The Silver Bubble -- Sell Sell Sell Anything Silver

Mint Julep Cup

I remember a time like this several years ago, when people were taking their Kentucky Derby Mint Julep Cups and crushing them to sell as scrap. Today, with the current price of silver, I'd bet they wish those cups were still in their showcase. In fact, on eBay, a 7 oz.1850 pure coin silver Mint Julep Cup by Peter Krider sold 2/27 for $600.

Yes, I was a little early in my call to sell silver, and it has gone up another 20% making it an even better sell. Anyone who says they can pick the very top or bottom in a market is someone to be fearful of. No, I didn't think the dollar would continue to fall through the floor, but it has. Neither did I suspect that crude prices would continue to skyrocket above $100 a barrel, but it did. So does that make my reasoning wrong? Not at all. Where I was right in my thinking was that corn would gain in value because of the production of ethanol. However, I did not take into consideration that this would cause the price of soybeans to go over $13 a bushel, or wheat would sell at $16. Who would've thought that? Because of these sharp, elevated prices in the futures market, their fall will be even steeper than their gains. So, yes I still say sell silver while it is still going up. This cycle will come to its end soon.

This new high in the price of silver now provides a better place to sell for those that didn't sell when I first wrote about this. I know of several people who sold a portion of their holdings the first time around. Now they can average up their selling price. I truly believe that as soon as the political parties have their candidates selected, the markets will begin to change, and by the third quarter, the economy will have righted itself. That will make this buying frenzy over.

I also recommend graded coins be sold. The interest in collecting coins has always been with the new collector, and this market isn't a fraction of what it was fifty years ago. So as soon as the glitter is off the metals, the elevated prices of the graded coins will drop significantly. Remember, starting collectors can't pay the prices being ask for coins in the market today.

There is more than one way to lose money in this over exuberant market, however. A friend of mine from Kentucky had over $1100 in silver coins for sale in a showcase at an Antique Mall. It seems that several people entered the mall distracted the attendant lifted the top of the case and helped themselves to his coins. It is too bad we don't have the justice that they used in the Old Testament today.

There are two things to be learned here. Yes, there were cameras but they didn't cover all the booths in the mall. My friend's booth wasn't covered. So if you set up at a mall, be sure that your booth is covered by the security camera. Second, when you set up at a mall you usually are asked to sign a document that states that the mall isn't responsible for losses, so you must carry your own insurance.

Anyone controlling a large amount of silver and gold at these prices might be well advised to deposit them in a safety deposit box. A person who has collected coins for several years might be surprising what the value of their holdings are today. It's best to protect these assets.
The 31 Club uses a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Join the 31 Club. Learn about Antiques & Collectibles. Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles and build lifetime wealth. The plan is in my book. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

DARYLE LAMBERT – Holy Comics Books Batman!- 31 Club Member Cashes in on Collectible Comic Books

31 Club Member sold this lot of 9 Golden Age comic books for $4,200 on eBay.

Do we need to jump in the Bat Mobile or be faster than a speeding bullet to take advantage of the collectible comic book markets? People, including me, talk about Paintings, Pottery and Furniture appreciating, but Holy Cow, Batman, how about comics books!!??

This story of riches found in Comic Books is from an E-mail I received from 31 Club Member Vicki H. I include it because, otherwise, her story might just seem like a fantasy. Here's Vicki's letter about several lots of comic books she had listed on eBay last week, on consignment.

"Hi Mr. Lambert,

Wowie-Zowies! What a Week! Well, are you ready for this? $12,956.16!!!

However, I did have one glitch. Ebay canceled one auction -- oddly enough it was the lot of two Terror comics that you featured in your blog. I am not certain of what happened exactly, but according to another bidder, some girl from CA with a Hawaiian name was sniping and somehow revealed the other top bidders high bid. And they didn't allow me to have the chance to see the site again, making it impossible for me to contact the second bidder or to use as a re-list. I had to rewrite the whole ad.

It's already up to $51 though so it's ok. The fees are quite high, about $400 on this lot. But, where else would I have gotten these prices? So, I guess Ebay does have a hold on us sellers.

Now, you know I only get to keep 35% of this, however that comes to a whopping $4534.66! and I had no initial investment. Kind of nice huh? After I give my tithe --always first, I plan on making a large payment to my credit card and one or two car payments. It has been a struggle for me since I injured my back. I am not really able to conduct estate sales any longer and plan on doing appraisals and online selling for people full time now.

But I will take at least $200 to add to my treasure account. This gives me $1000.00 to spend. Now I need your help. What do you think of investing in Loetz glass? Or possibly Newcomb college pottery? Do you think I could double my money by investing in one of these items? Do you have any good suggestions on what I should look at? I am very excited to be a part of this club and really feel like I'm getting the hang of it!

Thank you so much for your time and talent that you have been so generous with! God Bless You! Vicki"

Now, Vicki didn't make all the profit herself because she was selling the comics on consignment, but I think you'll agree this sale put a big smile on her face. You can check her completed sales by doing an advanced search under her seller name: zvicki40

I really appreciate the way she finished her email by thanking your 31 Club for all its help and showing that her life is in the hands of God and giving the first portion of her profit to help do his work in the world. I am truly inspired by her.

No matter how much I write on the advantages you receive by being a member of the 31 Club, only successes like this one will prove the truthfulness of the program we have developed for you. If we truly want to help ourselves, as well as our neighbor, we need to be sharing this program with everyone we meet

Now for some math to ponder:

If you are amazed with an Andy Warhol painting selling for $71,000,000 that could likely have been purchased for $1,000,000 five years ago, what would you say about those comic books that could have been purchased for .05 or .10 selling for $660.00?

The painting increases by a factor 71. If the Comic Book had only increased by 71, its selling price would have been $7.70 not $660.00. Even if you went back further where the painting could have been purchased for $100,000, the factor would have been 710 times, while a 710 times factor on a dime is only $71. Still far from $660. Ka-Pow Robin!!! Let's begin the search before the word gets out!

Join the 31 Club Today! What are you waiting for? You'll get my 220 page soft cover book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles FREE with your membership.

The 31 Club uses a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Learn about Antiques & Collectibles with the 31 Club. Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles and build lifetime wealth with the 31 Club. The plan is in my book. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Paintings by Artists You Can't Find Information About

Harvey Joiner's "Kentucky Beechwoods-Autumn." Photo from Higgins-Maxwell Gallery

It is easy to find out the value for paintings by Andy Warhol, Robert Wood, or Thomas Paine by going to the Internet or Davenports Price Guide, but how about Stefin Krammar, Harvey Joiner, or Robert Knudson? If you haven't heard of these last three, that comes as no surprise to me. But I have a painting by each one of these artists. Why do I have these? Each one has great quality in their workmanship and has a fairly high retail value if you can find a buyer. Besides that, I paid very little for them.

By doing the smallest amount of research, you will find the values on 150,000 artist in the Davenports Guide and many more on an Internet Search. This still leaves thousands of artist undiscovered that command high prices for their pieces.

In fact, I have found that the most money to be made, based on percentage invested, is in finding a painting that will bring a great deal of money in a particular part of the country, but the artist doesn't make the regular channels that you would generally consult.

Let's take my Stefin Krammar for instance. Mine is a watercolor of a cowboy riding through the countryside. At the time I found it, western scenes appealed to me. I purchase it for $250. It was very well done, so I figured that it was worth more than $250, even if Krammar wasn't a well known artist. I searched and searched for information about Krammar, and I finally discovered that he was a Texas artist and a museum in Texas was compiling an exhibit of his work. Nothing could be found on the Internet or in my guides, so I called the museum inquiring about its possible worth. My jaw dropped to the floor when the answer came back "$5000." Yes, it was worth a lot in Texas but it seemed nowhere else. I had very little competition in buying this painting because most people would have given up on finding a value on this artist after that initial search. Knowledge and that extra mile will pay off in spades if you are patient.

Harvey Joiner and Robert Knudson are similar situations. There is little known about them outside of a small area of the country where their work is collected. Harvey Joiner's paintings will bring three to five time more in Kentucky than anywhere else in the country. If you check his record price for a painting, I think it will be about $4000. But, I can assure you that the right piece of his work in Kentucky might fetch $15,000- $20,000 dollars or more. Remember the Joiner portrait I bought on the East Coast for $240 sold for $3,700 in Indiana.

I think that you can see what I'm getting at. If a painting has a high enough quality, you might not have to worry if you don't find it in the guides. You can still turn some serious money. By having the knowledge to evaluate the quality of a painting, it can substantially reduce your competition, especially if you don't recognize the artist.

How do you get this knowledge? By looking at as many paintings as you can and trying to distinguish what makes each one valuable. There is no substitute for viewing paintings, but also you have the staff at the 31 Club to help you. When you join us, your one-time membership fee will open the door to a world of help and information. You'll learn why certain paintings are valuable and how to spot them. As a member, you also have access to our Associate Program. This program can help you purchase a painting you might have stumbled upon, if you haven't yet built up the cash to make the purchase yourself. We'll help you buy it and take care of the sale. What could be better than that?

The 31 Club uses a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Join the 31 Club. Learn about Antiques & Collectibles. Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles and build lifetime wealth. The plan is in my book. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Daryle Lambert: Valuable Antique and Vintage Sewing Tools

Antique Sewing Kit Sold on Ebay for $476 USD (231 GBP)

Yesterday I wrote about antique and vintage linens & textiles, particularly "Samplers," so today I thought it would be a good time to expand to the sewing experience.

With the cost of clothing accelerating at such a fast pace and the quality of it declining, you might expect the interest in home sewing to gain popularity once again. There has always been interest in sewing collectibles, but the future trends might even increase this interest. Just last month, Cindy made the comment that she might have to find someone to make her a dress. She had an affair to attend and couldn't find a dress that she felt was appropriate or even fit well. Not only that, she told me she has a hard time buying clothing now because the clothes are "so ugly and trendy, and not made to fit someone like me." I wonder how many other people feel the same way.

For the home sewer, the modern machines might seem like the logical solution, but don't be surprised if you see the ladies, as well as men, begin to do some of their own sewing the old fashioned way. And, what will they need in the way of equipment and supplies to do this?

