After the Election, What Then?

Tomorrow we will have a new President, and I personally believe that the coming year will be a very good one. I also believe the Antique and Fine Art Markets will flourish. If this is true, how might we start preparing for this time?

Maximize your money by buying something of value. Remember, money in the bank next year will likely produce very little income for you because of low interest rates. Getting back to basics is the order here, and looking to what has produced the greatest returns in the past will tell us what to buy. Paintings, Art Pottery and Art Glass have proven themselves to be the greatest return on investment for many years, and this will hold true in the coming year.

Paintings have guaranteed the person who has found pieces by listed artists and bought them well, the greatest return on investment. The number of people qualified to estimate their value is smaller than any other field in the antiques field. This being true, I highly recommend you spend time familiarizing yourself with a number of listed artists you want to become very knowledgeable about. I chose artists that appealed to me and then followed their successes in the marketplace through auction results and articles written about their works.

My list includes Harvey Joiner, Carl Brenner and Patty Thum. These are all Kentucky artists, and being from Kentucky, I have been able to accumulate a list of people who are searching for their paintings. Whenever I find one, I have a ready market for it. Next, I turned to one of my true loves -- the West. When I traveled to Wyoming, I discovered the paintings of artists such as William Golling, John Borein and Ida McAffee. All of these artist have served me well over the years, and have greatly added to my bank account.

Closely behind paintings, in return on investment, comes American Art Pottery. Grueby, Newcomb, Rookwood and George Orr pottery have increased over the years many times their value, and I believe their value will continue to escalate because of the limited number of pieces that were produced. Have you done your homework so you can know the rare and unusual in these lines?

Art Glass speaks for itself, with Tiffany leading the way in value, but it doesn't stop there. Companies like Stueben follow closely behind. I believe, however, that in the area of Art Glass, the real growth in value might be in the more contemporary glass such as Lotton, Smallhouse and Satava. I’ll be writing more on these last two another time.

I’m happy to assist my readers in any way I can about getting back to the basics. If you have questions, just ask me. Leave a question in the comment box is you like, or send me an e-mail at info@31corp.com. I want this coming year to be one that people will look back on and say ”The 31 Club changed the way that business will be conducted in the future.”

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

William A. Slaughter 1923-2003

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Daryle Lambert - Ebay Changes. You Heard Them Here First.

Photo From T&J Powersellers on Ebay

Yes, there are many people writing about the up coming changes at eBay, but you heard them first in our blogs and press release on October the 4, 2007. In my opinion, the changes are going to be good for the customers and should strengthen eBay's position in the market.

It was no surprise to me that Meg Whitman decided to step aside. Why shouldn't she? What a ten year run! She took the company from one, that at times, didn't know if it could keep its doors open to a company that is known around the world as one of the most profitable enterprises on earth.

The timing is right for her departure, and I suppose becoming a billionaire might have given her an incentive to depart. Why risk her legacy on the changes that are about to take place?


She is a very smart lady and knew that the growth the company has experienced over the last ten years can't be sustained without dramatic changes. And these changes come with no guarantee that they will produce the desired results. So, yes, it's time to turn it over to someone else.

What does this mean for the company and it's competitors? First, as I wrote in October, if eBay does away with the listing fees, it will be a disaster to its competitors. They have been testing this plan for several months now, while at the same time raising other fees to see if that would offset the loss in listing fees. To the customer, this scenario could be a great bonus. They could list more items and not worry about having to pay fees if their item doesn't sell. I personally think that by eliminating competition and keeping more of their sellers listing more items would be a wise move.


There are a couple of things that can wreck the ship for Ebay. First, are the lawsuits that continue to come. Second, the possibility of foreign governments wanting to get involved, wanting part of the action. The road might become rocky for eBay, but I think the long term outlook for this company is very favorable.

