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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Vaseline Glass - Secret Test

Yesterday, I visited a friend from church to help her appraise some of her mother's items. Her mother's house was filled with items she had collected over a lifetime, and now it was my friend's time to make some decisions about these things.

The first thing I did was to begin separating items that were truly collectible from those that could be sold in a garage sale. I spotted a pair of beautiful Vaseline Glass candle holders. The design resembled a plate with the back edge pulled up, and in the center, was the spot for the candle. They didn't know anything about them, so I explained to them that these candle holders were special. I went on to tell them the greenish-yellow color of Vaseline Glass is very eye pleasing, and some serious collectors would even call it magical. Some will even choose a particular shade of this glass to collect.

You see, Vaseline Glass contained uranium and was made mostly before World War II. I went on to tell them that the government stopped the sale of uranium when the war broke out, and that because these pieces contained uranium, its color would change when lit under a black light.

"I have a black light," my friend said. Her father had been a stamp collector and often used a black light for his stamps. I felt this was a challenge to prove my statement. I explained that to use the light correctly, it must be totally dark for the best effect, so I asked if there was a place we could go and look at these pieces in the dark. She thought the front room coat closet would be best. Then, she excused herself to retrieve her father's small 6 inch black light from his old study.

The closet was packed full when I opened the door. We moved away what seemed to be an endless stream of coats as best we could. Then, I entered the closet. The ladies followed right behind me. closing the door behind us. Crammed into this small dark closet, we put the candle holders to the test. I turned on the black light, and the closet came alive with this beautiful florescent color. We all broke out in laughter, feeling like a bunch of kids, sneaking something our parents didn't want us to have or know about.

As you know, when I talk about the 31 Club, I always talks about it being an opportunity to have fun and also make a profit. I can assure you that I had fun yesterday, and so did my friend. I'm sure this story will be repeated many times. God planned for us to spend one lifetime here on earth, and if it isn't fun, then what's the purpose?

At most of the shows I attend, I usually find at least one dealer that features Vaseline Glass. This glass is displayed in a showcase with black lighting, and the pieces glow in the most beautiful greenish-yellow color. The effect is amazing.


A few hundred dollars or less will buy most Vaseline Glass pieces, and in my opinion, it is one of the most undervalued items I come across. This might be something worth your time to watch for, because the better pieces will sell very quickly, and that is what we like. Some glass being made today resembles Vaseline glass, but when you put it to the test, it fails.

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.

Read Up On The 31 Club Here.

Visit our website here.

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

Will You Find Diamonds or Rubies at Estate Sales?

#13 Giswold Cast Iron Skillet Sold for $925 on eBay on March 26, 2008

I checked the paper the other day and found a House Sale listing a Civil War Operating Table, so yesterday I made it out of the house early to check this out. Being from Kentucky, my mind told me that I might be the only person attending the sale who would have interest in this prize.

I arrived at the sale with my son, Joshua, and as we waited for Cindy to arrive, I began visualizing the purchase and sale of this table in my mind. I even visualized reporting this great find to you all in a Blog. When I entered the house, I immediately ran for the area where I was told this table was located. When I got there, my heart fell. This antique and highly collectible prize, already thought to me mine, had a price tag higher than the amount I had designated for the purchase. I’m sure Joshua and Cindy could see the disappointment in my face, but I tried to show a strong presence to them by saying I am sure there are other treasures here for us. I thought I was fooling myself, though. But, since we were already here, why not look around?

The first things I spotted were about 50 pieces of an amber Depression Glass set, I liked their price tag of $75. I asked if all the pieces were perfect. They were. I told the attendant I was willing to take the entire set for $60. He accepted that and this was the start of our shopping list. Next was a quick trip to the kitchen, where I found about 10 pieces of Griswold Cast Iron skillets and lids. At one time, I owned one of the largest collections of Griswold around. There were several skillet lids, skillets, and even a miniature. I quickly formed a large group of the pieces. I asked the attendant what these would cost me. He asked me what the tag showed. I told him that it showed $100, but I could give him $60. He added them to my list. This is when Cindy called me on my cell phone from an upstairs bedroom, so I was certain she found something. “I’m stranded up here, guarding some special books I don’t want to walk away from. It’s too many for me to carry,” she told me.

I went up there, and indeed she had found some great books, but there were tons more still on the bookcases. You should’ve seen the look in her eyes when I said, “Just start stacking them and I will carry as many as I can down the stairs. I’ll be back for the rest.” We did this until I must have carried 100 hundred books out of there, into the family room and plopped them down on a sofa.

But this story doesn't stop there. The family room had loads of bookshelves filled with more books. I dug in and by the time the two of us had finished there must have been 200 books on the living room couch. They were an assortment of books From Civil War books to Antiques and Collectibles, Fine Art, to Golf. There were so many that we had to take a blanket to cover them so that others would leave them alone. This helped, but I had to still tell several people that these books were sold.

Two pieces of Yellow Ware, some sewing items, a few advertising bottles, and a couple of Vintage Cigar Boxes completed our shopping. We might have missed the diamond, but I think we may well have found over $2,000 worth of rubies that we spent $287 on. It would have been very easy to just have walked away in disappointment. No, we didn't make $10,000. That will have to wait for another day.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. 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.

Read Up On The 31 Club Here.

Visit our website here.

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

Tobacco Collectibles Spell Money

Antique Dutch Silver Snuff Box Sold on eBay for $9,660 on March 17, 2008

Yesterday, I said that I would continue for a few day sharing things that will get you started on the journey to your million dollars in antiques & collectibles and help you get past your early steps of the 31 Steps. So,I’m continuing today.

Most people like to have things in their homes that remind them of trips they’ve taken or events that proved to be of great pleasure to them. Items we used in our everyday life are also items that bring back warm memories, and people will collect these. These items often end up in garage or house sales and can be purchased reasonably, then flipped for a fair profit.

There certainly are pieces of advertising that bring in tens of thousands of dollars to be found, but today I will be introducing you to some you are more likely to find.