They may need thimbles, sewing birds, darners, pincushions, scissors, tape measures and needles for a start. Now that we have got those things out of the way, what's next? Thread, sewing boxes, thread caddies, a sewing machine, and several other additions.

Wow! Are you sure you want to start this venture? How sure are you that it will save money? But if this is what you decide to do, it might not be about money. It might just be for the fun of making something yourself that others will see you wearing or being used in your home. It might just be for the satisfaction of making something of high quality of your own design. Doing things the way your mother or grandmother did things can prove to be very rewarding.

I know very little about sewing, but this I promise you -- there is gold in those antique sewing articles that were used by your relatives. When I want to get general information on pricing, I usually start with eBay's completed auctions and Kovels price guide. These don't represent the low or the high end of the market, but I have found they give me a general idea about the markets for the items I am researching.

Lets start with the antique sewing box. A fairly common one made of wood can set you back from $150 to $750. If you really want to get fancy, buy the three tiered 1892 initialed pincushion I saw for over $4,000. While we are accumulating the other items needed, we might want to look at sewing machines. A Clark Foliage from 1859 comes in at about $5,000. The Shaw & Clark sewing machine will set you back about $7,000. This sewing thing seems to be getting expense, don't you think? I once bought a Singer Featherweight machine for under $100, and it sold at auction for over $500. That has been my best purchase in the sewing arena only because it hasn't crossed my mind to look. I'll need to reconsider when I go into an estate sale or even a garage sale next time.

Sewing birds and darners can be picked up for a couple of hundred dollars and generally, pincushions fall in $25 to $500 range. Most of the other accessories can be purchased for under $100. And guess what? We haven't yet thought about the threads and fabrics.

One of our 31 Club members, Ondre H., just finished selling a large group of sewing machine instruction books on eBay and was surprised with the results. They all sold, and most of the for over $30. Several did considerably better than that. Her father was in the business and had accumulated these over many years. They covered a wide range of machines, so the collectors were very excited to receive them.

Personally, I am not going to take up sewing, but collecting these items is a different story. There are many people who collect the items that had been used every day by their mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers. Finding these items and getting them into the hands of collectors who treasure them is a valuable service you can provide while you make money doing it. These kinds of items will be good purchases for those beginning their Steps with the 31 Club and will propel you upward so you can soon join those traders who are dealing in the higher end markets.

Anyone interested in vintage sewing items will benefit from having The Story of Antique Needle Tools by Bridget McConnel become part of their library. This book chronicles the history and diversity of needlework tools dating from ancient Egypt through the twentieth century.

Another great resource is Sewing Tools & Trinkets: Collector's Identification & Value Guide

You can get a really good price on these two book together from Amazon right now.

The 31 Club uses a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Join the 31 Club. Learn about Antiques & Collectibles. Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles and build lifetime wealth. The plan is in my book. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

LINK:
Hip to hem: Sewing makes a comeback

Antique Linens and Textiles

Even though I've been in this business over 40 years, boy do I have a lot to learn from the ladies I've seen attending estate sales and auctions! Tables filled with antique table cloths, doilies and napkins always seem to get their attention, and I never fully understood the attraction. I knew there must be one, so doing what I recommended for you to do, I searched out information on these items. To my great surprise, there were listings of considerable value for them.

No, not hundreds of thousands of dollars but definitely value that would make these items candidates for purchase when you are in your early steps, aiming to ascend through the 31 Steps I write about in my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles.

The secret seems to be that when you find a group of these miscellaneous articles, (there may be 50 to a 100 pieces lying there) buying them inexpensively as a group or lot, and then assembling sets from them and selling the rest individually can result in a large profit, if you bought them cheap enough.

I didn't know the difference between embroidery and crochet, but this I do know: It took many hours to produce each one of these pieces, and no matter what they cost today it would be a fraction of their value when considering the loving hours spent producing them. I can still see my Aunts and my Grandmothers sitting in their rocking chairs, stitching away with ease and precision. Isn't it a shame that we no longer appreciated this work of love that was done so many years ago.

To give you some ideas of value, I went to eBay and pulled up completed sales and found that it wasn't unusual to find pieces selling for over $200. If you were able to purchase 50 assorted pieces for $100 and they only averaged $5 each, you would have reached your goal of doubling your money. But what if one or two pieces brought over $200? The return might be 400 or 500% on your money. This is where the compounding that we keep telling you about comes into play.

Let's say this was your first purchase. You paid $100 and the sale brought in $500 for you. That's five times your money, and you'd be well on your way. If you took that $500 and made five times your money on your next 3 buys, we'd be talking about $62,500. This might seem unrealistic to you but I can guarantee that it is happening in our group today. Even if you slow it down and just double your money each time, like I talk about in the book, what would you have? Think about it.

To go even further with antique linens, I must tell you about "Samplers", so you won't miss the opportunity you see some. Children, as well as adults, practiced their sewing on small squares or rectangular pieces of cloth many years ago. These practice pieces are called "Samplers." The best pieces were known to be produced between 1790 -1840. Often, Samplers were made with the listing of the ABC's and had the persons name and the date it was produced stitched on the bottom. Later ones often had numbers, borders, and even pictures applied to them. My personal favorites are the ones that contain mottoes.

The price for the treasures can be tremendous. Rather plain ones can command $200 to $500. But I think that you will find the better examples bringing from $1000 to $10,000. If you really want to shoot for the moon and happen to find one that has historical value, the price could easily come in at $100,000 or more.

Can you imagine what a little girl might think today if she knew that something she produced just to practice her sewing could be worth tens of thousands of dollars today?

The 31 Club uses a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Join the 31 Club. Learn about Antiques & Collectibles. Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles and build lifetime wealth. The plan is in my book. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Daryle Lambert: Friend from Across the Pond - Antiques.TV

31 Club Co-Founder Cindy Stackler Nieder with Kevin Stone, Founder of Antiques.TV

Last week, Cindy asked if I would set aside some time to meet with the founder of Antiques.TV. "Who," I asked? She was excited and said, "Kevin Stone, the founder of Antiques.TV. He'll be in Chicago next week. Remember, the English company that was one of the first to carry our Blog? He's interested in meeting us."

Then it all came back to me. You see, Cindy knows I am willing and eager to meet with anyone who wants to help this industry be improved and is willing to contribute their time to that effort. To my surprise she made the appointment to take place at my home, which I always like. Cindy was in the office on the computer when Kevin rang the doorbell. When I opened the door, there stood a gentleman that I felt I might have known my whole life.

Gathering in the kitchen as Cindy prepared tea, we all talked about everything from politics to life experiences. We continued this lively conversation as we all moved into the living room. We were having such a great conversation, I think we had talked about an hour before we ever got around to talking about the subject that brought us together. By this time, I had discovered that Kevin and I had very similar experiences in the business world. In fact, I'd say it was mysteriously similar. And our outlook on business was a match, too. You see, if someone tells us it can't be done, we say, "Watch and we'll show you how it can be done." Kevin Stone has a vision for this industry similar to mine. He understands this market is without limits.

Now back to the reason for the meeting. Last year, shortly after our book was published and we began developing our site and daily Blog, Cindy had contacted Kevin when she discovered his developing site and was intrigued by it. She spent some time going through it, and she particularly liked a video she was able to watch about Metamorphic Furniture. Kevin took a look at what we were doing, looked at our daily Blog, and decided to link it to his site. Naturally, we have a link from our site to his. Antique.TV was young and developing, and so were we. His site has grown by leaps and bounds so you might want to take a look at it, and watch for developing events between our companies. www.antiques.tv.

The reason that I share this story with you is that the 31 Club is beginning to be recognized as a true member of this community. That was one of the desires we had for this venture from its inception. Working together and with others, like Kevin Stone and Antiques.TV, we are going to have a positive effect on this industry.
Be sure to continue to express your view on the direction the staff is leading this company in and also any improvements that you would like to see made. Cindy and Chris are in a major development phase on the content in the members only section, and I think you will be happy with some of the new developments that are coming.

The 31 Club uses a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Join the 31 Club. Learn about Antiques & Collectibles. Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles and build lifetime wealth. The plan is in my book. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Daryle Lambert: New Adventures in Antiques & Collectibles Begin with the First Step

For several days last week, I’d been in Kentucky. What a great thing this Internet is. I could be away anywhere and still be able to keep in touch with you. Many of you know I am originally from Kentucky, and being there brought back so many memories. Naturally, a whole host of new stories have come to mind from this last visit. I recalled the days when I traveled around the country in search of great and rare treasure in an old orange bus.

In fact, on one trip, I am sure I was looking like Fred Sanford and Son with my bus all loaded down with furniture and other small items, when I ran out of gas in the middle of the night way out there deep in the country. All farmers have guns, and they will use them if they're not expecting visitors, so you can probably understand my hesitation in knocking on a farmer's door at that hour. But I did. And I survived. The best thing I can share with you from this experience is to fill up on long trips and make sure you have extra gas!

I also passed the spot where my wife, Vickie, and I once had an antique shop loaded with items. The shop covered over 5,000 square feet, full from floor to ceiling. I walked into the shop one day and announced to Vickie that we were moving to Chicago. With a surprised look on her face, she asked, "What are we going to do with all this stuff?"

"Sell it, of course," I replied. "And I have a plan."

Not to be outdone, she exclaimed, "Well, Daryle Lambert, you better have one!"

My plan was to call dealer friends of mine in the three surrounding states and tell them to bring their big trucks. I would guarantee them that I would fill each truck with items they would like, at a prices that they wouldn't argue over. They did, and I did. Within two weeks, I had totally emptied our store from wall to wall. I even sold the shelving along with my "open for business" sign and my orange bus.

It appeared as if Vickie and I had transformed ourselves from resembling Fred Sanford and Son to Jed Clampett and his family as we loaded up the truck and moved to Chicago, rather than to Beverly. Hills that is. Pulling our borrowed truck with a U-haul trailer attached, we must have been quite the sight. The only thing we lacked was Granny sitting atop the truck in her rocking chair.

