Yamot Articles Directory

One hobby that may be underrated is that of collecting postcards. Collecting postcards, especially vintage postcards or those from another country can be educational, fun, and financially rewarding as well. You will be amazed at some of the places that collectible postcards may be found. The most valuable of these are those that were made before 1930 which are called “pre-linen” Cards from that time to the mid 1940s are also in demand. One place to find postcards like these is art auctions.

Another time period that features some relatively valuable collectible postcards is the period from the 50s and 60s, many of which were very brightly colored and were the first to make use of what was known of as the “chrome technology” in printing. Surfing was really popular during the latter part of this period and one can find a diverse collection of postcards from Hawaii and California featuring surfing.

Another great category of postcards are those that were sent for holidays which were made back in the early 1900s. These old cards that depicted things like Santa Claus for Christmas and romantic depictions for the celebration of Valentine’s Day. These old postcards often have very detailed and colorful artwork which is why they are in demand as collectibles.

Personally, I like collecting postcards from all over the world. It is so interesting to see how different cultures depict certain things and also the differences in artistic interpretation. As an avid surfer it is fun to me to get postcards from some of the many surf spots we travel to in locations such as Indonesia, Costa Rica, Panama, and of course Hawaii. You can do the same with whatever hobby or interests you may have and collect postcards from countries you visit. Of course one doesn’t have to go to a country in order to get the postcards, you can always pick them up on eBay as well or as mentioned you can find them at art auctions. You may be lucky enough to find some at estate sales or even yard sales.

Unless one is very well versed and trained in the art of collecting postcards they may have no idea of how valuable the items may be and in the case of buying them at art auctions they are usually not even announced as part of the available items for sale. This is great for you if you are knowledgeable since you will be able to reap the benefits of knowing what the postcards are actually worth and potentially pick up a great collection for pennies on the dollar.

If you want to get into a fun and very educational hobby then collecting postcards may be for you and if you have children they may find it fun as well.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about collecting postcards as well as postcard collectibles at http://www.actionfiguresandcollectibles.com

One of the great things about the internet and with eBay in particular is that due to the company being in existence in almost every corner of the globe you can find some very unique and interesting items that cannot be found in any other place. The key to finding collectibles and being able to buy them at a decent price is to take advantage of some little known tactics that many people don’t know about.

One way to keep up with items that you are particularly interested in is to find the category on eBay and then add it to you favorites in your web browser so that you can easily keep up with it. Another thing that happens all the time is that sellers on eBay often make mistakes when selling an item or they may not know the real value of the item and will list it as just an average item when in fact it may actually be quite rare.

One caveat that I must offer is to not blindly believe that the description of something being sold on eBay is factual. I have seen many auctions advertise something as valuable, rare, or hard to find when they were really nothing special. Never bid on something that you do not have an idea of the value of. One thing that will save you a lot of time in your searches is to keep track of certain sellers whom you have found to always have the particular collectibles you are seeking, you can even contact them and ask them to email you if they get certain items.

Don’t get wrapped up in the auction hype and think that if you don’t win the item you will never have another chance. eBay is enormous and they have millions of items for sale everyday so the odds are that what you are looking for will become available again. You must never put yourself in a position of thinking that you must have an item, if you do you will end up paying too much. You must always be willing to let the item go if it brings a certain price so set a price that you think it is worth and if it goes above that you just let it go. I used to buy cars at auctions and I would have a figure that I was willing to pay for each car I bid on, if the price went above my figure I walked away and didn’t look back.

Always calculate the shipping costs when you are bidding on items and if you are buying multiple products from a single seller contact them and ask them what kind of deal they will give you on the shipping or postage if you win multiple items.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about collecting as well as buying collectibles at http://www.actionfiguresandcollectibles.com

Many people have become enamored with the hobby of collecting different items and one of the most rewarding is that of collecting art collectibles. There are so many different items that can be collected in this genre that it truly boggles the mind. In the art collectibles category one can collect anything from rice grains that have tiny paintings on them to giant paintings or posters or even wall tapestries. There are also rare items that are numbered and limited that can be collected such as the plates or certain sculptures that you may see advertised on TV or in magazine.

