There are two ways to attend a taping of “Antiques Roadshow.” The first is to enter a random drawing for free tickets to any of the PBS program’s six summer stops—cities and dates for 2010 are San Diego on June 12, Billings on June 26, Miami Beach on July 10, Biloxi on July 24, Des Moines on August 7, and Washington, D.C. on August 21. As long as you apply between now and April 19, 2010, your chances of winning a pair of passes are just as good as anyone else’s.

This year, the show’s home station of WGBH in Boston is offering three lucky viewers the additional opportunity to win a pair of VIP passes to the show of your choice. All you have to do is enter the WGBH Lab’s Open Call program, which has been soliciting and airing viewer-produced videos since 2003.

The “Antiques …

By Maribeth Keane and Brad Quinn (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

In this interview, Don Levison explains how wristwatches evolved from pocket watches and ladies’ bracelet watches, weighs in on the advantages of collecting vintage Hamiltons, and shares his unabashed enthusiasm for Patek Philippe, Cartier, and other classic brands. You can reach Levison via his website at www.antiquehorology.com.

I got interested in pocket watches from working on mechanical things. I had …

As anyone who follows vintage Barbie dolls on eBay knows, rare examples in good condition from 1959 or 1960 regularly go for $1,000 or more.

But that may be small change compared to the special Basic Barbies benefit auction eBay is holding this week, …

By Ben Marks (Copyright Collectors Weekly 2010)

Matthew Haley is a books and manuscripts specialist at Bonhams & Butterfields in New York. A recent arrival to the United States from the United Kingdom, Haley is not just in the book business, he’s an avid fan of books—from their physicality and design to the literature and poetry between their covers. Recently we spoke to Haley about first editions, the difference between …

One of the best things about being a collector is the opportunity to learn more about your stuff, as well as, of course, to add to your collection. Sure you can do both online, but nothing replaces the excitement of being in a room full of vintage model trains, rare postage stamps, or antique bottles, along with …