Category Archives: Jim

A Patriotic Ribbon From 1863 Tells the Story of an Important Fourth of July

Happy Fourth of July 1863! Actually it’s one month, two days, and one hundred and fifty-two years ago as I write this. We apologize for posting our Fourth of July article so late, but a big storm in June zapped … Continue reading

Posted in 1800's, Americana, Ephemera, Historical, Holiday, Jim, Political | Leave a comment

Vintage Disney “No Trespass” Sign – Finding a Nice Way to Say “Get Lost”

What I love about collecting is that you never know what you will be coming home with. After four decades of hunting and gathering I still see things out there that I didn’t even know I wanted, but after I … Continue reading

Posted in 1940's, 1950's, Americana, Animation, Disney, Jim, Movies, Signs | Leave a comment

Vintage PF Flyers – Superpowers for Kids

I make no secret that I am on an endless quest to recapture my childhood. Was childhood really better in the 1950’s and 1960’s than it was (or is) for later generations? Most of us who were alive at that … Continue reading

Posted in 1950's, 1960's, Advertising, Americana, Disney, Ephemera, Jim, Signs, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

2014 Road Trip Blog: Franklin Pierce Ballot & Herbert Hoover Decal

Very early in the trip, Jim struck political gold outside of Galena, Illinois.  The same dealer had a number of good political items, and Jim purchased two of them.  Jim was off and running.  Surely, this was a sign that … Continue reading

Posted in 1800's, 1930's, Americana, Carol, Jim, Political | Leave a comment

Shoe Shine Boxes – Part II – More Shine Is Just Fine

Just over two years ago, I wrote my first article about shoe shine boxes, those humble survivors of life in urban America. Since that time I have added a few more examples to my collection which I would like to … Continue reading

Posted in 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, Advertising, Americana, Hand Made, Historical, Jim, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Miniature Slant Front Desk – Salesman Sample or Something Else?

  “Antique” is a word that is frequently abused, especially in the past twenty or thirty years. It is often paired with the word “collectibles” and its true meaning frequently overlooked. For something to be truly “antique”, it is supposed … Continue reading

Posted in 1800's, Americana, Hand Made, Jim, Miniatures | 1 Comment

Promo Cars – Little Cars Used to Sell Big Cars

In 2012, I wrote about the rediscovery of my Miller-Ironson lumber truck, a prized possession of my childhood that I found in my mother’s attic and now proudly resides in our home. That journey back to my youth also led … Continue reading

Posted in 1950's, 1960's, Jim, Miniatures, Toys, Vehicular | 1 Comment

Collecting JFK – Fifty Years Later

This month is the fiftieth anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. I remember that day well, as does anyone else who happened to be alive at the time. Perhaps it’s because I was a kid – in … Continue reading

Posted in 1960's, Americana, Historical, Jim, Political | Leave a comment

Halloween Cats

It seems fitting that cats are associated with Halloween. We especially think of witches and their black cats. Often thought to be “familiars” to witches or malevolent assistants who could assist in the witch’s magic spells, being a black cat … Continue reading

Posted in 1920's, 1930's, 1940's, 1950's, Americana, Ephemera, Halloween, Holiday, Humor, Jim, Monsters, Toys, Weird | Leave a comment

Giraffe-Neck Women from Burma Circus Poster

My apologies on the flash flare. This thing wasn’t easy to photograph! It probably isn’t much of a secret that circuses would sometimes exaggerate in their advertising. A case in point is the subject of this article. Were the Giraffe-Neck … Continue reading

Posted in 1930's, Advertising, Americana, Ephemera, Historical, Humor, Jim, Signs, Weird | 1 Comment