Many people follow particular artists and collect mainly that artist’s work. One of my favorites is an artist by the name of Wyland who specializes in paintings about marine life. His paintings are very colorful and the creatures he paints almost seem to be alive. This particular artist is also known for his enormous murals that are painted on buildings and called “whaling walls”. These murals depict many different species of whales. We have one near me in Destin Florida.

Collecting art need not be a hobby only for the wealthy and affluent. You don’t have to be a collector of Rembrandt to be able to enjoy this fun hobby. There are many other pieces if art one can collect that can be just as rewarding to the average person. I have a friend who collects movie posters and he has one of the largest I have seen. Some of these posters make really cool art when framed and hung on the wall.

As a professional internet marketer I am a big user of eBay for finding all sorts of items and art collectibles are no different. As a matter of fact you will be completely blown away by the enormous selection available just from this one source. You can even sell items of your own that you may want to get rid of when starting a new collection. You may also be very surprised at the valuable collectibles you can find at garage sales and flea markets. I know when I have taken the time to get out early on a Friday or Saturday morning and hit the garage sales I have often found some bargains that were worth many times what I paid for them.

It doesn’t matter where in the world you are there are artists available whose work you may want to collect. I have a friend on the island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas whose teenage son creates beautiful pieces of art depicting different types of fish which he fashions from driftwood and then paints them with bright colors. This is something that can be fun if you travel. Collect art from local artists wherever you go that will also give you fond memories of the places you have been.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about collecting art as well as art collectibles at http://www.actionfiguresandcollectibles.com

Did you know that eBay got its start buy offering collectibles fro sale online? This eBay category is one of the largest and most active on the online auction site. People who have been eBay users for a long period of time tend to be very knowledgeable in particular areas and many are rabid collectors of certain items. You will sometimes find that when you put an item up for auction that you found at a garage sale or something that you didn’t think anything about will create a bidding war over people who need that particular thing to complete a collection.

Unlike many other items such as shoes and clothing, collectibles are a category that brings a very emotional response that helps to get higher bids. In many cases when someone is bidding on an item they have been seeking for a long time they will throw caution to the wind and bid wildly just to win the item. This is one of the reasons why selling collectibles can be such a profitable business.

To find collectibles that you can sell on eBay you may want to visit yard sales in your area, but make sure you get an early start there are many others who are now doing the same thing because they know how lucrative it is to sell items on the online auction site. Another way to find items is just to ask people when you go to their homes if they have anything unique or collectible that they may be interested in selling.

Another little known and little used method of finding collectibles and other things to resell on eBay is to buy them at smaller auction sites that don’t get as much traffic and therefore not as many bidders. You may be able to pick up items at a fraction of their true worth and then turn around and sell them for a huge profit by listing on eBay.

Another sneaky little tactic is to put your item up for sale in a category that has nothing to do with the term, “collectible”. For example if you have an autographed football you may put it in the collectible category but also put it in the sports category. You find a fan of the particular sports star willing to pay far more than someone watching the collectibles category.

Don’t be an uneducated seller. Find out everything you can about the item you are selling so that you can get the top price. If you are able to tell a story and give lots of information on how rare an item is you will always get a better price for it. Don’t leave out any details, most collectors are very detail oriented so the more you tell them the better off you will be.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about collecting as well as collectibles at http://www.actionfiguresandcollectibles.com

Many people may immediately think of collectible cards when thinking of sports memorabilia but the fact of the matter is there are a lot of other options available in this fun hobby. There is also a wide range of sports that one can find collectibles for.

When I was growing up there was a show called the “Wide World Of Sports”, this is so true today. With the internet many sports from around the world have become even more popular and as a result there are even more people who are collecting items from sports and sports stars all over the world who they may have never heard of before the existence of the internet. You can collect items from such diverse sports as football, baseball, soccer, NASCAR, and even the UFC or Ultimate Fighting Championships.

