By Mike Pearce  In the Late 19th and Early 20th Centuries, thousands of brass bands dotted the American landscape. Those ensembles played music assembled in march size folios and band books. As those band books now find their way into auctions from attics and basements, they become attractive collectibles for a select number of band history collectors and performers. By […]

By Henry J. Pratt  Surely, trillions of words have been written and published about antiques and collectibles, as well as the men and women hobbyists across the country who buy, hold and sell interesting items from America’s yesteryear.  One dictionary definition of the word “collector” reads: “A person or thing that collects items…such as stamps.” That really doesn’t tell us […]

By Barry Krause  Letter openers have been known since the 18th century, but became a popular tool after envelopes were mass produced starting in the mid-19th century when postage rates were reduced for letters mailed inside envelopes.  Before that time, almost all letters were simply folded to leave a blank portion where the address was written and postmarks applied, and […]

 Civic and arts leaders on Saturday, June 8 officially dedicated the newly christened Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center. Formerly known as Verizon Hall, the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra is now named in honor of Anderson, the late singer, Civil Rights icon and Philadelphia legend.  The home of the Philadelphia Orchestra was formerly known as Verizon Hall, but […]

By Randy Gardner  Though they aren’t found for sale as frequently as chipped stone artifacts like arrowheads and knives, ground stone axes have a strong following among buyers of prehistoric artifacts. On the rare occasions when they’re offered for sale, especially large or well formed axes can sell for one to five hundred dollars. By definition, ground axes are made […]