With our fresh to market vintage listings as with all our listings, we do our best to write accurate descriptions of condition. When it comes to figurines, glass or china, there are some black and white condition flaws. Chips, cracks, breaks and crazing may be hard to spot at times, but when you do you call them out in your description. Jewelry can have some black and white parameters as well. Oxidation, scratches, loose or missing stones, discoloration are all things to be noted.
But how do you describe the condition of something that’s quirky and like the embossed bank clipboard? That’s a bit of a sticky wicket. That’s a case where good photography is important, because only the kind of person who collects that sort of thing can know what exactly they are looking for condition wise.
Chapters could be written about book condition. What is fine? What is good? What is is too shabby to sell and what is a reading copy? The only genuine dealbreakers in the world of books are critters, mold, mildew, cigarette smoke and musty smells. But where is the line between very good and good? Is it a bumped corner edge or a break in the hinge? Sometimes we wonder why we sell books at all. When you try hard to be accurate, it can be exhausting trying to be meticulous in describing a book.
Luckily, we don’t have to describe condition in our fresh to market vintage listings. The descriptions are all in the listings themselves, which you can read through a link on the photo should you desire. But really, we hope you just enjoy the variety and the stories.
Antique Embossed Metal Clipboard, Ticonic National Bank, Waterville, Maine
Early in America’s history it was perfectly acceptable for a bank to print its own money. Amazing, isn’t it? This was most likely given away at the Bank’s Centennial Celebration in 1914 and is a beautiful example of historical advertising or promotional giveaways. If you are as surprised about early American paper money, you can read more about it on AntiqueMoney’s information about this bank’s bills
Ticonic Bank Clip, $ 68.99
-Mary Ellen, AuntHattiesAttic
Polished Stone Cluster Earrings
These earrings check a couple of boxes. They are both vintage and handmade. Created from multi-colored polished stones and set on a clear plastic disc with clip-on style backs, most likely made in the 1950s. Someone collected these stones and carefully placed them to display their colors and shapes. Since it’s finally spring, wearing these would be a great way to celebrate the season.
Colorful Polished Stone Cluster Earrings, $ 21.95
-Pam, Vintage Renude
Lacquered Paper Bowl with Decoupaged Design c 1920s
Offering a decorative lacquered paper bowl in a rounded star shape. Painted a soft gold color with a lovely decoupaged floral design in the middle. The back is painted black. Likely commercially made but could have been sold as a kit for home crafters back in the 1920s.
Vintage Decorative Paper Bowl with Floral Design, $ 85
-Linda, Selective Salvage
The Art of Walt Disney, 1942 hardcover
Disneyana collectibles come in many forms. There are early toys, souvenirs from the theme marks, collectibles from the movies, paper ephemera, books, records and that is barely scratching the surface. This early book on the Disney process, with input from Walt Disney himself, is prized by collectors. There are a fair number of copies out there in a variety of conditions. A copy signed by Walt in near fine condition is being sold for $3000. This one is a bit more modestly priced and is a reading copy, but it too will be prized by a Disney fan.
The Art of Disney Walt Disney, 1942 hardcover, by Robert Feild, $150.
Laurie, NextStage Vintage
That’s this week’s fresh to market vintage lineup. As always, we all come from different points of view with different things we fancy.
We have a lot of different points of view in our posts for Vintage Unscripted too. Don’t miss a single one by subscribing, the link’s over on the right.
