Notes on collecting
Guides, insights, and observations for collectors, dealers, and the curious.
The Great Stuff Transfer: What Happens When Boomers Leave Behind a Lifetime of Things
76 million boomers are passing down $90 trillion in assets — and a tsunami of stuff.
April 10, 2026Wedgwood Marks by Year: A Dating Guide (1759–Present)
How to read every Wedgwood mark from hand-impressed stamps to modern backstamps, with a complete three-letter date code decoder.
April 20, 2026How to Identify Antique Silver Hallmarks: A Complete Visual Guide
A visual field guide to reading British, American, French, and European silver hallmarks. Four marks, 725 years of history, and how to tell sterling from silver plate in sixty seconds.
April 20, 2026Why Antique Dealers Offer 10–30% of Retail
The margin math behind the offer, what you’ll net through each sales channel, and how to know the real price before you negotiate.
April 19, 2026Circa vs AntiqSnap: A Side-by-Side Comparison
Two AI-powered antique identifiers, two very different ideas of what an appraisal should look like.
April 19, 2026Circa vs Curio: A Side-by-Side Comparison
One app writes a beautiful description of your antique. The other tells you what someone will actually pay for it.
April 19, 2026Circa vs Zophi: A Side-by-Side Comparison
A community feed and a cheap subscription are good things. They’re not the same thing as a good appraisal.
April 19, 2026Antique Price Guide: What Your Old Stuff Is Actually Worth
A practical guide for people who inherited old things and have no idea what they’re worth.
April 10, 2026What to Look for at an Estate Sale
A dealer’s checklist for spotting value before everyone else does.
April 3, 2026How to Spot Fake Antiques: A Collector’s Authentication Guide
Up to 50% of artwork may be forged. Five physical checks that catch most fakes without special equipment.
April 14, 2026Understanding Auction Estimates
Auction estimates aren’t price tags. Here’s how houses set them and what they mean for buyers and sellers.
March 21, 2026Starting a Collection: Where to Begin
You don’t need expertise or a large budget. You need a point of view.
March 14, 2026How to Care for Antique Furniture
Less is almost always more when it comes to maintaining old pieces.
March 7, 2026What Makes an Antique Valuable?
Rarity, condition, provenance, and demand — in that order.
February 28, 2026