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by Rosemary Lee Potter
Special to Tropical Breeze

Practically every day recently someone else cropped up with their take on collecting or actual items from their own collection, not to mention the continually unfolding news stories about sunken treasure trove. Lots of treasure around, though, and lots of places to look for it well above the water line. A neighbor tells me about his collections of antique measuring devices; another, her carved shelf-edge sitting dolls; still another, her grandmother’s beautiful crystal glass collection.

Tropical Breeze photos by Rosemary Potter Preview night at this church rummage sale saw hundreds of people and thousands of items. St. Paul United Methodist Church in Largo claims title to the “largest local annual rummage sale!”

There there’s the school colleague, David Dorsett, who regularly makes the rounds of flea markets and other collectible sales, coming up with unusual Native American pottery. In passing the other day he enthusiastically told me of two really great book finds! First he found a leather-bound special edition of a Williamsburg Anniversary Book copyright 1942 — in great condition. The other book was a first edition of popular Seuss title:The Cat and the Hat Comes Back. This had a book jacket which was also in perfect condition, David also having checked the whole juvenile volume for any child scribbling, as is usually the case in youngsters’ used books. Won’t quote, but suffice it to say that David’s adventure was a financial coup.

Solid copper commemorative cup from 1933 “A Century of Progress” Exposition in Chicago, church rummage sale, 25¢.

Another school colleague, Russ Van Stratt, often shares quite another special collecting adventure. As a young man he went exploring underwater in Curacao. He tells his students and me that there was a very close call with some sharks during one such excursion. Having survived, his finds included beautiful black coral — not a keeper in these 21st century days because of concern for delicate coral reefs — but a very different situation earlier. The use of black, white, and orange coral in early 20th century jewelry was not unique at all. Today it is just not permitted.

Russ also collected shark teeth during college, adding them to macramé bracelets which he and friends made and sold for very good prices at large Michigan summer fairs back in the 70s — highly profitable entrepreneurial success toward college expenses.

A while back I too was headed out to hunt for collectible goodies. I would take a look at what was advertised as the “largest local annual rummage sale!” Over at St. Paul United Methodist Church in Largo, the impending sale did appear huge, indeed, although I only attended the preview night for church members.

The building was packed with people, eager buyers and eager sellers, families in droves. Good thing, because long tables were laden with thousands of items, ready and waiting, from costume jewelry, appliances and lawn furniture to almost anything one can think of as an ornament, collectible, kitchen tool or curio.

While I never plan to buy anything when making the rounds of such events, it always seems like something pops up that I can’t resist. The same this time. It’s that moment in collecting adventuring when you just know this item is calling to you and you alone. You’d just better not resist the magnetism and joy of finding the special thing — much less chance losing the treasure to someone else.

The first item I can’t tell you about because I am going to give it to my sister as a holiday gift this year. Early shopping never hurts, but I can hint. It’s of heavy glass, has two holiday themes or designs and was a terrific modern bargain at $5! The earring table caught my eye — no, not the expensive, quality gold stuff — but quality novelty earrings which I enjoy wearing with school ensembles. Who could not buy really nice earrings at way less than a dollar a pair, anyway?

However, my real collecting bug eyes came quickly back into focus when I spotted a striking, shiny coppery cup for a striking price of only 25¢! On closer inspection, having immediately purloined the item (thus making absolutely sure no other buyer had a shot) I found that the modern-styled cup is made of solid copper (the metal alone worth big something these days). The vessel was etched on the bottom as solid copper with the manufacturing symbol — WB. The main design etched on the cup was the modernized logo from the 1933 Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago. On the other side there is an etching of the Travel Building — one of the event’s famous architectural wonders!

While I have not yet researched the cup extensively, I did learn that there are many items from that 1933 event made from copper, the popular metal abundant in that Great Lakes Region. On eBay I noted that there is definite interest in the collecting of items from all the World’s Fairs as well as from this 1933 Exposition. This item was not listed specifically, but I’ll continue until I find it somewhere and hopefully an approximate value.

Finally, nothing makes a sunny weekend afternoon more complete than stopping in at one more of those neighborhood garage sales. There we find such pretty, often family, linens, like a grandmother’s crocheted table pineapple patterned doilies, a piece of white lacey ruffle, a pair of brand-new linen napkins, a recipe book holder, even some designer fabric with striking tree images and a dead-white teddy bear original print signed and numbered. Always more, for the looking, and taking.

Having shared these various collectible lookings and findings, I remind anyone out there reading this column and responding to these adventures, recalling fond others, let me know about it. The sharing, even if the find of a fortune is still way out in the future, is the most of the collecting adventurous fun!

Rosemary Lee Potter is a confirmed victim of the collecting bug and can be reached by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or write to her in care of Tropical Breeze, P.O. Box 585, Safety Harbor, FL 34695.