Collecting is a national pastime in America. From postcards to Pez dispensers, it is a hobby that’s fun, enjoyable, and family-friendly. However, the hobby has a dark underside—phonies. The fake collectibles industry is huge—some estimate it generates billions of dollars worldwide each year—and countless people are unwittingly shelling out significant money for stuff that is nearly worthless. Below are some tips that could help collectors avoid fraudulent merchandise.

General tips

1. Use caution when a seller requests privacy. Sometimes, this is for perfectly legitimate reasons. “Sellers will often request privacy when selling higher end stuff,” says Bill Kranz, an appraiser at Antique Helper auction house (antiquehelper.com), “because people are going to want to keep very valuable things safe.” However, when someone is trying to sell counterfeit merchandise, they will often request privacy because they don’t want experts around pointing out their phony product. Whenever dealing with a private seller, Kranz advises that you ask for some form of documentation that you can verify with a secondary source.

2. Ask for a guarantee. In many cases, a seller is unaware that they have a fake or misrepresented item. If you buy it and later find out that it isn’t what you thought, you should be able to return it. Even the most reputable dealers can make a mistake. Dan Ripley, owner of Antique Helper, has a standing policy that if his company mistakenly sells a misrepresented item, they will take it back at any time. “A fake is a fake,” he explains. “They don’t expire.”

3. Cliches can sometimes be, well, cliche. But many are repeated for good reason. “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is,” is golden for collectors. In other words, things that are supposedly valuable should reflect it in the price. There are exceptions—television programs such as American Pickers and Antiques Roadshow highlight items worth much more than the owner thought. But according to Andrea Hastings, also an appraiser with Antique Helper, this is rare. “That doesn’t happen often,” she says. “It’s like hitting the lottery. A person that finds an item like that usually has some idea that it is valuable.” A good rule of thumb is that if someone is knowledgeable about an item, they know better than to grossly undervalue it. If someone found an item in the basement and doesn’t know much about it, it is best for everyone involved if they get an expert opinion. Of course, there are always bargains, but be wary of seemingly outrageously good deals.

4. As with much of life, knowledge is invaluable, and one key reason that people buy false collectibles is a lack of it, according to Hastings. “The best way to know (if something is fake) is to have experience with the real thing,” she explains. “In many cases (where people are scammed), they pick up an item they don’t know about and think ‘Hmmm. This seems like a good deal.’”

The root of this problem is looking at collecting in the wrong way. There are two reasons for collecting: enjoyment and investment. Some make a living via the latter. However, this requires expertise that can only be gained by experience. In many cases it is learned the hard way. “Part of the learning curve is making mistakes,” explains Hastings. “It has happened to everyone on some level.” She and her colleagues recommend that it is best to start by collecting for enjoyment, for multiple reasons. First, value is subjective. There is always worth in something as long as you enjoy it, even if everyone else thinks it’s a bad deal. Second, someone thinking of enjoyment views money spent as permanent, while someone thinking of investment views money spent as temporary. The lure of future returns might induce bad decisions. Another cliche sums up the third and most important reason– “You must learn to walk before you can run.” Collecting for enjoyment teaches you the basics, which you should know before you invest.

Autographs

1. In many cases, supposedly authentic autographs are simply copies of an original. One good way to detect if a signature is a copy is to inspect it with a magnifying glass or run your finger over it (with permission). If it is flat, it may be copied. If it is raised, then it has probably been added mechanically. Pens usually make a detectable imprint. Also, printers leave telltale signs. “A print machine just sees signatures as a function,” explains Kranz. “They do what they are programmed and don’t distinguish between image and signature.” Many modern printers use a dot matrix system, so if the signature is comprised of tiny dots detectable by magnifying glass, it is fake. (Bonus tip: the dot matrix was not around before the 70s, so anything older than that should not have microdots.)

