Carnival Glass Revisited

Fenton Dragon & Lotus Carnival Glass Plate sold for $1225 on eBay.

We’ve covered many topics over the last year, and even though each day I’d like to present something new, it’s just as important to keep up to date on subjects already discussed. One of these is Carnival Glass, particularly the rare pieces. This fine glass appears to be making a comeback and headed for greater heights.

Good Carnival Glass can no longer can be purchased for hundreds of dollars; today it will likely take thousands. This is like the start of a new market for many people, and the younger collectors seem to be drawn to Carnival Glass, because as you know, it was known as the poor man's Tiffany. No more however; certain more rare pieces are being elevated to the price ranges of some Tiffany. Wouldn't you want to know which pieces have high values?

I am glad to share my knowledge about Carnival Glass but if you’re going to be truly knowledgeable, it’s important to have a book that will help educate you. I have only recommended you buy a few books, and even then, I’ve given you places that you could used books at reasonable prices. If you want to be knowledgeable about Carnival Glass, the one you need to get quickly is the Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass by Bill Edwards. It’s a must if you plan to make big money in this business. This one book will give you almost everything you need to know about this glass. It gives a very complete price guide in the back, and all you need to do is see if these prices have changed.

Don't be surprised if you’re looking through a house sale or auction sale and see a Carnival Ice Cream Bowl by Northfield in the Peacock at the Urn pattern. It’s only 10” wide but carries a hefty price if it’s found in the Aqua opalescent glass. Are you ready for this? From the old Bill Edward’s book, the Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass, this piece is priced at $31,000. What might that price be today?

Most people who still have Carnival Glass and aren't collectors have no idea it could be as valuable as it is. This glass used to be a give-away piece at grocery stores or gas stations. Someone who owns these pieces today could have received it from their mother or aunt and it’s been tucked away ever since. A bowl could easily be found for under $25.00 at house sales.

It’s one of my greatest pleasures to receive an auction list or a list of items selling at an estate or house sale from a member and to be able to tell them there are real treasures on that list. This happened yesterday when a member sent me a list from an auction he was planning to attend, and lo and behold – a very special piece of Carnival Glass was on that list. I was stunned to see it had an estimate of only $100. This piece, in the right selling venue, could easily bring $1,200 or more. Hopefully, our member will be the lucky buyer of this fine piece.

I previously wrote about a collection of Carnival Glass our member, Cecil, purchased and he called the other day and shared his results. He informed me that his entire investment has been recouped with the sale of only three or four pieces. He still has most of the better pieces and when he sells them, he should be able to put several thousand dollars in his pocket.

Carnival Glass is truly one of the real treasures we should keep our eye out for as we continue our journey together.

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Antique Coffee Grinders for Coffee Connoisseurs

The 1870 Enterprise No. 3 antique coffee grinder sold on eBay for $870

If you have a flair for the extravagant, why are you using an inexpensive coffee grinder on that very expensive gourmet coffee you just purchased? With a Starbucks on every corner, and their top of the line coffee beans available in several supermarkets, don’t you think your house should be equipped with the most expensive grinder you could find? You won’t find these grinders in stores like Macy’s, Nordstrom’s or Neiman Marcus, however. You’ll find them in Antique Shops and at Farm Sales.

The home grinders rolled out around 1894, and even though they lasted for just a short time, they had a pronounced impact on daily living. Grinders were all but forgotten by the 1940’s, but the love for coffee has since then been renewed, and most people can’t get through a day without a cup. Since Starbucks came around, I believe in the 1980’s, coffee connoisseurs are no longer satisfied with making their daily brew from coffee already ground in a can.

So how expensive can antique coffee grinders run? These simple items have become very collectible, and people are paying top dollar for the rare ones. The Enterprise No. 12, with an eagle finial and a painted decal may bring over $5,000 today. Now, that should grind some serious coffee. And, there are others to watch for as well. I’ve talked about Griswold cast iron in past blogs, but did you know Griswold made a coffee grinder that is one of their most rare pieces? At one time, I had one of the largest collections of Griswold in the South, but I never found the coffee grinder.

The most popular grinders are the Enterprise grinders. The no. 9 will bring over $1,500 while the Enterprise Mfg. Co. Philadelphia grinder should net you a hefty $1,750 or more. You might have seen coffee grinders at sales you attended but never gave them a second thought. Even the small wooden ones can bring in a fair amount of money, if they have writing on them. Grinders with advertising written on them will be another plus for any grinder.