Our memories were terrific, and I will always treasure those times. But I'm glad I unburdened myself from having a shop full of common items and the responsibilities that go along with running a shop. I took the money I made on that sale and spent the time locating and purchasing higher end, more rare items. Now I only make a handful of transactions every year of the finest items. It's just a new phase of my life, and an exciting one at that.

We can hold our memories dear, even though we move on to a new adventure. Vickie and I had some wonderful times, like the time we attended an auction in Henderson, Kentucky.

Herron Auction was the auction house, and they usually conducted estate auctions, but this one was an estate that hey had contracted to sell. Most of those in attendance were locals who were looking for a way to spend some enjoyable time out on a Saturday evening or to find something interesting to decorate their homes with. Few people there were looking to purchase quality antiques & collectibles.

As Vickie and I began to preview the sale, to my amazement I began to find some of the best items I had ever seen at auction in many years. There before me was wonderful Art Glass, Antique Dolls, Toys and even some fantastic Primitives.

We took our seats and waited with great anticipation for the auction to start. From the very first item that went up for auction, I almost always kept my hand in the air. It got so bad that a clerk from the auction house came over to me and ask how I was going to pay for my purchases. I told her any way she would like. However, I totally understood why they were concerned. They didn't know me. This was the first time I had ever attended one of their auctions.

At the conclusion of the sale, I sent a truck over to pick up everything I had bought. Today, that had been one of the most profitable ventures I've had. I specifically remember a French Doll I purchased for $200 and sold for $2,000 several months later.

Today it's not necessary to buy common items in quantity to make a good profit. In today's market, the more rare the item, the faster it sells and the more money you make, provided it's bought wisely. With a quick turnaround time, you'll be able to keep your money in circulation, making you more money. Trading up each time, you'll be able to amass more money without a lot of busywork and without the huge time commitment it takes to keep more common items around.

This is the 21st Century way. The way members of the 31 Club are learning to work. Members who have very little experience in antiques and collectibles to seasoned professionals who recognize the need to work differently these days. Why not join a community of like-minded people to converse with, learn from, share ideas and stories.

Wondering whatever happened to the truck that Jed Clampett's family, "The Beverly Hillbilies" made famous? The producer of the show placed it on permanent display at the Ralph Forest Museum, which is on the campus of the College of the Ozarks located in Point Lookout, Missouri. This is close to Branson, Missouri. You can read more about that truck here.

We use a wealth building plan that can help you accumulate enough funds to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, collectibles, and fine art. Join the 31 Club. Learn about Antiques & Collectibles. Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. When you join today, you'll receive my 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Daryle Lambert: Superman Collectibles

Up, up and away! I can still hear those words and see Superman take off toward the sky decades later. Every child of my era loved the tales of Superman and Lois Lane. Remember when he would slip into the telephone booth to change clothes? What ever happened to his suit and tie when he left? If he left his clothers in a phone booth today, that suit would be gone by the time he returned to claim it. Better yet, nowadays, I'd bet he'd be hard pressed to even find a phone booth to begin with.

Can you still see that kryptonite as it sapped his strength? Yet he was always able to escape. Nothing could harm the man of steel for long. I wanted his x-ray vision eyes to be able to spy on my friends.

We needed heros back then and he filled the bill. My son, Joshua will have his computer games and his friends will have their wii, and other gadgets, but they won't have Superman.

But how does that help us today? Well, if you are one of the lucky ones that saved your Superman items, your children might not have to worry about their college education. Superman items are bringing huge prices even on eBay. For example, there are two comics listed now for $50,000 and $40,000. Even at these prices, I'm fairly certain they wouldn't be records. One actually just sold for over $17,500 on eBay.

But comics are just one of the items to be watching for. A Superman Ring sold for $2700 and a patch brought $650. These are things that could easily be found at a garage sales. Be sure to buy anything you find that has Superman's name associated with it and comes from the 1950's or earlier, if the price is below $10.

How wonderful it is to be searching for treasures from your past. It isn't always about the money. Those treasures can bring back special memories.

I found a terrific alternative to eBay, if you've been lucky enough to find comics books at garage sales you're looking to sell. Or, if you are interested in buying, or learning more about the value of these books, take a look around the website. ComicLink.com

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling. A plan that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Daryle Lambert: Vintage Comics Bring in Bucks

I heard from one of our most faithful members today, and she supplied me with a real story for you. Vicki H. has been communicating with me almost from the day we started our Blog. If there is still anyone out their that doesn't think treasures can be found today, they must not have run into Vicki H.

This latest story is even better than the ones she has shared in the past. We all have heard that Comics can be profitable, but do you know which ones are making Vicki jump for joy? You might be surprised that the funny books, as they were known as at the time, aren't the ones that are bringing the most money. Even I was caught off guard. It's the Horror Books that are moving to the head of the class. Vicki H. has just listed several lots of comics, and one listing is already standing out. This lot is for two Golden Age Comics from 1952-53 and titled "Tales of Terror." Having 13 bids, standing at over $400 for the two, with five days left to go their final price is anyone's guess.

Yes, Horror is where it's at, but why? Let's think about it together. First, parents might not have wanted their children to read those, so there might have been fewer printed. Second, the story lines were limited, so this could be another reason for their rarity. If you have any thoughts on this please comment.

I can check how Vicki's listings are doing, and so can you by going to zvicki40 on the advanced search under "sellers." If you aren't aware that you can look up individual sellers, then this is a great eBay tip for you. When you make a list of sellers who deal in items that interest you, you can checking their sites directly. This is a good way to find listings that can be purchased for your customers at prices that can meet our goals. This way you don't have to continually check all the listings on eBay to find what you want.

So often I have been at garage or estate sales and have seen boxes of comics that I passed by. I was so sure that if there had been anything rare, someone would have pulled it from the pile. Duh -- how dumb was I? By doing this I have probably passed by tens of thousands of dollars when I could have purchased the whole box lots for only a few dollars. You see, even though I have been in this business for over 40 years, I am still learning! That's what makes this business fun, as well as profitable.

As you can see, money in this business can come from all directions, and you will never run out of things to purchase that will put a smile on your face when they are sold. In this case, as I have mentioned in previous blogs, when you have the opportunity to buy multiple items at one time, usually the price is cheaper, and there is always the possibility that there could be a real treasure hidden in those boxes.

Way to go Vicki! Thanks for educating the rest of us. I will be waiting with bated breath for your next success story.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling. A plan that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Getting Out of the Gate with Antiques, Collectibles & Paintings

Royal Haeger Collie Figurine had 11 Bidders

Talking each day and sharing with you gets me so excited, I usually can't wait for the next day to roll around. Telling stories of sales bringing in tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands gets my blood pumping. It's like being back in that race car in the days I thought I might someday race in the Daytona 500.

But Cindy brought me back to earth yesterday. She told me, "Daryle it's okay to talk about all the items in the way high range, but let's take care of today and first help people get out of the gate." I understood. I was getting caught up in the excitement of where I wanted to take you all. That's why it's good to have a partner who can douse you with a bucket of cold water when you need it.

I've given you plenty of information and insight about the path we'll be heading down, so let's focus on getting you out of the gate. When a horse jumps out of the starting gate, they take very short strides until they are underway. That's the way it is in the race you are beginnng. After you've take a few strides, then it's easier to put it in drive and sail along until you get near the finish line.

Let's spend your first $100, and then, the money each later buy and sell creates for you. I'll spend more of our time here writing about the kinds of items you'll be starting out with as you climb the steps toward the more rare and valuable items. You see, it's those early steps that will provide the seed money that will eventually produce the funds that will enable you to be well taken care of in your golden years (or way before that if you are diligent.)

So rather than talking about Tiffany, Daum Nancy or even Stueben, let's talk less expensive glass, pottery and porcelain. Like Carnival Glass. Names like McCoy, Haeger and Frankoma. These first steps can be taken in anything you find that you can buy low and sell high. Things like comic books, political memorabilia, vintage Christmas items, vintage kitchen ware, vintage cook books. I've written about some these during the year, so scroll back if you're new to the Blog and the 31 Club.

If you'll remember, our member, Vicki H. purchased six boxes of vintage phonograph needles for her first step. She spent $100, and she divided them up by manufacturer, then sold them individually on eBay, making herself about $800. Mike, from Vancouver Island, was working on his first step and found a bagful of vintage sterling bridle rosettes he paid $30 for. He sold one of the rosettes for $183.

While there are rare pieces of Carnival Glass listed, like the People's vase for $50,000, there are far less expensive and more common pieces listed for around $200, too. While you are studying, you will begin to recognize the more common pieces from the valuable ones, and if more common items appear at a sale and meet the requirements to be purchased, this would be a good place to start. For example, if the most current price guide shows $200, then you should add it to your inventory if you can get it for $50 or less. Remember, the goal is to, at the very least, double your money.

Glass, pottery, porcelain and even paintings can be used to complete your first step, so let's take a look at some pottery that can get you started. McCoy, Haeger, Frankoma, and many others are pottery you're more likely to encounter. If you'll buy a pottery and porcelain price guide -- one of those big thick ones, you'll be able to see just how many makes of pottery there are out there. These guides can serve you well. Don't forget to look up some of these names on eBay and do a completed listing search to see what some of these items look like and sell for.

You might find a Haeger Blue Dog figurine at a garage sale, because you'll have recognized the name. Today's Photo shows a Royal Haeger Collie figurine that sold a couple days ago on eBay for $108.28. There were 11 bidders. Familiarize yourself with the different types of items these companies produced.

You might run across a McCoy cookie jar, even the McCoy Harley Hog made in 1984. In my 2001 guide, that cookie jar lists for $155. Do you think you might find something like this at a garage or yard sale? You bet. Do a search of "McCoy cookie jar" on eBay in completed listings and see what prices come up.

When you get a good price guide, frequently studying the manufacturer names will etch these names into your mind. A method of study that Cindy uses is to make flash cards. She started with 5 names, and every couple of days, she adds three more and reviews them them all. Then she quizzes herself.

At a sale, When you come across an item whose name you recognze, or that you can recognize on sight, you'll feel great and you can say, "Aha, I know that." Keep the price guide with you in the car. If you have internet access on a lap top or phone, that helps, too. And don't forget -- if you see something you think might be of value, pick it up and claim it as yours. You can always have someone set it aside for you while you check your guide back in the car.

