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Saturday, October 27, 2018

These Nixon Agnew puppets are too good.

#found #collectible #politics #nixon #urbanarcheology #estatesale #puppets
Every sale is different and what often happens is I will find something but it will either be too obscure or out of my price range. These two knuckleheads were sitting a table at a very plain tag sale. I passed over them once and when I didn't see anything else that interested me, I looked again and was told, "They were in my mother's attic." Rubber but pliable heads and simple yet moth damaged clothes left me guessing and definitely intrigued, but still I left.

I got in my car to leave but then decided to try and look them up. The first hit was for an eBay sale offer a similar pair for $125. The thing about using this to gauge value is that any seller can offer any price with no proof of actual value. The $125 price means nothing. A good tip for getting a better idea of value its to an advanced search of an item and sort by "sold."

The lowest price paid was $15, so I knew I would be able to haggle, but it's not always about the art of the deal. This was a simple sale where stretching for the bargain basement price doesn't establish a relationship of trust.

On the side of the garage there were lined up several framed graphics, among them were 2 covers from LIFE magazine from the 1920's. Illustrator Maxfield Parrish made a name for himself with whimsical and often elaborate creations. I recall being told by a collector 20 years ago that if you could find his covers you would have an item of value. However, either the proliferation of copies or the economic downturn has made almost all of his work, save for signed originals, no longer as desirable. Maybe, like gold or silver, the price will rise again.

I liked the quality of these covers and I was impressed with the care in which the framing shop had matted each and documented their preservation. I offered to pay full price for the puppets if she would throw in the 2 Maxfield Parrish framed covers which were priced at $10.

The real clincher for me was the story behind these puppets: Illustrator Rick Meyerowitz created the first 2 to use in a caver shoot for Nation Lampoon magazine. Held by Abbie Hoffman the puppets became somewhat famous and Rick was approached to license them for mass production. The story is better told by Rick here.  After reading that I knew I had to have them. You see, I have a National Lampoon story of my own that I will share someday and these puppets may do a better job of telling it than I ever could.

Friday, October 19, 2018

This matchbook from 1952 is in amazing condition for being 66 years old. It has outlived all the politicians on it. Bill Marland won his bid for Governor of West Virginia serving from 53 - 57. He supported desegregation of schools and was overall a fine public servant. He was accused of drinking to excess in the daytime but dismissed the attack. After his run in politics he was spotted by a reporter in 1965 driving a cab in Chicago. In a press conference he admitted that the work as cabbie helped him in his recovery as an alcoholic. The notoriety actually turned his life around and he became a minor celebrity and landed a better job. Sadly, later that same year he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died. Tell me that story doesn’t beat a pair of Harleys! #found #matchbook #politics #democrats #1953 #estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology


This matchbook from 1952 is in amazing condition for being 66 years old. It has outlived all the politicians on it. Bill Marland won his bid for Governor of West Virginia serving from 53 - 57. He supported desegregation of schools and was overall a fine public servant. He was accused of drinking to excess in the daytime but dismissed the attack. After his run in politics he was spotted by a reporter in 1965 driving a cab in Chicago. In a press conference he admitted that the work as cabbie helped him in his recovery as an alcoholic. The notoriety actually turned his life around and he became a minor celebrity and landed a better job. Sadly, later that same year he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and died. Tell me that story doesn’t beat a pair of Harleys! #matchbook #politics #democrats #1953 #estatesalefinds #urbanarcheology

from Instagram

Sunday, October 14, 2018

Matchbook madness continues! 1- I didn’t know I had an “Awkward” zone 2- I didn’t think it was there. Ah the days of clean shaves - it was never going to happen with the Kirk Douglas-designer chin dimple my parents had installed when I was born. So I can’t understand the beardists who hurt me for having one. I have always referred to my beard as a monument to the hatred of shaving. Take that! Mennen. #found #urbanarcheology #estatesale #beard #beardsupport #humor #matchbook #collectible #1940s


Matchbook madness continues! 1- I didn’t know I had an “Awkward” zone 2- I didn’t think it was there. Ah the days of clean shaves - it was never going to happen with the Kirk Douglas-designer chin dimple my parents had installed when I was born. So I can’t understand the beardists who hurt me for having one. I have always referred to my beard as a monument to the hatred of shaving. Take that! Mennen. #urbanarcheology #estatesale #beard #beardsupport #humor #matchbook #collectible #1940s

from Instagram

Wednesday, October 10, 2018

This.....was an awesome desk. I became the owner of the contents of this beauty. So much history. So many new stories to share. I am just grateful for the opportunity. Stay tuned.... #found #furniture #olddesk #hidden #moretothestory #history #estatesale #urbanarcheology


This.....was an awesome desk. I became the owner of the contents of this beauty. So much history. So many new stories to share. I am just grateful for the opportunity. Stay tuned.... #furniture #olddesk #hidden #moretothestory #history #estatesale #urbanarcheology

from Instagram

Tuesday, October 9, 2018

George Harvey ran for Boro president in Queens,NY after serving as an alderman in the 1920s. He successfully brought about an investigation into anTammany Hall connected Boro president and essentially replaced him. I need to know more about this interesting politician - the matchbook alone is intriguing enough - but he also payed a role in being the 1939 worlds fair to NYC. One more- he died in 1946 fighting a fire near his home in New Milford CT! The synchronicity is getting to be too much for me. I lived there for 20 years and now live nearby. I guess it’s off to the newspaper archives. #found #matchbook #politics #politicians #nyc #newyorkcity #queens #collectibles #estatesale #urbanarcheology


George Harvey ran for Boro president in Queens,NY after serving as an alderman in the 1920s. He successfully brought about an investigation into anTammany Hall connected Boro president and essentially replaced him. I need to know more about this interesting politician - the matchbook alone is intriguing enough - but he also payed a role in being the 1939 worlds fair to NYC. One more- he died in 1946 fighting a fire near his home in New Milford CT! The synchronicity is getting to be too much for me. I lived there for 20 years and now live nearby. I guess it’s off to the newspaper archives. #matchbook #politics #politicians #nyc #newyorkcity #queens #collectibles #estatesale #urbanarcheology

from Instagram

Monday, October 8, 2018

From 1927 until 1981 if you were female and needed a place to stay in New York City there was no better place than The Barbizon. Men were not allowed above ground level. Many famous women have stayed here. I am just scratching the surface of the pile of ephemera I uncovered this weekend. This piece from the matchbook collection I picked up is just one of many from the 1940s. #found #matchbook #1940s #nyc #hotels #estatesale #urbanarcheology


From 1927 until 1981 if you were female and needed a place to stay in New York City there was no better place than The Barbizon. Men were not allowed above ground level. Many famous women have stayed here. I am just scratching the surface of the pile of ephemera I uncovered this weekend. This piece from the matchbook collection I picked up is just one of many from the 1940s. #matchbook #1940s #nyc #hotels #estatesale #urbanarcheology

from Instagram

Sunday, October 7, 2018

A 1944 letter from a soldier fighting in the South Pacific to his sister in college reveals a personal account of one of the most tumultuous island battles in World War II…and it almost got away. Link in the comments. #found #wwii #military #marines #war #history #estatesale #urbanarcheology


A 1944 letter from a soldier fighting in the South Pacific to his sister in college reveals a personal account of one of the most tumultuous island battles in World War II…and it almost got away. Link in the comments. #wwii #military #marines #war #history #estatesale #urbanarcheology

from Instagram