home | Local Time: 28th November, 2024 5:29 PM
Fabulous Beasts and How to Collect Them
Author | Debra Palmen
Regular readers of the magazine will be familiar with Debra and her easy reading style of writing, with her ongoing series Secret Sources as well as her regular features covering everything from the history of butter to fairy collectables. Fortunately for us, Debra has collated her stories into a series of books to be enjoyed by anyone with an interest in antiques and collectables, history and strange customs. Her previous book, Travel & Shop the World for Free, knocked Antiques Roadshow expert Eric Knowles off his perch for the most number of digital downloads when it was released. Her new book, Fabulous Beasts and How to Collect Them, is poised for the same success (both books are also available in normal print format).
Fabulous Beasts (Book 1) covers the fascinating social histories and vintage collectables for some of our favourite creatures: dogs, cats, chickens, plus bees, dragonflies and peacocks, as well as fairies, mermaids and unicorns. Says Debra: "I utilize my qualifications in social anthropology to bring you the stories and quirky facts surrounding some of the world's favourite animals. But what makes the series unique is drawing on my long experience as an antiques dealer (more then 30 years) to discuss the collectables associated with each animal. I outline what's valuable, what's not and why."
If you've enjoyed the features in ACPP, you'll love the expanded chapters here. Written in her usual easy-to-read and highly entertaining style, Debra presents us with historical and anthropological facts as well as folklore for each creature, before delving into the possibilities of collectables for each one. "In a nutshell, my aim here is to entertain and inform," she says. "I trust you not only enjoy reading about your favourite animals, but if you want to start an antique or vintage collection the knowledge you gain here should help you make informed decisions and avoid costly mistakes." It's a great read, and we highly recommend it.
Fabulous Beasts and How to Collect Them: 135pp, A5 soft cover. RRP:$28 incl. postage. Available direct from the author: 0419 427 598 or www.frenchandvintage.biz
Travel & Shop The World For Free
Author | Debra Palmen
This book is subtitled: How To Turn Antiques & Vintage Shopping Into Free International Travel. Now, if you're a bit of a sceptic you're probably already thinking, yeah, right. As if I can do that. But wait! Before you make a rash decision, consider this: author Debra Palmen makes her living by travelling and shopping the world for free. And she has plenty of hints for you if you're willing to give it a try.
Debra and her husband Doug have spent the last 30 or so years buying and selling antiques and vintage, and in this book Debra is sharing what they've learned. "I wish someone had taken us under their wing and told us their buying secrets when we first started," she writes. "We learned what to do over a long time, through lots of trial and error. But you don't have to... I'm sharing what we've learned. This book details exactly what works for us... All our secrets are revealed, from things you might think of to details you wouldn't guess."
The book is split into two main parts. Part One contains the How To instructions, such as planning an itinerary, booking accommodation, where to shop, equipment you need, shipping your stock home and dealing with the bureaucracy. Anyone who's read Debra's features in this magazine will know she has a very engaging, chatty style of writing and it definitely helps make Part One interesting, but it can't disguise the fact that becoming an international trader in antiques is hard work and a big risk. Which leads us to Part Two, because...
Part Two is the fun part, and even if you never intend to travel and shop as a business - and let's face it, most of us never will - you'll get heaps of travel information for wherever in the world you'd like to go and maybe do some personal antiquing while you're there.
Fancy a trip to the UK? Don't forget to visit the town of Diss. You've probably never heard of it, but that's the point of this book! Diss, says Debra, is an English hamlet with a population of 7000 and one of the most interesting antiques and vintage auctions you'll find in England. Spending some time in London? Follow the list of antique centres, shops and markets and make sure you're there on the right day for the best fairs. Travelling up to the Midlands? You'll need the chapter on navigating Newark: the biggest antique fair in Europe.
Maybe you fancy a path less trodden. Finland, for example. Yep, Debra and husband Doug have been shopping for antiques in Helsinki and you can benefit from their experience. They've also been to Bruges, Hong Kong, Monaco, Montsoreau, Paris, Morocco and Istanbul. You can shop for antiques in all of them.
This is a really nicely presented book. Each chapter has a stunning image of the area under discussion, and the chatty (and often amusing) tone of the text makes it a very easy read. And there's no denying the quality of the advice. For example, in the chapter on Bruges, Debra says: 'Something not mentioned in the guidebooks but well worth visiting are Bruges' charity shops. There are only a few, but they can yield a wealth of excellent pieces at extraordinary prices. People throw this stuff out? You'll exclaim as you scoop it up.' She also gives excellent advice on how to avoid the Queue Police at the Shepton Mallet Markets in England, and how to get in front of everyone else waiting patiently at Montsoreau: 'It's to your advantage that so many visitors know enough to get there early, but not enough to know the only rule when it comes to buying the stock: first in, best dressed. If you move quickly and discreetly, you'll manage to buy from a number of stands before your competitors realise, Hey! Someone else is shopping! While we're standing here like dills! The hordes will then bolt down the ramp and a buying frenzy will ensue.'
Travel & Shop The World For Free is two things. It's a serious guide for anyone intending to set themselves up in the business of international antiques trading, and it's a jolly good read for anyone who's ever wanted to add to their collection while travelling (wouldn't that be nearly all of us?). Only now, you can do it with insider knowledge. Highly recommended.
You can get a copy of this book for FREE when you buy the Carter Sisters Handbook & Price Guide - it's a special offer available ONLY at this website: www.cartersisterssnapsale.com.au
Travel & Shop The World For Free: How To Turn Antiques & Vintage Shopping Info Free International Travel | Debra Palmen | Published 2016 Debra Palmen | 252pp, colour illustrations, soft cover | RRP $34 including postage | www.frenchandvintage.biz or call 0419 427 598
The Bronze Lady
Author | Kathy Morgan
Previously we told you about a new series of books by Kathy Morgan. The first in the series, The Limner's Art, was a really entertaining read so I was more than happy when the second one arrived in my mailbox. The Bronze Lady continues with the lives of the characters we met in The Limner's Art, but this time it focuses more on auctioneer Paul Black, who seems to be the target for the dispersal of fake bronze figures. I can't give too much away because I still have about 100 pages to go, but so far it's been just as good as The Limner's Art.
I love Kathy's attention to antique detail - you can tell she's been in the trade and her style of writing is tailor made for antiques and collectables enthusiasts. Both The Bronze Lady and The Limner's Art are part of the Woodford Antiques Mystery series, with more to come. And dare I say, they would make the perfect Christmas stocking filler!
The Bronze Lady | Author Kathy Morgan 330pp soft cover | 130mm x 205mm Published 2016 Stormybracken Publishing
RRP approx. $15 paperback or $2.95 Kindle www.amazon.com