Art & Antiques
Published March 9th, 2008
By Dr. Lori
Big Bucks for Old Books
Today, some of the most common questions that I field about appraising relate to old books. Most people are aware that books with important illustrators bring high prices like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with John Tenniel illustrations or books from the early 1900s by artist Charles Dana Gibson featuring his popular “Gibson girls”.
Illustrations aside, books of all types are desirable collectibles. Whether you are interested in displaying or digesting your old books, collectors galore are assembling enviable libraries.
For years, history books and other referential tomes have been regularly regarded as sound investments. For instance, the two-volume History of the Expedition under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark… was the first description of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Published in Philadelphia in 1814, the two-volume set boasts at least a $60,000 price tag today.
Super Stories
Collectors always enjoy a good story and, historically, a good narrative drives market interest and prices. The myth that only rare and antique books will bring high prices is just that—a myth. Here are some valuable books that were published in the early to mid 1900s. For example, the J. R. R. Tolkein classic, The Hobbit, published in London in 1937 offers collectors a great tale and a significant value. A first edition copy of this book in good condition with its original slipcase retails for $25,000. The 1931 work by Dorothy Parker entitled After Such Pleasures commands about $1,500. Titles by groundbreaking 20th Century authors such as James Joyce, Maya Angelou, Ernest Hemingway, and Joseph Heller interest collectors. Condition is a factor and original dust wrappers, dust jackets, and slipcases can increase the value of any book.
Getty Library
A slipcase was not in the cards when the Getty Museum paid millions for a first edition copy of The Canterbury Tales. The Getty purchased a circa 1470 copy of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales printed by British publisher William Caxton. The Getty Museum paid a remarkable $7,565,396, a record for any printed book. The book was one of only 9 surviving copies.
Wise Up
While you may not have a book worth of $7 million, odds are that you have a book or two that could spice up your life with some extra cash. So, before you throw those old books into a box and bring them to the community yard sale or a local dealer’s book barn, find out what mysteries and monies your bookshelves hold. Get an unbiased appraisal from someone who doesn’t want to buy your books first. Remember, that old book may offer both a good read and some real greenbacks.
As seen on Comedy Central and WFLA TV’s DayTime, Dr. Lori is a certified art and antiques appraiser with the Ph.D. in art history. For a full schedule of Dr. Lori’s public antique appraisal events, visit www.DrLoriV.com or call (888) 431-1010.
Cruises
By Michael Coleman
CRUISES 1:
The 382-guest Silver Shadow has raised the bar on ultra-luxurious travel at sea
CRUISES 2:
Guests aboard the Silver Shadow enjoy a quiet, un-hurried onboard lifestyle
Silver Shadow raise bar on luxury ocean travel
Saying goodbye is never easy.
My recent departure from the ultra-luxurious Silver Shadow was a parting filled with sorrow.
Over the course of a nine-day Caribbean voyage I had been hypnotized by the ship’s elegant surroundings and seduced by an ambience unmatched by any cruise line afloat.
The service was enthralling and conviviality between guests enjoyable but now the dreaded witching hour had arrived. It was time to leave the vessel to return to mere mortal, land-based pursuits.
Extending one’s vacation experience aboard the 382-guest ship, however, or planning the next Silversea voyage while still onboard is a pastime in itself for guests.
Some, like the affable gentleman and his wife from Wales, would not depart until long after their original itinerary had concluded. The thought of returning to land was not yet in the cards. Another couple, Silversea staples, took leave from their Swiss residence and would not return home until three months later.
A highly-engaging New York widower had already lined up a series of voyages for 2008 to all corners of the Silversea globe. And, a New Mexico businessman with ties to the White House, enjoying his first Silversea experience, may never cruise on another line again.
Such is Silversea. Loyal, well-traveled guests with a penchant for luxury come calling time and time again. And, it’s easy to see why.
Silver Shadow patrons enjoy spacious, ocean-view accommodations (most with private veranda), gourmet cuisine, personalized service, gracious hospitality and a generous selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities including complimentary drinks, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, 24-hour room service, stocked in-suite beverage cabinet and gratuities.
Complimentary butler service is provided in the Grand, Royal, Rossellini and Owner's suites.