I would suggest that anything associated with smoking and tobacco will be collected for the next 20 – 50 years. The reason for this is that smoking is going the way of so many other things that were common place fifty years ago, but today they barely exist. With that in mind, let’s examine what some of these articles might be.

The value of old plugs of chewing tobacco with the paper labels might surprise you. The same might be said of an unopened pack of cigarettes from the early days. In fact cigar boxes often command some serious money because of the wonderful designs that decorate these boxes. Let’s not forget the pipe tobacco bags and tins that are eagerly sought after or even the early snuff boxes that most women wouldn't leave the house without.

There are ashtrays, matches, tobacco cutters, posters, tin signs, cigarette papers, cigar labels, and mirrors. And I am just getting started. I would like to list the value of all these things but it is easier just to tell you to look under advertising in the Kovels price guide you should already have purchased. There is a also a nice book by Warman's called Tobacco Collectibles that I would highly recommend. You will be able to find many books on this subject by checking the companies at we are affiliates with, Abebooks, Amazon, and Schiffer Collector’s Books.

So many of the items that fall into this category can be purchased very inexpensively through Abebooks and Amazon when you buy them used, so please check these. We appreciate those who purchase through our affiliate because it helps keep this Blog running.

I’ll be adding these items to my next “What's hot List.” Even items you can find on the cheap at garage, house and yard sales that canturn out to be quite valuable.

When I was little, I use to pick up cigar labels and pretend that they were rings. You would naturally ask what value is there in paper labels that when the cigar is finished. Wouldn’t they just be thrown away. But, cigar labels can bring up to $2,000 or more in today’s market. How about tin signs that advertise Tobacco products? Would you believe that certain signs bring over $5,000 and by placing it in the right auction, many times that.

There was a time when the most important thing I owned was my marbles and guess where I kept them? In Tobacco tins, of course. These tins today may bring $5,000, $10,000 or even more. Do you still have questions as to why I would ask you to search for these lowly items? I think that Tobacco collectibles are a treasure trove for the ones searching for them.

It could be well worth your while to become very knowledgeable in the area of tobacco related items, especially ones that included advertising.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. 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 of 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.

Read Up On The 31 Club Here.

Visit our website here.

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

Vintage Sunglasses Can Prepare You for Summer

Vintage Chanel sunglasses sold for $620 on eBay. There were 19 bids.

I was asked by many of our members to tell them about more items that might be purchased at a reasonable sum to get them started, so that's what I’ll do over the next couple of Blogs. Yes, $10,000 or $50,000 treasures are waiting to be discovered, but while we're working our way up and preparing ourselves to be ready for them, why not have some fun and make a little profit for ourselves in the mean time?

Today, I stumbled upon something I hadn’t been aware of, while I was on my way to look up something else. I love when this happens because it can open up a whole new world. I think this discovery can be an item that can help you get through your early steps of the 31 Steps and put some good money in your bank account. I discovered the price of Vintage sunglasses.

So, I went to eBay, as they seem to be the first place I usually go to for my initial search. Low and Behold! There were sunglasses selling for $800 or more, and many of the vintage pairs were bringing $300 to $400 a pair. How many of these pairs of glasses have I ignored in my search? It seems that I am getting a good education for myself by posting this Blog for you. And, I'm sure enjoying each new scrap of information I’m adding to my data bank. I also hope that you can see by my writing that I am still following the principles I have set out for you. I believe that in the next 60 days or so, one or more of you will be writing me about that great find you’ve made in a pair of sun glasses bought for fifty cents to five dollars and then sold for $300-$500.

Some of the things I will be sharing with you might not be found in price guides, but through research on the web, you will find prices for most of them. As I said, a great place to start is eBay or other sites like Online Auction (ola.com).

By the way, I got an E-mail from a very nice gentleman today by the name of Dan Brownell. Dan is with the Book Division of Krause Publications, the publishers of Antique Trader. Turns out, he is a regular reader of this Blog. He also shared with me that a new price guide for Beanie Babies will be coming out in August.

As the weather warms and the garage sales start increasing in number, be sure to check for vintage sunglasses. And don’t forget the other items I’ve written about to help you get through the early steps, like vintage toys and comic books, Beanie Babies to name a few.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. 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 from artists like Robert Woods, William A. Slaughter, William Horton, Tom Darro, and more. Our Hannah Barlow decorated Doulton Lambeth Vase is superb. Take a look here.

Read Up On The 31 Club Here.

Visit our website here.

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

Be sure to watch this Video on Collectible Sunglasses from Antique Trader. Click on Brimfield.

Beanie Who? Beanie Babies May be Back.

This Beanie Baby bear recently sold for $500 on eBay.

I thought the Beanie Baby craze was over, but I was wrong. I recently looked at eBay and found beanie babies bring in some big bucks. Some are over a thousand dollars. The Royal Blue Peanut the Elephant, 1995, sold for $1,000. You can check these for yourself in the Completed Listings.

I guess I could plead temporary insanity, because last year I bought three large boxes of Beanie Babies from a house sale and then gave them away to some under privileged children at a Christmas party I went to. I thought they would make great gifts. Because I got about 250 of them for $25, I was able to give more gifts. No, I guess I didn’t lose my mind. The excitement and and smiles on their faces as they plowed through those boxes was a joy to see. I know I did the right thing. I only wished I had had another 1,000 Beanie Babies to give away that day.

Another time, I was called into a house where again there were several hundred Beanies. The woman gave them to me for a trip my friend Colin and I were taking up to visit the Lakota Souix tribe in South Dakota. We packed them all up and off we went. Colin loves the reservation, and members of the Lakota Sioux tribe have taken him in as a member. I think he has made over thirty trips there in the last 5 or 6 years. The Native American children were thrilled so see these cute little animals and gathered them up by the handful.

