With the surplus of children’s books coming through the Depot, we thought this would be a great topic.

Did you know the Dr. Seuss book your mother read to you as a child could now be worth several thousand dollars? It’s true. First edition Dr. Seuss books in excellent condition with the original dust jacket are a collectors dream, though identifying a true first edition can be difficult unless you know what to look for.

Some great examples:

In Horton Hears A Who! first edition, Horton has a full ear on the back cover, with a cloud and a five branch tree. In later issues, Horton’s ear is cut off by text, no cloud is present and the tree has two branches rather than five.

First edition Bartholomew and the Oobleck has a blue cover and blue dust jacket, but future editions are red.

In first edition And To Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street (published in 1937), Marco’s shorts are white on the front cover and in later printings they’re blue.

For more information and identifying tips for Dr. Seuss first editions, check out the book First Editions of Dr. Seuss Books by Helen and Marc Younger / Dan Hirsch

SOURCES:

http://1stedition.net/blog/2007/01/horton_hears_a_who_1954.html

http://modernfirsteditions.net/dr-seuss-first-editions/

http://1stedition.net/drseuss.html

http://1stedition.net/beginnerbooks/bbback01.html

http://www.bookpoi.com/bartholomew_and_the_oobleck_by_dr_seuss_first_edition_identification.html

http://www.alephbet.com/dr-seuss-guide-to-first-editions.php

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Looking for a quick and easy way to update an interior space without painting your walls?

One word: Lighting.

At The Depot we have a wide variety of lighting fixtures and with the correct lighting, you can make a room appear larger, taller or cozier. Lighting can change the way a room looks and feels just as much as the color of the walls.

You could have a new room in no time with our lighting options available below:

For tips on how change your room just by using light, click here.

Albert Hadley said it simply in The Story of America’s Preeminent Interior Designer, “Design is defined by light and shade, and appropriate lighting is enormously important.”

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We continue to see beautiful Depression Glass pieces come through The Depot and thought it would make a good topic.

Depression Glass, with bright translucent colors and intricate patterns, was known for its affordability during the Depression area. Mostly sold at the 5 and 10 stores, it was commonly made into plates, bowls and cups between the 1920s and the 1940s.

Avocado, Bubble, Manhattan and Round Robin are just a few of the 100 plus patterns (click here for an extensive list) manufactured in colors such as clear, pink, pale blue, green and amber. You can also find Depression Glass in less common colors such as yellow, marine, opaque pale green and blue, cobalt blue, amethyst and white (milk glass).

Depression Glass Examples

In the 1960’s, Depression Glass became very popular among collectors and continues to be to this day. Over the past 50 years, it has become increasingly harder to find, especially in full sets, but you can easily find single pieces or a pair of glasses. Prices vary, but on average you can find a single piece between $5-$10.

SOURCES:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depression_glass

http://www.suziemax.com/History-of-Depression-Glass.html

http://www.ehow.com/about_6503104_information-value-depression-glass.html

http://www.ebay.com/

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Over the past several months, we have become aware of several newspaper and magazine columns dedicated to antiques. Here are four favorites:

Anne Gilbert’s Antique Detective takes a particular antique item and gives its history, tips on care and often value. She is known as the Antique Detective to several major newspapers and is the author of nine books on antiques, collectibles and art.


Antique Trader: Ask AT
Ask AT tackles submissions on antique items using the Antique Trader panel of experts.

Cowan’s Corner offers knowledge about historic Americana items. Columnist Wes Cowan is an international expert in the field, featured appraiser on Antiques Roadshow and History Detectives as well as the founder and owner of Cowan’s Auctions, Inc.

Larry Koon’s Treasure in The Attic has an informal style and is an easy read for anyone new to antiques. He offers a variety of topics, often does a Q&A and provides pricing for each item as that is his specialty. He is the author of several price guide books on antiques and collectibles.


Help us add to this list. Who are your favorite antique columnists?