You just woke up and smelled the coffee. These grinders are real treasures. Keep your eyes open for these special items when you attend garage sales, estate sales and auctions. A collector will be glad you found one.

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Garage Sale Adventures

I found this Yellow Ware Bowl stashed under a table at a garage sale. It's now available at 31 Marketplace.


You don't find the pot at the end of the rainbow every day, but you can still find some sunshine. This happened to me today. Still missing my little dog, I was struggling to get moving yesterday. Thankfully, 31 Club Member, Marsha, called me about noon and asked if I’d like to go with her to a few garage sales. I knew I had to get out of the house and helping Marsha would fill me with good cheer, so off I went.

At the first sale, It didn't take us long to realize that the sale had items from an emptied booth from an antique mall. The owner didn’t even bother to take her sale labels off the items. We looked and came away with a piece of Griswold cast iron for $5 that should bring $15-$20; nothing to write home about. But there was an Ironstone platter I wanted to get home and check out. It was very large for a platter and extremely heavy. After checking prices at home, today I’m asking Marsha to go back to the sale and buy it. The price was $100, and I feel sure no one will have purchased it at the asking price. If I’m right, we may even buy it for less than $100. I figure that it’s worth $400-$500.

The next sale was very interesting. The lady had some very unusually cat items which included jewelry, change purses and even a Garfield the Cat telephone. We were able to pick these pieces up for under a dollar each, and I figure they will bring at least $5 each, if not more so, we just added another $25 or $30 to our profits to fund other purchases. But, we weren't though with this sale yet. I spotted a great print from the Napa Valley. The asking price was $20, so we passed on it and headed out toward the car. One of the assistants was following us, and I was telling her about the 31 Club. Before we reached the street, I mentioned that there was a print we would buy for $10, but we didn't know the artist. “I’ll take that,” she quickly said. No, we didn't know who the artist was, but because they had bought it in the Napa Valley and were told it was a local artist, someone will know. So in our listing, we’ll just describe it as a local Napa Valley artist. It’s quite large and very well done, so I have no doubts it will bring $150.

At this point I knew that I needed to get back to work, but on our way back, we saw an estate sale sign that just pulled us like a magnet. I immediately recognized one of the gentlemen conducting the sale, so we talked awhile, then Marsha and I began browsing the sale. There were about 10 Royal Doulton mugs and a small figurine, so I asked what they would take for all of them. They wanted $130 which wasn’t bad. I offered $80, but they wouldn’t take it. It was late in the day, and I knew all the dealers who planned on coming to the sale had already been there. I also knew that this sales house reduces everything by half the second day, so we decided to take a chance they would be there tomorrow.

If these Doulton items are purchased, there will be at least $150 profit there. So, no real treasures on this day, but how did we do? We weren't looking for $5 items, but that was all there was to be found. When I total our future profit if the platter and Doulton are purchased, and we don't yet know what we may find tomorrow, there should be at least $625 profit, which isn't bad for a day.

Remember that poem from yesterday’s blog? Don’t Quit! The pot of gold is just around the corner when you persevere.

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Ripe Market for Picking Treasure at Local Auctions and House Sales

1870 Liberty & Vienna Railroad Stock Certificate sold on eBay for $152.50

This market is ripe for picking and you, members of the 31 Club, are making my mouth water from the lists of auctions and estate sales you send me to review. Everyday these lists are coming in, and I just wish I was there to enjoy the feasts you are partaking of. In these markets, if you spend your money wisely it will be a great winter for you. I do have to caution you, however. In your enthusiasm, don't fail to do your homework and attend previews. Missing any damage on pieces can be quite costly and can take a large percentage of your profits.

I took a look at an auction list one member sent me and wanted to hop on a plane to join him. There was a wide variety of items represented in this auction, but I quickly narrowed it down to under twenty. I figured if I were in attendance and only purchased half of these twenty items my night would have been well spent with good gains.

There were some wonderful items on the list but nothing that would draw a great crowd. This is the type of auction that you might sneak up on and find a true bargain. There were two prints by Jessie Wilcox Smith and these made me think of the time my friend, “Little Jimmy” purchased what was supposed to be a print, for $40, and then resold it sold within a few months at Treadway Gallery in Chicago for over $22,000 because it turned out to be an original.

