Join your fellow AAAA members at the 2021 AAAA Virtual Winter Retreat! Participate in this eagerly-awaited event from the comfort of your own home on the Zoom meeting platform. Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 23, 2021.

To be involved in the Zoom meeting, you need one of the following: desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer, or smartphone. For those new to Zoom, we will be conducting three on-line "practice sessions". Involvement in one of these sessions should totally prepare you for participating in the Retreat. Dates will be announced soon.

The Virtual Winter Retreat will bring you some of the most popular events of the AAAA annual Conventions. Here is the schedule of activities:

Room hopping will conveniently take place on the AAAA web site. No Zoom involvement will be required. We are expecting at least 40 sellers of vintage advertising, including a number of prominent national dealers. All genres of antique advertising will be represented at a wide range of price points. The photo above shows the Virtual Room Hopping page from the July, 2020 AAAA Convention.

Room hopping will re-create the buying experience at our annual Conventions. Participants will visit the Virtual Room Hopping page on the AAAA web site and will find themselves gazing down the hallway where rooms on each side contain treasures that await them. They will click on any dealer's "door" to be presented with items for sale. Sellers will be contacted directly to ask questions and make purchases.

Like our regular conventions, Room Hopping will be opened up to the broader public on Sunday, January 24. This event will be heavily promoted nationally in several antiques publications. We are hoping to draw several hundred shoppers from across the US. Room Hopping will continue to be available on the AAAA web site for several days after the Retreat.

Be a Seller! Whether you just want to cull a handful or items from your collection or are a dealer with extensive inventory, please consider becoming a seller. There are no fees, commissions or any other types of charges. In addition, your profits won't be reduced by travel, hotel, food or other expenses. This is a great sales opportunity at a time not much else is going on. Sellers will have access to a user-friendly on-line tool to upload, arrange and remove photos, contact information, and, if desired, descriptions and pricing. If you want to be a seller or have questions, click here.

E-mails with more specific information about the Virtual Retreat will be sent to all AAAA members between now and January. Please watch for them so you are kept up to speed.

Our Virtual Convention this past July was a big hit and we expect this event to be every bit as successful. If you didn't participate in July, please attend one of the practice sessions and then join us in January.

If you have any questions about the AAAA Virtual Winter Retreat, click here.

The September, 2020 issue of PastTimes featured the spectacular "David Yount Collection of Hoosier Antique Advertising". All of the items in this collection have a Hoosier, Indiana, or Indianapolis connection. Space limitations prevented us from including all of the items we hoped to share. Therefore, we are pleased to present the additional items in the gallery below for your enjoyment. If you'd like to contact David, feel free to to email him at: [email protected].

As previously reported, Chuck Kovacic conducted a very well received seminar on the restoration of antique advertising at the 2020 Virtual Convention this past July. This presentation inspired at least one AAAA member to avail himself of Chuck's extraordinary work. Remey Rubin actually had Chuck previously restore a sign for him a number of years ago. He was very pleased with the outcome. His previous experience, along with the additional encouragement of the seminar, prompted him to send one of his tin signs to Chuck for restoration.

Just a few weeks later, Remey received a sign that was unrecognizable as the rusty and stained old sign that he had recently shipped to Chuck. Here are the before and after photos:

What was previously an object with virtually no appeal or value was transformed into a gorgeous sign that anybody would be proud to display in their collection. Remey reported that he was thrilled with the results.

Chuck welcomes your restoration questions at [email protected]

On September 25-26, the Indy Ad Show was conducted under the new management of Route 32 Auctions, owned by Kevin and Jill Parker. In the months and weeks leading up to the show, the Coronavirus epidemic and the change in show ownership placed a cloak of uncertainty over the event. However, soon after the doors were opened, it was apparent that this show continues to be alive and well.

An impressive number of dealers were present displaying a dazzling array of high-quality and rare examples of antique advertising. Dealers were set up both inside and outside. The crowds were reported to be similar in size to previous recent Indy Ad Shows. Sales were reported to be brisk the first day and slower the second day, similar to past years.

The Indy Ad Show is one component of the "Boone County Treasure Hunt", which also included a Gas & Oil Show and an Antique Market. Admission to all three shows cost $10.00. It took place at the Boone County Fairgrounds, located in Lebanon, Indiana, about 20 minutes northwest of Indianapolis. A new building was recently opened, adjacent to the main Pavilion. The new structure received high marks from attendees. Many reported that it was nice to have a brand new building with additional rest rooms conveniently attached to the main buildings.

