Members of the Antiques and Collectibles National Association enjoyed three days of networking, seminars, field trips and fine New Orleans cuisine at the January 10-13 Convention in the fabulous Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, one block from Bourbon Street. After the welcoming keynote address participants had the opportunity to attend a total of fourteen different seminars offered at different times over the next three days.

Subjects and presenters included Marcia Brown, Costume Jewelry I & II, Fred and Gail Taylor, Antique Furniture Identification, DiAnna Tindell, Art Restoration and Frame Restoration, Bill and Carol Kearney and Christine Saltzman, Auctions and Estate Sales, Paul Boyd, Glass Repair, Barbara Mauzy, American Kitchen and One “Kee” to Going Green, Beth and Dan Walker, Silver Restoration, Debbie and Randy Coe, Going Green with Antiques, Jim Cottrell of M.S. Rau Antiques, Buying Art and Kyle Husfloen, Ceramics.

Attendees were also treated to a private guided tour of M.S. Rau Antiques, one of the finest antique dealers in the world, by Rau Vice President Jim Cottrell. Among other things members got to see the $6,500,000 monumental painting “Alma Parens” (The Motherland) by French master William Bouguereau (French 1825-1905), entire galleries of 18th and 19th century European and English furniture and art and the pie shaped Regency extension table circa 1830 patented by Robert Jupe, one of only a handful known to exist. The next afternoon was completely devoted to a self guided tour of the antiques district along Magazine Street. The shops were expecting the visit and members were cordially greeted all along the route. Some shops even had refreshments for the visitors. Stops along the way included high end European and American antique shops, Mid Century Modern shops, antique malls and eateries, some of whom offered discounts to the visitors.

The overall impression among attendees at the end of the Convention was “If you weren’t here you really missed out.” Typical comments included, “All the classes I attended were very good. Everyone was very knowledgeable on their subject”, “It was a very positive experience for me”, “Thank you for a great opportunity. I enjoyed it”, “The convention was a good one. The quality of attendees was excellent. I really thought people in my classes were great”. “Those of us who came to New Orleans definitely left with more information and friendships than they came with.”

The classroom setups and equipment, convention meals, meeting accommodations and field trip arrangements coordinated by ACNA President Angie Becker and Vice President Mike Becker were outstanding. The Hotel staff was gracious and helpful.

The ACNA offers a variety of services for antiques and collectibles dealers, mall owners, shop owners, show promoters and individual collectors including liability, inventory and building insurance, credit card processing, health insurance and collection insurance, travel discounts, shipping and supply discounts, special interest vehicle insurance and a quarterly industry newsletter. For more information call 800-287-7127, visit the website at http://www.acna.us or email Angie Becker at angie@acna.us

The unexpected variety of medieval glass vessels will be explored in an exhibition of objects for daily use and display at The Corning Museum of Glass beginning on May 15, 2010 and running through January 3, 2011. The exhibition “Medieval Glass for Popes, Princes, and Peasants” will follow the evolution of glass production over 1,000 years, from its height in the Roman Empire, through the radical social and political change of the Middle Ages when all but the simplest glassmaking techniques were forgotten, until the golden age of Venetian glassmaking during the Renaissance.

The glass vessels and objects in the exhibit will range from highly decorated drinking vessels to church reliquaries—highlighting the many uses of glass in medieval society, and the significance of the material to local economies, religious ceremonies, and scientific developments.

The Deland Florida M-T Bottle Collectors Club presents their 40th Anniversary Antique Bottle & Insulator Show. Location is SR44 & I-4 at the Volusia County Fairgrounds (exit118) Deland, Florida. March 19th & 20 , 2010. Dealer set up is from 2-4 PM Friday. Fee for early buyers Friday 3-7 PM and Before 9 AM Saturday is $20. Regular Show admission and parkling for all buyers on Saturday 9 AM – 3 PM is FREE. There will be 150 sales tabels available for this show. But the show can be increased to a mximum of 200 sales tables if needed.

For show Info please contact:
Show Chairman: Brian Hoblick, P.O. Box 2015
DeLeon Springs, Florida 32130
EMAIL: hoblick@aol.com
Asst. Show Chairman: Louise O’Quinn
EMAIL: oquinnlouise@hotmail.com

The M-T Deland Antique Bottle Collectors Club Is still going strong after 40 straight years in the same location. Any and all collectors of antique Medicines, Sodas, wine, liquor and even clay jugs 50 Plus years old or older are encouraged to attend. There will also be free appraisals on any item brought into the show from anyone attending the two day event. There will also be antique bottle and jug diplays set up for viewing and judging.

