“It…is…later…than…you…think…” The 1930’s radio show “Lights Out Everybody” began every episode with those six little words, and then proceeded to scare the pants off thousands of people who tuned into the half-hour show that aired at midnight. Originally conceived by Willis Cooper in 1934 and later taken over by Arch Oboler in 1936, the show […]
The Greatest Rock-and-Roll Band (of Authors)
Around Christmastime in 2003, I was working at a second-hand bookstore in Fort Worth. As anyone who has worked in a bookstore (or anyone who haunts old bookstores regularly) would know, I discovered a lot of great (and mountains of not-so-great) stuff whilst plying away the hours among the shelves stocked full of other people’s […]
The King of Brazilian Numismatics
The Pedro I Coronation 6400 Reis gold coin is widely regarded as the most important coin in Brazilian numismatics. The Heritage World Coin Department will be holding an auction on January 5th and 6th,2014, in New York City in conjunction with the New York International Numismatic Fair. Pedro de Alcantara Serafin was born on October […]
What’s Rockin’ in the World of Protective Polyethylene
Short of the Sears Wish Book or your latest auction catalog, collectors love paging through the latest catalog for Bags Unlimited, a collector’s clearinghouse for preservation supplies.
Pin-Ups and Handbags: Thinking Like a Collector
Working at a place like Heritage I’ve learned a few things. My knowledge has been broadened in subjects far beyond what I ever thought I would ever have the opportunity, or the inclination, to learn, like how a classic pin-up can lead me straight into the lap of luxury – luxury accessories, that is.
“Star Blecch,” or why are Captain Kirk and Spock smiling like that?
What’s stopping Captain Kirk and Spock from saving the universe? MAD magazine! You can read the MAD magazine spoof “Star Bleech” from the high-resolution images of the original art.
Galapagos Penguin Spotted in Dallas
Vincent Astor had a fascination with penguins.They appeared on his personal stationary and a silvered chrome penguin hood ornament graced his favorite automobile, so it was fitting to commemorate the voyage with a presentation Galapagos penguin statuette, naturalistically modeled by sculptor James Lippit Clark for Gorham in sterling silver and signed in facsimile on the base by all his appreciative shipmates.
Memoirs of a Collector’s Daughter: A Summer of Baseball, Mike Piazza and Denny’s Grand Slam
By Kelly Kopa My father yells to the back of the van: “Today’s the day, I can feel it!” It was the summer of 1994. Denny’s had issued a new series of limited edition holographic major league baseball cards. As the van pulled into the Denny’s driveway, a faint sound of moaning and the occasional “dear […]