Just to give you a feel for this auction, there were prints, books, toys (with many Hot Wheels), jewelry, rugs and one lot of over 100 piano rolls. I pick out the piano rolls as one of the items I’d bid on. Why? Well, if you were with us in the beginning of 31 Club, you might remember that one of our very first members made her first $80 investment on several boxes of vintage phonograph needles she found at a garage sale. Many would have thought that was a foolish purchase until they saw the money she made selling them on eBay. Those needles brought in over $800. When you buy in bulk, it will often pay off very well, as it did for Cecil on the lot of vintage Railroad Certificates he purchased.

One of the best buys that I have ever enjoyed was when I purchase over 500 Royal Doulton items at one time. The $15,000 I paid seemed to be a huge amount of money, but when you spread it out over all the items I had definitely paid less than the 25% rule we go by. So if the average price was $30, and I made at least four times my money, you do the math. I think you’ll see why I was smiling as I left with my truck full of Doulton.

At local auctions and house or estate sales, be sure to keep your eye on items that have a high value in the market place, but in these selling venues, won't bring the value they truly deserve. This is when you step up to the plate. And remember our Associates Program if you find high quality items that are beyond your budget. Members who are using this program when spot high quality items are able to make money when they call the Club and we negotiate, purchase, and resell it. I have found that at local auctions and house sales, most people have a pain threshold of about $1,000 and when the price goes above that, the crowd quickly dwindles. This is the game you want to play as soon as possible.

The office doors are open again, so I’ll be waiting for those questions and suggestions that will help make this one of the largest enterprises around.

Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club.

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Out Of Season Items Found At Garage Sales & House Sales Can Pay You Top Dollar

This Hermes Black Leather Handbag sold on eBay for $1,399 May 20, 2008

I love to buy things at sales that could be labeled “out of season.” Christmas ornaments, tins and toys have a tendency to turn up at summer house sales and garage sales and can be excellent buys. These items don’t necessarily have to be vintage or antique to have great resale value, however, when you come across a vintage or antique Santa Clauses, these may be truly great finds.

True Collectors Will Always Pay Top Dollar for the Right Item Any Time of the Year

Many people believe these holiday items lose their value after the holidays, but nothing could be further from the truth. So, as the warm breezes blow, and people bring out their new and old Holiday decorations, true collectors and dealers are on the lookout. You see, the true collectors, dealers and bargain hunters have no seasons when it comes to valuable items. Collectors will always pay top dollar for the right item no matter what the season. Let this summer season play into your hand.

Clothing, Handbags and Accessories

As garage doors and front doors in your area open to the public to shop, know that clothing and accessories can be great collectibles. Many will pay handsomely for the right designer dress, vintage dress, handbag or piece of costume jewelry and fall/winter items bring in the most money. Prepare yourself by researching on the Internet. Take a look at some books at the library or at the bookstore. Know some of the construction details of designer handbags so you’ll be able to spot “the real McCoy” from the ‘Knockoff.” 1950’s and 1960’s clothing, accessories and furniture styles are big trends now and in demand now, so keep your eyes open.

Great Buys Are Great Buys – Even If They’re Not Classified as Antique or Collectible

The sun shines, the weather warms and for some reason, people think it’s not going to snow anymore. Look in the garage and see if there’s any good mechanical equipment, like a good snowblower. Acquired at a bargain price, it can be resold for a good profit. Buying and selling with the 31 Club plan doesn’t only have to pertain to antiques and collectibles. Maybe there’s a great generator lurking in the corner or a fabulous set of tools. I once bought a great generator for $250 and sold it for $1,500. In my book, that qualifies as a great buy, even if it wasn’t an antique or collectible. If a true bargain comes your way, by all means, take advantage of it.

Winter sporting equipment may come your way at very reasonable prices over the spring and summer. I’ve written on these types of items before, so browse back through the archives. Sporting equipment can put some unexpected money in your pocket.

I’ve even bought and sold cars that would qualify to be part of our plan. When I was in college, I found a car sitting on a used car lot in Beaver Dam, Kentucky. It was a 1953 MG TD. They didn’t know what they had, only figured someone could get it serviced to get it working properly. I bought it for a pittance, and they were glad to get rid of it. I was certainly glad to be its new owner. I drove it for a while, but sold it after my son was born. Besides needing a car with more room, I needed some money! I sold the car for a great price to a lawyer who wanted to restore it and made myself $2,000. Back in 1960, that was a lot of money.

Take advantage of the large number of garage sales, yard sales, and house sales popping up this season. And, always be on the lookout for a real bargain, even if it’s not an antique.

