Mark
Boomer Collectibles: Sell Now Before it’s Too Late
The boats are leaving port, people; pay attention to what’s happening all around you. I’m talking about the Boomers. They’re growing old, down-sizing, divesting, even beginning to die off in ever-growing numbers. All of that stuff that they are/were collecting that reminded them of their childhood is fast becoming passé. The generations behind them could [… read more]
FAQ: How Do I Know if My Appraiser is Qualified?
One of the first questions you should ask your appraiser is if he or she is a member of a major professional society such as The American Society of Appraisers (ASA). Professional societies have stringent requirements for accrediting their members. Each of the three major societies has a different program. The American Society of Appraisers [… read more]
What Does My Surname Mean?
Ever wonder what your surname means? In the olden days men were often called by what they did as an occupation, hence a hunter might be called Joseph the Hunter. His son might later be known as Hunter’s son or Hunterson (Henderson). The moniker, Mister (Mr.) was usually reserved for men of importance, not for [… read more]
The Stolen Valor Act of 2005: It is Illegal to Sell Military Medals
This is very important to know if you are collecting, dealing, swapping, trading, or selling U.S. military medals, ribbons, or decorations. It is illegal to do so. On Wikipedia there is conflicting information that is misleading. I checked. The Valor Act is in force. It is illegal to sell U.S. military medals, especially The Medal [… read more]
Personal Property Appraisers / Topic: Trees and Landscape
I receive emails from all over the country almost on a daily basis. This inquiry was sent to me a couple of years ago via email. It was such a good question that I passed on the dialogue to the other professional Members of the Richmond Chapter of the American Society of Appraisers and to [… read more]
PBS TV Antiques: The Chesapeake Collectibles Show 2011
Mark C. Grove, ASA, is a guest on PBS TV Maryland Public Television (MPT), which has in development The Chesapeake Collectibles Show. The show was filmed at the studio made famous by the financial journalist, Louis Rukeyser, at Owens Mills, MD. Filmed in-studio on 5 & 6 June 2010, the Program is scheduled to commence [… read more]
What is a Summer Kitchen?
In the old days before air conditioning, cooking and baking were accomplished daily in the summertime in an ancillary kitchen located adjacent to a manor house − a separate building. This kept the main house from overheating. As one would expect, the additional heat was welcome during the cooler seasons so cooking was then done in [… read more]
The Devil’s Rope: It Transformed America
Every once in a while someone invents something that transforms the world almost over night. Anyone older than a teenager today has witnessed the advent of two such epiphanies in recent memory: the PC and the cell phone. Think how these technologies have changed the world. Each caused the stock market to surge and each [… read more]
TIP: Self-Promoting Artists Need to Know This
You’re a really talented artist but you are clueless how to make a decent living at your craft, right? You find it’s embarrassing to promote yourself. You absolutely suck as an entrepreneur. Does that about sum it up? I thought so. Well, get over it. Grab yourself by the short hairs and start acting like [… read more]
English Pottery Marks
One category of antiques that remains popular even in a recession is pottery. Like most antiques, the value of pottery is highest the closer it is to its point of origin. Why? Because there is greater demand at the origin point. Demand determines value above all other factors. No demand, no value, no matter how [… read more]