By Robert Reed  One of the major ironies of the 19th century is how the lowly soda cracker came to be housed in the lovely and varied cracker jar.  Eventually cracker jars appeared in pottery, porcelain, wood, metal and the finest of art glass. Many bore elaborately decorated handles and bails, sometimes engraved and silver plated.  Distinguished cracker jars, of […]

 Recently, I was accused of being a Boomer due to my lack of knowledge about a current internet app. Of course, I had to correct my accusers and tell them that actually I am of the Silent Generation. Ugh! I’d rather be considered a ‘Boomer.” Off by only one year to put me into this (in my mind dynamic generation) […]

 The National Western Stock Show & Rodeo is a Denver tradition, honoring the country’s rich Old West heritage, Jan. 7-22, 2023.  Held every January at the National Western Complex , it’s the nation’s premier livestock, rodeo, and horse show, serving agricultural producers and consumers throughout the world. Enjoy rodeos featuring top-notch bull riders, horse shows, livestock competitions and auctions. And […]

By Robert Reed  While the celebration of the first day of the calendar year is one of the world’s oldest events. The collecting of related memorabilia is still relatively new.  Yet the interest is clearly rising in the United States and other countries.  Party hats, postcards, holiday menus, lithographed noise makers, magazine covers, even specially illustrated transit tickets are being […]

By Barry Krause  Age, workmanship and provenance (ownership history) give added value to American cowboy collectibles. If it’s old, beautifully crafted by hand of the best materials, or can be traced as owned and used by famous cowboys, the price escalates.  When all cowboys still rode horses to get around on their jobs, the saddle was their most prized possession, […]