A few days ago I purchased a

[safeinOhio]

sandwich size baggy loaded with paper for $10. I saw a few Duck Stamps in it along with other stamps and some small old booklets.

Going thru it a few days later I found a civil war diary and a few papers that go with it.

I gamble on a few things all of the time and finds like this make the bad ones go away fast.

I was at this nice older woman's house for 2 hrs and only 10 minutes was spent looking at her stuff. The rest was devoted to great conversation. She has lots more stashed away and I hope to return.

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Do you think the diary may be a family thing? Will you ask her about it? She

may not have known it was in the bag.

[safeinOhio]

2. I called and she said it must have been something

her husband collected. She had never heard of the name.

[grasswire]

3. Lucky you.

You score regularly!

[safeinOhio]

4. Had another good find that

I don't plan to make any money on.

In general, I don't keep many things I find, I'm not a collector, I just like to find for others. 2 weeks ago I found an old wood chest in a farmers barn. Pretty primitive looking thing and looked pretty old. When I got it home and really started to look at it, I thought this has to be pre-civil war. Wood pegs and the only nails were on the hand forged hinges. I took it to my furniture experts and they agreed it dated to about 1750 give or take 10 years. They didn't think it was of much value due to condition. At one time it started out a blanket chest. Over the years the legs were cut off, the lock removed and years and years of using it for storage in an old barn took it's toll. I decided to keep it and use it as a window seat and to keep my shoes in it when I come in the door. My general rule is, to keep something, I have to get rid of something, so out went an old chair that I've grown tired of. Pretty cool to look at something about 270 years old every day.

Being retired without much to do, I go out looking a lot. For every great item I find, there must be a dozen that aren't so great. We won't talk about those.

[grasswire]

5. what you are is a curator

That's the word I would use. That's a step up from being a picker, which in itself is noble but can be simply about profit. But a curator does the research, follows the clues, and sees the value to others. And you save historic items from the land fill.

Good on ya!

[safeinOhio]

6. I have fun for several reasons.

I love to learn.
Research is so fun and full of surprises. I use to make mistakes by not looking items up, still do but not as often. I recently found a small curled up aluminum spoon. Kind of corroded and didn't look like much. Before tossing it away I rubbed on it and saw "cream top" embossed on it. Looked a little harder and saw pat. dates 1925, 1924. Googled images and saw that it use to hang on cream top milk bottles and was used to dip out the cream. Wow. I love those moments.
I love to talk to people and get them to talk about their passions.
Not hard to do. Just ask a collector what the holy grail is that he or she is looking for. Their eyes light up as they give you a lesson about their passion and search.

Thanks

[grasswire]

7. yes, I love the research, too.

Just amazing. If there's any clue at all about history of an item, I am after it.

If I get an old autograph album, I research all the names. If I get old letters, the same. One time I obtained an old theological book and happened to see the owner's name was "C. Wesley".Yes, it turned out to be Charles Wesley, early founder of Methodist church. That was cool.

And I love returning something to a family after generations.

[Paper Roses]

8. Great to see some posts in this group. Been quiet lately.

This is the first place I check every day after the 'big' news groups. Sad to see so little activity. I hope Biz has been good for all.

This old timer still looks everywhere, admires but really I can't buy anything. Trying to pare down but I can't seem to resist the chance of a find. (then try and pawn it off on my kids) Lack of $$$ also plays a part in my look-see.

I think everyone who is or was in the antiques business loves the research, sometimes you hit pay-dirt, many times it is a frustrating effort. You know something is good but you can't find out what you need to know.

I sure miss being active but try and keep my eye out for goodies. Still looking for the Fabergé egg.

Keep posting, those of us in this group love to see what is going on.

[wyldwolf]

9. If you find Action Comics #1, call me.

[Vinca]

10. No . . . call me. LOL.