As with other collectibles sports memorabilia must be preserved in pristine condition in order to be valuable. No one is going to give big money for baseball cards that are frayed or dog eared for example. This is why you will see many serious collectors who will have their items in air tight containers which are then stored in fireproof and moisture proof vaults. I have seen some people who have had the forethought to save items for their grandkids, not many people think of that but those who do often leave them with a valuable heirloom.

The hobby of collecting sports memorabilia covers an enormous array of diverse items that one can collect from the old baseball cards found in bubble gum packs to actual uniforms that a particular sports star wore such as a Wayne Gretzky hockey uniform or Emmit Smith’s football jersey. Baseballs from the time of Babe Ruth bring enormous sums of money when they have been signed and authenticated. Homerun record baseballs are valuable as well.

If one collects books or magazines these can be valuable as well especially with magazines when one has every issue ever released going back for decades. I used to have a huge collection of bodybuilding magazines going back for over 20 years and I had every issue, when I decided to part with them the collection was quite valuable because it was so complete.

Even items that are not thought of as sports related but endorsed by sports stars can be worth quite a lot. Old Wheaties boxes with sports stars on the have been prized as collectibles. Action figures that are made is a sports stars likeness also make for fun items to collect. Just always be sure to protect the items if you are looking for them to increase in value, as I said before collectibles only become valuable when kept pristine.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about sports memorabilia as well as collectibles at http://www.actionfiguresandcollectibles.com

Betty Boop, with her cartoon sensuality, coupled with a wide eyed innocent persona, was a woman who was not meant to be put down by her cartoon male counterparts; instead she was an early representative of feminism during the early part of the 1930s. Betty Boop evolved from a character that began as a cabaret singer sidekick to Bimbo, a dog. She was originally a canine herself. It was around 1932 that her floppy dog ears were changed to big, hoop earrings, and she was the first character that was female, that was not depicted as a stick figure.

Instead, Betty Boop wore chic high heeled pumps, had a little girl voice to accompany her baby face, and an air of independence coupled with womanly charms. Max Fleisher Studios created Bimbo first to compete with the rising popularity of the Walt Disney studios cute animals, namely Mickey Mouse. After Betty began her breakout role as a human being, Bimbo still stayed around as her beau, though he was still her dog. Betty Boop had a hypnotic and unique effect in that she was able to fend off lecherous predators while she kept a degree of naivet.

In one famous cartoon, her boss demands of her, “Do you like your job!” as he stroked her thigh. She is first caught off guard, but then she becomes angry and responds with her famous line “don’t take my Boop-Oop-A-Doop away.” The reason many feel that Betty Boop seemed to be more than a mere cartoon character, more of a flesh and blood woman, was because the men who created her worked and lived in New York in the infamous Times Square district, and began studying the women around them who were part of “the oldest profession in the world.”

Betty was a real mover and shaker in the world. She featured many black jazz players on her show because of her love for jazz music. The studio got threats from the KKK regarding this, but with guest stars that included Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Ethel Merman, Rudy Vallee and Maurice Chevalier, it didn’t seem to faze the creators or the studio one bit.

It wasn’t long before there were Boopsters worldwide that were singing the praises of this spunky little cartoon lady. In America and the UK, there was a resurgence of her appeal as the Fleisher cartoons were re-released in the 1970s. She is as famous in the new century as she was in the last, and memorabilia with her name and image can be found just about everywhere.

Betty found new fans when in 1984 the group Van Halen mentioned her name in one of their songs and later the Rolling Stones featured her in a collage of women who were desirable in a video for their tour promotions for the “Voodoo Lounge” tour.

You can find shirts, mugs, lamps, calendars and figurines that feature Betty Boop as well as her sidekick Bimbo. You can find the original cartoons that made her famous re-mastered for today’s new technologies. Betty’s legacy to women is still going as strong today as when she first appeared so many years ago.

