Features
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...
A salute to militaria Military collectibles preserve history of service to country
Examples of militaria from the Great War can be found at the National World War I Museum and Memorial in Kansas City, MO. (Image courtesy of U.S. News and World Report Travel) November 2025 Cover Story A salute to militaria Military collectibles preserve history of...
Tales of the unknown Ghost stories still spook, delight us
Edgar Allan Poe, considered one of the writers who kicked off the golden age of ghost stories, penned many a terrifying tale in his time – including a short story called “The Black Cat,” in which a seemingly supernatural cat takes center stage as the narrator reels...
That nifty neon Neon signs brightly beckon our collective nostalgia
The interior of the American Sign Museum in Cincinnatti, OH. (Image courtesy of The American Sign Museum) September 2025 Cover Story That nifty neon Neon signs brightly beckon our collective nostalgia by Corbin Crable Petula Clark’s 1964 hit song “Downtown” made neon...
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...
An illuminating experience
Photo by Horst Heuck on Unsplash November 2025 Everything Old An illuminating experience by Corbin Crable Arecent issue of Discover Vintage America shone a light on neon lights – their history, their function, the way they evoke a sense of yearning for an earlier age....
Spiritualism, mummy crazes enveloped Victorian Era
Photo by Edward Xu on Unsplash October 2025 Everything Old Spiritualism, mummy crazes enveloped Victorian Era by Corbin Crable This month’s issue of Discover Vintage America will help conjure up some good, old-fashioned ghouls and spirits with our lead editorial on...
Let’s do lunch! Lunch boxes display pop culture trends
Image generated by Adobe Firefly September 2025 Everything Old Let’s do lunch! Lunch boxes display pop culture trends by Corbin Crable When I was in elementary school in the late 1980s, a pretty girl in my class slipped me a note in the opening days of the school...
How do you display your collection?
March 2023 ANTIQUE DETECTIVE How do you display your collection? by Anne Gilbert Curio Cabinets Whether a collection is large or small, over the centuries, furniture was made just to show it off. It began in ancient Rome, with royalty and the wealthy, who used table...
Toy farm tractors come to town for child and adult collectors
February 2023 ANTIQUE DETECTIVE Toy farm tractors come to town for child and adult collectors by Anne Gilbert Antique Toy Farm Tractors Farm toys have been collected for decades. One of the most popular categories is the small toy farm tractor. While late 19th century...
Victorian Gothic revival furniture can be weird and pricey
December 2022 ANTIQUE DETECTIVE Victorian Gothic revival furniture can be weird and pricey by Anne Gilbert Victorian Gothic revival furniture You might think that Victorian Gothic revival furniture was made for Halloween. The carved, devilish-looking heads on chairs...
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...
Big deals in store for Iowa’s Largest Arts and Crafts Show
September 2026 Big deals in store for Iowa’s Largest Arts and Crafts Show You won’t have to drive far to find bargains at Iowa’s Largest Arts and Crafts Show this fall. The show, sponsored by Callahan Promotions Inc., collects more than 250 exhibitors...
Join the fun at the Harvest Hoedown Flea Market at Jesse James and Rusty Chandelier
September 2026 Join the fun at the Harvest Hoedown at Jesse James and Rusty Chandelier Jesse James Antique Mall and The Rusty Chandelier in St. Joseph will have bargains indoors and out when they host their Fall into Savings Sale, Sept. 25-27. Wares from...
Save the date for the next What Cheer flea market
September 2026 Save the date for the next What Cheer flea market Who couldn’t use even more sunny cheer this fall? For that, the What Cheer Flea Market has you covered. The famous flea market will take place Oct.1-4 on the Keokuk County Fairgrounds in...
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...
Old-time winter adventures remembered
February 2026 Vintage Discoveries Old-time winter adventures remembered by Ken Weyand Rural Missouri in the 1940s offered challenges for a youngster. Our farm was separated from the nearest village (and paved highway) by four miles of dirt roads. Winter snows – and...
“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...