Crystal Wheel Cut Depression Glass Console Bowl
Vtg Brownie Girl Scout Pen and Pencil set Celluloid
Vtg Amber Depression Glass Console Bowl 1 Candleholder
Vintage Yvonne Talc Advertising Tin Cosmetics Vanity
Vintage Napco Japan Stick-Handled Shaker Set Rooster
Vintage 3 Pc Majolica Tea Set Bird on Bamboo Pottery
Sorrel Stallion David Grew HC/DJ 1951 Horse Story ID
Sm Vtg Weller Art Pottery Ivory 6" Jardinere Flowers
Philadelphia Phillies Pennant vintage Baseball
Ladies Metal Gold-Tone Cigarette Case Flat Wallet
Gandalf White LOTR Tolkien Middle Earth wizard figure
4 Green 1 Yellow Vtg Princess Depression Glass Cups
2 Vintage Black handled Straight Razors Germany & US
2 Sm Felt Philadelphia Tourist Bicentennial Pennents

18 Lord Of The Rings LOTRAutographed Trading Cards 76/500 OOP Mint
18 Lord Of The Rings LOTR Autographed Trading Cards 76/500 OOP Mint
18 Lord Of The Rings LOTR Autographed Trading Cards 76/500 OOP Mint
Ultramarine Swirl 12.5" Sandwich Plate depressionglass
2 Gold Stangl Pottery Birds 3401S Wren Ky Warbler 3598
2 Reverse Paintings on Glass Children Girl Angel & Boy
Amber Depression Glass Desk Tray celluloid top
Vtg Mint Stangl Pottery Bird Yellow Wilson Warbler 3597
Old Celluloid Tri-color Unmarked Poker Chips in Carrier
Vtg Green Colonial Knife & Fork 8.5" plate & B&B Plater
Vintage Women's Gold-tone Cigarette Case Flat Wallet
Napco C-4118 3D Owl Wall Hanging signed 5.5" Mint
Lady's Black & Gold Charles of The Ritz Compact Powder 95

MORE TO COME!
http://thecompulsivecollector.blogspot.com/

We have a NEW store on Bonanzle. Please come shop with us there! http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/Twilley
http://www.amazon.com/shops/DepressionGlassWarehouse
http://www.squidoo.com/Depression-Glass-Warehouse

Wrapped in Plastic - Twin Peaks & other "weird TV"

2009-04-05T08:37:00.000-07:00

See I learn more from my "compulsive collector" regarding collectibles and niche markets than I could learn if I went to "antiques and collecting school" for the rest of my life. SO forthwith -

Wrapped in Plastic - there are approximately 75 issues of this magazine. It's pretty much a homage for David Lynch and his various TV shows and movies.

Twin Peaks? If you missed anything at all, any wart or pimple on someone's nose it's in here. Same with Northern Exposure and X-Files.

Well CC (compulsive Collector) gave up on getting them all, read the ones he wanted to and now doesn't need the collection. SO once again I'm liberating something for him.

These are all bagged and boarded and 99% are in near-mint condition. One or two have some creasing. AND? which ever ones I don't have listed, someone else does. Now, if you miss these? I'd say start calling comic book shops locally because that seems to be where most of them that I have, came from.

Spring is in the air and so are the NCAA Elite 8 and Final Four

2009-03-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

Sports collectibles - a great, wide category and it's amazing how many people have "sports" colletibles of one type or another.

The compulsive collector here, has or has had:
autographed baseballs
baseball cards
signed magazines with baseball or other sports superstars autographs

I have Hallmark ornments from Basketball, Football and Baseball - but I stopped collecting them long ago cause the Christmas tree was overloaded. but that brings up another category. Sports-oriented Christmas ornaments.

Then there's actual sports equipment - golf clubs, signed baseball bats, game worn uniform parts - professional or college

There's major league and minor league, there's programs, ticket stubs, You get the idea.

Well over the next couple of days I will feature and talk about some and about "what I know" about collecting them. (not as much as some other stuff but some things)

So stay tuned sports fans, the game's about to begin. ! Get your hot dog, your beverage of choice and settle in for a good one.!

More about Arkham House Books

2009-03-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

You might remember a couple of weeks ago I posted a quick blog about some books I was listing, that my husband collected for a while. They were published by Arkham House. They sold quite well and I'm listing a few more I came upon. (yes out in a field like buttercups.. Just happened on them. {smile}

So I figured, not only would I blog about the ones I'm selling but I would tell you a bit more about the company and their "niche market" while I was at it. So, forthwith - (or as my 5 yrold nephew says...Here we go Aunt Beth!)

Arkham House
First of all, Arkham House is still in business publishing books today. But many of their publication runs are very limited, especially those from the early years. Some books were published in quantities of 500 or LESS!

Moreover, they aren't sold in the chain book stores or "mass market" books stores. They are sold only by catalog by mail and on venues like eBay or Amazon by knowledgeable or just plain lucky booksellers.

The company was formed in 1937, when August Derleth, a close friend of H.P. Lovecraft had passed away and he wanted to publish a collection of Lovecraft's stories. After two years of rejection letters, he and Donald Wandrei published the collection himself under the name Arkham House.

So they are now in business for 70 years + and have over 230 titles published. Here are the Arkham House listings on eBay.
I have two reference books, that hubby bought when he was collecting these. They are

Here are my Arkham House listings that end tomorrow -

Later today, I will return with a list of titles and some other info. So hold on and come back shortly.

eBetsy and eBayiana & TALK ABOUT SHOES?!!!