But back to my point about these collectibles. It seems that to the collector, these fuzzy little creatures still have value. But to the public at large, they are a thing of the past. This, then, is the perfect storm for us. Buying large quantities of the Beanies in one location can help you reap a great harvest. You may or may not find one of the $1,000 Beanies, but still, many others are selling for $70 or $80 dollars on eBay today.

What if you bought 100 of these little creatures for $2.00 apiece and sold them at an average of $8.00, what would that have done for you? Lets see 100 times $8.00 equals $800 minus the cost of $200 for a net profit of $600. Three times your money. Yes, that definitely meets the goal of doubling our money and it takes us one step closer the the finish line in our Million Dollar Race. Who would have thought it was possible with these little bears?

The shipping on these creatures would probably be less than $5. However, if you wanted to get paid a little for your labor, a $2 add on might be justified. This would push your profit up to $800, or four times your investment. Instead of putting this money in the bank for them to profit from, just go and spend the money one more time. At a four times return, you will have $12,800 in your bank account. That might even start paying for a college education for one of your kids.

You have heard me say that we want to move up to the rare and unusual as quickly as we can, but you may want to stop along the way and pick up a few of these little creatures. Right now I think it would make great sense. This could prove to be an excellent way to spend your first $100.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. 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 from artists like Robert Woods, William A. Slaughter, William Horton, Tom Darro, and more. Our Hannah Barlow decorated Doulton Lambeth Vase is superb. Take a look here.

Read Up On The 31 Club Here.

Visit our website here.

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

Ebay Still Fighting Hard in the Wrong Direction

Ebay Fights Back with New Promotion

Several months ago, I wrote a Blog about what I thought eBay was going to do. First I said they might do away with the listing fees all together, but instead, they raised them in a very deceptive manner after their leader left. I think now they are beginning to see that their listers have seen through their crafty manuever.

EBay is a wonderful company that is going in the wrong direction. It is a mature company that needs to think about giving back to their stockholder, for their patience, as the stock continued to grow. But it is no longer a growth stock whose earnings are going to quadruple every year. At this time, they need to service the customers they have accumulated since their inception and give them reason not to jump ship.

EBay sent out e-mails this week promoting one cent listing fees, but they come with several conditions, and none of them are in the best interest of the customer. Why not do the right thing and just eliminate the listing fees altogether instead of squeezing every last dime out of their customers they possible can?

EBay stock has been a cash cow for its investors over many years, but over the last six months, they’ve seen the stock drop by 25%. In fact, the last several years haven't been that great for eBay stock holders. Its price has declined 50% since January, 2005. Do I still admire what they have accomplished? Yes. I just wish that they would realize who and what they are, and be responsible to the many people that depend upon their service and who have helped make them successful by their support.

EBay might think they are not replaceable, but they are. And, as I predicted months ago, their competition is coming at them from every direction. One of my favorites is Online Auction, http://www.ola.com/. If you are doing consistent business, you might want to look at their program. Another is Blackwells Live Auctions, however I’m not sure they have worked out the bugs in their program yet. Another interesting auction site for antiques and art is igavel.com. I encourage you to take a look at these other companies.

Please don’t get me wrong about eBay. The purpose of writing this Blog isn't to knock eBay but to hopefully show them that we are all very concerned. I encourage the 31 Club members to take advantage of all the specials eBay offers, if they are to their advantage. But, if after using these specials, eBay’s regular program doesn’t present the best deal, be sure to be flexible and check your options.

Ebay has the most capable people outside of eBay who have been supporting them for years, like Skip McGrath, Terry Gibbs and Gary Henderson just to mention a few. By helping other people to learn their way around the eBay system quickly and getting thousands of individuals and merchants up and running efficiently, they have helped support eBay's growth. But what support so they receive from eBay?

If we all worked together for the good of the customer, there will be room for all. But if we get greedy, the market will most assuredly replace us.

So, while eBay is still putting up a fight, I don’t think they are quite ready to surrender. But I don’t think the last chapter is in yet. And I have hope for this fine company.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. 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 from artists like Robert Woods, William A. Slaughter, William Horton, Tom Darro, and more. Our Hannah Barlow decorated Doulton Lambeth Vase is superb. Take a look here.

Read Up On The 31 Club Here.

Visit our website here.

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

Consolidated Glass - Ruba Rombic, Martele and The Valuable Lalique Look-Alike

Ruba Rombic Vase. Photo from The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Have you ever seen something that your mind says you have seen before? This might have happen to you if you ran across a wonderful unmarked Deco glass vase, reasonably priced. You might have even passed it over, thinking the piece was a reproduction of Lalique, or some other Art Deco company’s work.

I am sure that this has happened to me, because I wasn't up to speed on the wares of The Consolidated Glass Company. Now I’m wondering just how much money I have left on the table by not knowing more about this company and some their outstanding patterns of glass.

This Pennsylvania company was formed in 1884, producing lamps, tableware, and art glass. Their earlier pieces don't seem to warrant much collector interest today, but their Art Deco lines produced after 1925 are the most sought after today. The company closed its doors in 1967.

Martele is a line they produced that resembles Lalique, using the same frosted effect Lalique used in their glass production during the same time period. When used along with the Deco designs of the day, the result was a creation that had great eye appeal, and today, has piqued the interest of sophisticated collectors. The geometric designs of Ruba Rombic, designed by Rueben Haley, are as modern today as they were when first manufactured, and is the ultimate in Consolidated Glass.

I have been fortune enough to buy and sell several pieces of this glass, however they have always been the large vases with molded animals or birds. Usually these pieces are decorated in green, blue or tan colors with an ivory background. The pieces I have purchase for under $50 have usually sold in the $150 to $250 range, still making it a very worthwhile purchase within our criteria. Consolidated Glass can easily be confused with Phoenix Glass. Look into these two glass companies. If you're in the early steps of your 31 Steps, you might run across these and it could be a buy for you.