Ebay will always play a very important part in the future of the 31 Club, in the Antique & Collectible business, as well as the Fine Arts business. In the last few months I have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of some of the most knowledgeable people in the use of Ebay and other online auctions around the world. I'll be introducing them to you so your auction experience can be tremendously enhanced by their expert guidance. We've already featured the OnlineAuction.com and will continue to tell our members that presently, this company offers some great advantages if you are a seller.

The secret in this business is balance, and that means knowing our markets and where your items fit best. The Internet is just one component in the future success that you will achieve, but it is also a very important one.

The 31 Club aims to keep you ahead of the curve, both in information and in trends. Knowing when to buy items, such as Lotton Glass, and also when to sell items, such as prints, will prove to be invaluable to you. and this is the service that we will be providing our members.

Your destiny is in no one else's hands but your own. Go for the golden ring.

Join me and the rest of the 31 Club right here. You'll get my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" for FREE. Or, if you're not quite sure about joining and have some questions you'd like to ask me, or just want to talk with me, E-mail me at info@31corp.com. I'll personally see to it that we set up a time to talk with one another.

Discover how the 31 Club, together with my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you begin building personal wealth using antiques, collectibles and fine art. Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

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

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

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Daryle Lambert: Trade Secrets & Knowledge Will Help You Get the Edge in Art and Antiques

Too often, I get calls from individuals who tell me they've found a Renoir or a Picasso. Of course, this doesn't turn out to be the case. These turn out to be copies, and poor ones at that. This is the get quick rich quick mentality, and I suppose deep down we really can't help it sometimes. Yes, there have been cases where paintings are found, and if it happens to you, I will be the first to say that it's nice knowing you. But, in all truth, financial success comes from our attitude, our knowledge and actions, and some education into the trade secrets few care to share.

You can arrive at the same place financially as the person who actually did find a Picasso by simply doing what Marsha did over and over again. I wrote about Marsha in yesterday's Blog, and if you haven't read it, you'll need to do that in order to fully grasp what I'm saying today. Truthfully, we all know deep down that the chances of being the one to find the next million dollar painting are quite slim, and we need to be working in reality. But, the process of 100% compounding will turn hundreds into thousands and thousands into hundreds of thousands. That is a sure thing, if we educate ourselves on this topic and are persistent in our quest for knowledge. This is what we do, here, at the 31 Club. Although I've been collecting and dealing for about 45 years now, I never stop learning.

Over the years, I have personally met people that began with nothing, and when we crossed paths ten years later, have seen their lives dramatically changed. They no longer drove that ten year old beat up truck, but a new Mercedes instead. They're no longer living on the wrong side of the tracks, but in a home having more bedrooms than most people have in their entire house, not to mention two vacation homes. I often ask them how this change came about. The answer: ” I learned to be the best at something.” Wow! That is just what we, at the 31 Club, are teaching.

Is that painting quality and is it painted by a listed artist? Sure it is. I recognize the signature. And look at that Zsolnay vase. The mark is an old one. I remember seeing it in the book. And, could the signature on that painting be below the matting? Well, it sure is, and it's the work of a great artist. If these are the things that are running through your mind while you're on the hunt, your fortune is just ahead of you. Do you see the effects from education you are receiving through this Blog alone? Each one of these revelations will mean thousands of dollars to you.

You see, when you know more than most of the people looking for treasure, your chance of finding it is greatly improved. Knowing Rookwood is fine, but knowing which artist brings the most money and what their signature looks like will be your advantage over most. Is that painting by the father or son? This can make a great difference in value. Do you know the difference in their signatures? This is the type of information and education that I'll be sharing with our members on a regular basis in the membership section of our website. If you've been one of our regular Blog readers who hasn't yet joined, quite frankly, I'm wondering why. Where else you can get access to this kind of information and personal attention, just like Marsha does, for such a ridiculously low cost? Is there anywhere else you can call and talk to someone with my years of experience, who will guide and mentor you for practically free? This is what I'm offering right now. People will spend more money on their weekly lattes or on a pizza than what it cost to be mentored and guided by an expert in a field that can help them change their financial picture. what's up with that?