Join Daryle Lambert's 31 Club, today. Rub elbows with like-minded 31 Club Members, and Put a Turbo Charge on your Antique & Collectible Treasure Hunting Skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to Make High Profits and Continue to Grow Your Money Buying and Selling Antiques, Fine Art, and Collectibles. Newbies to Seasoned Dealers.

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Negotiating Your Best Deal on Leftover Estate Sale, House Sale, and Auction Items

What's your next move if there are items you want to buy at a house or garage sale, but prices are firm and more than you want to pay?

Do you walk away in search of greener pastures? Absolutely not.
You make a lower offer and see if it’s accepted. What’s the worst that can happen? Someone might say “no”?

Do you just pay the asking price? Of course not. That’s breaking all our established rules for success, as well as a guarantee failure will soon be your partner.

Yesterday, a 31 Club Member called me facing these choices. He had been at a house sale and found many upper end items the first day of a sale, but prices were firm that day. A 24” x 36” pastoral painting interested him, but he could only describe some of the things I would need to know if I was going to make a phone assessment of the piece. Since prices were firm, I advised him to return to the sale the next day, bringing his camera along. So, back to the sale he went the next day.

Oh, Boy! It’s Leftover Time. Leftover Estate Sale Items Can Be Your Ticket to Success.

Hooray! The painting was still there, and its price had been reduced from $400 to $200. He shot some photos of it, and sent them to me via e-mail. I looked at those pictures, and I realized he had found a treasure. In fact, I had just sold a much smaller painting similar in subject matter to this one; cattle and a stream backed up by beautiful mountains. And, his painting appeared to be better quality than mine, and it was twice the size. Who knows what this might bring in? My painting brought in $2,600 in an Evansville, Indiana sale.

After I looked at these pictures, I got him back on the phone and asked to speak to the lady conducting the sale. We had some light conversation, and then I asked if she could possibly take $100 for the painting. She agreed! No other takers were waiting in line for this piece, and the sale was ending. The company had done the best they could do, and $100 was their best offer. End of story. Or, is it?

31 Club Free Mentoring and The Associates Program is Worth Countless Bucks in Your Pocket.

Along with my offer of $100, I asked if there were other items not sold. And there were many. In fact, several paintings were left behind; their signatures impossible to read. That is – impossible to read for the person who’d not seen these signatures before. Remember, Knowledge is King, and that where 31 Club comes in. You see, tomorrow, our member is returning to photograph and e-mail me photos of the leftover items.

Depending upon what’s leftover, we’ll make an offer at a price we like. Although this member might not have the funds to purchase all the leftover items we like, the 31 Club Associates Program will buy those items that are beyond his budget, handle the sale, and share a good percentage of the profit with him. It’s a win-win deal for both of us, and we’ll make it possible for the sales agent to close the sale without having any leftover items in inventory to dispose of. That's win-win-win. The sales conductor will be quite happy, and there could be a few great treasures in there for us. The Associates Program is available to 31 Club Members only, so join today, if you’ve been sitting on the fence.

A Rejection is Just a Problem You Haven’t Found a Solution For.

I ask all 31 Club members to think outside the box. You’ll discover that situations aren’t as they first seem to be, and with a little creativity, you can turn this to your advantage. Countless times, I made offers on items that were rejected, but I continued to shop the sale and found other things to my liking. Before settling up, I’d go back to the items whose offers were rejected and ask, “Why don’t you throw that piece in for what I offered because of the amount of money I’m spending with you.” Very simple, and it almost always works.

Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles.

My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership.

The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Buying Fine Art and Antiques from Auctions & Estate Sales - Four Presumptions Not to Make

What a great radio show I had with Auctionwally. I have been answering the phone ever since. In this increasingly more difficult economy, people are beginning to listen more closely to what we are saying, and discovering it makes great sense and might be a solution for their financial dilemmas.

Our Member, William called the show, and I was so glad to hear from him. He is eager to be the winner of the 31 Club race to the million dollars. We speak with one another often on the phone or by e-mail, and he is learning at a very quick pace. Being a newcomer to this industry, he wasn’t sure how long it would take to master the skills for success. But, he simply went out, on perhaps, his first treasure hunting venture and promptly purchased a painting for $40. We’ve discovered it has a retail value of $3,500. Not bad for a newbie.

This is exactly why I make every effort to preview the paintings before I go to an auction or even a house sale if I am able. I can learn more about it and make an offer or bid based on knowledge. I truly believe that it is in the area of paintings that you can find the one treasure that can change the way you are living. So often, I’ve found that sellers do not have the resources to truly evaluate a painting. This can apply to individual sellers or auction houses. If they don’t subscribe to an art service, but only depend on book guides like “Davenports”, they may come no where near the true value of the painting they’re trying to sell.

