The Live Experience
Recently I received a letter from a reader who had attended a Philip Weiss auction on Long Island back in February. It started with, “Remember High Noon? Gunfight at the O.K. Corral? Did you watch high stakes poker?…” I was intrigued.
With his letter, the author looked to capture and share the anticipation and excitement in the room when a #1 issue Batman comic book graded 7.5, and labeled in the catalogue as “one of the most desirable of all comic books,” came up for sale. From an opening bid of $100,000, to escalating counter-bids that quickly saw that price double, he describes a room where everyone was on the edge of their seat until the gavel finally came down at $210,000! “The gallery erupts into applause like we witnessed the 1980 Hockey Olympics!”
If you’ve ever been to a live auction, it’s easy to relate to the experience described in this letter. Whether it’s your money on the line or someone else’s in the room, it’s hard not to be swept up in the fever of the moment. It’s what makes attending a live auction such a special event. While technology has made auction participation possible for anyone unable to physically be in the gallery, nothing beats the energy and excitement of a live auction! Thank you, Tom, for that reminder.
The same can also be said about going to flea markets and antique shows. Collectors love to talk about the thrill of the hunt, and the outings that first inspired their hobby and now consume their weekends and vacations. ‘Live events’ provide opportunities for serious collectors and enthusiasts alike to learn, become inspired, and connect with others that share their interests. For many those connections have led to decades-long friendships with fellow collectors and dealers, and memorable acquisition stories, two things fundamentally missing from the online buying and collecting experience. We hope our new monthly “On the Road to…” column will inspire you when planning your next vacation, day trip, or weekend get-away. There are great shows and events happening every weekend in towns and states across the country, and great antique shops, museums, and auction houses to visit along the way. We will continue to be a resource to help you find them.
In related news, we are happy to announce a redesign and repurposing of our web site at www.journalofantiques.com. We now offer a searchable database of current and past articles and columns, and a Marketplace News section with regularly updated information on upcoming antiques and collectibles shows, auction results, and other news of interest to dealers and collectors, and the industry professionals that support them. We have also enhanced the look and functionality of our Calendar of Events, Resource Directory, and Antiques Shop Finder pages to make these essential resources easier to use and search. When you come to the site, please take a few minutes to Contact Us and share your thoughts on the web site and magazine.
If you plan to attend the May Brimfield shows, we invite you to stop by our booth at the Heart-O-The-Mart on Wednesday and Thursday, May 13-14.
We look forward to these opportunities to connect with you!
Publisher’s Corner: May 2015
Maxine Carter Lome, Publisher
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