Decades ago, Depression Glass Collectors also collected Consolidated, and what is written in books about Consolidated's Ruba Rombic and other patterns, is mostly found in books geared for Depression Glass Collectors. And by the way, if you ever run across a book at a garage or estate sale called Phoenix and Consolidated Art Glass: 1926-1980 by Jack D. Wilson, I'd buy it cheap. It's out of print, and today on Amazon, there's only 9 used copies starting at $69, while on Abesbooks, there's 5 from $140 to $155.00.

Consolidated’s better pieces bring a whole lot more than their common ones. A decanter set in the Ruba Rombic patters may bring $10,000 today, while a water set made in the same pattern might command $5,000. The Martele patterns might not bring as much as the Ruba Rombic pattern, but I guarantee if you find a large vase in this pattern, you have indeed found a treasure.

This is one time that “look a likes” can bring big money, so keep your eyes sharp.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. 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.

Read Up On The 31 Club Here.

Visit our website here.

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

Daryle Lambert Blog: Spring has Sprung For Antiques and Collectibles Season

Hot Wheels Redline Custome Mustang sold for $810.99 USD recently on eBay.

Get your best fitting shoes out, because the season for Antiquing is about to begin. The number of events will start picking up which means the treasures we hunt will be harder for just the few to find.

Because the crowds will be spread out, you’ll find your chances at treasure will increase. This is a perfect time to go back to your book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques and Collectibles, for all those tips on preparing for these opportunities.

This season, I will be looking for the items on my “ What’s Hot List,” and members of 31 Club can find the 2008 list in the members only section of the website. I hope you’ve already looked at it and have taken the time to acquaint yourself with these items I’ve picked items I believe the general public might overlook, and your knowing their value will greatly enhance your bank account.

As spring rolls in, people will be bringing out the things they think will interest prospective buyers attending their sales. This is a great time to find that sports item not mark up to its right value. Old baseball gloves can bring thousands of dollars, and you could find one marked $10 because it looks so unusable. It might even be flat as a pancake, what if it’s a Wilson Roy Campanella catcher’s mit from the 50s. It could fetch as much as $7,500. Be sure to watch for signed balls and bats, too. I once sold a baseball for $1,000 and that was when a $1000 looked big to me.

As “spring cleaning” comes upon us, people often are in a rush to clean house, so much so that they sometimes “throw the baby out with the bath water.” Make sure you look in every box, leaving no rock unturned.

Don’t make the mistake of assuming that because the first piece in the box has very little value that nothing in the box has worth. Remember, I found a Saturday Evening Girls plate about seven plates down in a box. I bought for twenty-five cents and sold it for well over $300. The Grueby vase that I sold for over $13,000 was found in a garage, and a painting a friend found was in the basement among items that weren't worth $1.00, but he took it to auction and sold it for over $21,000.

What a great time to find those toys that kids have out grown. I am trying to patiently wait until one father I’ve been speaking with gives me the go ahead to buy his sons' cars and trains. Tin toys like Tonka and Structo are going up in value every year, so keep you eye out for them. Don't forget the Red line Hot Wheels cars. One sold not too long ago for over $18,000. Look to see these cars and the Match Box cars on Ebay’s completed listings to see the kind of prices some of these items go for.

Don’t forget about the more expensive items during these early months. If your account is up to $5,000 try to buy two or three higher end items you might be able to purchase with that money, while still meeting the goal of a profit of at least 100%. We don’t want to stay with the low end merchandise even though these purchases get us started on the journey toward our million dollars. The more quickly we begin to deal in the rare and more valuable, the sooner our goal will be reached. Your hibernation should be over and your energy levels high. I'll see you at the finish line.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. 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.

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Minton China - Overlooked But Valuable

A Minton pâte-sur-pâte flask. See additional photo slideshow assembled by Christopher Proudlove.

I have been interested in English China ever since I started collecting Doulton. In the 1800s, there were many wonderful companies producing china in England, but many of their works have been forgotten, because most people consider them old fashion. Minton is one of these. But, true collectors of Minton China are just waiting for special pieces to show their heads, and these Minton China pieces from the 1800s will bring top dollar. It is nothing for a jardiniere, plate or vase to bring $4,000 or many times more. Some Minton has the look of majolica, which refers to enamelled stoneware with high-relief decoration, and often these pieces can be rather large and bring top dollar.

Today, the difference between the dollar and the pound makes it a great time for British collectors to be watching our markets very closely for those sought after pieces to buy here in this country and ship back to England. To the English, everything in America is selling for half price, and they assuredly want to take advantage of this buying opportunity. In several years past, the currency situation was the reverse, and many a great Minton pieces found their way into this country, while many more pieces remain stashed away in the estates of their original owners.

The early Minton pieces had many marks, and they can all be found in Kovels New Dictionary of Marks. I have recommended that everyone reading this Blog and working the 31 Club Plan own a copy of this book. It doesn’t have to be a new one. In fact, I buy many of my reference books used. Amazon has many used copies of this excellent resource available for under $7. I don’t see how it’s possible for a person in this business to do well without a good mark book. It is impossible to keep the different marks of all the companies you will run across in your head.

While Minton has many pieces collectors dream of owning, they have also produced a lot of common china. This isn't what we are looking for. The pieces we want are brightly colored and have flowers, Sea Creatures, Cherubs, Greek Goddesses, Fruit, Children and other stunning features. Do be aware that there are reproductions in the market, and if you have any doubt, be sure to have a return policy with the seller should it prove to be a reproduction. The great thing about Minton is that they made it very easy to date most of their pieces, and all Minton will have their name on it. Listings of each date with its symbol can be found in the back of the Kovels book.

Although the kind of Minton we are looking for was produced in the mid 1800s, Minton actually began production around 1793. It is still being made today by Doulton, who acquired them in 1968 and still uses the Minton name.

If you go to eBay you will not find many of the older pieces, because as I stated earlier, most people consider Minton old fashioned. But a little further research will show what the true pieces sell for, you’ll say, “Whoa!” Many of these great pieces can be seen in sales catalogs from Christie’s and Sotheby’s.

