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WORLD MARKETPLACE NEWS with Managing Editor Judy Gonyeau

THE WASHINGTON POST – ALARABIYA.NET – Authorities in New York announced on
Since the passing of Her Royal September 7th the return of 16 antiquities to Egypt, including five
Highness Queen Elizabeth II, works that were seized from the Metropolitan Museum of Art as
the price and popularity of part of a probe into international art trafficking. Manhattan District
souvenirs celebrating Her Attorney Alvin Bragg said the 16 works were
Majesty have soared. Major worth more than $16 million. He spoke a
events surrounding the royal day after announcing a similar return of 58
family often lead to surges in sales artworks to Italy. Nine of the pieces had been
for everything from tchotchkes to in the possession of Michael Steinhardt,
fine china and gold coins. For the described as one of the world’s largest collec-
queen’s recent platinum celebration, the Center for Retail Research tors of ancient art. In 2021, Steinhardt was
found that spending on souvenirs, memorabilia and gifts reached forced by US authorities to return 180 stolen
over $326 million. Marking of the end of the longest reign by a British ancient artworks worth a total of $70 million.
monarch opens up new opportunities for retailers and buyers, experts Under that deal he avoided going to jail but
say. And for those who have collected rare items over the years, her was banned for life from acquiring antiqui-
death marks the start of those items’ expected rise in value. ties in the legal market.

SAN FRANCISCO STANDARD – Since opening in 2010, Stuff has ARTDAILY – - The Museum of
been San Francisco’s coolest mall. Like so many other vintage and Modern Art opened Never Alone:
antique shops across the country, the rent is on the rise. Called the Video Games and Other
“Mission’s Vintage Emporium,” Stuff houses some 60 vendors on Interactive Design, an exhibition
two floors, and it’s curated right down to its tagline. The owners just that investigates how interactive
got the word that the rent will raise from $25,000 per month to an design informs the way we move
astronomical $75,000 per month through life and conceive of
at the end of their lease that is, space, time, and connections,
fortunately, not for another 18 well beyond the game screen. On view in the Museum’s street-level
months. Other shops across the gallery through July 16, 2023, the exhibition brings together notable
country do not have a long-standing examples of interactive design from MoMA’s collection, including
lease advantage and many are computer interfaces, icons, apps, and 35 video games, ten of which
closing their doors as a result. visitors are able to play. The exhibition has been organized into
However, in the case of Stuff, the three sections: the Input, the Designer, and the Player. The objects,
facts and rumors appear to be not interfaces, icons, and video games featured in this exhibition were
mixing well with “he said, she said” being the norm within social selected as trailblazing examples of interactive design.
media and elsewhere. Vendors at this shop pay between $700 and
$1,500 each month in rent. At press time, no resolution was in sight.
ECOMMERCEBYTES – Amazon’s
meltable product policy is no longer
ARAB NEWS – A UK-based marketplace for digital non-fungible just for sellers who use its FBA fulfill-
tokens has announced plans to tokenize and sell all five volumes of ment service. The reason – an increase
the oldest handwritten Qur’an manuscript available in the public in complaints from customers about
domain. Metadee, which offers digital artworks and collectibles from melted products. The news comes after a historically hot summer and
around the world, said in July that it the same day a record-breaking heatwave pushed California’s power
had tokenized the third, fourth and grid to the limit. Amazon means business – it will suspend sellers
fifth volumes of a copy of the Qur’an who receive multiple melted product complaints.
handwritten by the personal scribe of
the Prophet Muhammad, Zayd ibn
Thaabit, who served as the chief
recorder of Qur’anic text. One million IN MEMORIUM:
NFTs of each of volumes three, four
and five of the manuscript have been R. Scudder Smith (1935-2022) publisher,
created and are available to buy for $200 each. The bidding for volumes Antiques and the Arts Weekly
one and two begins at $25 million per volume, and the successful bidder cudder Smith knew the joy of
for each of them will receive the physical copy plus an NFT.
collecting thanks to his natural
Scuriosity and interest in learning
SIDMOUTH HERALD – A new that was always reflected in the pages of
British antiques show will be Antiques and The Arts Weekly.
premiering on YouTube in October. Smith’s relationship with fellow antique dealers, advertisers,
This show tends to be a bit more of a and collectors only improved the community as a whole. He was
game show than the usual appraisal always shining the light on those who shared his passion and
show and will be hosted by Antique helped share their insight and knowledge with readers.
Experts David Harper and David Elstob.
Two contestants (the first episode features two auctioneers) will Following his father’s lead when taking over The Bee, Smith’s
compete in three separate rounds. The first two rounds will feature insight helped to boost the love of collecting across all genres.
antiques brought by members of the audience. Another section will He talked about all aspects of the business through his editorial.
be dedicated to the YouTube audience, when David Harper describes He participated in the business by collecting, selling, and
an item and viewers get to answer questions using online comments and sharing. Scudder lived his passion and let us all enjoy the ride.

win prizes. The series starts October 7th at David Harper’s YouTube Our sincere condolences.
channel, www.youtube.com/c/DavidHarper2020
6 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles