San Antonio Antique And Coin Show Purchases
cmerlo1
Posts: 7,978 ✭✭✭✭✭
I picked up a flyer for the Antique and Coin Show being held in San Antonio while working the Texas Numismatic Association coin show in Arlington a few weeks ago. Being that I primarily collect ephemera (but also buy coins), I figured I'd give it a shot and drive down from Austin on Saturday to attend. Besides, it was also an excuse to eat at my favorite Chinese restaurant, Hung Fong, which I try and do anytime I'm in SA.
The show was comprised of about 20 tables setup in a section of the Wonderland of the Americas Mall. Most were selling sports stuff or action figures/toys. There were about 4 coin dealers there, two of whom I knew well. After saying hello to them I visited the other coin tables, and walked away with a pretty 1938 Jefferson nickel.
As for ephemera, there was really only one table that had paper. I didn't really see anything interesting, but on the table next to it was a wooden box full of around 100 matchbooks from the 30's - 60's and I noticed one from Dallas right on top. One of the areas of ephemera I collect is the Kennedy assassination and I've always wanted Jack Ruby's business card from one of his nightclubs, but anytime I see matchbooks I always look for ones from the Carousel, Vegas, or Sovereign clubs in Dallas. They exist, and I really believe they can be cherrypicked, especially from lots like this. This prompted me to start looking through them. While I was doing that, the guy who ran the table came up and said he'd sell me the whole lot, box and all, for $20 and I bought it from him on the spot.
Photos are below. While there were some really cool matchbooks in the box and I had fun going through them when I got home, none were from Ruby's nightclubs. I don't collect them, so now I need to figure out what to do with them. My wife did say she likes the wooden box they were in.
Comments
Pretty 38-D.
Put them in a clear container and use them as intended. Great conversation piece.
Save it for the next winter when the power goes out again. You can burn the box and all. Or a fire sale.
Looks like a great lot !
looks like a lovely nickel. nice images, cropped, presentation, a bit washed out though. 8 out of 10
is that cedar chest/box?
The '38-D 5c is very nice, as is the cedar(?) box.
Thanks everyone! It is a cedar box. It's a little banged up on the outside and could stand to be refinished, but I'll leave that to someone else.
I never collected match books as a hobby, however, when they were available everywhere, I used to always grab a few (bars, banks, stores) and save them for camping/hunting etc.. Finally misplaced/lost them in one of my major relocations. Really do not see those 'free' matchbook displays anymore. Cheers, Rick
I like this idea- I'll keep my eyes open for a nice one.
My parents keep their matchbook collection in an antique glass car battery box. Seems safer than wood if they happen to go up in smoke.
He who knows he has enough is rich.
I used to have one of those battery jars. Mine was an Exide also. Used it for an aquarium. Can't for the life of me remember what happened to it.
Wayne
www.waynedriskillminiatures.com
It turns out that smoking isn't good for you, and is no longer allowed indoors in many locales.
Yep... quit that back in 1983, cold turkey, after I saw the televised open heart surgery. They kept saying, "Well, at least he has quit smoking, so that will help." Gave mine to another guy that smoked and never looked back. Cheers, RickO
When I was in school in maybe 1993 there was a convenience store on campus. One day when I was in there two twelve-year-old boys came running in and bought a bunch of matchbooks. One said to the clerk "Don't worry, we're not going to smoke. We just like to play with fire."