Remember, in this country, the Minton name may not carry much weight, but in England and other European countries, the Minton name is still King of the Hill.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. 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.

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Daryle Lambert Blog: Create Your Own Market in the Antiques & Collectible Business

31 Club Member, Colin, just might have the largest collection of Bone Thugs-n-Harmony memorabilia in the U.S.

Have you ever thought that by having a special interest in a certain Baseball, Football, Basketball player you could start your own business? A certain Singer, Actor or Race Car Driver might suit you better, but regardless of your taste, there is plenty of opportunity to turn this interest into dollars.

No, I don't want you to change what you are doing now, as you study with me to acquire the knowledge that will set you free, but why not take advantage of some of the knowledge you’ve already acquired?

Here’s some examples: I’ve told you about my friend Warner before, and how he has become perhaps one of the top collectors of Lotton Glass. In fact, Warner started the Lotton Glass Club only a few years ago, although Charles Lotton began making glass in the early 1970s. I can’t tell you why someone hadn’t started a club earlier, but after Warner started the club, he found that there were a great many people who already had large collections of Lotton Glass.

Warner soon became the person to contact if you were looking to buy or sell Lotton Glass. Presto! A new business was formed. Ask anyone who enjoys this beautiful glass and they will tell you how thankful they are that Warner took it upon himself to provide this service. And he has made it a very successful business. Warner still has all the knowledge that he acquired while we were partners, and when he sees a bargain in anything other than Lotton Glass, I can assure you he still can pounce on it. He has followed the 31 Club plan, while at the same time, choose to concentrate in mostly one area.

You have the same opportunity to do just as Warner has done. Find something that you like for yourself, buy it and then sell it. By doing this over and over again, people will start recognizing you as the authority on the items that you are buying and selling. You can become the focal point for that collectible. You can start with one baseball card, one company’s figurine, a record by a certain artist or a painting. Let people know you are looking for these certain items. I can give you several websites that provide free advertising and you can place ads in the wanted to buy sections. In fact, I do this all the time and just today, I had emails from people wanting to sell a Harvey Joiner painting and some Lotton Glass.

The next person I want to tell you about is Colin, who is as close to me a son. Soon after we became acquainted, I found out that his favorite singing group was Bone Thugs-n-Harmony. You might not be familiar with them, but to a special group of followers, they are the best thing since apple pie. Believe it or not, there are probably thousands of collectors that are building a collection of this group's memorabilia. Colin tells me that he may have the largest single collection of their items in America. He in his own way, and has turned this into a business. No, he doesn't take the money out when he sells his duplicates. Instead, he reinvests it in more items for his collection. He’s following a plan just like the 31 Club Plan, only his money is always committed to his collection.

I hope that this information will get you thinking about what you can do. I will continue to share individual items for you to watch, but there is so much you can do in this business. So, stay with me, and pass the word.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. 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.

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Barack Obama and Political Memorabilia

Tuesday,I watched a young man give a speech that surpassed any that I’ve heard in my 54 years of being interested in politics. My father was a very well respected Republican in Kentucky, and I was the County Chairman for the Republicans, as well as, involved in several state and national campaigns. But, I am compelled to say that Senator Obama's speech on racism was better than any I heard from Martin Luther King or any other self proclaimed authority on the subject. You might not agree with what he said, but his message was a home run. I felt like I was looking directly into the man’s soul. Never have I heard the racial issues so well explained nor an offer to rise above it expressed quite as he did.

I have to confess that there is no way I could vote for him, because we are so different in our views of the world. However, I think that within Obama is the ability to do great things. I have heard some people say he speaks well, but do you know him? My answer to them is --did you know John F. Kennedy or Ronald Reagan? I think most fair minded people would say they were great leaders, even if you didn't always agree with them.

Perhaps I could take a chance on Obama if the entire Congress could be dismissed, but that isn't going to happen. With no checks and balances in our government, I don't think I could sleep at night if I voted that way.

So, what does this have to do with Antiques, Collectibles and the 31 Club? Believe it or not, everything I’ve said will help you make a lot of money. Buy everything you can that has anything to do with this election, anything that has Obama’s signature, picture or any mention of him on it. These are going to be historical documents and highly sought after by many collectors. Remember, most collectors are trying to buy back their past ,and in my entire lifetime, I have never seen so much passion in an election as I have in this one. It’s not too late, and the value of these items will escalate after the election, whether he wins or not.

I apologize in advance if I have offended any of my regular readers or anyone else, but I have to call them as I see them. While I could not vote for Obama, I would be untrue to myself if I wasn’t man enough to state that I believe he is a true man of greatness. I will never have the opportunity to see things as he does, but I give him the right to his views, like I hope he will give me mine. If I had a conversation with Senator Obama, I believe we would both leave with a respect and understanding between us. It would be a great honor to shake his hand some day.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. 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.

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Sharing the 31 Club Program

Yesterday started out like any other for me, but I was in for a surprise. About two o'clock my my third son, Landon, who lives in Kentucky, called. He asked me what I was doing, and I told him I was just busy around the house, working on the 31 Club. To my surprise, he asked me if I wanted some company. It turns out he had attended a basketball tournament in Michigan and wanted to stay the night before heading back to Kentucky.

After spending about six hours together, I asked Landon if he would mind helping Joshua and me move some books. Without hesitating he said “sure.” Little did he know what was in store for him. Moving books meant the last 2500 copies of my book, 31 Steps to your Million in Antiques and Collectibles. You see, I had been storing my books at my church and they were giving up the location where I had stored these books. Joshua and I had already moved a lot books, and this was the last of them.
As we were breaking our backs with fifty pound boxes, Landon asked me what kind of books were in the boxes. Only then did I realize I had not told him what I had written.

We talked about the book, and he had many questions. To tell you the truth, I was ashamed I hadn’t shared this information with him before now. I could see his interest growing with every new subject discussed. I began to see all the possibilities to work with my son that this business could provide. We talked about his Baseball Card collection and the many Star Wars pieces and old coins he still has stored away at his mother’s home in Owensboro, Kentucky.