2. Unfortunately, another mechanical signature forger, the “autopen” machine, also makes a detectable imprint. However, they also produce telltale signs. Autopen signatures start and end with a dot detectable by magnifying glass because the machine goes straight up and down when writing and stops and starts abruptly (think sewing machine). People, however, generally use pens at an angle and their writing motion extends beyond where the pen actually touches the page, so the autograph will taper off at the ends. Autopen machines can also vibrate, so be wary of shaky looking signatures. Conversely, perfectly straight lines are not generally created freehand and are also a warning. One final red flag is that if the ink is evenly distributed, the autograph might be mechanical. People naturally put more or less pressure on various parts of their signature.

3. Consider how realistic the autograph is. Autographs from older figures won’t appear on modern things. For example, Teddy Roosevelt would not have signed anything about the 50 states because Hawaii and Alaska did not gain statehood until after his death. Also, celebrities won’t likely sign things unrelated to them. Albert Einstein would probably not have signed a Boston Celtics jersey, and Larry Bird likely would not sign a book on nuclear physics. As with any collectible, don’t be afraid to ask for authentication. It also never hurts to point out things that don’t make sense and ask “Why?”

Antiques

1. Antiques were not originally designed to become antiques; they were made to be used. Therefore, true antiques show signs of wear. A good place to look is where people would come in contact with the item. Handles should show discoloration, smoothness, or other signs of being held; chairs should show signs of being sat in, and so on. Also, genuine antiques will exhibit normal wear and tear, such as chipped paint or minor cracks in the finish.

2. Unfortunately, counterfeiters are aware that antiques should look aged and make things look old. There are several ways to do this, according to Kranz. “There could be chemical discoloration or fading, or marks could be made by hand,” he explains. “In some cases, someone will just bury an ‘antique’ in the backyard for six months.” There are, however, detectable differences with these methods. A good rule of thumb is that “aging should make sense,” says Kranz. If it just doesn’t look natural, be wary. Uniformity is the biggest sign of artificial aging, because things break down a little here and a little there over time, not equally all over. Metal discoloration should vary, and dirt and dust should have accumulated more in certain places. Look at the area of an antique that would have been more exposed. The top of a table or legs of a chair, for example, should look more worn than other parts. Signs of aging should also look worn. For example, wood chipped 50 years ago will look more faded than wood chipped last week. Lastly, if there are two of the same antique, look at both. If they are genuine, they will exhibit differences. Identical or similar signs of aging on both indicates counterfeits.

3. Look at how the antique is made. Older items typically have more attention to detail, so pay attention to the intricacy of the paint, carpentry, etc. Also, keep in mind history. Anything made before the assembly line (pre-1920s) should not show signs of mass production. There should be small imperfections and quirks on an item if it was handmade. Also, Phillips screws, power tools, and circular saws did not become widespread until the 1930s, so they should not be evident in older items.  Finally, look at what is holding it together. If the nails, screws, or staples look shiny and new and the rest looks old, it is probably fake.

How to Spot a False Collectible The Saturday Evening Post

Over time, his interest in the hobby grew—literally. “My eyesight kind of forced me into large-scale,” he jokes. But of course large-scale model trains need large spaces to run in.

So when he retired, Elwood built a 24-by-48-foot train room that “looks pretty big empty, but filled up really, really fast.” His layout is fashioned after a logging and mining railroad, including a 12-stall roundhouse, which real railroads used when backing up a locomotive meant more than shifting to reverse.

Not every railroading collector has the time or space for such layouts, but they all share a similar passion for miniature replicas of the big boys. According to estimates from hobbyist organizations like the National Model Railroad Association, there are as many as 100,000 model train enthusiasts, not including countless others who keep a cherished childhood set in the basement to bring out whenever the grandkids come over.

For model train hobbyists, there are two broad categories: collecting and building. Model railroaders are collectors, of course, often seeking a favorite childhood toy, a scale engine and cars that evoke other interests, or parts of a matched set that they’re on a hunt to complete. While a few collectors may only display their trains, most model railroaders operate their own miniature railroad empires, some letting their imaginations run wild with fantasy layouts; others recreating railroads they’ve read about or knew from childhood. These set-ups often run like the real thing, moving on meticulous timetables with scale goods being delivered logically to scale markets.

