The pile in my kitchen

[Vinca]

got so high I rented another antique shop booth yesterday. The "stuff" is driving me nuts, but I resist dragging it upstairs to the place where I can store it because I know I'll have to drag it back down. Sometimes I worry I'm becoming one of those people who live in trails. Last year I sold some postcards to another dealer, a well off elderly man. I went to his home and I kid you not, he and his wife live in trails. There were unpacked boxes from auctions packed 6 feet high and I could see through the door that the dining room table had a good 3 feet of stuff covering it. They aren't dirty or nuts or anything else. I'm sure the stuff just built up over the years. It's my worst fear - turning into a "trail" person.

[sandnsea]

1. I have two spare rooms

I just had a yard sale and cleaned them out of any junk. I'm lucky that I've got lots of shelves and cupboards. But I still have two piles on two tables in the living room, and my husband's computer junk too. I don't worry about being a trail person as long as it's not piles of newspapers and magazines, or bags of red milk jug caps like my grandmother.

[Vinca]

2. LOL - when we bought this house I uncovered stashes of old gift boxes

and used grocery store bags left by another grandma. My next house is going to have a separate building of some sort for the "stuff." A shed, a barn, a garage. Anything.

[eleny]

3. As a teen, when my room got messy, mom used to talk to me about the Collier Brothers

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collyer_brothers

Those guys even booby-trapped their apartment against intruders.

[Vinca]

8. Interesting story. I'd never heard of them before.

Every so often the contents of a dealer's house or barn turns up at an auction, either because they've died or have to move and can't deal with it. At the back of one shed an auctioneer found a painting by a well known artist - forgot who - that sold, in poor condition, for $80,000. (Which is why I obsessively investigate the artwork I find. LOL.)

[grasswire]

4. my dream is to pick through the stuff of a trail person

:-)

I literally have dreams of finding a treasure trove and being able to sort through it. My mind concocts scenarios in my sleep where fabulous old vintage paper is stacked everywhere, and I see it all clearly and want it badly. I'm always trying to nab the best stuff and pay for it so I actually OWN it. That never happens in my dreams. I never make the big score. Gah! I can feel the fever rising! Must find treasure. Must find treasure!

[Vinca]

9. I always wanted to buy a house from an estate "as is."

When we were looking for our first house (long before my interest in antiques), we looked at a dumpy place that had a bunch of Eastlake furniture in it and who knows what else. Guess we should have bought it.

[Kat45]

5. What kind of postcards do people collect?

Do they collect based on what is pictured, or where it's from, or what? I found some old postcards of mine, as well as some from the WWII era that belonged to my parents. I haven't sorted them yet, but once I do I'll probably be wanting to see if I can sell some. And, what is a "trail" person?

[grasswire]

6. the most valuable postcards are usually what is called "real photo"...

...and that is a black and white photo.

But you should acquaint yourself generally with postcard values before you decide to sell. You can learn a lot about postcards at this site: http://oldpostcards.com/

[Kat45]

7. Thanks.

I just bookmarked the site; it looks interesting. I'll also keep an eye out for any B&W photo cards when I look through the older postcards.