Buying Tips

The Methods, Data and Background Information on Ivory Identification Compiled in This Handbook are the Result of Forensic Research Conducted by The United States National Fish & Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, Located In Ashland, Oregon. Click here to Read - Identification Guide for Ivory and Ivory Substitutes.  

Real Signs, Fakes, and Reproductions If you’re venturing into the porcelain sign world and would like to start collecting, there are a few things you should know before doing so.    Porcelain Sign Reproductions  Are great if you would like to own a specific sign without having to pay top dollar. In the porcelain sign world Musco, Clipper, and Kelly Tires, just to name a few, are considered the “Holy Grails” of porcelain signs with prices that can range up to $50,000. Not everyone has that kind of money to throw down on one sign, so an alternative would be...

Part 1 Collecting Stamps 1 Start your Collection with Stamp Packets.  Stamp dealers and hobby stores offer affordable packets containing hundreds of used stamps. These are excellent for kicking off a new stamp collection. Make sure the packet is "all-different" so you get a wide variety of stamps, not multiples of the same stamp.   2 Buy New Stamps from the Post Office.  You can buy unused commemorative stamps from any post office, often with appealing designs aimed at collectors. Some collectors prefer these new, "mint condition" stamps due to the higher quality, while others enjoy reading the cancellation ink mark...

Argy Rousseau Art Glass      Gabriel Argy-Rousseau worked in Paris, France in the pate de Verre (paste of glass) style. He is generally considered one of the top five best art glassmakers to work in the pate de Verre style. He started his own workshop in 1906 and was active until the 1940s. Most Argy Rousseau pieces are either large and exceptional vases or smaller items like paperweights, plates, and bowls. He also did lots of glass pendants. The best Argy Rousseau vases can sell for between $5,000 and $30,000. Smaller, less desirable pieces usually trade for $1,000 and...

It Surprises Many to Find out that Baseball Cards have been Collected Since Long Before Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb or Joe Dimaggio were Born. A Young Ruth may have Found an Old Trade Card in The Attic and Marvelled at Its Age. A young Ty Cobb may have Been Given a Tobacco Card of Cap Anson and Wondered who was that Old Geezer. Click here to Read - Beginner's Guide to Baseball Cards