Let's look at some more ways to use the knowledge you'll gain by being a member of the 31 Club. Did you know that some artists incorporate their signatures within the painting itself? I have looked at a piece for 15 to 20 minutes, knowing by sight that the painter of the piece was a trained artist, yet unable to find the signature. Looking again and again, low and behold, there it was as part of the table in the painting.

Would you know what to do if you're confronted with a painting that looks like a high quality piece but lacks a signature? This might be a treasure, because many fine artists signed their work on the reverse, as it is known in the trade. What would you do if that painting had a paper dust cover affixed to the back side so you couldn't see if there was a signature? Would you know how much finding a signature might add to your bank account? Members of the 31 Club will know.

Did you know that there were artists that painted under different names? You can find these alternate names in most of the better art guides. Artists often used marks, rather than their name, to mark their paintings. Can you possibly grab hold of how this kind of information can prosper you? This is the kind of information I am sharing with 31 Club members.

I've been asked many times, why I am doing this. Why the 31 Club? And, why at a ridiculously low cost? And I'll tell you this: The way I see it, on the day the Lord calls me home, if I haven't shared what I know with others about the things I know that could help them improve the quality of their lives, then I haven't done what He has asked me to do. If sharing my knowledge could help make life easier for you and your family, why would I keep that all to myself?

Join me and the rest of the 31 Club right here. You'll get my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" for FREE. Or, if you're not quite sure about joining and have some questions you'd like to ask me, or just want to talk with me, E-mail me at info@31corp.com. I'll personally see to it that we set up a time to talk with one another.

Discover how the 31 Club, together with my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you begin building personal wealth using antiques, collectibles and fine art. Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

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

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

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What Really Counts When Looking for Value in Fine Art Paintings?

I often see art work that might be several hundred years old but sells for under $2,500. Wouldn't something that old be worth so much more? So many of the older paintings are not signed, so unless you have provenance, meaning a record of ownership from the time it was painted, most likely the price for it will be rather meager.

For example, I bought a painting in Kansas City years ago and thought I was going to strike it really big on this one. It was a Madonna from the 16th century, and I was almost certain it had been painted by one of the great masters. Paying considerable money to have it authenticated, I found out it was probably from one of the masters studios, but not by the master himself. I had paid $2,500 for this painting and sold it for only $3,500 two years later. Needless to say, I was greatly disappointed, and I learned a valuable lesson I won't soon forget.

But, age is only one element in your search for value in paintings.

Subject matter is also an important element. Some subject matter is in more demand than others and is an important consideration The Kentucky artist, Harvey Joiner is an artist known for his landscapes, even though he painted portraits the first twenty years of his life and painted portraits of the first five Indiana Governors. So, it will most likely be this artist's landscapes that bring the best value. When I was able to pick up a portrait Joiner had painted at an unbelievable price, I was hoping it might bring as much as his landscapes, today. It was a rather large painting, and Joiner was quite masterful in his portraiture. Now if you looked at size and compared it to the selling prices of his landscapes, which are much smaller, you'd think it could possibly bring in $15,000 to $20,000. But it brought in $3,700. This piece was signed by a great artist, but not what the buyers were looking for that day, and maybe not any other day. But as a buy on my part, it still brought in over twelve times what I paid, so it certainly fit the criteria for having bought it in the first place.

Locating paintings by a listed artist who has sold at auction, is another component. Having sold at auction gives the public a comparison as far as pricing. If you find a painting that a person can't find any record of, your chances for getting top dollar for the painting are slim. Also, often living artists don't have enough of a body of work for many people to collect. This means that the number of paintings the artist has produced can have a bearing on his value. I often say that if you found the greatest painter in the world, but he only painted one painting, the odds are that the piece would never have any great monetary value. Services such as AskArt and ArtNet have auction prices available but are subscriber based. Members of our 31 Club looking at paintings and do not have subscriptions to these services, can call us for help. We'll explore the available information on these sites to help discover if you've found a listed artist, and what the particulars are about that artist, including current auction prices.