Model trains come in several sizes or scales, and many collectors start small and work their way up. Keith Lewis, for example, started with a train set his parents gave him one Christmas. He worked with HO scale (real size ratio, 1:87) for a while, but then saw a large G-scale set (real size ratio, 1:22) that made him sell all his other trains and start again. Keith also collects sets of Christmas-issue trains, and cars that are lettered for his home state of Delaware or that have his daughter Tiffany’s name on them. Like most hobbyists, Keith won’t buy an engine or car if he can’t display it as well as run it. But he keeps the original boxes, knowing that collectors value the packaging almost as much as the model itself.

If you set your mind to collecting or expanding on that old set in the basement, start by checking out local clubs and train shops or shows—you’ll find listings in your telephone directory, through ads in your local paper, or online at Web sites such as traincollectors.org or the National Model Railroad Association site, nmra.org.

But once you start down this track, it can become a lifelong pursuit, notes Elwood. “You never want to finish,” he says. “There’s always something you want to do next.”

A Love of Rails The Saturday Evening Post

What’s It Worth?

Getting an honest and accurate appraisal of a treasured collectible can be tricky, but the Internet has made the job a little easier.

For decades, the Kovels’ guides have been the gold standard of antiques and collectible pricing. In addition to Kovels’ well-regarded price guides (available in bookstores and libraries), kovels.com offers a range of news, information, and resources, whether you’re trying to find the value of heirloom jewelry or want to know if Grandma’s antique pie cabinet is worth repairing.

Collectors flock to online auction site eBay.com, not just to bid on hard-to-find items, but to search previous auctions to check the sale prices of pieces they own.

Nice Catch

Baseball memorabilia is one of the country’s most popular and diverse collectible fields. Vintage baseball equipment is particularly hot these days. Just ask Joe Phillips, editor and creator of The Glove Collector newsletter that covers the history of glove companies, which gloves were worn by famous players, and how to find and appraise collectible gloves. The most valuable gloves, Phillips says, are of course those owned or endorsed by famous players. Lou Gehrig’s game glove was auctioned for $387,000. Mickey Mantle’s went for $239,000. Older models, like the pre-1900’s cutoff finger gloves, are also very collectible. Prime examples can fetch $5,000 to $8,000.

Sky-High

Comic books from the 1930s and 40s are valuable (many were lost in wartime paper drives), but none more so than those featuring the debut of a popular character. Earlier this year, a 1939 copy of Detective Comics #27 (the first appearance of Batman) went for the sky-high price of $1,075,500. A few weeks later, Superman beat the Caped Crusader when auction house ComicConnect.com sold a 1938 copy of Action Comics #1 (the Man of Steel’s debut) for a record $1.5 million.

G.I. Bills

Most coin and currency enthusiasts build collections based on rarity and value, but some prize the history behind the hard cash, as in the case of a “short snorter.” During World War II and the Korean War, short snorters were typically $1 bills that servicemen carried as good luck charms. When soldiers gathered, they sought out other short snorters and signed each other’s bills, often including dates and locations. High-ranking officers and even celebrities signed them, too. For more about these unique pieces of history, visit the Web site shortsnorter.org.

Roaming Gnomes

Gnomes are a popular and decorative collectible for many gardeners (and tempting targets for pranksters). The most famous gnome-knapping occurred in 2008, when Murphy, a leprechaun gnome, vanished from his owner’s garden, then turned up months later, accompanied by a photo album. His abductor took him on a world tour, and the album featured shots of Murphy swimming in Thailand, rappelling down a mountain in New Zealand, and more. Securing beloved gnomes to a concrete base or garden stake is usually enough to prevent unexpected walkabouts.

