By Maribeth Keane, Collectorsweekly.com

I was looking around the site today and came across some interesting finds that I thought I’d share.

I’ll start with my favorite, found on our Leica camera page. As a documentary photographer I can’t get over this vintage Leica M3, introduced in 1954. The body comes with a Leitz dual range Summicron lens and a leather carrying case. There are no major dings on the body, the seller claims it has been inspected and is in good working condition.

Although I’m a rather big Beatles fan, this was a new find for me: The Beatles vs. The Four Seasons LP VJ 2 Record Set. The record is like a game where one song is played from each group back to back and then judged with points. Who do you think would win? Found this on our vintage record page, the seller claims its in near mint condition and may have never been played, which makes me want it even more!

On our movie posters page,I found this linen-backed, 1963 classic …

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There was an interesting article in the Wall Street Journal on Valentines Day (good to know they still have a sense of humor) about how the IRS classifies collectors into three categories for tax purposes: 1) Collectors; 2) Investors; and 3) Dealers.

Depending on which category you decide on (and presumably stick to), the IRS will handle collecting-related deductions differently. A “collector”, according to the WSJ piece, is someone who buys and sells primarily for their own personal pleasure; An “investor” buys primarily to make a …

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By Charles Greene III (Copyright 2008)
Charles Greene is the webmaster of MagicPosterGallery, which showcases vintage magic posters from 1890-1930 (the ‘golden age’ of magic), and is a member of our Hall of Fame.

What are vintage magic posters?

Posters of magicians printed by the stone lithography method qualify as vintage magic posters. The stone lithography process was in it highest use during magic’s golden age, 1890 – 1930. This time saw the great masters of magic – Herrmann, Kellar, Carter the …

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By Miss April (Copyright 2008)
Miss April is a lifelong vintage enthusiast who turns her love for all things vintage into websites, including two in our Hall of Fame, Miss-Vintage.com and That60sGirl.com.
The benefits of wearing vintage clothing are numerous and rewarding. It’s truly a delight to realize that no one else will be wearing your outfit. I’ve always strived to be unique, especially in my personal style, so it should come as no surprise that I am a huge fan of vintage clothing.

Advantages

There …

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By Jeff Savage (Copyright 2008)

Jeff Savage is proprietor of Drexel Grapevine Antiques in Valdese NC, and creator of the Fishing and Hunting Pins and Badges site featured in our Hall of Fame.

I’ve been a collector of antique fishing tackle for over 20 years, and have been selling antique tackle in my shop since 1990. I collect all aspects of fishing memorabilia. In this column, I wanted to offer a primer for antique dealers, beginning collectors, and anyone interested in old tackle. It …

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If you only have time to look at one Valentines day-related collection today, check out this website: The Scrap Album, by Malcolm Warrington. It’s one of the most beautifully and elegantly designed collector websites we’ve seen, and the images are stunning. Paper collectors will have a field day.

And did we mention that he’s got some great Victorian lace-paper and comic Valentines?

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If you’re into vintage posters, check out our posters pages, all 11 of them (overview, aviation, circus, magic, movie, music, political, railroad, sports, art and war). If you collect other paper as well, you may also like our postcards, photographs, ticket stubs, menus, comics, baseball cards, football cards or trade cards pages.

This colorful Southern Pacific travel poster probably dates from the 1950s, at the very end of the heyday of railroad passenger travel. The text reads: “Southern …

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In reviewing thousands of sites for our Hall of Fame, one thing we’ve realized is that big museums and libraries have fantastic collections, and are working hard to get them online.

We’ve seen several approaches taken, each with its own merits. One is the microsite, where a museum like the Victoria and Albert in London will create several mini-sites focused on specific antiques and collecting topics, such as their …

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The New York Times had an interesting piece yesterday on the issue of paying capital gains taxes when selling items from your collection. In addition to discussing how the IRS views collectors who aren’t dealers (they expect you to pay anyway), the piece shed some light on how to establish the “cost basis” for pieces in your collection.

To summarize: if you bought an antique on the open market, your cost basis is what you paid for it, and you’ll only be liable for taxes on gains above that …

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