Paintings can often be found at garage and estate sales. Though most may not be listed artists, you can still make money during your early steps with these items. I see many of my friends buying paintings for $25-$35 on Friday and Saturday, then, at the local auction house on Tuesday, there they are awaiting auction that week. These often bring in $250 - $450 for a quality piece. Not a bad return for two days. I've even known dealer friends of mine who have picked up a painting for $35 and it turned out to be the work of a listed artist and sold for thousands.

When attractive paintings showing some quality are found at garage sales, it might well be worth the risk to buy them, and turn the pieces quickly at a local auction. There are always people looking for decorative art.

As you get started on your 31 Steps, I am just as interested in helping you with these kinds of items, as I am in the items you find down the road.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Daryle Lambert: Ebay "Specials" Won't Raise the Sinking Ship

Contact Lists of Collectors and What Items They Want to Buy

eBay has sent out several e-mails to their customers announcing "specials" they are running. I believe the time for that is long gone. Now, it's time for them to come clean and raise their sinking ship. If they don't, their next quarter earnings are going to really shock their stockholders.

Up to this point, the market has been wonderful to the eBay stockholders and their buyers and sellers. However, the bulk of eBay's business is the middle to lower priced merchandise, and now the ability to make enough profit on these items is seriously in question. The game is over when the expense of doing business becomes so great that a merchant no longer has the incentive to do business. That's what is happening to eBay users today.

In my opinion, it isn't the commissions that are going to do the damage. It's the number of customers they won't retain. I'm guessing they won't be able to continue to add new customers as fast as the old customers high tail it out.

For the members of our 31 Club, I will be watching new developments in the market place. I know that a few "specials" offered won't stop the impending strike that's been planned by merchants, nor will it defer the competition from eating away at their customer base. eBay will either have to change their business model, or the results could prove disastrous for them. We would all lose if this happens.

As all this disorder takes place, believe it or not, listing your items in the local newspapers or trade magazines such as Antique Trader, Antique Week and Maine Antique Digest might be coming back as an effective way of merchandising. Also, private websites such as ours (www.31corp.com) are coming into vogue again, so you might want to check it out. We provide a great place to list your paintings and other items at a low fee with no buyers premiums to discourage your buyers. Private sites like ours have the ability to link to hundreds of other sites where your items will be seen.

Other resources that help you locate collectors for your particular items are right in the back of antique and collectible magazines. They often will have an ad in the classifieds and will list the items they're looking for. This is a quick way of finding a new buyer you haven't dealt with before.

There are books on the market that list collectors and what items they collect. One that I like and have used is Trash or Treasure Guide to the Best Buyers: How and Where to Easily Sell Collectibles, Antiques & Other Treasures by Tony Hyman. This book has contact listings of collectors and what they collect.

Some of these suggestions will eliminate the commissions all together and enhance your profits tremendously.

One of the most overlooked ways of making a sale is to go back to a person who has purchased from you before. This is the easiest sale you'll ever make, because they have already done business with you and know that you're honest and truthful. These sales represent over 50% of my business. I've got no advertising costs or commissions to pay. What could be better than that?

Don't worry too much if eBay doesn't wake up and smell the coffee soon. There are a lot of ways to turn a profit with antiques, collectibles and fine arts. Maybe soon they'll realize the world does not revolve around them. There has always been a market, and there always will be.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage

.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Fund Your Life with Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art

What's your number? No, not your phone number, but what's the number in dollars that you will personally need in order to finance your life during your golden years? After you've paid to send the kids to college, that is.

Oh, you don't have money to send the kids to college? Sure, you can jump through the hoops to try and get grants, the kids can try to get scholarships, and heck -- they can even get their own loans. You could get lucky and win the lottery. But, I'm asking you this: If you knew of a way to have enough money to send the kids to college and have enough money to live a funded life during your golden years, would you want to know what that way is? Wouldn't you want pursue it?

"Well, Daryle, what's that got to do with Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art?" Everything!

You see, in the Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art Markets, making money to stash away for your golden years is so much more effective than anything else. I swear it's true. I've been in the financial securities business. I know how it works. You'll make the money a whole lot quicker in these market than your banker or stock broker could ever make for you in the financial markets. And you'll have a lot more fun. Now, it won't happen overnight. I'm not talking about getting rich quick. But it will happen faster than it does in the stock and bond markets when you follow a plan.

That's what my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is all about. That's what the 31 Club is all about. We are all working diligently at accumulating a stash of cash, buying, selling and reinvesting right here in the greatest market around -- the Antiques, Collectibles, and Fine Art Markets. We're meeting wonderful and interesting people, learning more than we thought possible, and we're having loads of fun doing it.

The plan we work with is right in the book, and the help you get to follow it is through the 31 Club. My staff and I are working the plan right along with our readers. And we're showing a 7,500% return on our initial investment right now-- only 8 months into it. And we still have a few items in inventory awaiting sale for even more cash. We'll use that to fund our next buys.

I show you how to do all this in my book. Then, I continually guide those members of the 31 Club who call me. I show you how you could be assured of living a funded life by working with this plan. For those of you who are sitting on the fence, only reading the Blog day in and day out -- What on earth are you waiting for?

Who buys the book and becomes a member? We have young, old, wealthy, and just getting by. We have those who are almost broke, broke, widows, widowers, singles, divorced, in middle school and in college. We have people from all walks of life and professions. There are seasoned antique dealers and people who've never known a lick about antiques in their life.

But we have one common insight: We all know it's going to take a lot of dollars to continue to live well anywhere in the world. We have one common thread: The desire to learn and be active in directing our lives. We have one common goal: To live a funded life, and have fun getting there. Who will fund your life?

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Can Ebay Predict the Election Results? Political Memorabilia - McCain, Obama, Hillary Clinton

Barack Obama Campaign Print Sells for $5,900 on eBay. Highest Price to date.

What a difference a month can make. Not too long ago, I wrote a blog about political memorabilia. I suggested that you might go to all the current presidential candidate's headquarters and gather up all the campaign items you could. How many of you did that? If you did, your rewards might prove to be fantastic.

Who would have thought that an old, worn down soldier could have survivied against the Millionaire and the 9/11 Hero? But, he did. Three months ago, John McCain would have gladly given you his autograph. If he did, today you might be holding the signature of the next President of the United States. Pretty much out of money and with little hope, his campaign posters could have been collected by the bundles. How the scenario has changed today. You still might have time to pick up some of the buttons or other items that will become very valuable collectibles if he wins. What kind of returns will you have make on John McCain's memorabilia if he is elected President?

Next, let's examine Barack Obama, a freshman Senator running against the Senator- Wife of a past President. Not any President, but Bill Clinton, one of this country's favorites. The press had crowned Hillary early on and suggested that anyone who challenged her was wasting their time and money. Yes, I think Senator Obama would have gladly signed your autograph book, and probably several times. He is proving to be one of the most charismatic campaigners that I have ever seen. Do you have anything from his campaign headquarters? How about Hillary's? As this race gets heated up, anything that has Barack Obama's name or Hillary Clinton's name on it will gain in value. You won't have to wait ten years to see it. This will happen between now and November. If you doubt me, just check some items on eBay now and then, again, right before the election.

As I write this, there are 2282 items listed on eBay under "Obama". 1438 Items listed under "Hillary Clinton." 647 Items listed under "McCain." I checked the completed listings, and as I write this, the highest price paid so far is $5,900 for a Barack Obama 24'' x 36'' Edition of 350 (signed and hand numbered)
"Progress" print. Clinton and McCain have less impressive completed sales prices. Can eBay be predicting the Election Results?

Isn't this business fun and easy? All you have to do is think outside the box. That's what makes this fun and profitable. While everyone else is running around like a chickens with their head cut off trying to find items that they will make a 20% return on, you are being given information about things that will prove to be real treasures. You can sell some and keep some, because the cost is zero. Twenty years from now people will be asking each other, “How did he or she do that and who did they know to get those things.”

This is the greatest advantage to doing business the 31 Club way. You never have to be in a hurry. You're always ahead of the trend, because you take the time to become knowledgeable. You'll know the direction of the trends.

Have you picked up any of these items? If you have, please share what you've got in the comments section. Then, if you sell them before the election, please share that with us, too. Our members will be watching to see if I have shared a truth with them, so help me out.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

Please leave a comments. If you don't want to sign in, just use the ANONYMOUS button. Chime in and participate!

Arts & Crafts Movement Metal Work - Heintz

The silver-on-bronze work of Heintz Art Metal Works of the Arts & Crafts Movement are treasures that might find a place on your list of items to make note of. "Arts & Crafts" is a decorative arts design that emphasizes spare, clean lines and simplicity of design.

Heintz Art Metal Shop was founded in 1906 in New York by Otto Heintz. They discontinued their works in 1935 when a new name, Silvercrest, was taken. Heintz produced some of the best bronze ware that have ever been made in this country. Most people aren't aware of this company, but the ones that are aware, realize that there is a ready market for their better pieces.

The fantastic thing about Heintz was their ability to combine different metals, often making the body of a piece out of bronze, but enhancing it with silver. While today you will see an abundance of cheap copper or bronze items on the market, I think it is fair to say that Heintz items will bring a premium still today.

Once you begin to appreciate the items that they produced you will be able to envision one of their large vases sitting on your Stickley sideboard, or a candlestick of theirs in the middle of your Arts and Crafts table. In fact, some of the best desk sets that were ever made came from this factory. If you are seeing what I'm seeing, you will understand why the better pieces will fly off your shelves and into someone else's collection quickly.

Note that your search for and purchase of Heintz treasure comes with a warning. You never want to clean a piece of Heintz. By removing the patina, up to 75% of the value can be eliminated. When I find a piece, I'd rather let the new buyer clean it as they see fit. And if you find a piece of Heintz, and it has been cleaned, know that its value has been lowered. You don't want to be paying too much for a piece.

Heintz's better candlesticks in today's market might fetch up to $4000, and the same can be said about their lamps, which might bring a considerable amount more. Vases also are highly sought after, and it is unusual for one to be found under $200. From there, the ranges can go into the thousands.

