Innehållsförteckning för June 2025 från Kovels Antique Trader

Baby Boomers and those on the cusp of Gen X had the good fortune of being raised by parents from the Greatest Generation—individuals who weathered the Great Depression and survived the challenges of World War II. I am one of those babies. And I must say, jewelry stories connected to the era when my folks came of age always pique my curiosity. In fact, many of the companies producing jewelry during the late 1930s and early ‘40s supported America's war efforts in their factories, and at least one I know of used scrap materials from munitions as components. How does this historical period coincide with jewelry marked McClelland Barclay? If you're not familiar with this American illustrator, he perished in battle while serving in the Navy during World War II.…

While collectors love the thrill of the hunt, they also appreciate when high-quality curated pieces are presented on a platter at auction, which can still offer the excitement of trying to outbid fellow collectors. And competition is sure to be fast and fierce as bidders try to hit the jackpot to win the nearly 2,000 lots of exceptional antique and vintage advertising memorabilia, as well as premier music, arcade, and gambling machines, Morphy Auctions is offering at its Coin-Op & Antique Advertising Auction from April 30 to May 3 in Las Vegas. The sale features a bumper crop of advertising selections that tout everything from alcoholic beverages and tobacco to various goods sold at general stores over 100 years ago. One of the exceptional lots is a single-sided 12-inch-high porcelain…

Advertising trade cards emerged as one of the earliest forms of mass-produced promotional materials during the 19th century. Initially, merchants and businesses employed them to advertise their products and services, much like modern business cards, but with colorful illustrations and creative designs. These cards were typically small, about the size of a postcard or smaller, and were often distributed at stores, fairs, and exhibitions. They became especially popular during the Victorian era when advancements in lithography allowed for vivid, multi-colored prints that were eye-catching and affordable to produce. As industrialization grew and markets expanded. so did the use of these trade cards, making them an integral part of the burgeoning consumer culture. The themes and imagery used in advertising trade cards were diverse and often reflected the societal norms and…

There are easier ways to spend a weekend than suiting up like you're entering a biohazard zone to clean out a storage unit. But that's exactly what I did—nitrile gloves, industrial-strength hand sanitizer and all, after discovering that rats (possibly the size of small house cats) had taken up residence in my long-neglected storage space. Let me tell you, nothing sets the tone quite like opening the unit door and being greeted by the aftermath of a rodent rager. They'd gnawed through cardboard, nested in my daughter's box springs, and left behind… well, let's just say they were not polite guests. My friend Markay and I had to retreat and regroup before resuming the excavation. But amid the carnage and chaos, there were treasures. I unearthed vintage Care Bears and…

Few things lure potential customers to a brand as effectively as a sign blazing in vibrant neon colors. Invented in 1912 by French engineer Georges Claude, neon signs quickly became a popular advertising tool for attracting attention. Collectors give vintage neon advertising signs glowing reviews. Examples in good working condition are especially valuable and sought after as works of art and a fun way to spruce up a mancave or other spaces. Neon automobilia and petroliana signs are perennial favorites, and bidders eagerly snapped up the choice examples Richmond Auctions offered as part of its Spring 2025 Premier Advertising auction from March 20-22. They were also willing to pay top dollar for them. The five highest-selling signs were neon examples for car and gasoline brands, bringing a combined total of…

The Met is taking visitors out to the ball game in the current exhibition, Baseball Cards from the Collection of Jefferson R. Burdick. On view until July 22, the exhibit is a new rotation of baseball cards from the museum's Jefferson R. Burdick collection. The exhibit displays cards from the late nineteenth century to the modern era and features the top baseball players of their day. These cards were slipped into the packaging for gum and tobacco products as advertising material that ultimately became collectibles. A look at these cards not only shows a player's name and field position but also displays diverse, and at times colorful, designs that were created by commercial lithographs. Along with approximately 303,000 advertising inserts, postcards, and photographs, the collection—consisting of over 30,000 cards—was donated…

For this year's Antique Advertising Association of America Convention, fans of vintage signs and more will be gathering on July 15-19, 2025, at the Embassy Suites in Dublin, Ohio. The yearly conference is free to the public and is sponsored by the Antique Advertising Association of America (AAAA) and the Ice Screamers, an organization dedicated to preserving ice cream history and soda fountain memorabilia. Events on the schedule include an AAAA business meeting, a sandwich buffet, a plated dinner, and raffles. Also occurring will be two seminars presented by AAAA members, John DeVolder and Bill Carlisle, respectively, and a presentation by the Ice Screamers, who will host an ice cream social. Friday will be a full day of room hopping on the hotel's second and third floors from 10:00 am…

The savvy collecting strategies Dwight Cleveland employed when amassing his world-class assemblage of movie posters paid off handsomely. During the twoday Cinema on Paper: The Dwight M. Cleveland Collection Movie Posters Signature® Auction on March 27 and 28 at Heritage Auctions, Cleveland's renowned collection that he built over 50 years achieved more than $1.4 million. Over 1,500 bidders vied for over 540 posters, spanning from Golden-Age Hollywood classics to international interpretations of American movie favorites, and the sale set some new records for Heritage. The top lot was a three-sheet poster for the Errol Flynn movie, The Adventures of Robin Hood (Warner Bros., 1938), that brought $47,500—the highest price Heritage has ever realized for a poster for that film. Rounding out the top three lots were a one-sheet poster for…

CALIFORNIA Every first Sunday of the month, Alameda. Alameda Point Antiques Faire, 3900 Maine St., Alameda, CA. The Alameda Point Antiques Faire is the largest antiques show in Northern California, boasting 800 dealer booths. All items are 20 years old or older. For more info, visit alamedapointantiquesfaire.com. Every first Sunday of the month through May, Palm Springs. Palm Springs Vintage Market, PS Cultural Center at the Camelot Theater, 2300 E Baristo Rd, Palm Springs, Calif. For more info, visit palmspringsvintagemarket.com. Every second Sunday of the month, Pasadena. World's largest flea market at the Rose Bowl, Pasadena. More than over 2 million items offered for sale by more than 2,500 vendors. Shop for rare and unusual, vintage collectibles, antiques, new items, arts and crafts and second-hand items. SH: early birds, 5-9am;…