Monday, March 28, 2016
Ok I wasn't kidding when I said "digging up" the artifacts. Click on the listing to the right that has the dog tag. It was dug up at a known battlefield site in Belgium and includes some other pieces from a deceased vet. That kinda creeped me out a little - not sure what the rest of you think about it. Is it treasure hunting when you find dead soldiers belongings in a battlefield?
Often times in the WWII category some strange items bring big bids. Click on the binocular mount pictures below to see an example of this. I wouldn't even know what to do with this item but some folks have bid it up over $400.
Click any of these text or picture links to see the best items in the smaller categories within WWII. Listings from the UK, Japan and Russia are included here and many are ending soon.
I am not an expert on WWI but I do like that complete doughboy uniform pictured below. As I go to publish this issue there are only 2 hours left but I think it might see some last second bidding.
Friday, March 25, 2016
To close out the last day of Spring Break we are watching a really great documentary called Apocalypse which is a 6 part series on WWII. It's on Netflix and by the end of the day we will have made it through 3 episodes. Check it out if you have not seen it yet.
There are some great American auction listings today in the Hot Finds. My favorite is the Airborne Infantry patch and I'm not alone. It's up to $800 with 19 bids so far.
When you watch these documentaries you understand how there are so many vet bring backs from the war. One video I watched said there were an estimated 42 million deaths between military and civilians in the European theater.
The auctions in this block include some hot picks from the other countries that took part in the war. Click to see some of the best live auctions in the category.
The picks in this block feature the ones in the WWI category that are getting the most bids. Click on any of these links to see what's going for top money.
Monday, March 21, 2016
This week we are counting down until Spring Break. Even with vacation around the corner you can depend on your Hot Finds editor to get out issues on time twice a week.
There are several uniforms and insignia in today's
issue of the newsletter. These listings are pretty regularly featured in the Hot Finds as they typically get great bids and do well on eBay.
Top German listings are included in this block including uniform parts, bayonets and more.
The final WWII block in the newsletter features items from Japan, Italy, and other countries from corners of the world that were part of the war. The auctions featured here have a lot of bids and are doing well.
The auctions in WWI are featured in this block which is a smaller category but has a lot of crossover.
For some reason March has been a really good month in my antique mall booth. I guess with the weather turning the snow birds are heading back north. Both of my booths site along I-95 have seen sharp increases in action. Whatever the reason I'm happy about it.
Friday, March 18, 2016
Click to see these United States auctions that are getting bids and ending soon. I try to pick the hottest listings as defined by the number of bids and their amount. It's not a science but it always finds some good ones that your own search methods may have missed.
That's a pretty scary gas mask below. I think they've created a couple of horror movies based on guys wearing that and chasing pretty girls with a knife.
You can find some truly unique items in this block dedicated to items from some of the other countries that were part of the war. Today you can find some familiar medals and the ever present listing for a Japanese sword.
Click to see the top selling items live in the World War I category on eBay. It's a much smaller category but ringing in a century old you can see why.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
First up on the ballot today we have an excellent US Army Air Force wool jacket from an estate. The mannequin and outdoor lighting really catches the eye. You can also find a great tankers helmet that has 33 bids already and is ending soon.
Maybe it won't surprise you to learn that since the time I build this newsletter that the German hat pictured below has been removed. I guess that happens all the time in this category.
I'm not into Russian medals but the Order of Lenin pictured below already has bids over $1000 so it's worth paying attention to.
Click to see what the best items in the WWI category are as determined by bidding action. You can find several swords and even an early gas mask listed.