I have had many pieces of Heintz, but most of the pieces have been in the $200 - $600 range. I have seen pieces that I would have given my eye teeth to own. Once you recognize their mark, you will never forget it. It will just become another little nugget of knowledge that gets planted in your brain, waiting there until you need it.

The best places to find Heintz is garage sales and flea markets. These venues don't seem to put as high a value on the Heintz as collectors do. There is money to be made with these wares, so keep a sharp eye out for them.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles and Learn How to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. We use a wealth building plan to get the most out of buying and selling that will help you accumulate enough wealth to last a lifetime. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources & EBay Powerweller

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.

TODAY'S LINKS:
Heintzcollection.com
Learn about the Arts & Craft Movement

Antique Pipes & Meerschaum

Meerschaum Pipe. Photo from House of Pipes

As a young man, I remember looking at a magazine ad of a man sitting in a large comfortable chair beside a roaring fire, his dog at his side, smoking a large pipe. What could be better than that, I thought? I looked at the spiraling smoke climbing toward the ceiling, and I dreamed that would someday be me.

I never did start smoking, but that doesn't mean that I can't feel the satisfaction that picture has embedded in my mind.

At one time a man's prized possession was his pipe. He chose the right pipe as diligently as he would choose a wife. His pipe had to be made of the finest wood, clay, ivory or meerschaum. It had to feel just right and draw with perfection. No, nothing was too good for a gentleman's pipe.

How times have changed, and today, having lost their dignity, it is not surprising to find twenty, thirty, or even forty pipes in a box lot. But, there are still people that appreciate a great pipe and are willing to pay handsomely for a special pipe. They're the collectors, of course. And pipes are highly collectible. Just take a quick run through the completed sales on eBay and see how many bids certain types of pipes get, and at what price they're selling for.

This is where you come in. With a little research, you can come to recognize the ones that the true pipe connoisseur is searching for. Yes, among those discarded pipes could be a real treasure. In fact, I have been fortune enough to find several of these treasures in a single box lot.

At one auction, I allowed someone else to out bid me for a box lot of pipes. I later approached the winning bidder and asked about the ones I was interested in. They sold them to me for a couple of dollars. And here's the clincher -- the ones I bought were worth $300-$600, while the ones remaining in the box were worth about $5-$10. Yes, knowledge is King, and I will be showing you this as long as we work together.

Some pipe bowls are often carved with a great deal of artistry. The stems can be made of Bakelite, Vulcanite, Lucite, or just soft plastic. Expensive pipes once had stems made of amber.

Just a few examples from Kovel's price guide. A carved wooded pipe with a figural bowl, Dutch figures $1440; Ivory and wood crowned head and glass eyes $545; breaded man head silver mounted $260. These can be found in box lots for $2-$5 dollars each.

The Meerschaum pipe is a much different pipe, and you may have to pay up for them. The fact that few people really know their worth still can provide you with wonderful surprises. Here is an example. A helmeted warrior with a mother of pearl design $750.

This is where my theory comes in handy. I just say "I will take them all." This works out pretty well for me. I once bought a box lot of pipes for about $200. I sold them all and made about $2,250. There are people who work all month long to bring home $2,250. With knowledge, you can make that amount and not have to work all month for it. I see treasures everywhere.


Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.

TODAY'S LINKS:

There's a couple of good books put out by Schiffer Books about collecting pipes. I recommend Collecting Antique Meerschaum Pipes and A Complete Guide to Collecting Antique Pipes , both by Ben Rapaport, and The Ultimate Pipe Book by Richard Carleton Hacker

Look at some beautiful and interesting antique pipes here:
House of Pipes

This is an older article, but the history is not outdated:
The Art of the Antique Pipe

Ruby Lane has some more common antique pipes that will familiarize you with the more common item and can help you assess value.

Say When You Don't Know. (Get Good Directions)

Chinese monochrome yellow bowl, mark and period of Daoguang (1821 - 1850)
Valued at $6,030 at Guest & Gray.

I jumped into my truck yesterday morning, Mapquest map in hand, all eager to finally get to that appointment I had counted down the days for, thinking about how profitable this one visit could turn out to be based on my phone conversation. You see, I'd been priviledeged to be asked by a wonderful couple to visit their home to assess many of their items. They were moving -- and downsizing at that, and will be needing to sell off a good portion of their treasures.

"Yes, today just might be a fine day," I thought to myself as I turned the corner of their street. I arrived at the location indicated on my map, only I couldn't find the house. I drove up and down the street but didn't see the address so I reached for my handy cell phone to call them. I flipped it open only to realize I didn't have their number with me. I must've left it on the kitchen table.

I drove up and down the street a few more times, thinking someone might see me, until I wised up a bit and asked myself, "Who in their right mind is going to be standing out here in this frigid Chicago weather?" Well, I guess there were some people who weren't in their right mind, because once I parked my truck and started walking from one end of the street to the other in knee deep snow and wind chill temperatures well below zero, I did run into some neighbors. Only no one knew who I was talking about. Being the southern boy that I am, it still amazes me how many people up here have lived in the same house for years and still don't know their neighbors. At this point, I had no other choice but to return home and call them.

I burst through the door to my home and dialed their number. Would you believe I got a phone company recording telling me how sorry they were that all the circuits were busy at this time? I tried again, but got the same message. I hung up, just about ready to give up in defeat. Then the phone rang.

"Mr. Lambert, where are you? Did you decide not to come," the lady asked? I gave the short version, which my wife says I never do, and then asked if it was too late now for our visit. She gave me instructions this time, and I soon recognized that they were nowhere near the location I had on Mapquest. I suddenly recalled Cindy telling me about trying to get to a wedding with her trusty Mapquest Map and ending up on a dead end street staring into an empty lot. Had I thought of that earlier, I could've saved myself the trek through the knee deep snow.

I finally got to their home and was greeted by a wonderful couple in their eighties, who immediately made me feel comfortable. I looked around their home and was amazed at the elegant decor. It looked as if it had been decorated by a much younger couple, as it was mostly contemporary furnishings and looked like I was walking through the pages of a contemporary home magazine.

They were glad to show off their treasures, but to my surprise, there was very little that I could value on the spot. Their smaller pieces were Oriental pieces and English pieces, mostly from the 18th and 19th century. These aren't my strong suit, so I took a lot of notes and said I would do some research and get back to them.

They had a wonderful set of four plates and many items that I loved, yet here's what my experience tells me and this is what I want to share with you today. I could have made offers, but I am sure that they had a very good idea what those items were worth. Had I given them a low figure, just to be safe, I would've lost all credibility and probably not have been asked back. . By saying that I would research the items, they were more than glad to ask me back. The next time, I will be prepared because I'll know what they have for sale.

This is so important. Never try to convince a person you know something that you don't. They will see right through you. But if you're honest and tell them you'll find out, they will be more than willing to work with you.

I headed home, once again, and this time got caught in bumper to bumper traffic that I'd never seen at that time of day. I was stuck in that car forever. I'm thankful that I had enough gas in the truck to sit it out, but I wasn't that lucky with the cells on my phone. Oh well. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had a day like this.

Take a close look at Today's Photo by going to Guest & Gray. The bowl is engraved with a dragon. Look around the site so some of these items will stick in your mind.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.

LINK:

Guest & Gray

Daryle Lambert: Is eBay Running Out of Juice?

Photo from worth1000.com

Who would have ever thought that eBay could be unraveling? I did, and I've written about it right here in these Blogs, starting back with my September 29th Blog. You see, you can only squeeze an orange so long before it has no more juice. And from what I'm hearing, eBay customers, particularly the sellers and merchants with eBay stores, are so displeased with the new changes, they are even willing to take a financial loss to express this by threatening a strike beginning February 18th.

If eBay does the right thing now, by taking their customers, both buyers and sellers, into consideration, their stock might go down over the short, but over the long term it could become much stronger. But, eBay just might get the surprise of their life if they continue to only think about their stockholders and try to maintain a certain income growth. That surprise will come when the stock plummets. Then their stockholders will be the biggest losers. You see, if they continue on their present course, the competition will gain a larger and larger portion of the market, leaving eBay in a downward spiral.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not an eBay hater. I've been a big supporter of theirs and give them credit for my success in the Antique and Fine Art Markets. I am sad to say today, that in my humble opinion, they've lost their way because of one thing -- greed. Anytime you put your success before the welfare of your customers, your success will prove to be short term. That is what I think has happened with eBay.

I've been talking about this present scenario for months now in some of my past blogs. On September 29, 2007, I wrote a Blog asking if eBay will remain king of the hill and made predictions on what changes might come and what results might come from these changes. You can scroll back to that Bog, or read my October 2nd article based on this Blog:
Will eBay Remain King of the Hill

Or, read the October 4th press release Cindy wrote :
Author, Daryle Lambert Predicts Ebay Changes On the Horizon

And here was my response to the news that has made so many customers angry: eBay Serves Scrambled Eggs

It is not too late for eBay to make its ship right, but the longer this imbalance remains, the more market share they will lose. And this will be a permanent loss. No one ever thought that GM would lose their number one spot in the market to a competitor, but look what's happened to them. Their last report showed they had the biggest loss in their history. Never forget that customers and their opinions DO count. IT WILL NEVER BE ABOUT WHAT THE COMPANY WANTS BUT WHAT THE CUSTOMER WANTS.

That same principle applies to the new business that we are creating -- becoming the best Antique and Fine Art dealers in the world. My rule has always been to be honest and to take care of your customers. When you do this, you'll find they will take care of you. This is part of what I discuss in my book "31 Steps to Your Millions in antiques & Collectibles." If you operate with intergrity and an eye out to satisfy your customers, you'll succeed.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.

Antique Lamps - Let it Shine

Pairpoint Lamp

The beautiful thing about Antique Lamps is that there are lamps to fit everyone's budget. If you are looking for a simple old lamp to add light and elegance, there are many, but Tiffany has lamps that can bring over a million dollars at auction.