Are there people in your life who could benefit by you sharing with them what you have found in the 31 Club? It could be out-of-work friends, families that need something to bond them together, fathers and mothers that are worried about college for their children, or in my case, a child that you just want to spend more time with. How foolish I felt when I realized that there are members of my own family with whom I haven't share this program, while I am spending hundreds of hours telling others.

I realized that our families should be where we start in this program.Now I want to call my cousins, aunts and uncles, college and high school friends, and many more people that I haven't heard from for quit some time, and tell them all the great news. This program is something honest we can do to have fun together, while at the same time, make enough money to change our lives.

One of our newest members, Stephen, is one I think will be able to complete several steps in his million dollar race very quickly. I am thankful for the opportunity to work with this young man and together, I am hopeful we can add to his life and make positive changes. My feet have hardly touched the ground, and I thank God for giving me this opportunity.

Tomorrow, I will give you a list of things to share with everyone. Being successful alone can be very lonely, but if your success is shared with others, the rewards are limitless.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting today and start building a bank account big enough to last a lifetime. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE! Our book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Join the 31 Club and learn how to build personal wealth through the antique, collectible and fine art markets.

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Russian Silver - Lucky Numbers

Russian Silver and Niello snuff box, Moscow 1834, by Ivan Kaltykov at J.H. Tee Antiques LTD. for $900

The Numbers 84, 88, and 91. These three numbers can make it a happy day if you run across them in your hunt for treasure. But what do they mean?

They aren’t the regular numbers to identify silver and its content. While these numbers do indicate the silver content in Russian silver, they will look foreign to the American buyer. You see, in American Silver, it is customary to see 925 for sterling silver. But on Russian silver, along with the numbers 84,88, and 91, you will see letters of the Russian alphabet stamped on most Russian silver. And you don’t even have to know what the letters mean to make a smart buy.

There are very few Russian Silver items that don't command high prices, and the reason for this is the Russians were perhaps the best silversmiths of all times. . The Faberge company has had no equal. They’ve produced the finest silver ever. The Faberge Eggs, produced for the Royal Family at the time and given as gifts, now command prices in the millions of dollars when they come to market.

However, we aren't here to discuss million dollar items, rather the ones that you might find in your search at garage sales, estate sales and even possibly in the occasional shop. Pieces of Russian silver aren't something that the average person sees every day, so for this reason, it might pass under the radar screen of most people and be there waiting for you to find it. There are fakes out there, but if you recognize high quality, more than likely it is a real piece of Russian Silver. Be sure to find a silver guide book that gives you some of the marks on this silver. The discovery of just one piece of this silver could buy you a whole library of books.

Here are some price examples from Kovels price guide: A Cigar Box 1891 $14,950; Cigarette Case with two tone gold $5,750; Crucifix enameled 1900 $4,600; a pair of plates with stylized leaves and blue enameling 1910 for $14,950. I don't think that I could eat off of this one. But don't get discouraged and think that you can't find one of the items I mentioned above, even though it is possible. There are many items in the $200 to $500 range that will make it possible for you to double your money on Russian Silver.

I have seen some of the most fantastic miniatures made by the best Russian masters that were purchased for just a few dollars by dealers with a sharp eye. You should always pick up any small silver item to check to see if it might be Russian.

At the Chicago Antique Market last year a dealer showed me a picture frame that he had just bought that was one of the most beautiful things that my eyes had ever seen. I ask what he had paid and his answer was “not very much.” This piece was worth $25,000 if it was worth a penny, and I may have under valued it by five fold.
Watch for these odd numbers and also the different Russian letters. They might just sweeten your pot by thousands of dollars.

A good, but rather expensive reference book is Russian Silversmiths Hallmarks. When I checked, there were only 3 left at Amazon. You can get a better price at Abes and there are more copies available.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and turbo charge your treasure hunting today. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE! Our book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Join the 31 Club and learn how to build personal wealth through the antique, collectible and fine art markets.

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Daryle Lambert Blog: Networking with 31 Club – The 50 Gallon Red Wing Crock Find

Several months ago, I wrote about the person that wanted to find a 50 gallon Red Wing Crock for her parents. Well, one of our members found one and contacted me with this great news. If you are just following our Blog and haven’t become a member of the 31 Club yet, I encourage you to join and use the resources being offered by the Club to your advantage. Networking with us can produce great results.

The Associate Program is offered to 31 Club Members and will enable the member to work in conjunction with the 31 Club to higher end items they come across. When the member finds an item and it is out of their price range, the club will buy it, handle the sale and split the profit between them on a fair arrangement. We make this a win-win situation for all, so call or send me an e-mail for further details and information at info@31corp.com

The Associates Program is extremely valuable if the member is able to locate multiple pieces and the purchase is substantial. This way the company, as well as the member locating the items, can benefit. You may remember the Blog about the sale of several comic books by one of our members. She used this principle with a man who asked her to post several lots of comic books on eBay for him. These comic books brought nearly $13,000. Even after the expense of purchasing and selling these comic books, I figure the man walked away with perhaps $6,000. By working together, almost anything is possible in the these markets, and we are here to help you finish the race you’ve begun.

Personal Mentoring: It is so hard today for a person to get a live body on the other end of the phone, but not so at The 31 Club. I am willing and waiting to help you in identify items, negotiate, guide, give you a pep talk if you’re feeling a little defeated, or any other service that I can provide for you to help you succeed. We can talk over the phone and through e-mails. You’ll find I answer E-mails in a timely manner.

I could go on tooting our horn, but I think that you get the picture. But what the staff and I are offering is only as good as its usage. If you don't take advantage of our service, I can promise that you will not benefit from them. When you do, then your bank account will see the results.

Wish List: Let the world know what you’re looking for! We have a wish list where you can post items that you look for, and it can be found in the Buy/Sell section of the website. If you think it’s too hard to find, let me know, and we’ll post it somewhere else. We’re planning on setting the wish list up in a way that will enable someone to contact you by e-mail, should they have an item you are looking for. Just another way of networking with other dealers and collectors. Make your postings today!