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Stamp collecting does not require any special equipment except for the storage of the stamps. Some collectors improvise albums and boxes that are humidity, light and heat proof. Albums can be arranged according to categories at the discretion of the collectors. Categories can include issuing country, theme or year of print. It is a good idea to have a magnifying glass and thongs to pick the stamps to avoid damage from skin oil and dirt.

It is easy to start a stamp collection. By collecting stamps from the mail of friends and family one can have a varied collection. If however a collection is to follow a specific pattern or theme then it may be more expensive as the stamps will have to be bought from a dealer or online. Sites like EBay has thousands of dealers in stamps and one can build a collection shopping there. Some collectors invest in a topical area for collection for example the Olympics, maps, famous people, animals or scenery. It is dependant on personal taste and preference or ease of collection.

There are so many types that one can choose to collect. Some of the interesting ones includes postage stamps, commemorative stamps, revenue stamps (are issued for postage as well as for paying government revenue in small amounts), pictorials (stamps with a country’s scenery or animal life) or even Cinderellas (stamps that are not valid for postage).

Although some collectors carry out stamp collecting as a hobby many other are in it for the money. If one has a big enough collection of rare and therefore valuable collection of stamps they could make a tidy sum from it. There are fears that technology may devalue the value of stamps. But old and rare stamps are not likely to lose their value just like many other things affected by technology; vintage cars have not lost their appeal even though we may have better cars now. There are many stamp collectors’ groups and clubs established all over the world. Members meet to exchange or trade collections and even hold competitions and award prizes.

There are even more internet clubs and blogs on stamp collecting online featuring news, events and discussions about and around stamp collecting. Taking the clubs online is an easy option as members can communicate outside of geographical borders which would otherwise be difficult normally. Blogs offer news on exhibitions, new stamp issues and even directories for stamp collectors and those interested in making exchanges.

As a hobby stamp collecting is satisfying and also a learning experience. Each piece of stamp collected has a story or history behind it and from it one can tell something of the atmosphere prevailing in the society at the time it was issued.

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Why would anyone be interested in collecting machetes? To answer this question as simply as I can, because I like a big blade, a firm handle and the power behind this sword-like piece of steel. And, I am one very strange fella. So, keep reading.

To give you my crude definition of a machete, keep on reading. The machete is a cleaver like tool that looks like a massive knife. The length can range anywhere from eighteen to twenty four inches. The blade is normally thin; about three inches take or leave a few centimeters.

Machete collecting is not going to appreciate in value and bring your great-great-great grandchildren a future of unbelievable wealth. You would be lucky at all to find much of an investment in a machete; besides finding another avid collector to pawn yours off to. So, undertake this hobby for the simple please of having massive knives hanging all over your walls.

To begin with, I look for a machete with a blade that is sturdy and fastened snugly and tightly to the hilt of the handle. The last thing you want when tromping through the jungles of Panama and chopping down brush is to have your blade go flying through the air leaving the handle in your sweaty grip.

The best way to ensure that you have a nicely fitted blade and a solid handle is to simply observe. Look for welds. You should see none. If you do, take the machete, hand it back to the vendor and with a snarl on your lips, tell him or her that you are no fool.

The blade should be the full tang version? When I say tang, I am not speaking of the famous drink consumed by astronauts. The tang is the part of the blade that extends into the handle. The handle is then attached to the tang snugly. Sometimes, the tang is visible and other times the handle fully encases it making it unobservable when held in the hand.

The full tang guarantees a very sturdy machete that will last you quite some time. You will not find your blade swooshing through the air as mentioned earlier. A full tang is a guarantee of quality and rugged made blade.

If you study the machete a bit, origins, locations and the people that create and use them, you will find some very interesting stories. Machetes are commonly used to clear vegetation. But, they have been used as an offensive weapon more often than one should desire to recall.

The use of a machete to clear vegetation is very swift, and to be quite honest, a lot of fun. For a quick guide to clearing vegetation, keep on reading. Simply grasp the machete in your hand tightly. You will want your wrist locked to prevent spraining and injury. The clearing motion is the motion of the letter X. Simply swing down across your front, hacking into the vegetation. Then, raise the machete and hack the other direction.