When searching for that rare find in lamps, it's important to know that the value is usually in the shade. Yes, I have sold Tiffany bases for over $5,000 but if you remember from an earlier Blog, I searched all over for a shade and couldn't find one suitable for this lamp, even though I bid up to $10,000 for the one that I thought was befitting of the base. I was not successful in locating a suitable shade. This makes sense when you consider that the bases are usually made from metal and they seldom break. But the shades are a different animal. If one has survived for over 100years, that makes it special indeed and in much demand.

My friend Warner and I once traveled deep in the county to a farm auction where a small puffy Pairpoint Floral lamp was up for auction. We bought some items before the lamp came up for auction. Not wanting to appear too eager, we waited until someone else cast the first bid. Believe it or not, the opening bid on this lamp was only $500. We waited, and the bid crept up to $750. At that point we thought it was time for us to bid. We didn't want the auctioneer to drop the hammer for someone else at a price we would have gladly paid. Our bid got to $1,500. Warner and I could hardly contain ourselves when the auctioneer dropped the hammer and pointed in our direction. No, it wasn't a million dollar purchase, but it was very early in our partnership, and we knew that we done well at $1,500.

We were able to sell that lamp for over $4,500. At the time, to us it might as well have been a million. This type of purchase is available to everyone if they have the knowledge to recognize value. Remember, I said that we were deep in the country? There was a reason for that. By far, the best buys I have made was when I was willing to go that extra mile to find something special. I have found that when I go where others don't, my competition is often limited. And since I am looking for the rare item, rather than lots of common items, I am at an advantage.

You see, I am always looking to buy the best that is presented at any auction I attend. Yes, I do expect the items that I bid on to be the highest priced pieces entered in the auction, but again, there are so many dealers afraid of making a mistake they let many outstanding pieces sell for much less than their true value. That is what we are looking for, right? You must be very careful when purchasing an expensive item, however, because an unnoticed crack can be fatal to you and turn your joy into tears. The more expensive the item the more scrutiny you must give it.

You can find these special pieces listed in the Antique Trader, Antique Week and the Maine Antique Digest in their auction sections. If you haven't subscribed to these papers by now, what are you waiting for?

Be aware that there are many fakes of Tiffany, Gallee and other well known lamps. If the price seems really cheap, then this should at least make you suspicious.

The book that I enjoy looking at is "Quality Electric Lamps - A Pictorial Price Guide" published by L&W Book Sales. I am sure that there are many more wonderful books on lamps, and we will be adding many of them to our reference section in the future.

You might be keeping an eye out for Handel lamps, Jefferson, Miller, Moe Bridges, and Roycraft among others.

Even contemporary lamps can be worthwhile, and if purchased low enough, the return to you can help in your effort to reach another step in your journey.

I will be selling a Daum Nancy lamp in the Early's Spring Auction, so be sure to watch for it.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.

Daryle Lambert: Your First Step In Antiques, Collectibles and Paintings.

Why did the chicken cross the road? If we remember this question from our youth, we'll remember that the answer is, "To get to the other side." Whoa, Daryle -- what does this have to do with antiques & collectibles?

Everything.

You see, yesterday, I bumped into a couple of my readers who said to me, "Daryle, this might work for people who have knowledge about these kinds of things, but we don't know anything about it." My answer is, "You don't have to know right now."

When you, like the readers I bumped into yesterday, purchased my book, you responded to a message that I put out. My message, and I've shouted it from the rooftops, is that it is entirely possible for an individual to accumulate enough money to live either comfortably or lavishly, in a reasonable amount of time, by learning how to buy, sell, and reinvest in the antiques & collectible markets. In the book, I showed you that your financial return would be far greater in the antiques & collectible markets than in the stock markets. And, I even assured you that you could call and e-mail me, if you'll allow me to be your guide and mentor.

Your purchase of my book told me that you were looking for an opportunity to cross that road. That you wanted to change the direction of your life.

If you take no further action, the book will simply make interesting reading. And that will leave you alongside that lone chicken standing on the side of the road. Is that truly where you want to be? The opportunity to live better with financial security is on the other side. But, you've got to step foot onto the road and aim for the other side. We're waiting on the other side, waiting for you to come learn and grow with us. If you don't step onto the road, then you must be satisfied with where you're at.

I don't expect you to be as knowledgeable as I am. The 31 Club is a place to learn and grow in this business. I am here to lead you to a path where you will acquire knowledge. You'll have someone there alongside you who knows the path and has the knowledge to guide and help you when you ask.

But, you have to put your own feet upon that path. Truth is, anything valuable requires effort, and if you don't have the knowledge now, with effort on your part, and help from us, you'll get it.

If you've been walking in circles with that lone chicken on the side of the road, decide to cross today. Do your part by stepping onto the road that leads to a better life. Know that there's people who will guide you in your quest for knowledge, but you must be active in your own education. The very first step is to contact me once you've finished the book. Your contact with me and the 31 Club is what will help you succeed.

The people I spoke with yesterday are set to call me this week. They've pledged to start crossing their road. How about you?

Did you see our Associate Program In the Members Only section of our website? This program is set up to assure our members that they will never miss out on a great buying opportunity. If you find something that you think is a treasure, but your confidence hasn't reached the level where you would put out $10,000 for a single item, just call us. We will research the piece and if it is truly a treasure, we will purchase it at no cost to you, and when it is sold you'll receive a handsome percentage of the net profit. Is that standing behind our members and putting our money where our mouth is or what?

What I am asking you to do is to stop trying to figure it all out in your head. Release that habit of trying to figure it all out first. Give yourself permission to not have all the answers. Then, just follow our simple plan and keep in touch with us. In a short period of time we will have become best friends and you'll have started building up your account with real money. I wish that I could do it all for you, but first you must be willing to cross the road to get to the other side. If you can see yourself on the other side living the life you want for yourself, contact me today at Daryle@31corp.com. We'll set up a time where we can talk over the phone. Or, if you live close by, we can even meet over a cup of coffee.

God Bless, and my hopes for you will spring eternal -- Daryle


Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.

Daryle Lambert: 73 Year Old Takes On Ebay with Blackwells Live Auction

Wouldn't it be a breath of fresh air to return to the days of olde, when you were present at a live auction, bidding on an item by holding up your paddle, and the selling fees were reasonable?

If Mr. Donald Karr has his way, this just might be possible, but with a modern twist.

Yesterday, I was privileged to speak with Donald Karr, founder of Blackwells Live Auction, for about 2 hours, and they were two of the most rewarding hours I have spent in many years. At 73 years of age, Karr is as young and optimistic as they get, and he wants to make it possible for individuals to still make money for themselves, as they sell their treasures, without giving a large chunk of what they make to the ones that least deserve that large chunk --the auction houses.

Yes, auction houses do provide a wonderful service for people who want to depose of their treasures and belongings, but over the last twenty-five years, the auction houses have truly gotten greedy. When I started in this business, as I have shared with you before, the auction fees were 5%. That was only to the seller, and there were no fees to the buyer. What a far a cry 5% is from where we are today with some auction houses, particularly those whose fees reach 50% when you include the commissions of both the buyer and the seller.

Mr Karr wants to return us to the Days of Olde in a sense, and has introduced a new concept in online auctions, Blackwell Live Auction. A resident of north Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Karr has been a long time Antique and Jewelry dealer well aware of the auction business and the changes that have occurred in the industry. So why am I so excited about this, and why is this auction different than any others? For starters, you will be a live participant at each auction you are a buyer in. Your name will be raised on a bidding paddle as you bid, and if you are the fortunate winner, you will know it immediately.

But it gets even better than that, and you'll know why each one of us might be praying for Mr. Karr's success. The news that landed me on my behind after the chair fell out from under me was this: THE TOTAL FEES FOR ANY ONE TRANSACTION WILL BE A MERE $2.99! Yes, I did say $2.99. You might want to pick yourself up off the floor and check out this website for yourself, because in addition to this great news, Blackwells Live Auction will be auctioning off $100 bills every day with no reserve in order to get people acquainted with the auction. Brilliant!

Let's see what this new concept in online auctions really means to you and me as sellers. Selling a $5,000 item at the regular auction, the seller will bid 20% less than he was willing to bid on your item because of the 20% buyers fee. On the $4,000 that he did bid, you will pay $1,000 in commission. That means that your item, that should have sold for $5000, now is selling for $4000 of which you will only receive $3,000. Not so good you say? Now le'ts do the same thing if you sold it with Mr. Karr at Blackwells. Your bidder bids $5,000 because there is no buyers premium, and you only pay $2.99 for the commission. You net $4,997.01. My math might not be very good, but $3,000 verses $4,997.01 means that you've just made an additional $1997.01 -- 66% more than if you had sold it at the regular auction. Now that is something to get excited about.

I have some hesitations about the technical parts of this venture, but Mr. Karr has assured me that every question I asked had been covered. I pray he will have enough server space, because I can already hear the thunder of the approaching stampede just around the bend.

I am always looking out for you and the 31 Club and will continue to bring you newsworthy economic and industry news as I see it.

LINK:

Blackwells News Release.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

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Daryle Lambert: eBay Changes Will Bring on New Opportunities in Online Auctions

Before eBay, I had the idea for an online auction. But with no technical experience or people that were knowledgeable, this thought soon vanished from my head. This may sound like an Al Gore story, but it isn't. Why couldn't this work, I kept asking myself?

Then, along came eBay, and it answered most of the questions I had about the possibility of doing sales on the net. Even though they struggled through their first few years, they were able to capture the largest part of the Internet market. Their fees were rather reasonable at first, and the risk of using their services compared favorably with the conventional auction houses. Knowing what I had learned being in the Securities Brokerage business, I thought this was too good to true. And it was. Once eBay got to the place that their business was stable, they began to raise their fees. Today, they are in competition with the auction houses to see who can charge their customer the most.

This came as no surprise to me, because I knew these companies have to please their stockholders, and know very little about pleasing their customers. Can you imagine what the decline in the value of eBay stock has meant to their top stockholders like Meg Whitman? Yes, she knew it was time to go, because the customers were beginning to rebel over the excessive fees. Checking her stock transactions just in 2007, she was able to pull hundreds of millions of dollars into her bank account by selling off a percentage of her holdings. Why should she stay with the sinking ship any longer? The stock has been as high as $40.73 this year, but today it sits at $28.02. With her options, this might mean a loss of a billion dollars or more to her. In my opinion, the future for the customers of eBay will be no brighter than it is now. The company will have to continue to raise their fees, and possibly even more than usual if the stock market doesn't begin to smile on the company more favorably.

