by Barbara Miller Beem “You say it’s your birthday? Well, it’s my birthday too, yeah!” Just when you thought you were in for a holiday from the holidays, here it is—January, my birth month. And, as the Beatles song reminds…
by Amanda Sheriff and J.C. Vaughn The record for the most valuable comic book has been reset. Heritage has sold Superman #1 CGC 9.0—the highest-graded copy of the book—for $9.12 million. The comic was theheadliner in Heritage’s Comic Books Signature…
Why the market is poised for growth—and why preserving knowledge matters more than ever. As we look toward 2026, all signs point to a vibrant, expanding year for antiques, vintage items, and collecting. Market enthusiasm is rising from two directions…
by Jessica Kosinski As a child of the 1980s, I have fond (and not so fond) memories of using rotary telephones. Home phone lines were the norm because, even though the first cell phone was invented in 1973, they were…
As a professional appraiser favoring American antiques and Southern folk art, I recently had the privilege of examining what is unquestionably one of the rarest and most celebrated icons of 20th-century Kentucky folk art: the legendary giant white-oak basket crafted…
by Sloane Middleton Mann Instagram has become the go-to platform for vintage shops. But here’s the hard truth: most sellers are using it wrong. Instagram was never built for direct sales. This is the root issue that holds so many…
Welcome to “Investment Intelligence,” a quarterly series from Journal of Antiques & Collectibles exploring emerging categories with exceptional appreciation potential. In this inaugural edition, we examine studio art pottery from the 1960s-1980s—a market segment experiencing dramatic revaluation as collectors discover…
By Lynn Garson, Southern Vapors Excellent example of Sileda Wales cranberry and silver perfume bottle with assay marks, 6 inches tall This article delves into the transformative innovations in antique perfume bottle design and production, spotlighting the hands-on individuals—glass cutters,…
by Sloane Middleton Mann Planning ahead is key to a successful marketing plan, so let’s talk about what’s working—and what isn’t—when it comes to marketing your vintage shop in the new year. While the last week of December tends to…
Story and photos by Donald-Brian Johnson When does the Christmas season really begin? When the first department store pipes in the first velvety Bing Crosby holiday favorite? When the first hundred twinkling lights go up on that big house down…