Heritage Auctions, the official auctioneer of the Florida United Numismatists (FUN) Show, will conduct a 4800+ lot Currency Signature Auction, Jan. 7-11, 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center, 9400 Universal Blvd., Orlando, FL. The Convention Center is also the site of the FUN show, as well as the location for lot viewing for the CAA auction and the other Heritage auctions at the event.

Of the 4800+ lots, 1300 will be part of the non-floor session to close online on Monday January 11, 2010 starting at 12pm CST.

The four day auction will commence on Thursday evening, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m., with an array of Colonial Currency, Obsolete Bank Notes, Confederate Currency, and Canadian and World Currency. The Colonial Currency offering is again significant with major rarities including, a Vermont February 1781 2s6d PCGS Apparent Very Fine 30. In Obsolete Currency, collectors will have an opportunity to bid on collections from Alabama, Arkansas, and Maryland, each the finest offerings for their respective states in many years, including a Little Rock, AR- State of Arkansas $5 Oct. 27, 1877 Cr. UNL Rothert UNL, a likely unique Cahawba, AL- State of Alabama $50 April 19, 1821 Cr. UNL Rosene UNL, and from Maryland, Cumberland, MD- Cumberland City Bank $5 G2 Shank 30.4.3P Proof. Finally, Canadian and World currency will be highlighted by, the French text BC-4 $2 1935 PMG Gem Uncirculated 65 EPQ, a BC-11 $25 1935 PCGS Very Choice New 64PPQ, and a chartered bank note rarity, Halifax, NS- The Bank of Nova Scotia $100 1929 Ch # 550-28-40.

The Cocoa Beach Collection anchors the second session and is the largest and finest offering of Fractional Currency since the Thomas O’Mara Collection was offered by Heritage in 2005. Many of the notes have pedigrees tracing them to the O’Mara and Milt Friedberg Collections. Of the Fractional rarities in Session Three collectors have the opportunity to bid on, a Fr. 1241 10¢ First Issue Vertical Strip of Four PMG Choice Uncirculated 64 EPQ, another uncut strip, Fr. 1280 25¢ First Issue Vertical Strip of Four PMG Gem Uncirculated 66 EPQ, Negative Essay Denomination Set in Blue Milton 2E5R.2c, 2E10R.5c, 2E25R.1b, 2E50R.1e PMG 64, 62, 64 and 65 EPQ, and a stunning Fr. 1296 25¢ Third Issue PMG Superb Gem Unc 67 EPQ stand out. The Cocoa Beach Collection also features three beautiful shields, including a very rare and very high grade pink shield, Fractional Currency Shield, With Pink Background. This session also includes a nice sampling of Encased Postage and Military Payment Certificates.

The afternoon of Friday Jan. 8 at 2 p.m., Small Size Currency and Error Notes will be offered. It is anchored by the Rocky Manning Collection, five ultra high denomination notes, and more than two dozen $500 and $1000 Star Notes. The Rocky Manning Collection was assembled over a couple of decades and each note was hand selected by Mr. Manning. Highlights from the Small Size session include, Manning’s Fr. 1506* $2 1928E Legal Tender Note. PCGS Choice New 63PPQ, the newly discovered and unique Fr. 2200-H* $500 1928 Federal Reserve Note. PCGS About New 53, and a never before offered Richmond Fr. 2211-E* $1000 1934 Federal Reserve Note. PMG About Uncirculated 55.

Friday evening’s session begins at 7 p.m. and includes about 800 National Bank Notes highlighted by selections from the Don C. Kelly Collection of Ohio National Bank Notes. Kelly is the esteemed researcher and author of National Bank Notes, A Guide With Prices, the authoritative reference on the subject, used extensively by collectors and dealers since it was first published nearly three decades ago. National Bank note highlights include, a Cleveland, OH – $50 1875 Fr. 444 The Commercial NB Ch. # 807, an Oakland, CA – $10 Original National Gold Bank Note Fr. 1151 The First National Gold Bank Ch. # 2248, and a Denver, CT – $20 Original Fr. 427 The Colorado NB Ch. # 1651.