Why am I writing about this market and the trends that are developing in it? I have shared with members of the 31 Club, since last year, that competition is coming to eBay's dominance in this market. Now my prophecy is coming true with companies like Online Auction, that we have featured, and a new developing company being organized that will have direct online auctions, where you will be able to raise your paddle just like if you were at the auction house but with far less cost. I will be bringing you this information as soon as it becomes available, as well as any other news that will tend to make your business more profitable.

This country boy says, get ready. The tides are changing, and there's power in changing tides. I believe this competition is going to be very favorable to the sellers who have often been forgotten in these markets today.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

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Daryle Lambert: Who Says It Has To Be Beautiful - Fulper Pottery

Photo from JustArtPottery.com

When I first started in this business, I was always looking for something I considered beautiful. Later, I realized that technique and style was equally important. In my early years in this trade, I walked past something if it didn't catch my eye. Today that has changed. Today, the glaze or texture of a piece might give me the clue to its value.

The best example of this might be Fulper pottery. Until I became acquainted with Fulper and began to appreciate their glazes, I couldn't understand what all the excitement was about, when friends of mine found great examples of this pottery. But today, the more I am around these pieces, the better I like them. They seem to grow on me. And, the prices that the better items in the Fulper lines bring at auction will make anyone smile. This pottery might be like sardines. You might just have to acquire a taste for it.

The Fulper company was incorporated in 1899 in New Jersey, and they made pottery from 1910-1929. In that short period of time, they produced some of the most highly sought after Art Pottery that was ever crafted. Probably their most successful venture was when they discovered a way to reproduce the ancient glazes of the Orient. These are know as Crystalline Glazes, and they come in many colors. My favorites are Turquoise, Chinese Blue and Red, Copper Dust, and Leopard Skin. There are many other variations to pick from in their glaze lines, and some people base their collections solely upon pieces in one glaze color. Fulper became the Stangl Pottery Company in 1929.

The second glaze that has become popular with collectors is the Flambe glazes, and they also come in may colors. You will have to make your choice.

In Kovels guide you will find a crystalline bowl priced at almost $5,000, lamps as high as $23,000 and vases over $3,500. I think these prices are out dated, and today, those same items might bring several times what they are quoted in the book.

I have been very fortune when it comes to Fulper, because over the years, I have discovered many pieces of their pottery and never have I had to pay very much for it. In fact, most of the pieces I've found were bought at auctions for under $200. I can count on them selling for $800 to $1500 each. No, I have never had the opportunity to buy a $20,000 piece, but by purchasing so many of their pieces over the years, I am sure that the total return on my investment would be equal to that or greater.

These pieces just seem so plain and new that most of the dealers just pass right over them. I must warn you that there are reproductions and fakes out there. Be sure you know the Fulper Marks.

The best book that will show you some greatest pieces of Fulper is American Art Pottery by David Rago. Fulper will be included in any book written on American Art Potery because of its popularity.

Learn about Antiques & Collectibles, and Learn to Invest in Antiques & Collectibles. Join the 31 Club. When you join today, you'll receive my 200 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles, FREE.

"...I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field
and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever
read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles."
-Skip McGrath, Auction Seller's Resources

"It has been a great pleasure knowing Daryle for more than
10 years. I share his excitement in releasing this book. He is
a man of his word."
Riley Humler, Cincinnati Art Galleries
Consultant, Antique RoadShow

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

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TODAY'S FULPER LINKS:

View Fulper Pottery at JustArtPottery.
Fulper Marks
Information/Photos about Fake Fulper

Daryle Lambert: The British Are Coming – Clarice Cliff Art Deco Wares

You may not have heard of Clarice Cliff but you'll remember her after you read this Blog. In fact, I will be adding her works to our hot list for this year. There are many of her treasures to be found, but right now, most people wouldn't even recognize them as Treasures. But, isn't that precisely what we're looking for?

I will continue to guide our 31 Club Members to study the rare and unusual. That is where the real money is to be found, and that is what we are looking for. Clarice Cliff falls in to this class, and we are so thankful that it is off most people's radar.

This lady was way ahead of her time when she popped onto the scene in the early twenties. Clarice Cliff's colorful Art Deco wares were the hit of the town back then. She produced almost everything that could be used on the proper English Table. Over time, these wonderful pieces have been forgotten by most people, but now, they have arisen once again, lead by the tremendous demand for her Bizzarre Ware. Honolulu, Rudyard and Blue Firs are other patterns that also command extremely high prices.

It seems strange to me that more U.S. dealers aren't really acquainted with Clarice Cliff, but that can also be said about most things that are produced outside of this country. I'm guessing the reason why is that most U.S. dealers might feel that since it wasn't produced in this country, then their chances of finding a great piece are slim, so they don't bother researching these areas. It's the same old story. Buy what we can find the most of. What a mistake that is.

There is a wonderful site that I would like to direct you to: www.claricecliff.com. At this collector's club, I promise you that items can be seen here that you will fall in love with. They are as modern as today and can definitely dress up a rather dull table. This site provides you with all the patterns and designs for Cliff's work plus the marks you will be looking for.

Should you find a piece of Clarice Cliff ware, be sure to check for damage because this will reduce the price that someone is willing to pay by as much as 75%.

I once picked up a piece of Bizzare Ware from a grouping of items spread out on a table, and the lady at the sale told me that I can have anything there for five dollars. To tell the truth, I just liked the Deco look, so I bought it. I put it on eBay, and the first night the bid was already over $150. "Well, looky here," I said to myself. If I remember it correctly, it closed between $350-$500. Now that is the return I love to see.

If everyone is talking about certain items, then your chances of making a score are slim. But if you're the only one in the crowd that knows the value of the items being offered, then you are in a pear tree.

Find out more about my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles. When you order, your membership in the 31 Club is Free.

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

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Daryle Lambert: Skip McGrath of Auction Seller's Resource - THANK YOU!

Skip McGrath

There is no better feeling than to be confirmed in your passion by a person you consider a giant in the field. When someone goes out of their way to recognize the effort that you have expended, that deserves a heart felt thanks.

This is what happened to us yesterday when Skip McGrath of Skip McGrath's Auction Seller's Resource wrote a review of our book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles." Skip is unquestionably one of he most recognized people today who has the pulse of eBay in his grasp. I have admired his efforts through his Auction Seller's Resource. He has provided others with necessary information on the highest and best use of eBay, and in doing so, has prospered the lives of many, helped employees become business owners, and enabled them to better provide for their families.

With his permission I share his book review with you:

"I discovered a great little gem of a book called 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles. Actually I didn't discover the book, it discovered me when the author called me asking me to review the book. He sent me a copy (its a printed book --not an eBook). The book is written by Daryle Lambert, who has years of experience in the business. At $19.95, the book is grossly under priced considering the valuable information it contains as well as free membership in his 31Club that comes with every purchase.

Actually I have it backwards. What you do is pay a one-time $19.95 membership to join the 31 Club - 31 Steps To Building Personal Wealth Step by Step with Fine Art, Antiques & Collectibles, then the book is mailed out to your for free. This is not an affiliate program (I wish it was because I enjoy making money from things I can really stand behind). I spent about 15 years in the antiques and collectible field and I can tell you this is one of the best books you will ever read about making money with art, antiques and collectibles. The book and membership is available at www.31corp.com."

To my amazement, as soon as the review hit his newsletter and website, our computer began to register hits and orders. This is a great testimony to the strength of his position in the market place and in the confidence people have in his recommendations. The tools and information that Skip provide for professional auction sellers is almost limiteless. Skip's website is http://www.skipmcgrath.com/?kbid=1836&img=BasicGuide11.gif

Find out more about my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles. When you order, your membership in the 31 Club is Free.

Want to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you have any questions about the book or the club, e-mail me at info@31corp.com.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

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Daryle Lambert: TEXAS BLUE BONNET PAINTINGS - Porfirio Salinas, Robert W. Wood, William A. Slaughter

William A. Slaughter 1923-2003

You might have have seen the work of Porfirio Salinas and Robert William Wood, landscape artists whose paintings are known for their Texas Blue Bonnets, but have you seen the work of William A. Slaughter? These artists are the best of the West when it comes to Blue Bonnet Paintings, the state flower of Texas. I believe Slaughter's work is undervalued, and once discovered, watch out!

Porfirio Salinas was born in Texas in 1910 and died in San Antonio Texas in 1973. He is best know for his Texas landscapes. He became friends with the next artist we will discuss Robert William Wood, and as the story goes, Wood would pay Salinas five dollars a painting to paint the blue bonnets on his canvases because he hated to paint them so much. The top auction record to date for a Salinas painting sold for $74,750 in October, 2007 at David Dike Auction. If you want to look it up for yourself, it was Lot 152. I would think that in today's market you might expect one of his better paintings to sell for twice that.

I haven't personally seen prints of Salinas paintings, but our next artist, Robert W. Wood, 1889-1979 may be better known for prints of his paintings than his actual paintings. I've seen prints of his work on calendars, place mats, wall hangings and even advertisements. Wood is known to be both a California and Texas artist. I once bought, if my memory serves me well, seven of his original paintings for $7,500 and sold the largest of them for $6,250 at Treadway Auction in September of 2002. This was a large painting, and I wish I still had it today. The total of five paintings that I sold brought in over $15,000, doubling my money, and the other two remain on my wall and are listed for in our gallery. The top price for one of Wood's paintings, according to auction records, was $45,410 through Heritage Auction Galleries in January of 2006. But don't expect to buy his better works for that price today.

Now for the youngster of the group, William A. Slaughter, born in San Antonio in 1923-2003. I'm sure he made the acquaintance of both Salinas and Wood . I believe, as time passes, Slaughter's work may become more valuable than the other two. I was fortunate to acquire one of his large paintings and have enjoyed it for many years. While my wife says she hopes it never sells, I have currently listed it in our 31 Gallery. I am continually looking to upgrade my personal collection, and the Slaughter painting is part of my personal collection. I can't upgrade my collection if I keep everything I buy. Click here to see this painting in more detail.