So where are we? First, being old can count if the painting is by a listed artist or you have provenance. Second, it should be a painting that is in the style people are looking for. If a painter is known for seascapes, then his landscapes are likely to bring less, as a general rule. Third, be sure that the artist has a formidable body of work so he or she can be collected.

Condition is the next issue to consider. Always check for repairs, whether they are in painting, tear repairs, perhaps a new stretcher, fake signatures (which can be detected under a black light), relining (putting a new canvas on the back of the original to give the old canvas integrity or hide repairs) and cleaning to the point that the actual painting is weak because so much of it has been removed from the surface.

Now you know why I took up buying and selling paintings much later in my career. There is so much to learn. So, I would say that while you are learning, become friends with people that are knowledgeable about paintings until you have the confidence in your own judgement. One of my largest purchases at the time, was taken to my friends at the Cincinnati Art Gallery to verify my opinion. Never hesitate to admit if there is something you don't know.

Cindy has asked that I write several blogs on paintings, so this will be the first in a series. Be sure to keep posted. She made this request because this is an area of high interest to her, as well as many others, and today, we are going on an adventure where she hopes to find a painting that could be her first real treasure. Please wish her the best. You see, I didn't say to wish her luck, because she has spent many hours now preparing herself to recognize a good quality piece if she sees it. You don't need luck when you have knowledge.
Discover how the 31 Club, together with our book, can be the tool that helps you begin building personal wealth using antiques, collectibles and fine art, rather than the conventional methods of using stock, bonds, and real estate investing. You won't find results like these through your bank or your stock broker! Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge 31 Club members are participating in, here.

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

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A Word of Caution: Commercial Art Auctions

Marcus Glenn Painting.

I was privileged to have been invited to a charity art auction last night. Although knowing I would be accompanied by three fine ladies, my wife Vickie, approved of my going. You see, these ladies were all members of the 31 Club, and Marsha, whom I've mentioned in my previous blogs, is a member of my church.

I've had the pleasure of talking over lunch with these three ladies over the past few weeks, and I have helped them form a partnership where they will be committed to fulfilling the 31 Steps with us. I wish I had more of our members leaning on me for information and assistance, but I am sure that will be coming.

When we arrived at the auction, artwork was lined up along the walls as if it had just come off the truck. In fact, they didn't even take the ear pads off the paintings. I took a quick look around and could see that this was definitely a commercial sale where the artist's works had very little, if any, auction records available. I knew there wasn't anything of interest to me that would be auctioned, even though it was for charity. While there were works by Peter Max and a few other names you might recognize, most of these were works on paper and limited editions. I rarely buy anything on paper, as its value just isn't there.

While the gentleman conducting the sale gave it his all, and I would want him to work for me any time, there was limited interest in the auction, and it actually never got to be much of an auction, in my opinion. Usually the first bid was the last bid. While the auctioneer was both fun and well-informed when it came to art and the art world, he was working with a crowd that had little interest in what he was selling and did not participate much. So, why were we there?

Most of the people there had a strong interest in their community and wanted to help the charity, if they could. We were also served a great meal and free beverages. I also believe that some of the people would have bought, had the prices been more what they expected -- moderate. I am fairly certain the high prices caught many off guard.

If you are invited to this type of auction, often times held on cruise ships, it is fine to go. But be very cautious about what you buy, unless it is to decorate your home and you are willing to pay the price they are asking. Don't get caught up in the event, however. I consider what I saw last night mostly to be decorative art with no intrinsic value.

There was, however, a high point in the evening for me. An artist by the name of Marcus Glenn was invited to show his works and speak about himself and about what art means to him. His pieces immediately caught my eye, and I believe this young man has a tremendous talent and future. If I had a wall in my house to hang anything else, it would be one in his series called "Storm." One of the signature elements of his paintings definitely appealed to me. Each piece has a wooden flooring that is different colors. As he explained it to me, this is his way of thanking God for making us all different.

