A Flagg Worth Honoring

Dear Lee, For many, July is the best month of the year. The first full month of summer gets off to a bang, thanks in large part to Fourth of July celebrations. Honoring our independence is a grand time to wave the flag. And while we’re at it, this July just might be the perfect […]

As Odd as a Mustache Cup

Dear Lee, Well, this is different. After a lifetime of receiving letters from your mother, you’re getting one from me. Fortunately, I’m not a complete stranger. Even so, it must be a little weird. I remember the first time we talked a few years back. I had just written a cover story about Terry for […]

Declutter for Fun and Profit

Dear Lee: We get calls from friends and readers all the time asking what to do with items that their families don’t want or need any longer. The good news is that decluttering can present an opportunity for profit.  Remember, when you go to sell household goods, time is money. The more time you are […]

April Tip: Don’t be Fooled by Fakes

Dear Lee: You and I both like a good April Fool’s joke. When it comes to collectibles, though, we don’t want people to be fooled by fakes—and there are loads of them on the market. Here’s just a small sampling of fakes to watch out for: Coca-Cola signs. Some things to know: Coca-Cola never produced […]

Top Tips for the Collector Doing Spring Cleaning

Dear Lee, Days are longer and, in much of the country, hints of warmer weather tease and then cruelly retreat to frigid temperatures. To hurry spring and summer, many of us turn to spring cleaning. But for collectors—or families with a collector in their midst—there are special rules. Who wants to donate an old, stained […]

Uncovering the History and Value of Antique Valentine’s Day Cards

Dear Lee, We can’t help ourselves. We are fond of vintage Valentine’s Day cards. We can thank Esther Howland of Massachusetts for the first commercial Valentine’s Day cards in the United States. In the 1840s, she added lace to her own drawings and put them in decorated envelopes. A tradition—and an industry—was born. You can […]

What’s In and What’s Out in 2023

Dear Lee, As we welcome the new year, collectors love to reassess what’s “in” and what is “out.” The past year has seen a welcome return of flea markets and antiques shows. We have loved being able to go to shows and, of course, indulge our passion for collecting. The No. 1 rule of collecting […]

Favorite Holiday Decorations

Dear Lee, It’s time to get out the decorations for the holidays. I love antique and vintage ornaments and other Christmas collectibles, especially the ones that have been handed down. The first thing I do to prepare for the holidays is put a jaunty Santa hat on the gnome in my garden. You know my […]

Thankful for Collecting

Dear Lee,  Collectors love the holidays. It is a perfect time for family heirlooms and flea market finds to take their place of honor on dinner tables and mantels or in entryways and yards. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we are starting to pull out our holiday decorations. Did you know that although Thanksgiving […]

Boo! Halloween Collectibles Are Scary-Fantastic

Dear Lee, Leaves are brilliant burnt orange, red and yellow, and the sweaters are pulled out of storage. That can only mean one thing: It’s time for me to display all the spooky jack-o-lanterns, cats, ghosts and witches I’ve collected over the years. Many are stored on shelves in the General Store re-creation in my […]