When Kids Embraced Pedal Power

Pedal cars emerged in the mid-1880s when Karl Benz patented his three-wheeled Motorwagen in January of 1886 and unveiled it to the public in July of that year. By the early 1890s, the wealthiest families had purchased their children the first factory-produced pedal cars that mimicked the very real cars rambling along the world’s roadways. […]

A Rockwell Thanksgiving

Throughout his brilliant career, Rockwell illustrated 323 covers of The Saturday Evening Post during a nearly five-decade relationship with the magazine. With its traditional Thanksgiving setting, “Freedom from Want”  is one of Rockwell’s “Four Freedom” illustrations that ran in successive issues of The Post in 1943. Using his own Arlington, Vt., neighbors as subjects, the […]

Flat-Out Gorgeous

By Pamela Wiggins Siegel Back when it first ran from 1985 to 1992, I didn’t catch too many episodes of the classic television series “Golden Girls.” Now that I’m a golden girl myself, I’ll admit to watching the reruns from time to time, especially when I’m under the weather. The shows have their funny moments, […]

AGS Advertising Grading, Authentication Service Launches

The need for accurate authentication and grading has led a group of prominent experts in the field of antique advertising to launch a new company known as Authentication & Grading Services, or AGS. AGS’s principals include Dan Morris, founder of the Cedartown Museum of Coca-Cola Memorabilia in Georgia, and John Mihovetz, known throughout the automobilia […]

Glazed and Confused

I am not a doughnut eater. Not really. Oh sure, I’ve eaten doughnuts—everyone has—but I can’t remember the last time I had one. OK, that’s not true. A couple of years ago, an old friend, an out-of-town buddy I had not seen for a long time, showed up at my doorstep early morning with a […]

Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum Fabled Toy Collection Heads to Auction

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio—The legendary collection of toys from Elmer’s Auto & Toy Museum, Fountain City, Wis., heads to auction Saturday, Oct. 28, at Milestone Auctions. The event is the first in a multi-year series of quarterly sales of thousands of toys that enchanted museum visitors for nearly 30 years. Elmer and Bernadette Duellman were married for […]

Terry and Ralph Kovels’ “Life Collection” Heads to Auction Nov. 1

A cross-section of collecting interests, pottery by George Ohr highlights the 188-lot event at Rago and Toomey & Co. Taureau, c. 1860, by pioneering feminist artist Rosa Bonheur, 1822–1899. Image courtesy of Rago and Toomey & Co. A curated 188-lot collection belonging to Terry and Ralph Kovel, the “duke and duchess of the antiques world,” […]

Bram Stoker’s Dracula Unleashed in Time for Halloween

A recent auction saw the sale of a book that released one of pop culture’s most famous monsters into the world, inspiring multiple retellings, classic movies, and countless Halloween costumes. Signed 1st Ed., 2nd Issue Of Bram Stoker’s Iconic Novel “Dracula.“ As Halloween creeps ever closer, it’s the perfect time of the year to brush […]

A Perfectly Di Cast Sweater

A black sheep amid rows of white. Seemingly a perfect metaphor for Princess Diana’s turn in the spotlight. Diana, Princess of Wales (1961 – 1997) wearing ‘Black sheep’ wool jumper by Warm and Wonderful (Muir & Osborne) to Windsor Polo, June 1981. Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images She stood out—in a […]

The Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday, Terry Kovel! The Birthday Girl! If you see Terry Kovel this week, wish her a happy birthday. Terry turns 95 on Friday, Oct. 27, which means, technically, she is not an antique. You can call her vintage if you like, but to her many, many friends throughout the antiques and collectibles field, Terry […]