2009-03-12T06:07:00.000-07:00

So last night was the Premere episode of a new, internet radio show I'm doing with Kat Simpson of KatsKloset.com (on ebay AND Amazon And Bonanzle under that id) and we interviewed and were entertained by the well-known ebayer - eBetsy of "Around the eBay World in 80 Seconds" fame.

eBetsy, besides being a trading assistant for a jewelry line, also sells for herself in partnership with her husband Jon. They sell under the monjott id and concentrate on Converse (shoes normally but right now she has some amazing Converse jackets) and also ebayiana.

Now first, I have to tell you that I'm soooooooooooooooooo jealous. This team has 10,000 pairs of Converse shoes. And she has some aluminum display pieces for Converse shoes. I just can't imagine owning 10,000 pairs of any kind of shoes. MY husband would be soooooo not understanding. LOL

eBetsy is also a ebayiana dealer - she's gotten some neat ebay memorabilia on ebay itself. Every seen an ebay skydiving helmet? Me either. And she has Meg Whitman's Nasdaq Dinosaur from when eBay became a publicly traded company. She won that on a charity auction.

The other thing this amazng person does is write reviews of books. On eBay in the Reviews section. BUT the qualifying factor is, the book has to have an eBay mention in it. And she's got over 100 of those!

I mentioned she's a trading assistant too. Check this out: acquisator's Stuff For Sale: http://shop.ebay.com/merchant/acquisator. It's a line of designer jewelry. And her client has helped her find some "shoe" charms which sort of works in with her Converse theme, dontcha know!

Here are her links:
Our Stuff For Sale (monjott): (i have to replace the linkes because of new ebay policies - Stand by)My eBay Blog: http://blogs.ebay.com/ebetsy

My eBay Reviews & Guides: http://search.reviews.ebay.com/members/ebetsy

This ia great episode on wsradio which they gave eBetsy to celebrate her birthday. ! Listen and enjoy it. I sure did.
eBetsy Radio

Taking You Around The World On eBay In 80 Seconds With eBetsy

The Midnight Marauder

2009-02-04T04:47:00.000-08:00

My cats, even the live ones of which there are two, are inside cats. So who is this??

More Cats From Hill Top Rd

2009-01-31T12:58:00.000-08:00

My kitchen clock is cat-shaped (well one is - the other is Blue Willow but that's a whole other blogpost or 10). This Guy came from Target or as my little sister says :"Targe' " in the French... It's black modern wrought iron. And fits right in with by Black and White Embroidered mottos. (the sleigh bells came from Grandmom when my son was small and we were waiting for Santa. )

These two cats followed me home from the auction - They are also from Indonesia but they don't speak to the painted cat - And the lighter colored one must have gotten into a cat fight casue the nose and ear are mysteriously chipped and both my son and husband have denied knowing how it happened. They're about 4 1/2 ft tall but very light. I can move both with one hand when I'm vaccuuning around them.

This cat is a sort of copper-bronze thing sold at TJ Maxx and Marshall's. Hubby thought he was cute and brought him home from an auction. He hides between the sofa and the love seat in case the real cats get nasty.

The cat over there > is obviously a candle

holder...and I do use it because I love

scented candles. It actually stands about 7" high - balance is not great but it holds a votive candle or one of those tealight size candles

And for today - That's all folks...but there are more to come ... I didn't even finish taking pictures of them all.

If you'd like Cats of your own, check these Cat Collectibles.

The Cats of Hilltop Road

2009-01-22T08:35:00.000-08:00

So this is my first cat (first cause I took this picture first) I think it came from the Dollar store but might have been in a box lot from and auction - She keeps my paperclips for me.

Next we have the little cats - some are marked, some are Royal Doulton, Some are occupied Japan and some are strays who found their way here. Actually many many of them got here with help from my husband - who one day at an auction outbid me to get ALL of them. There's still a plastic shopping back full of the tiniest ones who didn't fit on this shelf. I have to find them a smaller shelf.

This guy guards my office, from the inside out. He hangs over the office door and will not let intruders leave! He's carved from wood and painted and not signed. Came from an auction so I don't know who did him.

Well, now I know who's been nibbling on the Peace Lillies! The Big Cat here, came from Indonesia. ,ade from some really light wood and painted (and her wood split...) and she guarded our antique shop from shoplifters for 2 years. She's quite the fashion plate she is. And under her is a vintage Hubley cast iron doorstop cat. She's heavy!

Green metal cat - not signed - about 12 inches high.
This one sits on the bookcases and watched the live cats' antics.

Well that's all for today - more cats tomorrow

Welcome to THE COMPULSIVE COLLECTOR blog!

2009-01-13T03:13:00.000-08:00

The first post to my NEW semi-autobiographical blog.

Semi-autobiographical because I'm not "The Compulsive Collector" but I live with him. Married to him for 33+ years. And I know YOU. A lot of us are compulsive collectors. It's not enough to have 1, we have to have ALL the katchkes.

So I figured, I love this junk, I might as well write about it.

So join me on the journey of exploration as we look at WHAT people collect and all it's various forms.

Do you collect something? anything? Well speak up, email me and send me photos and I'll post YOUR collection here.

The first thing I collect, is CATS. (well real ones too although at the moment I only have 2 of those - Max and Cosmo). But I have china cats, cat cookie jars, cat wall carvings, cat pictures, cat mirrors, cat pins, cat earrings. I have dozens on china, wood, porcelain and rhinestone cats. I even have some "cat art work" and definitely some cat photographs. (what? you think I don't have pictures of the boys?)

Over the next few days I'll add some pictures of my cats. And also some pictures of other "cats" I own. And if you're a collector - tell me what you collect. We can talk about that.