—Chelsey Fleming

What do you love to collect? Tell us about your favorite collectibles. E-mail us at editor@saturdayeveningpost.com, or write to Collecting Column, 
The Saturday Evening Post, 1100 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Collectible News & Notes The Saturday Evening Post

The cartoons may be a little corny or considered politically incorrect today (the dangers of women drivers, the problems of cigarette rationing), but they were a treat for soldiers overseas during World War II. Tiny as they were, the booklets contained three selections from the full-sized Saturday Evening Post, a mixture of articles and short stories, which could fit into a uniform shirt pocket. According to the Post editors, these pieces were not condensed articles, or “literary C rations.” By leaving out advertising, the Post was able to get a lot in a tiny package.

Although servicemen referred to them as “dehydrated Posts,” they were immensely grateful for them. “It is seldom that we G.I.’s over here in Burma have the time to write all the letters that we often plan to. However, I must take this moment to tell you how much pleasure is derived from reading these Post Yarns which you are sending overseas to us,” one wrote. “This little booklet is just the answer for a quick snack of reading out in the field after chow or during a few minutes of rest anywhere.” Another wrote, “Recently, a rather battered copy of Post Yarns came into my possession. After reading the three stories it contained, I became quite curious about this excellent publication. I traced back through the fellow who gave it to me as well as I could. I found that eight of my shipmates had read it before me. None of them knew how it got aboard or where it came from.”

The complete set.

“It was a good idea,” the Post editors wrote in 1946, “and we’re proud of our share in it, but there are single letters in our files which would dampen any tendency toward preening. We had a good many letters from uncomplaining men who found the little books especially useful because these readers cannot handle a book requiring two hands.”

Some letters gave pause for other reasons. A paratrooper wrote that he read them “to help relieve the tension” just before making a jump. Another soldier guarding a building noted that they were “easy to carry, easy to read, and easy to hide from the officer of the watch.”

The Saturday Evening Post was happy to report in the June 22, 1946 issue that Post Yarns had gone to press for the last time. “Thousands of its readers,” they cheerfully noted, “no longer are wearing the shirts that the edition was designed for. And they aren’t doing their reading under the special and outlandish conditions which made Post Yarns popular.”

To see more images of our Post Yarn set, click here.

In the GI’s Shirt Pocket The Saturday Evening Post

Defining the everyday mannerisms of American culture, Norman Rockwell collectibles carefully narrate classic slice-of-life moments—illustrations destined to live forever as a reminder of our nation’s values, celebrations, and cherished traditions.

Thousands of souvenirs and novelties have been manufactured as Norman Rockwell keepsakes, but few are as extraordinary as these select fine art collectibles in which art lovers and Rockwell fans will forever hold dear.

© SEPS, All Rights Reserved. Photo courtesy of Crystal Sensations.

A New Dimension of Art

Norman Rockwell’s widely popular Triple Self-Portrait takes on a new dimension of fine art when laser technology and complex 3D modeling along with the skillful eye of an artist come together to create an unusual masterpiece. This 53-pound crystal demands the precision of an elite artist to create depth perception and define its use of space—challenges which are unmatched in other art forms.

The crystal sculptures are produced by Crystal Sensations, world renowned for their ability to interpret high-quality laser engraved images within crystal. Only 250 crystals of this size will be created and licensed through Curtis Publishing Company.

These hand-cut wooden puzzles feature unique, circular patterns.© SEPS, All Rights Reserved. Photo courtesy of X-Man Puzzles.

Puzzling Art

If you’ve ever been puzzled by art, master cutter Randy Crossman has come up with a fitting solution: one that encourages family interaction and evokes the familiar nostalgia of Rockwell’s classic characters. XMan Puzzles features more than 300 Saturday Evening Post covers, each with seven different exclusively licensed Norman Rockwell silhouettes cut into the puzzle’s unique circular pattern.

Crossman’s signatures puzzles include approximately 400 hand-cut pieces made from ¼-inch walnut plywood and deliberately patterned. Additionally, XMan Puzzles now offers museum quality frames to hang the completed puzzle for display. Each cover will be individually cut, numbered, and signed by Randy Crossman—a valuable addition to any personal collection.

