What do you do when you get so much of 1 thing that it overwhelms you. The reason you have so much of that one thing is that you love it, or you wouldn't have collected it in the first  place. I have come to the crossroads. I can't have more until I sell some!

This is my dilemma with vintage books. I love them, I love the history, the way they look, the smell, the story behind the stories. I love how they feel when I turn the pages, but above all, I love the anticipation. The knowledge that the next page you turn can take you somewhere you couldn't imagine. The anticipation of opening a book by a new (to you) author, and finding a new favorite. I remember reading Harlan Coben for the first time and feeling comfortable in the rhythm and pace, the dialogue and deciding he was my new favourite for now; until the newest Stephen King is released. 

So, what do I do. My shop is jammed with vintage, signed, antique, first editions and pre first editions. I have a regular supply coming in and I just know that in that next box of books will be a signed Gone with the Wind or a 1st edition Mark Twain. So...it's time for a book sale. Till the end of May, all books in the store are 50% off. It doesn't matter if it's 240 years old, or 2 days old. Everything including comics. If you don't live near, let me know what you may be looking for. I just may have it for you!

I know, the only thing you ever find at garage sales are tupperware, kids clothes and old bathroom items. Ya, not so much. If you know how to do it, you can find gems. These 2 items were found last week on a city wide Mother's day garage sale. Heavily advertised throughout multiple communities. Must have been lucky right? 
Luck started the night before when I did some quick recon and figured out where all the sales would be. I was on the street shortly after 7 am. Yes, the signs said starting at 9, but people have to open the doors and bring out all that stuff. That takes time. First garage sale I politely stood in the yard and yelled. Well, maybe not so politely, but I could see they were up and the garage door was open. First person there and I scored this stunning 1920's display humidor for Tennyson cigars. Sold it 2 days later. Moral, get there early!

The cool railway signal light below was found the next day! It was't out for display, it was sitting in a shed a hundred yards away. How come I got it? Simple, I asked! "Do you have anything else that is not here that is old and you would consider selling"? Simple question that nobody else asked.  This was after 10 minutes of wandering with the owner, talking up items, building a rapport with him, getting to know him. I quite simply told him I buy to sell. He had no problem with that at all. 

You can find great items. These were found in a community of 700 people. Total spent? Less than $100. You just have to have a plan. And get up early.

Simply put, ephemera is paper and no it is not curable. Ephemera is a catch-all that quite simply is one of the easiest, most inexpensive ways to enter the collecting hobby. You probably have an ephemera collection and you didn't even know it. Do you have postcards, matchbooks, song sheets, old cheques, letters, bills of sale, pictures, contracts, stocks and bonds or cards, menus, or anything else made of paper hanging around? Congratulations, you are a collector of ephemera. 
The most difficult thing about collecting ephemera is narrowing your focus. The above photo is from a collection of vintage song sheets. I have hundreds of them. You may collect matches (not as easy as it once was) from every city or hotel or restaurant you ever went to; or postcards from the same. Limitless possibilities. If you decide to sell your ephemera, there are hundreds of thousands of buyers just waiting. You probably won't get rich, but you will certainly have fun. 

Everybody...got milk! Everybody...got a buck. Yes you can. You can easily start a collection on the cheap. Sports cards, comics, dolls, toy cars, plastic soldiers, buttons, matchbooks...on and on. You can also pick up bottles cheaply and easily. From coke to milk, poison to bitters, ink to liquor, there are hundreds of different collectables. The milk bottle featured above was picked up for $3. This vintage 40's milk bottle is worth about $100-$145. Not a bad investment. 

Have a look at this investment, well, technically they got if for free, which is even a better price. Currently the auction price is over $20,000 with over 45o people watching. Not likely to be a bitter disappointment. (sorry)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271851622774?rmvSB=true