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Regular Depot customer Amanda Russ of Concord loves the Depot so much that we interviewed her to find out why.

Depot: How did you hear about The Depot?
Amanda: I heard about The Depot from my future mother-in-law. We were talking about antiques one day and she told me there was a big shop right here in Concord.

Depot: What was your first impression?
Amanda: The first thing that crossed my mind was, wow this place is huge!  

Depot: Were you overwhelmed or excited by its size?
Amanda: I was excited, because I have been to many antique shops but never to one that big. There was so much to explore!

Depot: Were you shopping for something specific?
Amanda: The first time I went it was just 45 minutes before closing time but I saw enough to know I would be back soon.

I am getting married in August and saw many things that would be perfect for our wedding. 

Depot: Did you go back and purchase anything for your wedding?
Amanda: Yes, I bought a couple of beautiful antique jars for the sand ceremony and a small antique trunk to hold gift cards. Both will be accent pieces for my home after the wedding.

Depot: Will you be back? Have you told others about The Depot?
Amanda: Definitely. I have my eye on a painting and have already hinted to my parents and a couple of friend about wedding gifts.

Depot: What would you tell others who don’t know about The Depot?
Amanda: Go when you have time. If you rush through it, you are going to miss something.

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Everyone has heard of Antiques Road Show, but antique appraisal and treasure hunting TV shows abound these days. Check out the ones we found and let us know your favorites.

Antiques Road Show – http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/

Watch the traveling show that offers free antique and collectable appraisals from the nations leading experts.

American Pickers – http://www.history.com/shows/american-pickers

Follow pickers Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz as they drive all over the US in search for a forgotten gem they can restore to its former self.

Auction Hunters – http://www.spike.com/shows/auction-hunters

This show follows Clinton “Ton” Jones and Allen Haff as they hunt for treasure in the unclaimed property auction business.

Auction Kings – http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/auction-kings/

Go behind the scenes at auction house Gallery 63 with owner Paul Brown and follow the process of acquisition and sale of distinctive items.

Cash in the Attic – http://www.hgtv.com/cash-in-the-attic/show/index.html

Expert appraisers Tim Luke and Christine Downing scour attics, garages and basements for obscure heirlooms and see if the families will sell their items after the revealed value.

Junk Brothers – http://www.hgtv.com/junk-brothers/show/index.html

Brothers Steve and Jim Kelley literally make one man’s trash another man’s treasure.

Hollywood Treasure – http://www.syfy.com/hollywoodtreasure/about

Travel the world with Joe Maddalena as he searches for Hollywood and pop culture memorabilia.

Oddities – http://dsc.discovery.com/tv/oddities/

This show concentrates on strange science artifacts through the company Manhattan’s Obscura Antiques & Oddities.

What the Sell – http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/what-the-sell

Watch a family of appraisers run their Chicago based antique store, The Perfect Thing.

And remember, with 460 vendors and 88,000 s.f. of merchandise at The Depot, you don’t need TV to find antiques or collectibles. It’s all here under one air-conditioned roof in Concord, NC.

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With so many valuable items passing through The Depot, this week we decided to interview a local antique appraisal expert about her experience in the business.

Vivian Riegelman, ASA, ISA CAPP is the owner of AAA Appraisal in Charlotte, NC. We originally met Vivian when she spoke at a Depot event for the Charlotte Chapter of the Interior Design Society (IDS).

Depot: How did you get started in the business?

Riegelman: I started in the antique business in New York City in the early 1970’s. I was writing scrapcraft articles for teen & children’s magazines and would hunt the thrift shops for usable junk. Although I really knew nothing about antiques, I would occasionally come across something that looked old to me and would buy it to consign to a friend’s antique shop. It didn’t take me long to get hooked on the stuff.

Depot: How long have you been practicing in Charlotte, NC?

Riegelman: I have been in the Charlotte area since 1978 and started selling at Metrolina shortly after that. I opened an antique shop in Waxhaw after we moved here in 1982.  I went to Indiana University in 1988 to start learning about appraising.

