By Sandy Dale    The Christmas tree’s gone, the decorations put away, the last of the holiday candy and frozen leftovers consumed. The sky is smoky gray and it’s snowing bloody hell. What now? Ah, time for a trip to the Bahamas, right? I’m sure that would beat the winter blahs, but I’m not quite in the percent of folks that […]

By Myrl Prather    February is a month chock full of days for us to celebrate, one way or another. There is Valentine’s Day, which is a happy day for all. Lovers of all sorts, sweethearts, friends, etc., remember each other with flowers, candy and beautiful cards on this romantic occasion.    Then, there are days honoring Presidents Washington and Lincoln, those […]

By Robert Reed    Starting with George Washington and later with Abraham Lincoln, the memorabilia of presidents has provided a significant source of collecting. It doesn’t hurt either that President’s Day honoring them all is an annual holiday.    For the traditionalists it should be noted that the federal Office of Personnel Management still calls the third Monday in February simply Washington’s […]

By Anne Gilbert    Hard to believe, the Currier and Ives lithographs that come to shops and auctions, sometimes costing thousands of dollars, once could be had for a few cents. They were affordable to just about everyone. The January 30 auction held by The Old Print shop offered some early examples ranging in price from $250 to over $9,000.    When […]

By Robert Reed   If you love me as I love you, Then you will be my sweetheart true. – verse from fancy, heart- shaped 19th century Valentine.    Giving valentines to those dear to us has been a practice for centuries but it was the Victorians that made them so wonderfully fancy.    During the 17th century both men and women […]