The floor sessions of the auction will conclude with the Saturday evening offering of Large Size Type Notes starting at 6 p.m. A wide array of notes, including finest known and scarce Friedberg numbers will be offered. Leading the Large Size Notes, a Fr. 808 $5 1915 Federal Reserve Bank Note PCGS Gem New 66PPQ, a Fr. 1132-K $500 1918 Federal Reserve Note PMG Extremely Fine 40 EPQ, And a Fr. 1217 $500 1922 Gold Certificate PMG Choice Very Fine 35 EPQ.

Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 475,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com

Antique arms, edged weapons, suits of armor and modern sporting guns brought more than $1.5-million during a day-long auction at Bonhams & Butterfields in San Francisco on Monday, November 23rd 2009. A global audience of collectors and dealers vied for Colt firearms, edged weapons and militaria, with strong prices realized throughout the sale. A rare ornate lime squeezer made in San Francisco in the mid-1800s brought nearly $30,000 – six times its pre-sale expectation.

Desirable lots in the November antique arms sale comprised Colt firearms. A factory engraved Colt single action Army revolver attributed to Cuno E. Helfricht brought $38,025, more than doubling the estimate. Colt factory records indicate the pistol was shipped in 1888. It retains its blued finish and scrollwork, its elephant ivory grip carved with a Mexican eagle grasping a snake. An historic Gustave Young-engraved Colt Model 1860 Army percussion revolver was one of a pair presented to military commanders. The .44-caliber pistol’s engraving depicts a dog’s head as well as an eagle’s head and has been illustrated in multiple books documenting the history and beauty of Colt engraving. Estimated at $12/18,000, the Colt pistol brought $16,380.

Another fine Gustave Young engraved and presentation inscribed Colt Model 1849 pocket percussion revolver doubled its estimate to bring $14,625. This pistol’s barrel displays an animal head engraved to one side while a stagecoach hold-up scene appears on the five-shot cylinder. A collector paid $15,210 for a scarce cased Colt Model 1851 Navy percussion revolver with shoulder stock, a Hartford-produced revolver intended for the London market but never shipped overseas.

An interesting and rare lot made by the noted (and highly collectible) San Francisco knife-maker Michael Price brought bids from several clients. An elaborate silver and ivory-mounted San Francisco lime squeezer by Price features silver handles in the form of bird claws gripping the egg-shaped elephant ivory squeezer, supported by marine ivory handles. Estimated at $3/5,000, bids climbed to nearly ten times the expectation, the lime squeezer ultimately bringing $29, 250.

Top lot of the day was a composite late-16th century Italian three-quarter suit of armor in the Pisan manner. The suit exceeded its estimate to sell for $70,200.

Bidders were attracted to many firearms, swords and Bowie knives stemming from private collections. Strong selling lots included: $15,210 paid for a First type Model 1808 Virginia Manufactory flintlock pistol and $21,060 paid for a U.S. Model 1811 flintlock martial pistol by Simeon North. A rare Confederate Morse Type I breech loading carbine is one of 200 rifles made. The model was designed by George Washington Morse, who was granted a patent on breach loading firearms as early as 1856. His rifles, manufactured in Greensboro, SC, were issued mainly to South Carolina units, the offered rifle brought $16,380.

A rare 1st Model Burnside breech loading percussion carbine, one of 300 produced by the Bristol Firearms Company, sold for $17,550 while another example of a 1st Model Burnside breech loading percussion carbine – this lot one of 50 altered transitional 1st Models – sold for $16,380. The majority of these Burnside carbines had been purchased by the government for the 1st US Cavalry. According to Bonhams & Butterfields specialists, the offered carbines were likely reserved for commercial sale.

On January 14th, Freeman’s will conduct its Books, Manuscript, Maps, Prints & Posters Auction. Amongst the exciting American manuscript material to be offered in the sale are a signed Carte-de-Visite photograph of Abraham Lincoln, an uncommon standing portrait from a Brady Studio negative priced at $8,000-12,000. Also of note is an autograph letter signed, George Washington as President to the Secretary of State (Thomas Jefferson), Sept. 7, 1793 with an estimate of $15,000-25,000; and an autograph manuscript signed, Walt Whitman for $8,000-12,000.

