The wildly popular large Audubon "Birds of America" prints were originally printed in the 1820s-30s, and have been reprinted many times since, including as everyday posters. Luckily for collectors, identifying the original large prints are surprisingly easy if you know what to look for. An original large 1820s-30s Audubon "Birds of America" print should have … Continue reading How do you know if one of those big John James Audubon bird prints is original?

1800s Harper's Woodcuts, or woodcuts prints from the magazine Harper's Weekly, are popularly collected today. The images show nineteenth century life, including stage actors, sports, US Presidents, war, high society, nature and street life. Though originally black and white, some of the prints have been hand colored over the years. As age is important to … Continue reading Authentic coloring?

Ceramics (cups, bowls plates, jugs, figures, etc) are divided into three major categories: stoneware, earthenware and porcelain. This post is a very quick identification to which of the three is that figurine in the antique store, bowl in the estate stale, or coffee cup your kitchen cabinet. It is usually easy to make an identification, … Continue reading A very basic guide to identifying ceramics

Many paintings have been reproduced. Reproductions range from the blatantly obvious to the more deceptive. I assume I don't have to explain to you that the Mona Lisa on your umbrella isn't the original. However reproductions can be more realistic, can be on canvas, framed and even with fake brush strokes. A number of well … Continue reading Identifying reproduction paintings

Though its value has fallen a bit in recent years, the pictured 1933 Goudey #106 Napoleon Lajoie has traditionally been one of the most coveted baseball cards due to its rarity. It was produced during the American depression as part of a colorful 240 card set by The Goudey Gum Company, a Boston manufacturer of … Continue reading Manipulative gum companies and a famously rare baseball card

Similar to the problem with translating poetry is the problem in trying to present old works of arts in modern times.Many wish to present a Shakespeare play or Verdi Opera the way it was originally presented, and there are complaints about colorizing old black and white movies.Advocates of original presentation often refer to a work … Continue reading Presenting old art ‘authentically’

Hand signing a print is a relatively recent thing, starting in the late 1800s. Original Rembrandt and Durer prints are not hand signed. Durer prints often have his monogram as part of the printed graphics.In modern times, the artist's hand signature on an original print shows that the print was personally approved as finished by … Continue reading Hand signing of art prints

The dull silvery metal can be identified because it contains lead and will make a mark like a pencil on paper.

Did you know that most 1800s photographs are made out of eggs? Photographic prints require a clear substance to both hold the photochemicals to the paper and allow the chemicals to react, or develop, under sunlight. 1800s photographers found that albumen, or egg whites, worked best. Photo paper manufacturers often had chicken farms on site … Continue reading egg photos

In the Middle Ages West, the blue paint ultramarine was as valuable as gold.  Ultramarine was considered a pure, divine color and was extremely difficult to make.  Amongst other things, it was used with genuine gold and vermillon (a type of red) for important illustrated documents, the robes of the Virgin Mary were ultramarine and … Continue reading ultramarine