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If you'd like to be on or off this new (maybe) Upper Midwest (WI, IA, MN, MI, and anyone else) list, largely rural and outdoors issues, please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

A little off topic, I admit.

The thing the person described is an actual job -- those people are called "pickers" in the antique business. They mostly have a fair knowledge of a lot of different fields, furniture, glass jewelry, and a good eye. They travel across country or regions snooping in garage sales and thrift stores for un-discovered gems. When they find one, they sell it to a dealer who then launches it into the antiques pipeline.

okay....so I bought an original water color by an artist by the name of Giraldine Fallon Merrill, out of California...I know its and original because it still has the brown paper cover on the back, although its a little torn...

there is a letter written about the artist pasted on the back, and a note....

it seems this lady was the "Grandma Moses of California" and exhibited across the country and at the Western whitehouse at San Clemente for Richard Nixon....

I don't know if its worth anything, but it is interesting....

If you'd like to be on or off this new (maybe) Upper Midwest (WI, IA,
MN, MI, and anyone else) list, largely rural and outdoors issues,
please FR mail me. And ping me is you see articles of interest.

A little off topic, I admit.<<<<<<<<<

If I prove that I can possibly be of help to the thread, will you allow someone from Arizona on the list?

As I am not able to get out of the house now adays, you will need to settle for my memories of auctions and garage sales of the past.

I learned all that I could about antiques, by reading the books from the library, this is the most important education that you can get, as you must learn the trade marks and where they will be found on the items.

After you reach the point that you know what and where the
makers marks are to be found, then go to the antique stores and try to see the items that you learned about.

In time, if you have the eye, you will be able to spot the real ones, across the room.

To me the old glass has a "feel", the reproductions are almost soulless, they are cold.

A friend started teaching me in about 1955, and we worked the sales together, as our interests were different.

Before she passed away, ten years ago, she said that the one mistake she had made, was in trying to "learn it all", instead of becoming a specialist, as she did in later years on dolls.

My personality, is more of the I want to know it all, so I
never became a specialist in any one area and learned only enough to be dangerous.

I have not thought of antiques in many years, as this area is a poor area for them, so even when I was out and around, they were not to be found.

I never found the million dollar antiques, but did buy cheap and twice, sold them to support my husband when he was sick.

Even had enough to open a small antique store in mid 1970 and
still have more than I can take care of.

Most of it bought at garage sales and swap meets.

Choose something that you like.

Choose something that you will find in your area.

In old towns, you may find glass and fine antiques.

In farm areas, you will find the old, kitchen and barn antiques.

Try not to be like me, china, glass and a horse drawn cultivator.

You will need books in the chosen area of interest, but the best book for prices and getting a feel for the subject, that I know of and used was the Kovel's price list and you should be able to find it on line, possibly at: half.com

The latest issue that i have is 2000, but there should be later issues, there was a copy of this type book, but I cannot recall the name of it, it was not as good, but worth
reading.

The other books, start with the library books, as you don't need all of them and they will give you an idea of the ones that you want to own, never mind the fancy new books, look for the histories of the subjects, that has the real facts in them.

Kovel's
Antiques and Collectibles
Price list (try for 2005, unless buying the old books).

Published by:
Three Rivers Press
201 East 50th Street
New York, New York 10022

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 83-643618

IBSN 0-609-80471-5 (pbk)

Above numbers are for the year 2000 edition.

The first page is a list of books on the antiques, you might want to start the library search with the other Kovel books.

I will not be able to help with Ebay or television, my computer is too old for Ebay and I don't own a TV.

I do hope my rambling is of use to you......have fun and be
careful.