Route 32 Auctions is well-known primarily for its sales of gas and oil antiquities and some had expressed concern that the Indy Ad Show would follow suit. That was not the case, however. The show continued to follow the path that has made it a favorite among a broad spectrum of antique advertising enthusiasts.

Route 32 also conducted a successful auction of vintage advertising on the grounds after the show closed on Saturday. It included approximately 350 lots.

The owners of Route 32 Auctions graciously provided a complementary booth to AAAA to help promote the club. That gesture of collaboration is greatly appreciated!

The Indy Ad Show will return April 30-May 1, 2021 at the Boone County Fairgrounds. For more information, go to: www.boonecountytreasurehunt.com.

Some photos of this event appear below:

The 53rd edition of Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide is now available. Eagerly awaited each year by antique collectors world-wide, this new volume boasts 11,500 all-new actual prices and 3,000 color photographs. It includes more tips, marks, logos, and photographs than any other similar title. Values are based on actual sales data from the previous year, rather than estimates.

This 592 page book is encyclopedic in its scope. Kovels' Guide is the only reference volume that covers the entire spectrum of antiques and collectibles. It carries a cover price of $29.99. It is readily available from Amazon and other book outlets online and in retail settings.

Terry Kovel is the foremost expert on antiques & collectibles in the United States. She has authored or co-authored with her late husband Ralph, over 100 books.

She has been an avid collector of antiques her entire life and has always had a special fondness for antique advertising, as evidenced by the country store in her basement. She was the keynote speaker at the AAAA Convention in 2014. The 2021 edition of the Price Guide devotes 15 pages to antique and vintage advertising with many photos.

No library of antique advertising can be considered complete without a copy of the current volume of Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price Guide.

We featured a three-part series on advertising Needle-Books by Toni Fraser in the March, June, and September, 2020 issues of PastTimes. We are pleased to offer a compilation of this extensive 10 page article. Click here to download a PDF copy of the compiled document for saving or printing. We extend our appreciation, once again, to Toni for sharing her world-class collection with us.

Robert (Bob) Copeland, a long-time member of AAAA, has passed away. Bob was very instrumental in the early years of the club. He also helped Fred Dodge with creating and publishing several books on vintage advertising that were instrumental in helping collectors with references and pricing. His wife Sharon also was active early in the years of the club. Bob will greatly be missed. Our condolences go to Bob’s wife, Sharon and family.

We received news that Trish Brown recently passed away. She was the widow of Gus Brown, former AAAA Board Member, who passed away in 2013. Trish was a real presence in her own right and, along with Gus, assembled one of the major collections of antique advertising in the US. A very sweet and caring person, Trish valued her friendships dearly. As a collector, she had a good eye for the unusual.  She will be missed.

October 21, 2020. Soulis Auctions. Country Store. For more information, go to: dirksoulisauctions.com

October 22-24, 2020. Chupp's Antique and Advertising Auction. For more information go to: https://www.auctionzip.com/Listings/3470854.html

October 29-31, 2020. Morphy Auctions. Coin-Op and Advertising. For more information, go to: morphyauctions.com

October 31, 2020. Soulis Auctions. Halloween Day Auction featuring Coin-Op, Advertising, and Mantiques. For more information, go to: dirksoulisauctions.com

November 7, 2020. Past Tyme Pleasures. Online Auction consisting of 200 lots of fine vintage advertising items including Brewiana, Hunting & Fishing, General Store, Saloon, & Western Americana. Look for catalogue on-line at pasttyme1.com.

In this column are those sought-after items of desire that seem to be elusive. If you know where any of these items can be acquired or if you have one available, please click the link to reply directly to the seeker. To place a listing in this column, click here. There is no fee for AAAA members. Up to three listings per member are permitted.

Banjo related advertising wanted Pre-1940s. Long time collector buying banjo company signage, catalogs, billheads, periodicals, minstrel banjo items such as posters, broadsides, sheet music ( pre-1870s ) with illustrated banjo covers, early photographs showing banjo players (pre-1915). My main collecting interest is in 19th century material. To reply, click here.

Wanted top condition: Squirrel Brand Salted Peanuts 10 lb store tin; Convention Hall 1 lb coffee tin (Kansas City tin) yellow and/or green version; Gail and Ax Navy tobacco tin (kidney shaped pail); Sunflower brand 1 lb pry-lid coffee tin (Atchinson, Kansas). To reply, click here.