31 Gallery: Show off your Paintings or Collectibles to the world and get them sold. Our Gallery Pages are very popular pages on our site. When you put your item in our Gallery, you’ll have no advertising fees, and we’ll help you secure a buyer.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and turbo charge your treasure hunting today. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE! Our book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Join the 31 Club and learn how to build personal wealth through the antique, collectible and fine art markets.

Read Up On The 31 Club Here.

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Golf Collectibles

Early 1920s Cochrane’s Ltd Club sold for $11,250 at Sotheby’s from the collection of Jeffrey B. Ellis. The complete collection brought in $2,166,210 and set a record. Photo and info from Golf.com

I don't know about you but all my friends here in Chicago can't wait to get back onto the Golf Course. But, for me, it’s about this time each year that I start thinking about the money to be made in Golf items.

I visited a home a few weeks ago, and there on the wall were flags from Pebble Beach and Augusta, sign by the most famous men ever to ever hit a golf ball. My mind just went wild thinking about the value of these pieces. Golf is for sure one of the most watched individual sports of our time. Names like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nickolas, Gary Player and perhaps the greatest of all times Tiger Woods are recognized by people that have never been on a golf course. Why is this sport so popular? I think it is for several reasons, one of them being that anyone can play it, and I suppose through their frustrations with the game, they will appreciate how great these pro players are. Second, it is a sport where the best man or woman of the day wins.

Because of Golf’s popularity, it is only fitting that collectors want something from the great player of their day or from the tournaments that they have watch on television or attended in person. Can you imagine the wide variety of items to be collected by dedicated fans? Clubs, Bags, Shoes, Hats, Gloves, Shirts, balls, tees. If any of these are signed by the owner, such as Tiger Woods, watch out. These were personal items, but now let’s look at the famous coursesYou might want a flag from a certain hole where your favorite golfer hit a spectacular shot or they had a hole in one. Advertising for the tournament signed by several of the top pros playing in the tournament might bring you more than a fair return on your investment. I am sure that I could think of many more but you get the idea.

Many collectors want to find items that were used in the game fifty or more years ago, as a token of how these items have developed over the years, like clubs, balls, bags and shoes. But in my opinion, the real value to be found today is in things that are as modern as yesterday. You don't have to find a feather ball or a wooden shafted club to claim a treasure. Just give me something signed by Palmer, Nicholas or Woods. I promise you, the longer you hold these items, the more precious they will become. And what I mean by holding it is waiting long enough for one of the pros to win the Masters, or unfortunately, the death of one of the Champions for these collectibles will shoot through the roof in value.

Most anything owned by the big three that I mentioned will bring a thousand or more. I am confident that if you were to find the right item, you could be talking in the $50,000 range or more. There will never be a shortage of collectors in the golf market.

I once attended a sale in the older part of Chicago, and from the look of the ad, I thought there might be some good stuff there. However, after spending 30 minutes in the house, I was ready to go away empty handed. Staying this long showed that I was desperate to find something to buy, because seldom do I stay at a sale this long. The exit was through the garage, and as I was leaving, I spotted a golf bag crammed full of clubs. I tell you the truth, there must have been over thirty clubs in that bag. I asked the price and was told $25. Not hesitating, I bought them without even looking at what there was in the whole lot.

When I got home, I discovered an old black and white pair of shoes that were just my size. I still have them. The pockets were filled with balls and tees plus several gloves. But the best discovery was a set of five woods made of persimmon wood and five putters. I showed a very good friend of mine these items because he is a real golf nut. He pulled out the strangest looking putter from the bag, and almost breathless said to me, “Do you know what you have here?” I told him I didn’t have any idea, and asked if he knew if that putter was worth anything. “Probably about $1,000 and maybe even more to the right person,” he told me. I wanted to ask him if he was the right person but didn’t. Later, I learned that the woods were also worth from $500-$1,000.

Yes, this could be a great season for you to increase your bank account by finding the right golf items.

If this might be an area of interest for you, start by learning the history of golf, and getting reference information and price guides. Learn which clubs are valuable, as well as what other golf items are valuable. A good reference book is Antique Golf Collectibles: A Reference Guide by Chuck Furjanic.

Go to Golf.com to view the clubs sold from the Jeffrey B. Ellis Golf Collection.

Join the 31 Club and learn how to build personal wealth through the antique, collectible and fine art markets. You'll receive my book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles FREE!

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Daryle Lambert Blog: There's Money in Doulton K Series

Yesterday, I wrote about making a good chunk of change if you ran across Doulton Dogs. Today, it's Pigs, Rabbits, Kittens & Penguins and K Figurines. Often, there will be a table of figurines at sales. It's great when you find a table that will have several Doulton animals offered, especially when you know the ones that bring the big money. Many times, those conducting the sales will have the small figurines way over priced because they think anything Doulton must have a high value, or they have them sorely under market value because they think of them as just trinkets.

At an antiques show a few years back, My wife, Vickie, was calling me from across the room. As I approached, I couldn't see anything to be excited about and I felt put out because I was on the hunt. When I got to her, she had me look inside one of the display cases. And boy, was I excited. An entire set of six Doulton K series penguins were there. The woman behind the counter wanted $50 apiece for them, and not a penny less. Ok, I figured, not cracking a smile. She wants $300. I offered her $210. Then I acted as if I was going to leave, looking away from her. I could see out of the corner of my eye that she leaned in toward me. Then I started to look distracted, as if something over in the next dealer's booth was catching my eye. She finally said, "I guess I will take that." I knew for certain she had made a profit, and I was sure I would, too. I quickly wrote the check, thanked her and left.

Vickie was all smiles. She is a better hunter for treasure than me because she is far more patient. I sold these later at a Doulton Show I had set up. They averaged about $250 each, turning this $210 investment into $1,500. Oh, how I love those little penguins!