These limited edition enamel boxes come with hand-painted reproductions of Rockwell's art.© SEPS, All Rights Reserved. Photo courtesy of Garland Holmes.

Gifts Today, Heirloom Tomorrow

Finding the perfect gift is never an easy task, which is why if you’re ever in doubt, stick with the classics—you can’t go wrong. Garland Holmes Collections’ Norman Rockwell Halcyon Days Enamels are on our list of favorite collectibles, as they not only represent America’s best-loved artist and illustrator, but the hand-painted limited editions are promised to be passed down from generation to generation.

The most recognizable collection, Rockwell’s interpretation of The Four Freedoms, will stir emotion in any patriotic soul with the meticulously reproduced Freedom from Want, Freedom from Fear, Freedom of Worship, and Freedom of Speech.

Everyone has their favorite Rockwell illustration—whether it’s a reminder of times past or a reflection of one’s self—these keepsakes will be cherished and admired with a personal sentiment unlike any other. Notable classics include Rockwell’s Rosie the Riveter, Girl at the Mirror, 100 Years of Baseball, Runaway, and more. Proprietors David and Kathy Garland Holmes plan to expand the offerings of Rockwell’s most beloved scenes, welcoming the feedback and suggestions of interested buyers.

About the Founders
David, an electrical engineer, resigned from a successful 25-year career to spend more time with his wife, Kathy. Together, they passionately pursue their love of fine art as exclusive retailers of select merchandise. They’re Web site, garland-holmes.com, continues to grow—offering gifts today, heirlooms tomorrow.

The Collector’s Corner The Saturday Evening Post

Pass It On The Saturday Evening Post

I know this may be a stretch, but I have a special request. I am looking for an issue of your magazine from September 2, 1944. It is special to me because I am the boy scout in the painting by Stephen Dohanos. His son was a pal of mind and, in the 6th grade, I was asked to post in my scout uniform. I think I got paid $10! Plus I spent the night at his house and had a great time. I can still remember the shoot. Any change I could obtain a copy for my daughter. Thanks for your time and attention.

Sincerely,
George

George:

How nice to hear from you! We love to hear from former models for our wonderful cover artists and Dohanos was one of the best. September 2, 1944 is a cover showing three dogs looking wistfully at a departing school bus. You can see kids in the back windows of the bus, and I take it you’re the scout waving good-bye to the faithful friends.

You can obtain copies of most of the great artwork from our covers at www.curtispublishing.com.

Sincerely,
Saturday Evening Post Archives

Were you, or someone you know, a Post cover model? Please share your story with our editors at letters@satevepost.org.

Blast from the Past The Saturday Evening Post

The Norman Rockwell: American Imagist exhibition, which ended April 11, 2009, featured nearly 50 oil paintings and all of the artist’s iconic Saturday Evening Post covers, 323 in all, created between 1916 and 1963.

Myra Janco Daniels—founder, chairman and CEO of the Philharmonic Center for the Arts (where the museum is housed)—believes the works elicited positive reactions from viewers.

“Nobody looks at a Rockwell without smiling,” she says. “Rockwell turns any wall alive. [His work] brings you back into memories that you might have forgotten.”

Daniels, who once had a complete collection of Saturday Evening Post covers, credits Rockwell’s enduring popularity to his eye for the everyday.

“Rockwell was able to capture people as they were and as they are,” Daniels says. “No one can beat Rockwell for Americana.”

This kind of cultural programming is exactly what Naples was lacking when Daniels relocated from Chicago in the 1980s.

“I knew that there was something missing in this Naples area,” she says. “Chicago was full of the arts. Why not start a center in Naples?”

Nine years later, the cultural complex opened its doors. The Phil (as it’s called by locals) has a resident orchestra, a main hall, a black box theater, an arts school, and the museum. The complex stages about 400 cultural events each year.

“It is not uncommon one night to see Liza [Minnelli], the next night to see Julio [Iglesias], or to see a comic or a dance company or an opera,” Daniels says.

For more information, visit www.thephil.org.

Norman in Naples The Saturday Evening Post