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Additional Information:
www.BetchaBook.com (to purchase book)
www.BestAntiqueTips.com (e-newsletter)
www.ValueThisRadio.com (radio show website)
www.YourFavoriteAppraisers.com (professional appraisers website)

Trivia Fact:

A Bonus For Honus

 

Baseball cards.  You can collect 'em… You can swap 'em…  And you can sell 'em for BIG bucks  ---   if you know what to look for.

 

The "mother" of all baseball cards is the Honus Wagner T-206 tobacco card.  One was sold on eBay recently for $1.1 million!

Tobacco card?  That's right tobacco! 

 

The first baseball cards didn't come with chewing gum for the kiddies, folks.   They were used to promote tobacco products to the big boys.

 

In the late 1800's, "trade cards" were used by merchants and salesmen to advertise their wares and their store addresses.  The cards were attractive and eye-catching…not to mention free…so they immediately became collectibles.

 

And speaking of phenomenon, let's get back to our man behind the plate… 

 

John Peter "Honus" Wagner -- known as "The Flying Dutchman" -- is considered one of the greatest shortstops in history.  He was one of the first five players to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

 

Honus is a baseball great, but it’s not his maneuvering between the bags that make the Wagner T206 tobacco card the Mona Lisa of baseball cards.  It’s their rarity.

 

Why so rare?? 

 

It seems Honus objected to the use of his name to promote smoking, without being properly compensated.  He demanded that the manufacturer -- the American Tobacco Company -- stop production. 

 

They're as rare as a triple play!  Only 50 or 60 Honus Wagner cards were ever distributed.

 

Sidebar:

Peck and Snyder

You've heard of Sears and Roebuck, Abraham and Strauss, Brian and Leon…but do you know Peck and Snyder?  P&S manufactured baseball equipment after the Civil War and advertised their products with trade cards featuring prominent baseball players of the day.  P&S’s cards were different from today’s trading cards that carry no advertising, just pix and stats.

©Copyright 2008-2009

Betcha Can't Read Just One! 101 tips, tricks, trivia, and secrets of the antiques and collectibles world, packed into 168 pages. A book filled with collecting tips, strange antiques trivia, humor, and insider information on finding overlooked bargains in the antiques and collectibles world. Radio talk show hosts, TV personalities, and professional appraisers Brian Kathenes and Leon Castner share their sixty years of combined experience in this off-the-wall, fun-filled journey. This book is for the rest of us -- the people who don’t have a three million dollar table for the Antiques Roadshow. It’s a quick read, presented in short blurbs, side bars, and articles that will expand your knowledge and give you plenty to talk about over the water cooler and at your next party. You’ll discover a few surprises in your attic, garage, or kitchen junk drawer that are worth more than you thought. And find out which items you should have thrown out years ago. Castner and Kathenes cover the world of antiques and collectibles with topics including: Baseball: The American Past Time Autographs Collectibles and Memorabilia: The Eclectic Life Presidential Artifacts: Hail to the Chief Coins and Currency: We’re in the Money Stamps: Post-it Notes Ads and Advertising: Battle of the Brands Americana: Three Cheers for the Red, White and Blue Furniture: Highboys, and Footstools and Chairs, Oh My! Clocks: It’s About Time Dolls: Play With Me Pottery: Dishing It Up Glass: NO Stone Throwing Hollywood: Tales From Tinsel Town Comedy & Comedians: Make ‘Em Laugh Science & Technology: The Science of Science Collecting Appraisal Tips From the Pros How To Identify A Qualified Appraisal Lessons In Diamonds Spotting Fakes and Forgeries They also included a special bonus section loaded with free reports, newsletters and coupons valued at more than five times the price of the book. Betcha Didn’t Know That! 101 Antiques and Collectibles Trivia Tips That Can Make You Rich, Famous, and the Hit of the Party Volume 1 -- With Special Bonus Section By: Leon Castner and Brian Kathenes ISBN: 978-1-60097-002-3 LCCN: 200793021 Library Distributor: Quality Books, Inc.

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"The Grand Prize goes to Brian & Leon for a book filled with fun factoids, tumultuous trivia and hysterical historic information about collecting. This book is a big winner, a must read for all appraisers, auctioneers and collectors of STUFF!" Tim Luke (HGTV’s “Cash in the Attic”)

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