Let’s go to the call I got yesterday from our member, Cecil R. and use this as an example to see how this kind of thing plays out. A friend of Cecil’s, who knew he had an interest in paintings, called him to tell him about two Charles Partridge Adams paintings up for sale through an auction house in Owensboro, Kentucky. In the Davenport’s guide, Adams is listed, but the price for his works are moderate. When we went to a service like Ask Art, we found that within the last month or so, a small oil on canvas of his sold for $12,000.

So, now you’ve got two paintings by Charles Partridge Adams listed in the local paper, and I’m fairly certain they were listed in the Antique Trader as well. Wouldn’t it seem like everyone, including their aunt and uncle, would know these were being sold and would surely show up and outbid a newbie? Well, everyone must’ve stayed away thinking that these fine paintings would surely sell for more money than they were willing to spend, especially with the market for paintings being so strong. Yes, indeed, everybody stayed home, and this opened the door for Cecil, to snatch those two paintings for (drumroll………………………) $700 apiece!!! Cecil might just have made himself about $18,500 -- conservatively.

With that example, let me stress a couple of things. First, Don’t presume that just because a painting is listed in an estate sale ad or an auction ad, that it’s priced just right.

Second, consider that the name of the artist, alone, might keep many buyers away. Buyers will often stay away when they’ve had a “rational” conversation with themselves that goes something like this: “Since it was listed in the ad, everyone and their uncle will now know it’s for sale. So, they’ll be plenty of interested and capable buyers lined up to buy. They will all bid the painting up beyond my reach, so I’ll just stay home and not waste my time. In that way, I’ll save on gasoline and be able to sit on the couch and watch TV today, since it’s raining anyway.

Third, never presume that you know what is going to happen at a sale, whether auction or estate sale or house sale. You might be right, but – what if you’re not? What if you’re completely wrong, and you never even bothered to step foot out of the house?

Fourth, before you decide not to go at all, take my experience into your mind before you decide. You see, I have found that even when I’ve gone for a particular piece and it’s been bid up or priced higher than I’m willing to pay, I have usually stumbled upon other treasures that I would have missed, had I decided to stay home.

Your success will be based upon the number of items you have the opportunity to buy. So if you don't get out of the house to buy, your chances of success are very limited. Get out of that house. Your treasures are awaiting you.

Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Estate Sale Treasures – You Don’t Have to be First to Find Them

While I’ve enjoyed writing about the great treasures our readers have reported to us, today I’d like to share my experience yesterday. I think it well serve you well.

Yesterday was a time for catching up for me. There were emails to send, books to ship and general paper work to do. However, one of our 31 Club members asked if I’d be willing to join her at an estate sale. I agreed to meet her later in the afternoon. Now, knowing I’d need to be in home in time to watch the Kentucky Derby, I put my efforts at catching up in overdrive so I could pack everything into my time schedule.

I called our member about 1:30 and was surprised to hear she was already at the sale. I was thinking to myself (often a dangerous thing to do) that if there were treasure at this sale for me, it would probably be all gone by now, but I’d still go to help our member.

I met our member at the front door of the house, and once I got to the sale, I immediately recognized the person conducting the sale. I asked if she thought there was anything still here for me. To my surprise she said, “Yes, the Georg Jensen silver.” We headed immediately to the dining room to check it out. When I picked up a knife where the price tag was taped, my eyes almost dropped out of their sockets. Believe it or not, they wanted $10,500 for the set. I couldn’t get away from the table fast enough, but while my mind was spinning, I decided I’d offer $2,000 if I was going to make an offer.

But that was only the first room, so we preceded to the living room where it was hard to miss a Steinway Baby Grand -- with a price tag of $25,000. About this time I was asking myself what could possibly be here for me. But, I continued on. I knew very little about the modern artwork that decorated the walls, and these pieces had hefty price tags as well. Asian artifacts were intermingled through out the house, and again, I was at a loss without any of my books in this category. I sat down on the living room couch to collect my thoughts when my eyes landed on a very large lamp. My mind wouldn’t allow me to believe I was looking at a treasure that every other dealer and shopped had overlooked. After all, it was later in the afternoon and most people would have figured all the real treasures were gone by now.

I raised my self up from the sofa, as if I was in slow motion and walked toward the lamp. The closer I came the more difficult it was to breathe. Unbelievable! There on the end table was a Rookwood vellum scenic vase made into a lamp, and the vase itself was over fifteen inches tall.