Discover how the 31 Club, together with our book, can be the tool that helps you begin building personal wealth using antiques, collectibles and fine art, rather than the conventional methods of using stock, bonds, and real estate investing. You won't find results like these through your bank or your stock broker! Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge 31 Club members are participating in, here.

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

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

LINK: Marcus Glenn

Daryle Lambert: No Great Deals to be Made in Antiques & Art???

When I begin to think I have heard or seen everything, that is precisely the moment I get the biggest surprises. I've been sharing my views of the Antique and Art market with all that will listen for over six months now through this Blog and news articles. Not only have I stated where I stand, I have given examples to my readers of just how good this market is, where I see it going, and how it's better than ever before in history.

Yet, I am continually surprised to read "leaders" in the field of Antiques & Art say there are no great deals to still be made. Even though I share with them from time to time, my personal examples of transactions I make on a continual basis, negativity still rules. My heart aches for their readers who take this negativity into their mind and heart. I'm dizzy already, shaking my head from side to side.

I feel safe in saying that having an affinity for past eras is an integral part of each one of us who deals in this market. Even the furnishings in our homes and the items in our workplaces probably reflect the times of bygone eras. And, if we're really truthful with ourselves, we might even go so far as to say, in our quiet moments, we romanticize times long gone, especially when the present era can seem so difficult and uncertain. I admit, I do some of this myself from time to time. But when I do, I rarely let my mind stay there very long.

You see, I accept life is always in motion. That change happens. And whether we like it or not, there's not a lick of anything we can do to control that. If we can release the feelings of uncertainty and fear we might have when we notice a change coming on, we free ourselves to grasp the opportunity that lies underneath this change. Making this mind adjustment frees us to move forward, joyfully learning and striving for something better.

But, change is hard for most, and that's quite natural. We're creatures of habit. We like to cocoon ourselves with comfort and familiarity. Something or someone we can count on. This is a false security. It is also our human condition. But, the one who stays in the cocoon, fighting the inevitable forward movement of time, not growing or striving, eventually writes his own epitaph.

There is no question that the Antique market has changed. And if you're working the same way, selling the same middle to lower end items you've always sold, it's time to change. Every business market has changed. It's the nature of the beast. The last time I went to retrieve my car from a garage in Downtown Chicago, I put my claim ticket into a machine, slipped in my credit card, walked to my car, and got through the gate without ever once having to deal with an attendant. That business, too, has changed.

In our business, the opportunity is in the more rare and valuable items and in the upper end of the market. This is what sells like hotcakes. I've said that time and time again. I know it's hard to let go, but why would anyone want to continue to battle the trend trying to sell what people don't want to buy?

Know the trends. Know your customers. If they don't want what you sell, why are you still trying to sell it? If you can hardly sell items now for what you paid for them earlier, why are you still holding onto them? Sell them at a loss if you have to, and get your cash moving in what people want, that quickly sells. If you must deal in fewer items because they cost more to buy, so what? They sell faster, and at greater prices. When you re-circulate the money into buying even more valuable items the next time, you make even more money when you sell.

No one comes into your shop anymore? Higher end items are where it's at. Do you have any? Is your shop in an area that will attract high end customers? Do you even need a shop to sell high end items?

Many people have had to change their methods of doing business to take advantage of this upsurge in the upper end of this market. Those who have made the choice to change, prosper. Have you make that choice?

The book I've written is a step-by-step method of succeeding in the high end market. Have you read what it says inside? Does shifting into the higher end market take some work? Yes. Is it necessary to grow in knowledge. Yes. Are you willing?