Most voyages also include a complimentary shore-side event. On this trip, the line had rented an uninhabited, sun-drenched island for the day exclusively for guests. Prickly Pear, an oasis in the British Virgin Islands, served as a backdrop to an outdoor beach barbecue featuring silverware, linens, fine wine and other tasteful Silversea accoutrements. Bartenders even waded into the turquoise surf, complete with floating trays.
As one might expect from a luxury cruise, the all-encompassing culinary component is as important as the most intriguing of port calls. Silver Shadow features a host of onboard dining venues and a variety of culinary options and wine pairings to tickle anyone’s fancy.
There’s a main dining room, - The Restaurant - Terrace Café (breakfast and lunch), pool-side grille and reservations-only La Terrazza (dinner). An upscale dining room – Le Champagne – is the ship’s most intimate venue. Reservations are required.
Even room service aboard the ship is not to be missed. In-suite dining, presented course-by-course, may be the ultimate way to unwind from a busy day in port.
Add production shows, spa facilities by Steiner, a casino and a well-stocked humidor and one can empathize with guests who seek to prolong their stay.
The dilemma - to depart or not to depart - plays out daily.
Next time, Part 2 – We won’t say goodbye to Silver Shadow just yet. Cruise Guide will detail the "Suite Life’’ onboard.
Recipe
Four-Cheese Baked Bow Ties
“Quatre Fromage Farfalle.”
Put a feather in your cap and call it macaroni.
Recipe Ingredients:
½ stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter
¼ cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups milk, warmed (prevent lumps)
28- to 32- ounce cans whole Italian tomatoes, drained,
reserving 1 ¼ cups juice, and chopped fine
1 pound bow-tie pasta
1 ½ cups coarsely grated mozzarella cheese (about 6 oz.)
½ cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese (about 2 oz.)
½ cup diced Italian Fontina cheese (about 2 oz.)
1 1/3 cups freshly grated Romano cheese (about 4 oz.)
½ cup finely chopped fresh parsley leaves (preferably Italian flat-leafed)
Recipe Directions:
Preheat oven to 375°F and butter a 3 to 4 quart gratin dish or other shallow baking dish. In a heavy saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat. Add flour and cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes. Add milk and reserved tomato juice in a stream, whisking, and bring to a boil, whisking. Stir in tomatoes and salt and pepper to taste and simmer until thickened, about 3 minutes.
In a kettle of salted boiling water cook bow-tie pasta until just al dente, about 8 minutes, and in a colander drain well. In a bowl stir together pasta, sauce, mozzarella, Gorgonzola, Fontina, 1 cup Romano, and parsley and transfer to prepared dish. Sprinkle pasta with remaining 1/3 cup Romano.Pasta may be made up to 6 hours ahead and chilled, covered. Bring pasta to room temperature before baking.
Bake bow ties in middle of oven 30 to 35 minutes, or until golden and bubbling, and let stand 10 minutes before serving.
Serves 6 as an entrée.
Jewelry
By David Stern
Now is the time to buy
Inflation is upon us. On March 5, 2008, gold closed at $976.00, platinum at $2,187.00 and silver at $20.21. In February 2007 the prices were $655.00 for gold, $1165.00 for platinum and $13.65 for silver, an increase of approximately 50%.
Diamond prices have increased an average of 15% at the wholesale level. New import duties are being levied for countries that were previously exempt.
Most jewelry stores, whether independent or multi store operations, purchase their inventory for their yearly sales early in the calendar year. When their current inventory is sold this season, the new cost of manufacturing jewelry could increase by as much as 30%.
Add to this the devaluation of the dollar against the euro with no end in sight, now is the time to buy jewelry.
As many of you have jewelry that you do not wear for various reasons it would be smart to take advantage of the price of metals now before they increase again and remake your jewelry into a new design that will work for your lifestyle. As your existing pieces contain the gold or platinum your only cost would be for labor.
Indications are that all metals will continue to increase in value as the demand for their use outpaces the availability. As in some cases, it is becoming more expensive to mine, recover, refine and transport for manufacture into new product.
Note: This is a personal opinion and is not intended as advice to purchase raw materials or commodities.
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