This Walt Whitman autographed Manuscript discusses his own candid assessment of his physical & psychological condition in the midst of perhaps the darkest year of his life, 1873, during which he suffered partially paralyzing strokes, the death of his mother and sister-in-law, as well as isolation from friends, as a consequence of his necessary move to Camden, New Jersey during that year. Written on Department of Justice letterhead & titled in his hand, “Walt Whitman’s case – paralysis,” Whitman evidently composed this report in preparation for his petition for leave from his Department of Justice clerkship.

The Sale also features an array of old movie posters and a variety of maps. The auction will take place on Thursday, January 14th at 10am.

Armacost Antiques Shows has assumed ownership of the Delray Beach Antiques Show, previously owned by the Delray Beach Historical Society.

The Delray Beach Antiques Show takes place February 6-7 at the Delray Beach Community Center. Hours of the show are Saturday, February 6, 10 am-6 pm and Sunday, February 7, 10 am-5 pm.

The show brings together 30 top-ranking antiques, fine art and jewelry dealers from around the US and abroad. It features thousands of pieces of period furniture, paintings, prints, folk art, tapestries, textiles, carpets, lamps, ceramics, glass, jewelry, maritime antiques and unusual decorative accessories, every one backed by a guarantee of authenticity.

Show admission tickets can be purchased at the door for $10 each or for $8 each at www.ArmacostAntiquesShows.com.

“Our Delray Beach Antiques Show is an ideal way for dealers to reach antique-lovers in the Palm Beach area,” says Bob James, president, Armacost Antiques Shows. “It’s an enchanting and high-end boutique event that will attract several thousand shoppers.”

Booths in the upcoming show are still available.

About Armacost Antiques Shows
Armacost Antiques Shows lets people of all ages discover the simple pleasure of owning fine antiques. Visitors to our shows can shop, look and learn in friendly surroundings, knowing they can buy with a guarantee of authenticity. All shows benefit nonprofits, including museums, churches, social service agencies and preservation groups. The nonprofit sponsors help generate enthusiasm for antiques while delivering much-needed financial support for their institutions and communities. More information is available at www.ArmacostAntiquesShows.com.

“Bonhams is pleased to bring property from noted collectors Bob Jeska, George Nikolas and Eric Wetherill Stroh to auction this Fall,” said Antiques Arms Dept. Director Paul Carella. “Bob Jeska focused on US Civil War carbines and US martial pistols during 50-years of collecting, resulting in a book which shed new light on early American weapons procurement. George Nikolas began to earnestly collect Colt Navies in the 1940s, his research and multiple articles in leading collectors’ magazines and newsletters established the base of knowledge on scarce variants from Colt, of much interest to today’s collectors.”

Highlights of the Collection of Robert D. Jeska include flintlock pistols, many by Simeon North, William Evans and Henry Deringer. The auction opens with Jeska’s US Model 1805 Harpers Ferry martial pistol, which could bring as much as $15,000. Many of the lots from his expansive collection stand as experimental and scarce pistols. The collection includes two rare US Navy Elgin cutlass pistols by C.B. Allen, only 150 pistols were ordered by the U.S. Navy for the government’s first official scientific expedition in 1838. They are each expected to bring as much as $12,000.

Colts feature prominently in the sale and include many percussion examples and a large group of single actions. Several Gustave Young engraved revolvers from other collections and estates should interest Bonhams’ bidders. A fine cased Young-engraved Colt Model 1851 Navy revolver bears the serial number of an 1859 production run. Its broad floral scrolls are enhanced by a depiction of a wolf’s head on the barrel, estimated at $30/50,000. A very fine 1849 pocket model from Young’s early period is one of the choice offerings in the sale. Another early and fine example of a cased and Young-engraved Colt Model 1851 percussion revolver and one of the few noted on his billing to the Colt Company, it is expected to bring $80/100,000, while an historic Model 1860 Colt presented to General Rosencrans and later to a Colonel Coolbaugh was one of a pair (est. $12/18,000).

From the George Nikolas Collection come several handsome cased Colts, as well as a rare US marked Colt 1st Model 1851 Navy “squareback” percussion revolver, estimated at $15/20,000. Based on the extensive research of the collector, this pistol is thought to be one of 50 pistols acquired from Colt for Admiral Perry’s 1850s expedition to Japan, destined to be presented to the Emperor. A scarce cased Colt Model 1851 Navy percussion revolver with varnished walnut shoulder stock was produced in Hartford for the London market, but was never shipped. It could bring $10/20,000. The Nikolas Collection also includes a very fine Colt Model 1849 pocket percussion revolver engraved by Gustave Young, which features a dog head on the barrel, elaborate scrollwork and elephant ivory grips (est. $5/8,000).