I recently bought a painting for $240 and sold it at auction for $3,700. The average person trying to make a few extra dollars in this business would think that this return was exceptional. Even an old time dealer might agree. $500 just bought a friend of mine a painting, that by all the records, shows promise for selling for over $25,000. These examples aren't million dollar trades, but these are happening every day. How do you think all these records are being established? By people who’ve increased their knowledge to know a good piece when they see one, doing the research, and selling them to people who are ready, willing and able to buy. Do you think that the Warhol painting that sold this year for approximately $71,000,000 was purchased for $50,000,000? I doubt it. It could have very easily been purchased for under a million dollars.

I would like for all these negative writers to raise their collective heads to see and feel the sunlight. In fact, I would like to see our journalists interview some of the people who are experiencing these record sales, rather than quoting the doomsdayers. When I hear a baby cry, I pick him up and try to comfort him. If you, as a collector or dealer, hear someone complaining, why not share with them a positive message?

If you are a dealer who has fallen prey to this negativity, can you possibly see the glass as half full? Can you decide to adjust your thoughts. When you can, you’ll soon see yourself emerging out of that cocoon, the butterfly God intended for you to become.

We collectors and dealers are the luckiest people in the world. We meet wonderful people, our time is on our own schedule, and we have the opportunity to make unlimited amounts of money if we are wise enough to see it, take the action necessary to increase our knowledge, and go out there and do something about it.

I personally wake up each and every morning with a spirit of adventure in my heart, knowing this could be the day I have found a great painting bought well, or a painting I sell for over $100,000. Maybe even $500,000. Maybe higher.

Discover how the 31 Club together with our book can be the tool that helps you build more personal wealth dealing in the rare and valuable upper end markets, rather than the conventional methods of stock, bonds, and real estate investing. You won't find these kind of results with your bank or your stock broker! Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge 31 Club members are participating in.

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. Contact us here.

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

MIX and MATCH - This Can Prove Profitable in Antiques & Collectibles

How often have you seen something for sale, but it wasn’t complete and passed it by? You may have found a pedestal but not the jardinière, or a mechanical bank missing a part and thought that these had no value. But you would have been wrong. If it is rare, it will still have value if the condition of the piece is good.

Let me give you some examples. I spoke to Cecil this week, and his story gave me the blog for today. Cecil found a Weller Flemish pedestal and bought it for $179. Knowing the pattern, and seeing that the piece had a heavily carved surface like Newcomb pottery, there was no doubt that he was going to buy it and put the piece into inventory. After returning home to search the Weller book, to his amazement the piece listed for $750 - $1,000. If he can find the matching jardinière, this combination might well bring over $2,500 in today’s market.

I went to an auction and found a Daum Nancy lamp that was missing the wiring and shade, so very few people were interested in it. I was able to buy it for a small amount of its valve, which I think would’ve been somewhere around $5,000 today. You see, the value in Daum Nancy is in the glass, not the lamp base. The base can be replaced but not the acid etched glass.

The Tarzan book that brought $18,000.00 was bought for $2.00. However it was without the cover, so the buyer had to pay $1,000 or more for a matching cover, but look at the results.

The best thing that I will ever teach you is rarity is where it’s at. I may repeat this until you are sick of hearing it, but I still won’t stop saying it over and over again. This is the area of the market we will need to be working toward as we climb our 31 Steps. When we focus here, money will be made. This is the goal. To be working the steps through the beginning stages so we can be dealing in the rare and valuable items soon enough. It won't take too many steps to get there, either. By Step 4, you can already be making a $1,600 purchase (on an item that can sell for at least $3,200) My experience tells me that once you're into making a $1,000 and up buys, there's not quite as many people to compete with. How many pieces do you think you'll have to buy and sell if you're working with the rare? Not too many. You can now take your time doing your reasearch and homework before you decide to buy.

Remember, always look at what a piece could be -- not what it is when you find it. Common things can’t be improved much to bring higher value. But the finer items, if they can be brought back to whole, can still bring top valve.

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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LARGE and SMALL - They Both can be GREAT

In the Antique and Collectible Market, you will find items of many sizes. Surprisingly, the most value will usually come from the large or very small pieces. The medium size items are the most common of all, and therefore, bring less money as a rule.