Antique American Medicine Bottles by M. Knapp... soft cover book with price guide. Printed in 2012. [email protected] or 781-248-8620 also, see my other want ad for Clarke’s ephemera and bottles.

Looking for 3 Vintage Tins: American Eagle "Oriental Mixture" tobacco (dimensions approx. 6.5" long, 2 3/4" wide, 1.5" tall); 1 Gal. Indian Head Hydraulic Brake Fluid; and Packham´s Caramel Toffee. Any offer is welcome and any condition considered. To reply, click here.

Advertising Thermometers Pin-Up Girls: Only 1900 to 1960 with or without the calendars. Any information on these thermometers would be welcome since I can not find any books, articles catalogs or anything relating to these advertising pieces. Trades and purchases sought. To reply, click here.

Morton Salt, older items, and also Pacific Coast Borax, especially a crate or box. email [email protected] or call Peggy Dailey 612-522-9211

Comic Book-Related Advertising Items: Must be from before 1980. To reply, click here.

Clarke’s Vegetable Sherry Wine Bitters, Sharon, MA & Rockland, ME: All sizes, variants, smooth/pontil base. Especially need labeled Clarke’s any size! Also, any Clarke’s ephemera…trade cards, almanacs, newspaper ads, etc. Charlie Martin Jr., 781-248-8620. Email: [email protected]

George Petty: Advanced collector looking for unique or rare items. Photo’s, store displays and non paper items. NO Esquire pages. Pete Perrault. To reply, click here or call (502) 290-7661.

Ice Cream Advertising: Mr. Ice Cream desires better graphic ice cream advertising including: postcards (Advertising and RPPC), trade cards, letterheads, billheads, booklets, poster stamps, blotters, magic lantern slides, pinbacks, watchfobs, and pocket mirrors. Allan Mellis, 1115 West Montana St. Chicago, Illinois 60614-2220. [email protected] To reply, click here.

Stock food, poultry food, veterinary advertising wanted. Posters, medicine packages, give-aways. Email [email protected] or call (256) 520-5211.

Singer Sewhandy Model 20-Green-regular paint, not hammertone. To reply, click here.

National Biscuit Company, Nabisco, Uneeda Biscuit, Uneeda Bakers, Muth Bakery, NBC Bread toys, signage, tins, containers, displays, historical items. Please Email [email protected] or call (937) 205-2232.

Early Cigarette Rolling Papers: Pre-1940’s - American, Zig Zag, Braunstein Freres, Bambino, and Ottoman papers wanted. To reply, click here.

Antique/Collectible Banking and Financial System "Give-a way" and advertising items. Specifically from Pennsylvania. Alarm devices and such. To reply, click here.

VITAMINS advertising, displays, signs, bottles, and anything related: Hadacol is an example. Most would come from the 1930’s thru the 1970’s. Also anything related to cod-liver oil and WEIGHT-LOSS, REDUCING, ANTI-FAT, and OBESITY ITEMS. To reply, click here.

Early tin signs lithographed by Tuchfarber, Wells and Hope, Worcester Sign Company, Sentenne and Green, etc. I can pay more for good condition, but would be interested in any condition. Don Lurito [email protected] also in the directory. To reply, click here.

Dwinell-Wright Co. Royal Ground Spice Cardboard Spice Boxes. One side displays horizontally. Approximately 3.75" by 2.25". Any type of spice is OK. To reply, click here.

ENSIGN Perfect and ENSIGN Perfection vertical pocket tobacco tins to enhance my collection. Feel free to contact me at 614-888-4619 or [email protected] to see if you can help fill the voids.

Edmands Coffee Company, Edmands Tea Company, 1776 Coffee, American Beauty Tea, Japan Tea, Devonshire Tea, (imported by Edmands, Boston/Chicago): Any items such as tins, signs, paper, or anything else related to the Edmands family of companies in Boston is desired. To reply, click here.

The AAAA Checkerboard is a monthly e-newsletter that is made available to all AAAA members at no cost. The mission of the Checkerboard is to increase knowledge about antique and collectible advertising among AAAA members. The Checkerboard also provides news and updates about AAAA. It is produced each month with the exception of the four months per year when the award-winning PastTimes print newsletter is published. Paul Lefkovitz ([email protected]) serves as the Editor of the AAAA Checkerboard. Copyright 2020, Antique Advertising Association of America