Now, I will not give you a guide on how to use the machete as an offensive weapon. Why you ask. Well, I am an ethical man and my desire is to bring peace to our fun-loving planet, not gruesome violence. And, when I say gruesome, I mean it with all of my heart. Also, I am reluctant to give classes on the use of a machete to further violence as I am quite fond of other methods. Enough of that, let’s continue with other interesting machete collecting topics.

I am captivated by the Kukri machete. Why you ask. Well, let me give you a bit more of useless Kukri machete information before we get into why I am captivated.

The name is pronounced khu-khoo-ree. Kukri can also be interchanged with the word Khukuri. This blade is frighteningly curved to form a very intimidating appearing blade. The Kukri was used as a tool and of course, as a weapon.

The Kukri blade is also known as the Gurkha blade made famous by the Gurkha fighter from Nepal and parts of India. The Gurkha forces used the Kukri in the Anglo-Nepal Was as well as the First and Second World War. How would you like to be facing a screaming Gurkha warrior coming at you full blast with one of these nasty curved machetes in his hand? Not me.

Now, let me tell you why I am crazy about this machete. To be blunt, I think it is the ugliest and scariest looking blade ever created. That, my friends, is why I like it. Simple toys for simple men.

Let me give you another tip when it comes to machete collecting. If you ever plan on doing any hacking with it, pick one out made from high carbon steel. My reason for this is that it keeps a very good blade, easy pretty easy to sharpen and you will not find it rusted the day after you put it to work.

You will find a slew of machetes out there on the market. Look them over real good and never be afraid to send an email to a vendor and ask questions if you are doing your shopping online. If the vendor does not like to answer questions, I always reply to questions, then move along.

You will find quite a bit of high-end blade manufactures producing some very nice machetes. I do not want to name any in this article to keep it unbiased, but I do have my favorites. Please feel free to contact me if you ever need any further advice or pointers. I am always glad to help and do enjoy good blade talk.

William “Cole” Doggett is an expert in knives and owns a successful Internet based website, Knife & Supply Company, LLC at www.KnifeSupplyCompany.com. His website is devoted to all things knives. You will find knives, swords, kitchen cutlery, sharpeners, machetes and a wealth of information.

Books can be a fascinating type of treasure. Most books bought in America today cost between one and five dollars apiece, but there are books in the world that have been sold for over one hundred fifty thousand dollars.

These books are called “rare” books, and many men spend their lives collecting, buying and selling them. The bookdealers and auctioneers classify them as scarce, rare, very rare, exceedingly rare, or “excessively rare.” If a large number of people want to buy a particular book and there are not many available, it becomes classified as one of the rare books. Dr. Abraham S. W. Rosenbach, a famous rare-book collector, paid one hundred fifty-one thousand dollars for a copy of the Bay Psalm Book printed in 1640.

Age alone does not make a book valuable. The reason the Bay Psalm Book is interesting to collectors is not its age, but because it was the first book printed in the American colonies. There are many older books in the world, but a “first” in any connection is a point of interest in book collecting.

The Gutenberg Bible was published in 1455. It was the first edition of the first book ever printed from movable type. The fifteenth century was called the “cradle of printing.” Any book printed during this period is cherished.

There are books we know were printed, but of which no copies are known to exist. If you found one of these books it would be “most exceptionally rare”!

Autographs add to the interest and value of books. The more famous the name written in the front of a book, the more highly it is valued. But make certain that it is in the man’s own handwriting. Some men wrote their names all the time and so their autographs are less sought after than those that are seldom found.

One rare-book treasure was found in a New York shop by the actor John Drinkwater. It was a copy of Moby Dick, by Herman Melville, presented by the author to Nathaniel Hawthorne and inscribed with Hawthorne’s name!

The first appearance of a well-loved book has importance to collectors. These “first editions” are greatly sought after.

Sometimes the books have appeared first in magazines and then been issued in book form. Only the books are treasures. Old newspapers and magazines are often interesting but only occasionally are they valuable.

