June 15, 2001
Greetings Accumulators!
Bet you thought I forgot about you. No such thing! No, recent events have simply conspired to keep us apart. I hope your weather has been wonderful, your health excellent, and your finds fabulous. Today I'd call this city The Steamed Apple. There has been a blanket of haze and humidity sitting on us all week long. The major and most catastrophic result of this is, of course, that my hair is very curly. I resemble at this moment a person wearing a mop on her head. Sigh.
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF PERHAPS IT'S THE WATER IN NEW YORK THAT MAKES THE LEGISLATORS LOSE THEIR MINDS
AntiqueWeek carried a story a couple of weeks ago about a bill up for a vote in the New York State Assembly. If it passes, the law will require anyone who buys or sells any secondhand item worth more than $50 to keep copious records, including the driver's license number of the purchaser. These records must be available for inspection by the police. Can you imagine buying a used radio at a yard sale for which you re paying cash, and being asked to produce your name, address, and driver's license? Can you imagine, if you're a dealer, having to keep these record books (it has to be a bound book!) forever, in case the police want to see them? Who's the idiot that thought that one up? Our esteemed lawmakers are apparently trying to keep track of stolen merchandise in this manner. I have news for them: real thieves won't keep any records. It's a pointless and unenforceable law. If you are a resident of New York State, you must write to your state representative and complain about this - and do it now! Everyone in business is responsible for a mountain of paperwork already. We certainly don't need this ridiculous requirement for more. And how stupid does one have to be not to see that it's the buyer who needs to keep a record of the transaction, not the seller, if what you want to do is trace stolen merchandise? Apparently, you have to be as dumb as a New York State legislator. For more information and a sample letter you can send to your legislator, write to Tina or John Bruno, of Flamingo Promotions at Flamingoshows@msn.com.
TRULY TASTELESS COLLECTIBLES DEPARTMENT
Alert Accumulators (Those Fabulous Dunnes) sent me this link. Frankly, I'm astounded.
http://www.catholicsupply.com/christmas/sports.html.
UPCOMING SHOW: ANYTHING BUT CHINTZY
Accumulator Karen Stopper wants you to know about the International Chintz
Collector's Conference, taking place in Portland, Oregon this
summer, July 11-14. This event is bringing collectors and chintz enthusiasts from all over the US and the world; Australia, New Zealand, England, and The Netherlands. There's also the huge Portland Exposition Antiques Show taking place that weekend, and one of the 'perks' of registration for the chintz conference is 'early-bird' entry to the Expo and free transportation. For more information, contact Karen at antiqsplus@email.msn.com.
Okay, Accumulators - I wish I could say I won't miss anymore Fridays with you, but I can't say that - it's tough in the summertime. Next weekend Artie and I will be at the Ft. Washington Paper, Book and Memorabilia Show in Fort Washington, PA. If you're in the nabe, stop by and say "hi". And bring money. Have a great week, Accumulators. Happy hunting!
Best,
Judith
© 2001 Judith Katz-Schwartz. All rights reserved.
Antiques and Collectibles Newsletter #151
U.S. Library of Congress
ISSN 1520-4464
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