Signatures on envelopes – Free franks Benjamin Franklin was a printer, an inventor, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. He was also frugal. It was his “mission.” When he hit the ripe old age (for then!) of 20, Franklin decided to embark on what he called “moral perfection.” He created a list of […]
IRS Charitable Contribution Procedure Way back in February, the IRS released a new version of IRS Publication 561 – “Determining the Value of Donated Property.” If you have not studied it in detail, it’s time to take closer look. I won’t describe all the changes, but you might find the penalties section of special interest, as […]
A LeBron James Rookie Card from 2004 recently sold for nearly $2 million at auction. That’s the most ever paid for a contemporary sports card and not far below the $2.8 million (over $3 million today with inflation) paid for a 1909 T206 Honus Wanger card in 2007 (the highest price ever realized for a […]
Michael Jordan is back again, driving us down memory lane with “The Last Dance,” ESPN’s ten-part series about Jordan and the 1998 Chicago Bulls. But while the spotlight shed new light on team relationships, his true partner was and always has been his shoes. Sorry Scotty Pippen. His shoes – Nike’s Air Jordan – are […]
By Leon Castner Wallace Nutting was a nationally known printmaker and furniture expert of the 1900-30’s era. His work is highly collectible and now recognized by most antique lovers. Decorators particularly love his simple and somewhat romantic view of the American Colonial era. Museums as well as collectors avidly seek his furniture, which copied early […]
The Long and the Short of William Henry Harrison It was a dark and stormy night – No, actually, it was a dark and stormy day when 68-year-old William Henry Harrison, the 9th President of the United States, took his oath of office on the steps of the Capitol building. Harrison delivered his inauguration address […]
~The Era of Luxury and Progress~ Smooth sleek lines, geometric shapes, bright colors and streamlined forms. You know it when you see it. Art Deco style first appeared in France just before World War I, and began to flourish globally in the mid 1920’s through the 1930’s. Its real debut is often attributed to the […]
By Karen S. Murray, ISA How do you describe and identify your collectables and treasures? If you buy a toaster at a flea market, can you call it “vintage”, or just “used”? If you acquire a stunning velvet Elvis portrait, do you view it as “retro” and therefore very valuable? The terms “vintage”, “retro” […]
Last week I was going through my autograph research files, yet again, and came across my ‘education folder.’ The ‘education folder’ is a hardcopy file full of most of my major buying mistakes, and so named because every time I made a mistake, I learned — the hard way. It contains forgeries, autopen facsimiles, and […]
A Guide for Gatekeepers, Paralegals, Insurance Adjusters & Others By Leon Castner, Senior Partner, National Appraisal Consultants, LLC Many professionals encounter personal property appraisals during their work, either receiving them from appraisers they have contracted or given them by others in their firm to review and file. Not all appraisals are created equal, however, and […]