From the Stroh Collection comes a group of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Generation single action Army revolvers including two fine examples from the hand of noted Colt engraver Cuno Helfricht.

The diverse and desirable firearms on offer feature carved ivory, walnut, stag horn and mother-of-pearl hand grips with nickel, silver and gold plating. Long arms include Sharps, Winchesters, Remingtons and many other makers’ rare and scarce models.

Four 16th century German crossbows will be offered, the examples retaining original bowstrings and decorated with engraved bands of bone and stag horn. A crossbow dated 1592 and signed by G.H. Keller is estimated at $12/18,000.

Edged weapons include swords, daggers, stilettos, sabers, dirks and Bowie knives, as well as German and Swiss halberds. A nine-inch long half-horse/half-alligator Bowie by R. Bunting was formerly in noted collections and used as illustrations in several books. The knife was created with a German silver pommel and cross guard and mother-of-pearl grip scales, to be offered at $10/15,000. Many edged weapons, offered with scabbards, are composed of steel, brass and silver, with elaborate scrollwork engraving and presentation inscriptions.

Modern sporting guns conclude the sale, offering multiple rifles and shotguns with scrollwork, gold inlays and engraved depictions of flora and fauna. A Perazzi 12-gauge over/under shotgun features a gold line at the breech, landscape engraved sideplates with birds and dogs in gold, and a walnut stock, estimated at $15/20,000.

Previews of the offered lots open in San Francisco on Friday, Nov. 20, continuing daily until the auction on Monday, Nov. 23rd. The illustrated auction catalog is available online for review and purchase at www.bonhams.com/us.

An authentic 19th-century vampire killing kit – containing a pistol with silver bullets in a coffin-style case, Holy water vials, a cleaver, a prayer book and a looking glass – sold for $8,800 at an estate sale held (appropriately enough) on Halloween, Oct. 31, by Stevens Auction Company, based in Aberdeen, Miss. A Victorian-era walnut casket (circa 1880s) also sold, for $522.50.

To learn more about Stevens Auction Company and the upcoming sales scheduled for later this month and January, click on www.stevensauction.com

Ewo remarkable items - an 1860 John C. Breckenridge portrait campaign flag and the 1864 Rose Percy Doll, the most famous Civil War benefit doll of them all - both of them singular in the annals of Political & Americana memorabilia, will be featured as part of Heritage Auctions’ Nov. 17 Grand Format Americana Auction, online (www.HA.com) and live in-person in Dallas.

“These two amazing pieces of American material culture provide evocative bookends on the Civil War,” said Tom Slater, Director of Americana at Heritage Auctions. “The never-before-seen 1860 Breckenridge portrait campaign flag is the missing link for collectors of Lincoln’s first election to the presidency, while the Rose Percy Doll is - minus Barbie, perhaps - the most famous American doll of them all.”

The 1860 John C. Breckenridge portrait campaign flag is one of the most important finds ever in the political collecting hobby. There were four candidates for the 1860 election and portrait banner flags have long been known for three of the candidates - several different in some cases - but no one has ever found a portrait flag for the Breckinridge & Lane ticket, only a ‘name’ flag, which is in an institutional collection. It may have taken nearly 150 years of looking, but this flag was found under the floorboards of a Philadelphia house and is now readying for auction at Heritage. The flag, while estimated at $75,000+, has already received a bid at that level.

Heritage Auctions will be auctioning off the one and only Rose Percy, the historic and beloved wax doll originally sold in 1864 to benefit the U.S. Sanitary Commission, on behalf of the American Red Cross. It is estimated at $40,000-$60,000.

Rose is a 23″ English poured wax doll with blue eyes and blond hair, possibly made by Charles Marsh or Herbert John Meech. It was initially sold at the April 1864 Metropolitan Fair in New York City to raise funds for the work of the Sanitary Commission. She is offered with an original wardrobe of clothing and collection of accessories that are second to none in scope, quality, or history - they number 22 in all, each with its own box, including original work by Tiffany & Co. The doll’s was most likely imported directly from London in 1862 and given to the young ladies of Mrs. Ogden Hoffman’s boarding school, who gave her a hand sewn wardrobe, and persuaded local merchants, including Tiffany & Co., to donate the raw materials and accessories.