Collectible China Rolling Pins by Harker

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?

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

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

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

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 -

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

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