Dapper dad has ‘60s clothes
Q: My dad was quite a dapper man during the 1960s. He had a large collection of clothing that included Nehru jackets, tie-died shirts and pants, leisure suits and even an early Grateful Dead concert shirt. Are these items worth anything? We are getting ready to downsize. — Stuart, Jackson, Miss.
A: Don’t throw out a single thing, since there could be gold in them thar closets. According to the Antique Trader Vintage Clothing Price Guide edited by Jyle Jostle & Madeleine Kirsh, and Valuable Vintage: The Insider’s Guide to Pricing and Collecting Important Vintage Fashions by Elizabeth Mason, 1960s-era clothing has never been more collectible. For example, a pair of colorful corduroy pants might sell for as much as $350, a 1970s Oleg Cassini graphic shirt, $65, and a Grateful Dead T-shirt designed by Ed Donahue, as much as a whopping $250.
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Q: I have several dozen California Raisins premiums. Where can I sell them? — Art, Louisville, Miss.
A: Ken Alexander collects California Raisins items. His address is 415 Morgan St., Elgin, IL 60123. Larry DeAngelo wants to buy and sell California Raisin figurines and has one of the largest collections in the country. In fact, it is so impressive it was recently featured on the TV series, “Collection Across America.” His address is 516 King Arthur Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464. A third source is collectors George and Pam Curran, P.O. Box 713, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32170.
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Q: I have purchased several pieces of Fenton glass from a home shopping club on television. Is there a club I can join so I can meet other collectors of this type of glass? — Betty, Colorado Springs, Colo.
A: There are two major clubs for collectors, The Fenton Art Glass Collectors of America, Inc., P.O. Box 384, Williamstown, WV 26187, and The National Fenton Glass Society, P.O. Box 4008, Marietta, OH 45750. If you intend to collect, you need a good reference book, and I highly recommend Warman’s Fenton Glass: Identification and Price Guide by Mark F. Moran, KP Books, 1-888-457-2873.