My hands began to tremble as I turned the tag to examine the price. $1,800. I knew this had to be mine. My mind started racing as I figured out at what price this might become mine. I’ve bought from these people many times before, and usually at half the price, but I knew that with this lamp, I couldn’t take a chance. I stepped up to the plate and offered $1,200. She refused, and told me I could leave a bid. I informed her that I didn’t do that, because I was here to buy. She was firm about leaving a bid, so I returned home very quickly to do some research. (My house was only five minutes away.) Let me tell you, after a little research, I broke every speed zone getting back there, just hoping the lamp was still there.

I entered the house with my wife and son with me this time. My wife went to look at the items in the dining room, while I worked up the courage to peek into the living room to see if the lamp was still there. It was. But now, I had to see if there was one of those little red tags on it, showing it had been sold. No red tag, and I breathed a sigh of relief.

We finally settled on $1,500, which was a much higher percentage of the asking price than I usually pay, but for this piece, there was no question on what I was going to do. So, what’s the value? Between $4,500 and $5,000.

Tomorrow I am going back to the sale because there were several other item that I want to make offers on but at less than 50% of their asking price. There are Royal Doulton mugs, listed prints, figurines, and glass objects that could pay for the lamp, if I am able to purchase at my price. Not bad for a day when I wasn't even intending to go out. Better Late than never, and by the way, Big Brown may be the next Triple Crown Winner. What a great looking horse.

Today’s Photo shows a set of 1945-1951 Georg Jensen sterling silver designed by Johan Rhode, Jensen's most influential of all his designers. The pattern is the very popular "Acorn" pattern, and is offered at Leopard Antiques for $3,350. Photo from Leopardantiques.com

Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Take a look at our Gallery of Fine Art Paintings by Listed Artists, here.

Carnival Glass, Virus Caution & Club Updates

The Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass is a valuable tool to add to your 31 Club Took Kit.

Late last night, I received a call from Cecil R. informing me that a comment posted on yesterday’s Blog was a VIRUS. I immediately deleted it. We will do everything in our power to protect you, but I encourage you to email us about anything suspicious you see someone place on our site at any time. I believe the comment was left by “akinogal” and was about running virus software. Keep your eye out for this one.

Back to the business at hand, Cecil also told me about another great piece of Carnival Glass he found. This time, it is an 11 inch, two flowers electric iridescent bowl. It seems like the better pieces are beginning to surface now. I even received a call early yesterday morning from a member, informing me of several Carnival pieces she was previewing at a local auction. There was a 10” Cherry Ice Cream Bowl and a Sugar Bowl at this particular auction.

Should you come face to face with Carnival Glass on your treasure hunting excursions, here’s a few tips: 1) Damage is deadly. Stay away from pieces, even if they have only a very small flake or chip. 2) Color is everything. Look for the pastels in ice blue, ice green, white, aqua, red, and check the Carnival book for others. 3) Plates usually less than 2” bring great money. These might appear to be “swallow bowls”, and can be 6” to 11” across. 4) Funeral Vases are a collector’s delight. They can be 15-18” high and have a head than can be 8-10” across. 5) Patterns can make the average piece of Carnival Glass command prices in the thousands. Animals on a piece almost always assure it will bring a fair price. If there is advertising on it, the price can double or triple. 6) There are auctions that deal in nothing but Carnival Glass, and if you should purchase a special item, they are more than willing to provide the sales service for you.

I’ve been interested in Carnival Glass for many years. I once purchased a pastel colored plate and sold it to a gentleman from Texas. He was so excited about this find that he drove all the way from his home to personally pick it up, and I was very pleased to accept his $5,000 check. Carnival is one of the items that has treated me well over the years. With a little study, you can become somewhat of an expert on it and cash in on your knowledge. I recommend some time spent with The Standard Encyclopedia of Carnival Glass, by Bill Edwards. Abesbooks has older copies of this book beginning at $1.61 for a 1998 copy and moving up in price from there. Amazon also has many used copies of this book. The April 2008 edition of this book is available in paperback for about $9. We really appreciate those who purchase through the blog. Every little bit helps keep us up, running and able to bring you this information everyday. There’s also an annual book of the top Carnival sales, and if you e-mail Cindy, listing “Carnival” in the subject, she will give you that information. cindy@31corp.com

I’ve been receiving calls from members for assistance while they are at auction previews or estate sales, and nothing pleases me more than to be able to help you in making decisions on pieces you see out there. This is what will help you achieve your goals and help 31 Club grow. Where else can you get questions answered and send you on your ascent up the 31 Steps and win your race to the million dollars? There’s been a missing link in this business for far too long, and 31 Club is that missing link.

