Columns

These sought-after sections offer expert auction analysis, cultural commentary, and more, adding depth, variety, and a personal touch to every issue. Columns include Gavels ’n’ Paddles, Psychology of Collecting, The Beat, Pop Culture Collecting, Toys from the Attic, and Civil War Collector.
Sloane Middleton Mann

What’s In & What’s Out: Vintage Marketing for 2026

by Sloane Middleton Mann Planning ahead is key to a successful marketing plan, so let’s talk about what’s working—and what ...
Future of the Antique Business

The Future of the Antique Business: What’s Coming in 2026

By Rob Wolfe of American Pickers If the past year has proven anything, it’s this: the antique business is far ...
1999 Pokémon Charizard card

1999 Pokémon Charizard card, $256,200, Landry Pop Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & FarBy Ken HallAll prices include the buyer’s premium 1999 Pokémon Charizard card A 1999 ...
A 20th century coin-operated Zoltar Fortune Teller Machine

Zoltar Fortune Teller, $18,022, Crescent City

Recent Auction Results from Near & FarBy Ken HallAll prices include the buyer’s premium A 20th century coin-operated Zoltar Fortune ...
Dylan's handwritten lyrics

Dylan’s handwritten lyrics, $54,400, University Archives

Recent Auction Results from Near & FarBy Ken HallAll prices include the buyer’s premium Dylan's handwritten lyrics Bob Dylan’s handwritten ...
McDonald's Neon Sign

McDonald’s neon sign, $9,600, Potter & Potter

Recent Auction Results from Near & FarBy Ken HallAll prices include the buyer’s premium McDonald's Neon Sign featuring "Speedee" A ...
Black Cat Cigarettes Sign

Black Cat Cigarettes sign, $24,517, Miller & Miller

Recent Auction Results from Near & FarBy Ken Hall All prices include the buyer’s premium A Canadian 1940s single-sided porcelain ...
Amazing rare! Vintage Barbie Bubble Cut Midge Ken Wedding Party Gift Set NRFB

Barbie Bubble Cut Midge Ken Wedding Party Gift Set and a Guhl & Harbeck JUPITER N Cast Iron Mechanical Pencil Pointer Sharpener

by Jessica Kosinski $3,317 (Bids 66, Bidders 25) Amazing rare! Vintage Barbie Bubble Cut Midge Ken Wedding Party Gift Set ...
The belt is a classic Richmond depot-issued sword belt with a 2-piece “CS” belt plate, though the sword hangers are detached. The belt is in fine condition, still supple. The accompanying Colt model 1849 pocket revolver is “as found”,

Civil War Belt and Pistol

By John Sexton Q: I bought this belt and pistol in a tag sale in Stratford, CT, for $300. My ...
Frank Frazetta’s Conan cover painting, known as Man Ape, sold for a record $13.5 million in Heritage’s Comics & Comic Art Auction. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

Pop Culture’s Big September

By Amanda Sheriff and J.C. Vaughn After the usual late summer doldrums, things have definitely heated up in the worlds ...
eye-catching pendant

Eye Witness to the Golden Eye

with Jessica Rickman CPPA, Certified Personal Property Appraiser During a recent estate appraisal, imagine my initial shock when this stunning ...
Revell captured the 1950s-style fins of the Imperial very well.

More Tiny Chryslers

by Douglas R. Kelly Now, where was I? Before I got sidetracked last issue with a visit to the world ...
Pimpernel has been making cork-backed coasters and placemats for nearly 100 years. A keen eye can still pick up vintage coasters such as these.

Wow Your Host with Timeless Vintage Finds

by Barbara Miller Beem Welcome back to The Charm, a monthly look at how to use old things in new ...
Business of Vintage

Holiday Marketing Checklist: Your Schedule for the Season of Sales

by Sloane Middleton Mann It’s the most wonderful time of the year—especially if you’re selling unique, one-of-a-kind, and easily giftable ...
Flawed Porcelain: The Dobree Family’s Frustration Errors could also sting. Take the English Dobree family, who in the 1750s ordered a porcelain arm-orial service decorated with their red shield and green mantle.

Curating the Unexpected: The Joy of Flawed Chinese Export Porcelain

by Shirley M. Mueller, M.D. “Look at me,” the large, not-to-be-missed porcelain cried out. And I did. It was not ...
Noel Gallagher’s Epiphone Les Paul used to record Oasis’ debut album Definitely Maybe.

From Collector to Curator: Turning Passion into Provenance

by Laurence Carpenter How a personal obsession became a professional pursuit—and what I learned about the stories objects can tell ...
$1,275 (Bids 63, Bidders 21) RARE Lrg Antique Hubley Cast Iron Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Parcel-Post Sidecar.

Hubley Cast Iron Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Parcel-Post Sidecar and a Raymond Loewy Colonial Model 700 Mephisto Bakelite Globe Tube Radio

by Jessica Kosinski $1,275 (Bids 63, Bidders 21) RARE Large Antique Hubley Cast Iron Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Parcel-Post Sidecar. Marked Harley ...
An Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen Egg chair, 1950s, offered by WYETH photo: 1st Dibs

Retro Meets Timeless: Inside the World of Mid-Century Modern

By Rob Wolfe of American Pickers Walk into any stylish home today, flip through Instagram, or browse a trendy furniture ...
Eero Saarinen designed the innovative and elegant Tulip seating in 1957

Why Mid-Century Modern Captured America

By Shirley M. Mueller, M.D. In the mid-1950s, the United States experienced the emergence of a design movement that would ...
The Halloween soundtrack on vinyl featuring the score created and performed by John Carpenter.

Horror Soundtracks and Four Color Comics

By Amanda Sheriff and J.C. Vaughn One of the things many horror fans enjoy in fright flicks is the spooky ...
Dinky’s number 132 Packard sported a driver figure wearing a suit.

Packard: Ask the Man Who Owns One

by Douglas R. Kelly During my senior year of high school, I worked in the mailroom of a non-profit sports ...
Civil War Currency

The Civil War Collector

by John Sexton Q: I inherited my great-great-grandfathers sword and his Civil War discharge and I’m interested in knowing what ...
Jessica Rickman, Certified Personal Property Appraiser

A Steamboat’s Signature: The Nameboard of the Delta Queen

By Jessica Rickman, Certified Personal Property Appraiser Recently, I attended The Nashville Show, a prominent annual antiques show in Middle ...
Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose

Reuse, Recycle, Repurpose

by Barbara Miller Beem If you could see me right now, you’d find me hunched over a laptop. I’m in ...
Business of Vintage

Social Media is Not Your Product Catalog

by Sloane Middleton Mann Let’s be honest: posting product photos on Instagram isn’t a marketing strategy. It’s a hope and ...