By Theodore Althof (Copyright 2008)

In this article Ted Althof, also known as Papa Ted, provides an in-depth history of decorative dimestore Christmas village houses and other vintage Christmas decorations. His site, http://www.papatedsplace.com, is a member of our Hall of Fame.

The following is a history of these wondrous little artifacts called cardboard Christmas village …

By Andy Zito (Copyright 2008)

Andy Zito’s site, andyzito.com/snowdomes is a member of The Collectors Weekly Hall of Fame.

These wonderful snow-filled objects are a world of fascination in themselves. Just shake one and see if you can resist the silent magic it evokes, not unlike an actual snowfall. Then notice if they don’t evoke the indelible memories of a childhood trip to a famous landmark or kitchy roadside attraction. …

By Graham Hodges (Copyright 2008)

Graham Hodges’ site, silversugartongs.com is a member of The Collectors Weekly Hall of Fame

The period of English history from 1770 to 1820 was a time of great change and great prosperity for England. As a result it was a growth period for silver table-ware, much of which still survives today. This period saw the change from tea tongs, through cast sugar tongs to …

By Anna Checcoli (Copyright 2008)

Anna Checcoli’s Ventagli.org, an antique and vintage hand fan gallery and information site, is featured in our Hall of Fame.

Many people ask me about the “language of the fan”: how hand fans were used in earlier times to communicate. And in fact, the role of the fan was not only for cooling, or as a fly swatter or fire-bellows. It was also the …

By Lew Jaffe (Copyright 2008)

Lew Jaffe’s Bookplate Junkie blog is a member of our Collectors Weekly Hall of Fame. For more information on collecting bookplates and an incredible array of beautiful bookplates, visit Bookplate Junkie.

Bookplate mania in America and England peaked from 1890 to about 1920. That’s when the really great collections were formed. Most of them …

By Paul Koren (Copyright 2008)

Paul Koren is the webmaster of Railroadiana Online, a resource site for railroadiana collectors and a member of our Hall of Fame.

Many people are fascinated by railroads. At one time, railroads were connected to most aspects of community and economic life, and almost everyone had the experience of taking the train to some distant destination. Today, railroads are still a vital part of the …

Are you an expert, or knowledgeable collector, in a particular area of antiques or collecting?

If so, we’d love to hear from you (email us). We’re seeking guest articles and columns which provide introductions to or well-informed commentary on specific collecting categories. If you have an article or piece of writing that fits the bill, we’ll work with you …

By Elizabeth Nevin (Copyright 2008)

Online since 1995, the Briar Press Museum (a member of our Hall of Fame) is dedicated to the history of the printing press. Here, founder Elizabeth Nevin explains to collectors the basic facts to consider when buying/selling/restoring an antique press.

If you are thinking of getting into letterpress printing or collecting antique printing equipment, congratulations. It is a very satisfying hobby and …

Editor’s note: We’ve received the following requests over the past few days to identify several unknown antique and collectible items. If you have any relevant information, please leave a comment at the bottom of this article… thanks!

Hello! I need help, please and thanks!! I have a lovely clear glass cake pedestal with a starburst-like diamond pattern radiating from the center. Within the bigger …

By Maribeth Keane, Collectorsweekly.com

I was looking around our Hall of Fame today, which showcases some of the best collector sites on the web. There are many great sites, but here’s a few personal favorites I thought I’d mention:

Let’s start with one of my all time favorites, Circusmuseum.nl. I love the antique feel of the prints, I can tell they date …

By Marty Weil (Copyright 2008)

Interview courtesy of the Ephemera Blog, Marty Weil’s great information resource on ephemera collecting and collectors, and a member of our Hall of Fame. Andreas Praefcke’s site Carthalia is also a member of our Hall of Fame.

Andreas Praefcke (Ravensburg, Germany) collects postcards of old and new theatre buildings worldwide. His complete collection can be seen on his website Carthalia. I …

By Marty Weil (Copyright 2008)

Interview courtesy of the Ephemera Blog, Marty Weil’s great information resource on ephemera collecting and collectors, and a member of our Hall of Fame.

Daniel Kusrow was born in Bangkok, Thailand, but now resides and works in New York City. Daniel collects airline baggage labels, particularly those issued by airlines during the inter-War period, 1919-1939. We spoke recently about his remarkable collection, how …