Features
Pull over and stay awhile Midcentury roadside motels offer personality, vintage charm
Artist Norman Rockwell’s illustration “Marble Champ” beautifully depicts the intense competition of marble play. (Image courtesy of Etsy) June 2026 Cover Story Pull over and stay awhile Midcentury roadside motels offer personality, vintage charm by Corbin Crable…
Knuckle Down Marbles remain the small wonder of the toy world
Artist Norman Rockwell’s illustration “Marble Champ” beautifully depicts the intense competition of marble play. (Image courtesy of Etsy) May 2026 Cover Story Knuckle Down Marbles remain the small wonder of the toy world by Corbin Crable There’s plenty of debate…
Making dinner delightful Fiestaware brings color to the party
Soup, salad, cereals, salsa, snacks! There is a perfect bowl for everything, according to Fiestaware Factory Direct. (Image courtesy of fiestafactorydirect.com) April 2026 Cover Story Making dinner delightful Fiestaware brings color to the party by Corbin Crable…
Collecting Coca-Cola Coke antiques chronicle company’s history
Retro advertising poster shows Coke hawker at girl’s ballgame. (Image courtesy of pinterest.com) March 2026 Cover Story Collecting Coca-Cola Coke antiques chronicle company’s history by Corbin Crable When it comes to collectibles, nobody beats Coca-Cola. The fizzy…
Adorable Keepsakes Hummel figurines come from religious background
“Sister’s Children” limited edition figurine, created to celebrate Hummel’s 100th Anniversary, sold at auction for $3,750 in 2021. (Image courtesy of invaluable.com) Jan/Feb 2026 Cover Story Adorable Keepsakes Hummel figurines come from religious background by Corbin…
Deck the halls with Hallmark Keepsakes help collectors make their season merry and bright
Hallmark’s Christmas offerings include more than ornaments for your tree. This tabletop decoration pays tribute to “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” which first aired in 1965. (Image courtesy of Hallmark.com) December 2025 Cover Story Deck the halls with Hallmark Keepsakes…
An ode to the Mother Road
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash March 2026 Everything Old An ode to the Mother Road by Corbin Crable If you ever plan to motor west Travel my way, take the highway that’s the best Get your kicks on Route 66 It winds from Chicago to L.A. More than two thousand miles…
Don’t lose your marbles: American games at the turn of the century
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash March 2026 Everything Old Don’t lose your marbles: American games at the turn of the century by Corbin Crable Get your favorite cat’s eye polished, because in this issue of Discover Vintage America, we’ll be doing a deep dive into the…
A celebration of craftsmanship
Photo by Viktor Forgacs – click ↓↓ on Unsplash March 2026 Everything Old A celebration of craftsmanship by Corbin Crable It seems like there’s a day and a month designated to just about every cause, awareness, and activity out there. This month, we honor the handmade…
Coca-Cola’s not-so-secret ingredient
Photo by Fabian Schunk on Unsplash and Photo by Iulia Buta on Unsplash March 2026 Everything Old Coca-Cola’s not-so-secret ingredient by Corbin Crable Before we get into the history of Coca-Cola collectibles in this month’s issue, let’s address the elephant in the…
Making Valentine’s Day extra sweet
Photo by Joanna Stołowicz on Unsplash Jan/Feb 2026 Everything Old Making Valentine’s Day extra sweet by Corbin Crable Here at Discover Vintage America, we’ve covered the history of Valentine’s Day, the history of Valentine’s Day cards, and even the story of how those…
Kansas City’s veritable Christmas playground
The annual tree lighting at Crown Center, Kansas City, MO December 2025 Everything Old Kansas City’s veritable Christmas playground by Corbin Crable If you’ve ever sent or received a greeting card, chances are, it was a Hallmark card. But the Kansas City-based…
Prices vary for early Russel Wright-designed items
1927 – 2023 ANTIQUE DETECTIVE Prices vary for early Russel Wright-designed items by Anne Gilbert The big hunt for Russel Wright (1904-76) Fiesta pottery, chrome objects and furniture that began in the late 1970s and ‘80s, has leveled off, as have prices. It all…
Would you recognize a Chinoiserie-finish antique?