Depot: What is your expertise/specialty?

Riegelman: I am a generalist and know a little bit about a lot of things, but I tend to concentrate on late 19th/early 20th century antiques and collectibles – particularly glass, ceramics, silver & furniture.

Depot: What has been your most valuable find yet and why?

Riegelman: Valuable does not always mean most expensive. The single most expensive thing I own is a Victorian walnut etagere that I bought at a local auction. The most valuable is a Vienna bronze epergne with swinging blackamoors that I saw at a Miami Beach Antique Show. I fell in love with it but couldn’t afford it; my boys chipped in and bought it for my birthday.

Depot: Have you found anything special at The Depot?

Riegelman: I purchased a lovely cobalt blue Nippon vase with floral decoration that now graces my dining room.

Depot: If you could give one piece of advice to someone who loves to collect antiques, what would it be?

Riegelman: Study, study, study. Learn as much as you can about the things you love.

Learn more about Vivian and her appraisal services at http://www.charlotteantiqueappraiser.com/.  To reach her, call (704) 843-4033.

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Antique wooden furniture can go from grimy to shiny with a little elbow grease.  Seeing so many wonderful wooden pieces come through The Depot at Gibson Mill lately inspired us to find out how to clean, restore and preserve them.

We found the following sites helpful and worth passing along:

How to Clean Grime Off of Antique Wood | eHow.com
How to Clean and Restore Antique Wood | ehow.com
How to Restore Wooden Furniture Finish | tlc.howstuffworks.com

It’s important to note that wooden valuables should be maintained by a professional.

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Well, not really, but their looks speak volumes. Even at a glance, you can often tell the age, value and sometimes the manufacturing location of an antique glass bottle.

Age: The seam line, also known as the mold line, is the quickest way to determine age according to where it ends along the bottle. Click here for date break down.

Value: Keep three things in mind…condition, color, and embossing.

- Condition: The closer the bottle to its original state the higher the value. Remember to avoid chips, cracks, stains or visible wear.

- Color: There are many variations of color. The more unusual the color the higher the value.

• Low Value Colors: Clear, Amber and Aqua
• Medium Value Colors: Black, Teal Blue, Green, Olive and Milk Glass
• High Value Colors: Vaseline Glass, Purple, Yellow Green, Cobalt Blue and Puce

- Embossing: The more embossing the better specifically detailed information and unusual or crude designs.

Manufacturing Location: Embossing was commonly used to relay information about the contents or the bottle itself. Often you can read the manufacturer and patent date. Sometimes the maker, proprietor, state, city, or other pertinent information can be found as well.

The Depot has hundreds of antique glass bottles for sale and you may have some around your home so take this new found knowledge and see what these bottles are saying.

SOURCES:

http://antiques.lovetoknow.com/Value_of_Old_Bottles

http://www.sha.org/bottle/pontil_scars.htm

http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-Date-the-Age-of-Glass-Bottles_W0QQugidZ10000000001631665

http://www.bottlebooks.com/determin.htm

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Since the 1800s, feedsacks have been reused and recycled.  Back then, the ‘waste-not’ farmer’s wife realized the cloth could be repurposed in a variety of ways such as dish cloths, diapers, dresses, pillowcases, laundry bags, and quilts.  Feedsack manufacturers capitalized on the trend by creating sacks in a variety of patterns, designs and color combinations as you can see here.

Today people are even decorating with feedsack cloth.  One Depot vendor, Susan Allen Gibson in booth #3SG, has dedicated her booth to this new trend.  A collector of antiques and vendor in various malls for the past 18 years, she has started a new line of handmade feedsack pillows ranging in price from $20-$75. (on left.)

Want to make your own? You can also find feedsack cloth on eBay ranging in price from $9-$25 depending on the size and condition.

SOURCES:
http://www.quiltersmuse.com/collectible_feedsack_cloth_and_q.htm
http://www.quilthistory.com/feedsacks.htm
http://www.ebay.com

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