First, a large vase by Rookwood is usually sold by so much per inch, everything else being the same. An eighteen inch vase by a top artist from Rookwood is going to bring a lot more money than an eight inch one by the same artist. This difference compounds as the item increases in size. The eight inch vase may bring $1,000 while the eighteen inch one might bring $30,000 or more. You should always keep this in mind as you are shopping.

The reason that larger pieces have more value happens to be true, because fewer of them will have been made. If a artist wants to make a very large piece, he knows that it is extremely hard to keep the consistency of the image that he is decorating the same throughout the piece. Also, just handling a larger piece is more labor intensive.

As for the smaller pieces, they acquire their value because it is very difficult to handle items under two inches, so few are made. We call these pieces mini, and often they are models for those pieces that will incorporate their design into larger ones later. A one inch Daum Nancy "Fall Scene" vase might bring as much as $3,500.00 or more. Can you imagine that? I just bought three mini Lotton vases, and the last one I saw sell brought over $500. Don't overlook something because it's small. If others can't see its value, you will find a Treasure.

I remember as a small child, I always wanted to be larger so that basketball and football would be easier for me. Later, when I developed a love of horses, I wanted to be smaller, so I could be a jockey. I didn't know it at this early age, but the principle of large and small had already been placed in my mind.

I would love to share with the club any articles that you would like to write and pass on to us.

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

Ps: If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message.

Some Things that Shine - Can Really Sparkle Later

When buying good leaded crystal glass, you should have handled a lot of pieces before you invest in this field. You want to be able to recognize the weight and designs on the better pieces you encounter, because it is easy to get fooled today. Also, being acquainted with their marks will come from familiarity. I don’t know of a book that shows the marks, so if anyone does, write and let us know. Often, all clear glass looks alike, but it isn’t. In your search, these differences will become apparent. There has also been an influx of what I call copycat pieces that are coming into the market today.

It would seem easy to say, all that is necessary to recognize this glass is to look at the bottom of each piece, right? Wrong. I often have taken a piece from one room to another trying to get just the right light on it so that I could pick up that faintest piece of a mark, such as Lalique, Steuben, Baccarat, and even cut glass. Did you know that some of the best cut glass that was ever produced is marked? Most people don’t. These companies usually marked their pieces by acid etching the mark or by signing them with an electric marking process. Often these marks are almost invisible to the naked eye with out proper lighting or magnification.

Once, as I was attending an estate sale, and running very late I must add, there, on one of the card tables, was a huge frosted glass frog. I picked it up like probably 100's of other people during the day, but put it back down when I couldn’t find a mark on its bottom. After spending several minutes searching the rest of the sale and finding nothing, my mind wouldn’t let me forget that frog. I re-entered the room where it was located, picked the piece up again and examined it from top to bottom, but came to the same conclusion: Nothing special.

Going to the car and being ready to get out of there, I stopped in my tracks, re-entered the house, picked that darn frog up and said, I am going to find that mark or it's going to kill me. Believe it or not, there it was, as clear as day, and marked Lalique. I pick it up and went to the counter and asked the price. The answer almost made me start laughing right there. They told me $25.00. Paying very quickly and running out the door, I discovered in researching the piece that it was quite valuable. Putting that darn frog on eBay and waiting for the seven days was difficult but worth it, $650.00. Yahoo!

You will find most of this glass will be over-priced, and this is where the discipline comes in. Don’t ever over pay, even if you can make a small profit. We are waiting to make our money work for us, and that means at least doubling the price we pay for each item, if not more. However, there are a lot of people that don’t know the rare pieces made by these companies from the common ones. when you do, it will give you a tremendous advantage over them.

Stay with the best names in the clear glass, because the copycats, as I have called them, have very little value in the secondary markets.

If it sparkles, look at it carefully, because you just might find that special frog yourself.

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