Taxing the piss out of us – literally:
Not long ago we posted a photo and written description of a Roman Glass scented oil vial that we have in our shop (Mid 1 Century A.D.). Just looking at the piece transported us back in time as we tried to imagine what it might have been like hanging out with the likes...
Cat’s Paw Rubber Heels
Antique collecting is a hobby that can be gratifying on so many levels. Of course there is the most apparent benefit; the prospect of making a few dollars (for some lucky collectors it’s a lot more); there’s also the thrill and rush of the hunt (finding or hitting a...
Eye Popping or what?!
When it comes to the guillotine there is one tale that I’ve told (and been told) time and time again… I’ll be the first to admit the details (and the ending) of the story do have a tendency to change according to the whims of the teller (or the number of drinks that...
District Messenger Boy Board Game: The 1886 Rags to Riches Games
Historians are well aware (or at least game board historians) that the Pilgrims and Puritans of the USA frowned on game playing and viewed many board games and dice as instruments of the devil. It’s for this reason precisely that we love hard-to-find board games such...
The discovery of the Feejee Mermaid
How can you not just love reading old newspaper stories, particularly the types that just reek of fraud, scandal and sheer sensationalism. One particular favorite of ours is a story that caught the attention of readers from around the world in the mid 1800s. When it...
