Heirloom Quilt or Designer Fashion? A $10 Estate Sale Find is Both

Recently, vintage clothing and thrift shopping have taken off among young adults who want to shop sustainably, save money, or just find something that stands out against mass-produced fast fashion. And for many, half the fun is sharing their favorite finds on social media. Natalie Miller, jewelry designer and self-proclaimed “avid thrifter” and “slow fashion […]

Dressed for Success: Mantle Jersey Sells for $4.6 Million

A year ago, a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle baseball card stunned the sports collectible hobby, selling for a record $12.6 million. Now, 12 months later, two more pristine Mantle pieces combined to sell for more than $9 million in Heritage’s recent Summer Platinum Night Sports Auction. A New York Yankees jersey worn by Mantle throughout […]

We’re Big Fans of Robbins & Myers Breeze-All Fan

Q:  My neighbor wants to know if this fan is an antique and what it would be worth. A:  Technically, an antique is at least 100 years old. Your neighbor’s fan was manufactured by Robbins & Myers and likely dates to the mid-20th century, making it vintage. Robbins & Myers was founded in the late […]

Topps Box at Top Spot

We’re heading toward fall, and for many of us, that means football season. Maybe that’s why a box of football cards took the top price at a recent Morphy auction. The Toy & General Collectibles Auction earlier this month offered classic collectible toys like trains, pressed steel cars, bisque-headed dolls, mechanical banks, glass marbles, and […]

After 17 Years, a Gifted Hobé Brooch Mystery is Solved

Q:  I received as a gift from a friend 17 years ago, a beautiful Hobé Flower Photo Brooch dated 1966. I have not been able to find this brooch on the internet. I’m interested to know what the value of this lovely Hobe brooch might be. Can you help me? A:  Once you’ve started looking […]

Sinclair Sign Sells at Top Spot

Service station signs are made to capture your attention, whether you see them along the side of a road or at an auction. This unusual Sinclair sign did just that, becoming the top seller at Morphy Auctions on July 19. Sinclair’s most famous advertising icon may be Dino, the Apatosaurus who appeared on oil and […]

Bogie and Bacall Love Affair Keepsake Comes to Auction

Despite their age difference, the silver-screen to real-life romance of Lauren Bacall and Humphrey Bogart was arguably the greatest love story of the glamorous Golden Age of Hollywood. Bacall, who was known for her alluring, sultry film presence and her distinctive, husky voice, was 20 when in 1945 she married Bogart, who at 45 was […]

Love for Vintage Coca-Cola Vending Machine is The Real Thing

Q: My father recently passed away. He was an enthusiastic Coca-Cola collector. This vending machine was part of his collection. Of all his pieces, this is my favorite. From the metal tag on the back of the machine, I can tell it was made by the Vendo Company in Kansas City. Can you tell me […]

Collector’s Ladies’ Desk Could Write Check for $500

Q: I am hoping you can tell me the value of this roll-top desk a friend has given me. It comes apart in four places for easy moving with two long drawers attached to the middle unit and a glass door on the bottom that opens as well.  A: Your roll-top desk is actually a […]

Auction of an Inheritance is a Tribute to Its Collectors

Maria Turner of Plant City, Florida, inherited an estimated 100,000 antiques from her parents, Franklin and Marie Mallard. The Mallards weren’t just passionate collectors; they ran antiques shops in multiple cities. “It was cheaper to have a rental storefront than storage units to house everything,” Turner told the Tampa Bay Times. She ultimately decided to […]