Look up in your attic. If your great-great-great-grandfather kept the Analectic Magazine dated November, 1814, you do have a treasure. In it first appeared a poem by Francis Scott Key called “Defense of Fort McHenry.” Sounds unfamiliar? It begins, “Oh say, can you see by the dawn’s early light . . .” It was set to music as “The Star Spangled Banner.”

Occasionally a book that is marked “second edition” is really a “first.” The printers probably marked it this way to give the impression that the author’s work was widely read. One of these books is Edgar Allan Poe’s Poems.

Sometimes when a book is printed the type is kept standing. Then, if the book sells well, it is re-issued from the same type.

This second issue of a book is not as valuable as the first. How can you tell? There may be a fading out in the letters. Occasionally, the author has changed a line.

If you have a copy of the Songs of Hiawatha, look at page 32, line 11.

Does it say, “In the moon when nights are brightest,” or does it read, “To the melancholy Northland”? If the line tells you about the bright nights, show your book to a collector.

Anyone can start to collect first editions. Take any subject you like, or any author who interests you, and start in. The subject doesn’t matter. Even old schoolbooks have been collectors’ items. The author who is unknown today may be world-famous twenty years from now. Why not start collecting the books you love? Tomorrow they may be considered treasures.

This an an extract from The Real Book About Treasure Hunting
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Although there are many types and styles of beer steins, the majority are made from the following types of materials.

Pewter

A pliable compound consisting of tin, copper and antimony. European pewter has a minimum tin content of 92%. Copper and antimony are added to harden the metal. The higher the tin content, the more silver the final color. A common misconception is that all pewter products contain lead. Although used in the past, lead is virtually never used to create pewter steins. Primarily, steins are component cast - that is, the lids, bodies, handles and special ornamentation are separately made. Pewter is also occasionally rolled or hammered. The final color is a result of the tin content, polishing and chemical antiquing.

Crystal

A clear, high-quality glass. Please don’t confuse this with lead crystal, which is a material consisting of 24% or more lead monoxide. The body is hand-cut, hand engraved and/or patterned by the mold. They are case hardened, usually are mouth-blown and often feature transparent coloring on the exterior or the interior of the body.

Glass

The least expensive of all popular materials. Unlike the procedure for making stoneware, pewter, and crystal steins, glass bodies and handles are formed in one mold. Also, the lids are often attached by machine. The bodies are usually transfer-decorated and the only hand work involved usually is the application of a decoration.

Ceramic Materials

Ceramic steins fall into one of five categories according to the quality of the ceramic mass, the raw materials, the firing temperature, the color, and density.

– Earthenware
(German-Irdenware, Topferware) - A colored mass that is porous (absorbs liquid) until is is glazed. It is fired at a temperature around 1,000 degrees celsius.

–Ceramics
(German-Keramik) - Slightly porous, light-colored ware, usually fired at about 1,050 - 1,080 degrees celsius. It must be glazed to make it impermeable.

– Creamware
(German-Steingut/Feinsteingut) - White earthenware with a lead glaze. Contains Kaolin (a fine white clay). It is fired twice, once at 1,150 - 1,180 degrees celsius without a glaze, then decorated, glazed and fired again around 900 - 1,000 degrees celsius.

– Stoneware
(German-Steinzeug) - Hard material, fired in high temperature, kilns generally around 1,200 - 1,400 degrees celsius. At this temperature, stoneware vitrifies (becomes glasslike). The resulting product is less than 2 percent porous, therefore, glaze is not mandatory for a stoneware stein. When glaze is used, it must be of special quality to withstand the high kiln temperature.

– Porcelain
(German-Porzellan) - True porcelain, known as hard paste, is made of Kaolin (white clay) and Petuntse (pulverized granite). When fired at a temperature of 1,300 - 1,400 degrees celsius, these ingredients produce a white, more or less translucent, glasslike material.

Evelyn Whitaker writes articles for German Toasting Glasses http://www.german-toasting-glasses.com which specializes in custom engraved wedding gifts from Germany.