The great thing about being in this business is that you get to own and enjoy works produced by some of the greatest artists ever to inhabit this earth - possessed with talent that could only have come from God. I enjoy them while they are in my possession, and then I pass them on to others to enjoy. After all, we take nothing with us when we depart this earth.

Discover how my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you learn about antiques, collectibles and fine art, from the eyes of a professional. Learn to buy and sell valuable antiques, collectibles, and paintings for profit, then learn to turn your profit into riches, the way the wealthy do.

If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. Or, if you'd like to sell your item to us, contact us today.

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Daryle Lambert: Vintage Visalia Bridle Rosettes Proves a Winner to 31 Club Member

31 Club member made 23 times his money on these Collectible Visalia Bridle Rosettes.

New 31 Club members are having success buying and selling antiques & collectibles in their early steps. Often, this success comes to those who have had little experience in this area yet, they are willing to take action and learn by doing. And, by keeping in touch with me, they allow me to guide them through the steps to assure their success in making successful buys and sells, and then learning how to grow wealth from their profits. Here's a letter I received from a new Vancouver member who came across some Western Collectibles.

"Hi Daryle............I'm quite enjoying your daily blog and am reading your book for the 2nd time.

About 10 days ago I was making a housecall to see some "old stuff" that was being disposed of as part of a downsizing effort.

I had picked out some old postcards and other odds and ends, and was asked if I'd like to see some jewellery (Canadian spelling!). There were some OK items and some bits of no value, but there was one sandwich bag holding a number of pieces of silver attached to small chunks of leather. I was told these were from a bridle that had been used in the '40s. Knowing nothing about equestrian items, I said I could buy them for their silver value, and was told this was acceptable. I paid $30 for the bagful.

Most of the pieces had "Visalia Stock Saddle Co" stamped on them, along with the word "sterling". The bag held 2 large rosettes, 4 buckles, a pair of rein ends and 14 conchos. Thinking I should start "doubling my money" as you recommend, I listed 5 lots on eBay. Here's a little info on one of them: (Cost on this one piece was $8).

Item: Sterling silver bridle rosette - Visalia Stock Saddle Co. - 1940s
eBay number: 160201724669
Date sold: January 30, 2008
Page views: 108
Bids: 24
Final price: $183.50
Winner location: California

In total, the 5 lots brought $475....and I estimate that, at those prices, I have around another $300 worth still to list.

Being a "golden rule" sort of chap, I expect to send some more cash over to the lady from whom I bought them, as I certainly didn't expect quite such a windfall.

The challenge now is: What do I spend the anticipated total of $775 (less expenses) on, in order to reap $1,550 ?

Any advice much appreciated.....................

Regards from Vancouver Island.................... Michael R."

Mike, you ask a very important question and that was, now that I've made my first purchase and sale, so what now? Just do it all over again. This doesn't mean that you have to find one item to spend all your money on, but just that you spend it. It may take three or four items before all your money is spent, but that's okay. However, you must make your next purchases as carefully as you did the first purchase. And keep learning. I suspect the time you spent researching your buy provided you with a body of knowledge that will likely stay with you. How do you feel? You are on your way to our millions in antiques and collectibles? There is no looking back now. And keep in mind that certain items purchased might do well in different arenas, and this is something to carefully consider.


Discover how my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you become financially free following the same simple financial principles that the wealthy follow -- all with antiques, fine art, and collectibles.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. Or, if you'd like to sell your item to us, contact us today.

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Daryle Lambert: The Continued Thomas Webb Glass Story

Example of a Thomas Webb Bronze Vase. Photo from Great.Glass.co.uk.

Cindy got after me today and told me that the Blog sounded like it came out of a book and that it was too boring. In the future, I will try to keep it personal, like she's asked me to. I am asking for your help in covering topics of interest to you, so please send me any ideas that you'd like written about in a Blog. I must finish this one on Webb class, as I promised I would.

The Webb factory continued and Mr. Webb assembled the greatest group of glass people in the world. Besides the Woodalls, there were names like John
Thomas Fereday, Daniel and Lionel Pearce, Frederick Englebert Kny and his three sons, and William Fritsche. There will never be another group of glass
masters like this assembled again. They won almost every award of their day for excellence.

In 1893, at the Chicago Colombian Worlds Fair, Webb exhibited Woodall's cameos and for years after that, most of the work coming from the factory was
shipped to the United States for sale. George Woodall retired in 1911 and died February 27, 1925. His brother, Thomas, died the next year in 1926.
This was the end of an era for excellence in glass. Since most of their work was shipped to this country, it gives us a greater chance of finding it than
even those in England.

I knew very little about Webb Glass, but a friend by the name of Jerry B. introduced me to it at Early's Auction in Cincinnati. I think he may be one
of the most knowledgeable people I have ever met when it comes it glass. I will be seeing him at the Early's April sale this year and also at the Lotton Collector's Club Annual Meeting that takes place at the same time in Cincinnati. I hope that I will be able to spend some time with him and become more knowledgeable on Webb. He also is very kind loves to share information, so if you ever have a question that I can't answer, I am sure that he would extend his knowledge to us.

Besides Cameo Glass, Webb produced several other types of glass. Bronze Glass is a glass made to imitate older glass from the Troy age. It had a slick mirror-like gold sheen with purple, blue and copper highlights. This effect was produced from the metallic chloride fumes that were used on the glass.

Another form of glass was one that became known as Peach Bloom glass, introduced in 1885. A porcelain vase that sold in New York for $18,000 was the inspiration for this glass, and one that American and British manufacturers tried to imitate in glass. This glass was two layered and began as pink at the base and progressively got more red until it reached the top. Either polished or in matte finish, today you can see many reproductions of this type of glass.

Webb's Queen's Burmese was another glass produced by Webb, under a license from Mount Washington Glass Company. This glass was a single layered glass with uranium oxide, fluorspar and feldspar added. It was often decorated with enameling, painting or gilding.

My hopes for you are that you will find a wonderful piece of Webb Glass before I do, but I assure you, I will be looking.

Discover how my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you become financially free following the same simple financial principles that the wealthy follow -- all with antiques, fine art, and collectibles.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. Or, if you'd like to sell your item to us, contact us today.

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Daryle Lambert: The Best. English Glass - Thomas Webb & Sons Glass

Stourbridge, Worcestershire England, was the center of the glass industry, producing many great glass works from many companies. Thomas Webb and Sons, formed in 1837, was probably the most famous glass producer, having been formed by Thomas Webb after his partnership with the Richardson Brothers dissolved in 1836.

Thomas Webb wasn't a man to be just content with having a great glass company. He wanted to be the best ever. I think he succeeded. While Thomas Webb died in 1896, Thomas Wilkes Webb, one of his three sons, led the company to becoming the most prominent English company.

Thomas Webb and Sons is mostly known best for their Cameo Glass, which is highly collected, and their Rock Crystal Glass. Queen’s Burmese Ware was a very popular, commercially successful glass produced by Webb and is considered more common.

Producing Cameo Glass is a process where a design is drawn on the glass with a acid resistance substance and then it is dipped into hydrofluoric acid to eat away the unprotected surface. Then it can be polished and tinted. Thomas took out a patent on Ivory Cameo in 1887. Cameo glass goes back thousands of years, and it is an interesting study you might want to look into further to see how the process evolved.

If you are ever fortune enough to find a piece of Webb glass you should hope that it was produced by the Woodall brothers, Thomas or George. They both joined Webb at about the same time in1874. There is so much to share with you about Webb Glass, I'll have to finish tomorrow. This just might be my favorite glass, even though I haven't been fortune enough to own a piece.

Discover how my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you become financially free following the same simple financial principles that the wealthy follow -- all with antiques, fine art, and collectibles.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. Or, if you'd like to sell your item to us, contact us today.

Back to Home Page.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.

Daryle Lambert: Early Art Glass - Quezal Glass

Yesterday I mentioned Quezal Glass in my Blog, and Cindy said, "Daryle, you needed to write about Quezal Glass before you write about Durand!" So -- today, I'm following up on that with one of America's most beautiful glass -- Quezal Glass.

As a young man, Martin Bach, Sr., born in 1865, worked for the St. Louis Glass Works before coming to the United States. He was determined to become a master in glass, so in 1884, when Tiffany and Nash started their company, he became their first mixer. Studying under these men, he learned all the formulation skills he needed to duplicate the glass that he was helping produce. Finally, after having a quarrel with Mr. Nash, Bach resigned to start his own company.

Not having the experience in glass blowing, he heard that Thomas Johnson, a gaffer at the Corona Glass Works was looking for employment, so together they formed the Quezal Art Glass company in 1901. Most of their employees came from the Tiffany plants. Quezal's early pieces were mostly unsigned, and they were identical to Tiffany, so later many of these were signed "Tiffany."

This so infuriated Tiffany that he had his designer produce new designs that were different than the ones being produced by Quezal. This must have been quite a tiff, because at one time, Tiffany even considered stopping the production of all iridescent glass at his factories but then reconsidered.

In some peoples eyes, Quezal pieces were more desirable than Tiffany. They say that the Quezal pieces are more colorful and have more definition than Tiffany.

After 1905, Quezal was having some financial difficulties, and this began their downward slide. Eventually, most of their great employees began to leave for other jobs. Then, in 1924, Martin Bach, Sr. died. His son, Martin Bach, Jr. took over the company, but it was never the same. Finally, Martin Bach, Jr. went to work for the Vineland Flint Glass Works --the Durand Glass I wrote about yesterday. I guess I can see why Cindy wanted me to write about Quezal first. It keeps things in chronological order.

Quezal Glass and Durand Glass hold about the same value. Tiffany's value is higher, and there is more of this glass than, Quezal or Durand.

All through the early years in this country, the true artists in the fields of Pottery and Glass got their training with many companies before starting their own. It wasn't rare to see a person leave a company, yet years later be working for that same company.

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If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. Or, if you'd like to sell your item to us, contact us today.

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