Funny How Life Works
by Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher
Before my husband and I had children, we spent our weekends attending flea markets and antique shows. We indulged his interest in vintage guitars, mine in American history books, purchased furniture for our home, and picked up items that caught our fancy. We had no children, good jobs, and the discretionary income to travel to shows and buy what we liked. I always joked when we purchased our 1786 Bed and Breakfast Inn in the Berkshires 15-years later that we needed a 4,000 square foot space with 12 bedrooms just to warehouse and showcase the items we amassed on these cherished outings.
I come by my collector gene naturally. My grandfather collected autographs. He spent the better part of over six decades writing to and meeting authors, musicians, actors, athletes, politicians, and opera singers. Born and raised in New York City, he never left the house without index cards and a pen in his pocket because “you never know who you might meet on the streets of Manhattan.” When he passed away in 2005, I inherited his autograph collection, which consisted of over 6,000 signed photos, handwritten letters, signature cards, first day covers, and Playbills. Seasoned autograph dealers I invited to assess the collection were awed by its sheer size and diverse nature. Clearly, my grandfather felt everyone was worthy of being added to the collection. It was, for him, all about the acquisition.
My father is his fathers son. My father spent his childhood hanging around the old Metropolitan Opera House in NYC watching rehearsals and performances. He even worked his way through Medical School as an on-stage extra in chorus scenes. His collecting passion was opera recordings. In addition to a career as a prominent oncologist and pharmaceutical executive, my father was also a partner with his childhood best friend in Live Opera Heaven, a business in NYC where Opera lovers could find even the most obscure opera recordings. Many customer requests were fulfilled from the floor-to-ceiling shelves that covered and lined the walls of both his apartment in NYC and his home in New Jersey.
Two years ago this December, after 15 years of inn keeping, we sold our home in the Berkshires to embark on another life change. When we learned The Journal of Antiques & Collectibles was for sale, we jumped on it. It presented the perfect opportunity to marry our personal interests with our professional backgrounds in magazine publishing, business, sales and marketing.
Along with a dedicated staff, many of which have been with the magazine for many years, we are committed to maintaining the look, editorial content, and distribution that makes The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles such a great advertising buy, and must-read for buyers, sellers, collectibles and enthusiasts, alike. Thank you for your continued support!
Related posts: