Madison Bay Company was founded in 1976 by John Leib as a part-time business while he was teaching high school. He had been collecting historical photographs and his archive grew quickly from five civil war photos to over 15,000 historical images. In 1990 his son Troy joined him in the business, which has expanded to include historical reproductions of Colonial, Civil War, Indian, Western and Nautical items. Compasses ($14.95 to $34.95) and Boxed Sets ($32.95 to $75.95) This 14" Telescope ($85.95) fits perfectly into the Brass & Wood Box ($25.95) At Vintages we have an excellent selection of Madison Bay Company's brass compasses and telescopes. These are perfect gifts for the nautical enthusiast, geographer, cartographer or world traveler. Any desk or bookshelf would look terrific with one of these displayed. But they are more than just for display, as the optics on the telescopes are excellent and the compasses are accurate. Check our selection online or ...

Das Kupferestichspiel des I.M.F. von 1617 (Reproduced 1979) • Courtesy Rod Starling Playing cards are a popular collectible. The cards, decks and boxes can be pretty fantastic on their own, but these little works of art are one of the ultimate cross-collectibles. Beyond the basic playing card decks, boxes and cards are used for advertising, travel scenes, historical images, world's fair souvenirs, children's games, and more.  Johann Hieronymus Loschenkohl's 1806 Musical Playing Cards (Reproduced 1981) • Courtesy Rod Starling Playing cards originated in ancient China and were introduced to Europe as part of the trade with the Orient in the 14th century. The early cards were hand decorated, something that is still done today on special decks. We especially like the decks that have different images on the front of each card. Southern Pacific Railroad issued a number of these showing the sights along the routes it traveled. While most collectors collect complete decks,...

We have again partnered with Los Gatos Recreation to offer a class about antiques. This Fall 2012 class will focus on Collecting Vintage Jewelry. It will be held on Tuesday nights, October 9th through November 6th. More information below ... Set aside the dates and plan to join us. Jewelry from the past continues to be both a hot collectible and a brilliant fashion statement. Modern costume jewelry just does not have the special beauty of pieces from the mid-20th century. Vintage jewels are like miniature works of art, some classic, some flashy and all of it enduring. The class will cover the history, designs and fashions of jewelry from as early as the Egyptians and up to modern trends. In each class session we will discuss a different time frame, looking into what was behind the designs, who the leading jewelers were and what makes the best “the best.” Classes will also cover topics to help give you an understanding of fashions and materials, as well as a basis ...

Something old, something new Something borrowed, something blue A silver sixpence in her shoe This old Victorian good luck rhyme has been applied to weddings, specifically to the bride, for over a century. Something old connects the bride to her family's past. Something new displays the bride's future happiness. Something borrowed from a happily married family member or dear friend conveys the hope of such happiness being transferred to the newly married couple. Something blue represents purity. And in the last verse, usually forgotten, the sixpence represents financial security and future wealth.  June has been the traditional month for weddings. In fact, the month of June is named after the Roman Goddess of marriage, Juno. The tradition has remained for a couple of millenia. In fact, summer is the most favored time for weddings, so June does usher in the "wedding season." So for all the Summer Brides out there Vintages offers some wonderful jewelry and acces...

The latest Country Living (June 2012) had this feature on Cute Coops. As they put it: For the birds? Hardly. These decorative cages make perfect perches for plants, books, and more. We agree. Vintages has carried bird cages and bird houses for years. We love them ... maybe because we love birds. We look for nice decorative and usable cages and houses. Here's our current selection Selection of birdhouses and garden goodies. Birdhouse on stand ($84.95 each) Beachy-style birdhouses made from recycled wood slats ($39.95 each) • Wire birds ($15.95 each Miniature bird in hanging birdcage ($9.95 each) Vintage birdcage - one-of-a-kind ($165.00) • Metal shore birds ($64.95 & $84.95 - one each available) Large wire bird cage on stand with removable bottom ($695.00 - one available) Bird cage style cloche with pot & saucer ($36.95 each) Colorful hand crafted birdhouses ($45.95 to $53.95 each) • Miniature birdhouses ($14.95 each)

I found this beat up little book True Dog Stories , written by Albert Payson Terhune and illustrated with fantastic etchings by Diana Thorne. The book is aimed at children and is filled with short stories about real adventures of real dogs.  But the stars of the book, in my opinion, are the fifteen black-and-white etchings by Diana Thorne. These prints capture not just the details of several breeds of dogs, but seem to get into their emotions, revealing their character as well as their beauty. Albert Payson Terhune's True Dog Stories with etchings by Diana Thorne, published in 1936 Diana Thorne was born Ann Woursell on October 7, 1895 in Odessa, Russia. She emigrated from Russia and Germany due to persecution in those countries, and eventually arrived in New York in 1920. She is well-known for her canine etchings, but did illustrate and publish books in a variety of genre, produced i...

The SFO Museum just launched a new exhibit in Terminal 3 at the airport. Entitled, Threading the Needle: Sewing in the Machine Age , it explores the world of sewing after the advent of the mechanical sewing machine.  Toy sewing machines from the exhibit For approximately 20,000 years, hand sewing with needles and thread made from various materials remained unchanged. When the sewing machine was first introduced to American homes in the 1850s, it was heralded as a laborsaving device that would transform the domestic lives of women everywhere ... The popular and influential Godey's Lady's Book soon coined the sewing machine "the queen of inventions" and declared that every family in the United States should own one. Sewing tools and accessories are wonderful collectibles. Not only are there myriads of styles and combinations of sewing trinkets around , but people who sew are the ultimate crafters, making and modifying tools to suit their needs. Porcelain pincush...