Thanks so much to all the responses to our request for listing items in the 31 Marketplace. These listings will start to appear when Jeremy finishes with our website reconstruction. When others discover 31 Club has many of the rare and unusual items listed at fair prices, below retail, our traffic will increase tremendously, and your items will get huge exposure. Why below retail? Remember, we want to quickly turn the items so we can keep our money moving at all times. That means we don’t have to get retail for every item.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting skills. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Visit our Website, here.

Box Lots at Auctions, Garage Sales & Estate Sales

Do you like surprises? This is the season when you can strike some good cash by looking into every box you see at estate sales, garage sales, yard sales and auctions. Many times, I have found real treasure in boxes when others passed them by as trash.

Unless the value of something is obvious, many people at auctions, house sales, and most often, at garage sales, fail to examine things that are in these box lots. I have learned a very important lesson by understanding that many times, when auction houses or homeowners are preparing a sale, anything that they don't recognize as valuable goes in a box, along with other items perceived to be of little value.

Remember what I've told you before -- that the knowledge we need comes to us by layering knowledge of one item upon the other. By studying, researching and experiencing this for ourselves. Now, think about the average person and about how much knowledge in the Antique and Collectibles field we might expect them to have. I think you'll agree most average people will have very limited knowledge at best. So, understand this, and look under every table, inside every box, and under every item in every box at every sale.

I have known people who found books worth thousands of dollars in boxes stuffed in a corner. They've found Indian Artifacts they've been able to sell for up to $10,000 that they purchased along with a box of miscellaneous items. The best I've seen was a purchase made by a friend of mine at a local auction I also attended. He came to me, shaking all over, after he had purchased a box lot of letters. We went to a corner of the room and he began to thumb through the letters, showing me the signatures. Each one was a personal letter written by Martin Luther King. Can you imagine what they are worth today? After a box lot is sold at an auction, it amuses me when I hear someone say, "Can you believe that brought $75? It was a bunch of junk." All the time the purchaser can barely contain their excitement over this find.

Cindy and I attended a sale last week and bought a few box lots. In one lot, there were several Mercury Candles plus a host of other things. When I got home, I checked the candles and realized that they should bring from $50 to $100. The whole box cost us $10, so there is a very good chance that the contents of the box could approach $200 to $300. I have said that we want to be buying the better things, but if you can accumulate enough items at one place to take you closer to the next step in your race to the one million dollars, don't hesitate to do it. Just don't make buying a host of small items your priority. However, money is money, and in some cases, it might take several items to get you to your next step.

Let's say your account is up to $50,000. You might have to spend $25,000 for one item, two items at $10,000 and then $1,000 on five more items to have spent it all. That is perfectly okay. You see, if you aren't successful at selling these items at retail or near retail and have to wholesale them at twice what you paid, the total will still be $100,000. And that will be another step toward your goal accomplished. But, what if there is a special piece among your purchases? The final total could take you past several steps. This is what I experienced when I purchased the Frederick Morgan painting for $16,000 and sold it for $115,000.

I'm eager to hear from more of our participants about their progress. Have you saddled up? Then, I want to hear from you, as do our other members.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Visit our Website, here.

Treasure Under the Table in Yellow Ware

Yellow Ware Mocha Loving Cup, circa 1840. Photo from Martyn Edgell Antiques.

There's a new ending to Friday's Blog about our adventure to the estate sale. I’ve always told you to dig into every corner and look into every cabinet. Well, I took my own advice.

After packing up my purchase of Books and Depression Glass I decided to take one more look around just to make certain I didn’t pass anything up. Sure enough, just when it looked as if there wasn’t anything else for me to buy, I spotted two Yellow Ware bowls on the floor. I picked them up, realizing they might well be treasure at the price of $3. In all these people rushing around, the two yellow ware bowls went unnoticed by most. I snatched them up and handed those bowls to the attendant. As you get out more and more, you’ll see that the knowledge you’ve gained will come into play and pay great dividends if you are patient.

When I got home, I went right to my trusty Kovel's Price Guide. I estimate they are worth from $200 to $400 each. How’s that for a $3 purchase. Estimate that rate of return. I looked further into the Kovel’s Price Guide, I found that most Yellow Ware pieces will bring $200 or more. A pepper shaker, mold or flask could reward you with over $1,000.