May 2023 ANTIQUE DETECTIVE Would you recognize a Chinoiserie-finish antique? by Anne Gilbert Japanning or Chinoiserie Whether you call it Japanning or Chinoiserie, if it was made before the 20th century, call it expensive. Even some examples made in the early 20th…
Once-popular painted porcelain plaques can be pricey and reproductions
April 2023 ANTIQUE DETECTIVE Once-popular painted porcelain plaques can be pricey and reproductions by Anne Gilbert Painted Porcelain Plaques Back in the 1970s and ‘80s, 19th-century small or miniature painted porcelain portrait plaques were hot collectibles. When…
Silver jewelry from Native American artisans
May 2026 Good Eye Silver jewelry from Native American artisans by Peggy Whiteneck Most Native American jewelry consists of silver with natural stone or shell insets. However, those purchasing it should be aware that Native American jewelry has been widely imitated by…
You might see a geisha girl in a teacup
April 2026 Good Eye You might see a geisha girl in a teacup by Peggy Whiteneck I purchased a Japanese lithophane (AKA lithograph) teacup at an antique mall several years ago. Unless it was marked as such or unless one looked carefully, it would have gone unidentified…
Shaker antiques: A gift to be simple
March 2026 Good Eye Shaker antiques: A gift to be simple by Peggy Whiteneck A religious sect called Shakers, founded by a woman with the modest name Anne Lee, came to New York from England in the late 18th century. The group’s official name used after emigrating to…
America’s greatest hits – quilting edition – Part III
June 2026 Covering Quilts America’s greatest hits – quilting edition – Part III by Sandra Starley This seminal year is the perfect time to review the rich heritage of American quilting. I hope you enjoy this overview and start your own tour of American quilts…
America’s greatest hits – quilting edition – Part II
May 2026 Covering Quilts America’s greatest hits – quilting edition – Part II by Sandra Starley Creating a presentation on 250 years of American Quilting and Quintessentially American Quilts for the American Quilt Study Group was a fantastic opportunity to…
America’s greatest hits – quilting edition – Part I
April 2025 Covering Quilts America’s greatest hits – quilting edition – Part I by Sandra Starley In crafting a presentation on 250 years of American Quilting and Quintessentially American Quilts for the American Quilt Study Group, I had a wonderful history…
Greenwood celebrating America’s 250th with outdoor markets
June 2026 Greenwood celebrating America’s 250th with outdoor markets The shops that make up Greenwood’s Antique District are gearing up to mark the country’s 250th anniversary with special events. The Celebrate USA Outdoor Market gathers them all in the sunshine to…
Merchant Square packs June with variety of events
June 2026 Merchant Square packs June with variety of events Merchant Square Antique Marketplace in Independence is keeping its calendar full this month. June revs up the fun with a classic car show on June 6. Live music will be on site, and remember to stop inside for…
Get ready for a berry good time at the Vaile Mansion Strawberry Festival
June 2026 Get ready for a berry good time at the Vaile Mansion Strawberry Festival Independence’s Vaile Mansion will be the site of summer fun when the mansion hosts its annual Strawberry Festival on June 6. Shop for crafts and antiques from vendors on site, listen…
Arkansas traveling: retracing a 1921 road trip
May 2026 Vintage Discoveries Arkansas traveling: retracing a 1921 road trip by Ken Weyand My Aunt Florence was unique in her day. The oldest of eight orphans, she became a social worker and later a state employee in Arkansas, where she lived most of her life. One of…
Pennants helped students show school spirit in 1914
April 2026 Vintage Discoveries Pennants helped students show school spirit in 1914 by Ken Weyand My “cedar chest of family history” produced another couple of items: a pair of college pennants, well over 100 years old. They were among the few things my dad, Elmer…
Making a telephone call was challenging in the 1940s
March 2026 Vintage Discoveries Making a telephone call was challenging in the 1940s by Ken Weyand Growing up in the 1940s on a Missouri farm had its challenges, especially coping with the nearly four miles of dirt roads that separated our family from the nearest…
“The No. 1 Price Guide to M.I. Hummel: Figurines, Plates, Miniatures, & More” – By Robert L. Miller
February 2026 Books for Collectors “The No. 1 Price Guide to M.I. Hummel: Figurines, Plates, Miniatures, & More” By Robert L. Miller By Corbin Crable Any devoted collector of M.I. Hummel figurines knows there’s more to the brand than just the small…
“The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Metal Lunch Boxes,” 2nd ed. By Allen Woodall and Sean Brickell
September 2025 Books for Collectors “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Metal Lunch Boxes,” By Allen Woodall and Sean Brickell By Corbin Crable School days have officially returned, and with it, memories of that fabulous piece of pop culture, the lunch box….
“Tomorrow’s Heirlooms” By Trina Robbins
March 2025 Books for Collectors “Tomorrow’s Heirlooms” By Trina Robbins By Corbin Crable Ladies of the 1960s and ‘70s often looked pretty in polyester (and paisley, too). Twenty years of fashion trends for women are covered in Trina Robbins’ “Tomorrow’s…