These little Penguins all had about the same value, but that isn't true of all the little fellows. In the K series, there are 39 different animals of which six are Penguins. But how about the rest? Dogs make up 18 of the 39, however, all but three of these are very common. Those three are the lying Bull Terrior, the Sealyham lying, and the Airdale lying. The Bull Terrior is the most valuable. I've sold this one in the past for $500. The other two can bring about $250. The reason these three bring so much more that the others is because there are fewer of them, and when a person starts collecting the k series they want to own them all. The rest of the series are common, bringing from $50 to $75.

We have discussed the K Dogs and Penguins but there are some other K's that will bring you some fancy money. Those are the birds. There are 11 of these feathered friends and here is where you have to know something. In the book, these are priced rather reasonably, but to buy them, collector are willing to pay several times what the book says. It is not uncommon to see them go for $250 - $500 each. These are really the hidden treasures of the K series, and I can assure you that if you find one there will be a buyer for it. All the K figures are under 3 inches tall.

Outside the K series are the Pigs, and these are still considered miniatures. They should be in the $300 - $500 range, if you can find them. These little treasure will make you think before passing that table filled with small animal figurines in the future.

To Learn More About Royal Doulton History and Top Artists, Shiffer's "Royal Doulton, A Legacy of Excellence 1871-1945" is an excellent resource. It's discounted at Amazon and includes a price guide.

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Daryle Lambert Blog: Is it Time to Buy Royal Doulton Again?

Royal Doulton Tiger sold for $270 at Direct Auction, Chicago

In years past, I was a huge collector of the Doulton animal figurines but choose to sell them at the height of their range. Since then, I have watched as the prices of the Doulton animals have dropped, in some cases, as much as 75%. But, with the British Pound at a large premium to the dollar, now is the time to start watching those Doulton pieces again and consider buying.

Even I make mistakes on the things that I am most qualified on. This week at Direct Auction in Chicago, there was a 13” Doulton Lion that was going to be auctioned. I was thinking that I could make some money with that piece, but when Tuesday rolled around, I talked myself out of going to the sale. What a mistake that was. The piece sold for $270. I believe that on a good day, it could bring $1,000. Even after commission, the profit could have been over $600. Not bad for a Tuesday afternoon.

The story doesn't stop there, however. Two mint condition early Hummel Umbrella Boy and Girl figurines, that in the past, sold for over $1,500, were being offered Tuesday at Direct Auction. They sold for $350 each to a dealer. They could easily have been sold for $650 apiece.

Whenever you preview an auction, always key in on at least one item that should do well for you if purchased right. When you attend that auction, and if you buy your key piece, everything else you buy just becomes a bonus. I might have every easily left $2,000 or more on the table by talking myself out of attending Direct's auction. Shame on me. Even after all these years, I am still learning right alongside you. My only problem is that I seem to be learning some of these lessons all over again.

Like I told your several day ago, the good things are beginning to come to the market, so now is the time to really get active. Check every auction that is listed in your local paper or trade journal then the neighborhood paper if your community has one. Don't forget to see what is appearing in on the Ruby Lane website in your area I have found great buys there. Take a look at EstateSales.net and register to be notified of sales in your area. Winter is ending and many people are in a financial bind. People are eager to make changes and this will accrue to your benefit.

This is the time to see the basic principle that we teach come into play. By the end of the year, your eyes will be wide open to the potential that these markets offer you.

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To Learn More About Royal Doulton History and Top Artists, Shiffer's "Royal Doulton, A Legacy of Excellence 1871-1945" is an excellent resource. It's discounted at Amazon and includes a price guide.

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Daryle Lambert: Sporting Paintings - Hunting, Fishing, & the Great Outdoors

Lynn Bogue Hunt, "Blue-Fin Tuna" sold for $126,000 at Copley Fine Art Auction.

We've talked about the value of some fishing lures and their boxes in a past Blog, as well as duck decoys and some that have sold for over $1,000,000. But, today I want to expose you to an area of the Fine Art Market that isn’t so closely followed, and that is hunting and fishing paintings – or sporting paintings.

These types of paintings are commanding higher and higher prices with each auction. It seems that the market simply can't get enough of these paintings to satisfy the would be buyers. The great thing about sporting paintings is that they appeal to several markets, and these markets bid against each one another to purchase the better pieces. First you have the outdoor sportsmen that love the sport, and then there are the collectors of individual artist’s works. I would be remiss if I didn't mention the collectors who just like paintings of the great outdoors.

I could list some of the greatest artist in the world that have painted hunting and fishing scenes, but I thought I would share some with you that might not come to mind quickly.

Alexander Pope’s,"Hunters Still Life" sold for $187,000. Or how about the $143,750 a buyer paid at Cobb’s Auction for Philip Russell Goodwin’s, "Unexpected Game" in 2002. Let’s not leave out Lynn Bogue Hunt and his painting called "Bluefin Tuna" that crossed the auction block for $126,000, after having been estimated to bring in between $15,000-20,000. These artists aren't household names, and you might run across one of their paintings some day. I did, and it was a painting by Frederick Morgan I sold for $115,000.

To my surprise, often watercolors in the hunting and fishing paintings seem to bring as much as the oils. Frank Benson’s watercolor "Gulls at Sea" brought $153,500, while Aiden Lassell Ripley’s watercolor painting titled "Rising Woodcocks" was hammered at $41,400. I think you will find that these are very favorable prices in the watercolor market.

Some have ask why I give examples of paintings that sell for so much money when they think their chances of ever finding a painting that will bring them the large bucks is unlikely. The reason is that I personally know so many people that have done just that, so why couldn't it be you?

Don't ever assume a picture on the wall is a print. Be sure to examine any hunting or fishing pictures very closely. Today there are so many watercolors in these fields that the supply is almost endless and these valuable watercolors can very easily be passed over as prints.

The hunters will soon be in the fields and the fishermen on the lakes, but the money is on peoples walls, so keep a keen eye out for these paintings.

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