The secret of compounding seems to have worked quit well at this house sale. In Friday’s Blog, I said our investment of $287 could bring as much as $2,000. With this new information on the Yellow Ware, I’ll have to raise the estimate to $2,400, possibly more.

Now, think with me here for a minute. $287 turned into $2,400. If I am able to just double the $2,400 with new purchases, I will have enhanced my bank account considerably, and could have $4,800 after deducting my cost for buying. Am I crazy, or is this simply amazing?

These simple things, when added together, can make you a believer in what we are teaching. Not getting rich quick, just getting rich. That’s our motto. Keep your Honesty, Integrity and Spiritual Purity and still receive all the blessings that God intends for you to have. I can’t think of a better way to live.

I encourage you to always do more research once you've read a Blog. For example, you might be asking yourself, "What exactly is Yellow Ware?" If you began researching it right after you finished reading the Blog, the time you spend researching is active time, and it will etch certain facts and pictures into your mind that you will be able to draw upon when you're out in the field.

Remember, if you spend a little time everyday studying and researching, this time of active study builds up information in your mind layer upon layer. I'll lead you and show you how to make money. But the activity of researching is what will build lasting knowledge. So, do a search on "Yellow Ware". Try googling it. Search it in Yahoo, or whatever you like to use. I'll start you out by telling you that Yellow Ware is a type of stonewear, and it's called Yellow Ware not because of a glaze color used, but because of the color of clay used to make it. See what else you can discover today.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account that last a lifetime with your profits. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

See the fine paintings we have listed in our gallery like the Texas Bluebonnet painting by William A. Slaughter. Works from Robert Woods, William Horton, Tom Darro and more. Our Hannah Barlow decorated Doulton Lambeth Vase is superb. Take a look here.

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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

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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. No high fees when you sell with us.

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THE MAIL MIGHT SERVE YOU RAIN OR SHINE. Collectible Postcards-Stamps-Santa-Airplanes Might be Your Treasure

Tomorrow I am going shopping at the garage and estate sales, and I will be accompanied by a friend from Texas. His name is Jeff, and we talked about my starting a company several years ago when he was in the Armed Services, living in the Chicago area. Unfortunately he was relocated, but we have remained close friends.

When I first talked about writing a book, Jeff was one of the first to encourage me, and he helped with the title,"31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles." Jeff and I spent many days talking about the antique business, and he proved to be an excellent student. Even now I get calls from Texas asking about what my thoughts are on the price of an item he is considering purchasing. His field is musical instruments.

Jeff was one of our first members of the 31 Club, and tomorrow we are going to look for items that will take us another step or two in our journey through the 31 Steps.

We will go rain or shine just like your local postman, but we will be looking for what the postman leaves behind. What do I mean by that?

Some items that will be on my wish list tomorrow are boxes of old postcards and letters. Stamp collections can also be found at these sales and you might find their price to your liking. Yes, we will be looking for things that are mailed.

If you remember, I have said before that some of the best collectibles are things that appeal to more than one collecting group. In the trade, we call this cross collectibles. If two people want the same thing, but for different reasons, then the price will probably go up.

Postcards and letters fall into this category. Stamps on the cards can attract the attention of the stamp collectors, but the card itself could be attractive to the card collector because of its content.

Rare stamps have been found on cards or letters in cheap box lots that have been purchased for just a few dollars. These rarities may include one such stamp known as the upside down airplane stamp, that was selling for over $100,000.00 when I was a boy. What if you ran across one of these while rummaging through a box of letters? This was a miss-print stamp that is still the most sought after stamp in the world. One last sold for $525,000.00 on June 4, 2005. Can you imagine that? But just think this stamp would also be valued by people that collect aviation items.

What if you find a box of letters, like the ones that I mentioned before in a past blog, that were from Martin Luther King Jr. or, perhaps some that were signed by Babe Ruth. Can you even think of what their value would be? You see the stamps can have value as I mentioned before, but so can the letter inside. And, even the postcard might bring you a pretty penny if it is a early Santa.

I could go on by saying the letter might have historical significants, but to wrap this up I think you get the point. Often boxes of letters and cards can be purchased for only a few dollars, and the return on them can be unbelievable

I think that you would have to agree with me, that the postman carries some valuable merchandise.

Be sure to visit our web site for more information about how you can join the 31 Club and start your own race to your millions! Read more about it here!"The Guy in the Red Tie" --- Daryle Lambert

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