New Mexico’s history spans thousands of years, shaped by people who adapted to one of North America’s most dramatic landscapes and left an extraordinary cultural legacy behind. Indigenous communities flourished here long before Spanish colonization, and their descendants remain an essential part of the state today. From ancient pueblos and centuries-old communities to Route 66, scientific laboratories, and an enduring tradition of art and craftsmanship, the Land of Enchantment has repeatedly played an outsized role in the American story.

A Brief History of the Land of Enchantment

Few states can claim an archaeological record as important to the story of the earliest Americans as New Mexico. Two of the best-known Paleoindian archaeological cultures in North America take their names from sites in the state.

Near Clovis, Blackwater Draw became the type site for Clovis culture after distinctive fluted projectile points were found in association with mammoth remains. Clovis people lived during the closing millennia of the Pleistocene, when mammoths and other now-extinct animals still inhabited North America. Their carefully flint-knapped, lanceolate stone points were fluted near the base, probably to aid in hafting them to shafts. Although Clovis people have often been portrayed primarily as big-game hunters, archaeological evidence indicates that their subsistence was more varied.

Folsom culture followed Clovis chronologically and appears to have developed from the earlier tradition as people adapted to changing environments and prey at the end of the Ice Age. Folsom points are generally smaller and thinner than Clovis points, with exceptionally long flutes extending much of the length of the tool. They are strongly associated with hunting Bison antiquus, an extinct relative of modern bison.

The Folsom story also belongs to George McJunkin, a Black cowboy and ranch foreman who discovered unusually large fossil bones exposed after a 1908 flood near Folsom, New Mexico. Later excavations at the site revealed Folsom points in direct association with extinct bison remains, providing crucial evidence that people had lived in North America alongside animals from the Ice Age.

New Mexico’s archaeological record did not stop with Clovis and Folsom. Sites such as Water Canyon near Socorro preserve evidence of repeated Paleoindian occupation, including Clovis, Folsom, and later traditions such as the Cody Complex. Over thousands of years, people adapted to increasingly modern environments, developing new subsistence strategies and technologies.

Later Indigenous cultures built farming communities, villages, and extensive regional networks across New Mexico. Between about A.D. 850 and 1150, Chaco Canyon became the center of a remarkable Ancestral Pueblo cultural system. Its massive great houses, including Pueblo Bonito, contained hundreds of rooms and were connected to outlying communities by an extensive network of roads. Chaco was a center of ceremony, exchange, and community life whose influence extended across much of the Four Corners region. Elsewhere, Mogollon communities flourished across southern New Mexico and adjoining areas. The Pueblo peoples whose ancestors shaped these landscapes remain an essential part of New Mexico today.

Spanish colonization began in earnest at the end of the 16th century, bringing profound changes to Indigenous communities. Missions, new settlements, livestock, crops, and forced religious and labor systems altered life throughout the region. Resistance culminated in the Pueblo Revolt of 1680, when Pueblo peoples drove Spanish colonists from New Mexico. Spanish rule was reestablished beginning in 1692, but Pueblo communities endured.

Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1821, making New Mexico part of the new nation. The region came under U.S. control during the Mexican-American War, and the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo formally transferred New Mexico to the United States. After decades as a territory, New Mexico became the 47th state on January 6, 1912.

The 20th century again placed New Mexico at the center of events with national and global consequences. During World War II, members of the New Mexico National Guard fought in the Philippines and endured the Bataan Death March, while Navajo Code Talkers from New Mexico and elsewhere used their language to create an extraordinarily effective military communications system in the Pacific. At the same time, scientists gathered in secrecy at Los Alamos as part of the Manhattan Project. On July 16, 1945, the first atomic bomb was detonated at the Trinity Site in southern New Mexico, ushering in the atomic age.

Yet New Mexico’s history cannot be divided neatly into a succession of Paleoindian, Pueblo, Spanish, Mexican, and American chapters. Indigenous communities that shaped its earliest history remain vital parts of the state today, while centuries of cultural exchange have left their mark on its languages, architecture, arts, and traditions.

Honoring the 250th

New Mexico is marking America’s 250th anniversary with exhibitions and programs that reflect a history extending far beyond its admission to the Union in 1912. The New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs’ America 250 exhibitions use art, historic objects, and stories from across the state to examine both national identity and the experiences of New Mexicans.

At the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe, Americana at 250: Eagles, Flags, and Uncle Sam brings together historical objects and works by New Mexican artists incorporating familiar American imagery. The exhibition remains on view through January 20, 2027.

Nearby, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture presents Stars, Stripes, and First Americans through March 7, 2027. Ten objects consider the American flag through an Indigenous perspective, including traditional beadwork and jewelry alongside contemporary works. Among them is Diné artist Kee Yazzie’s portrait of a Navajo Code Talker.

The Museum of International Folk Art’s I Am Clay: Acoma Life in Figures focuses on representational pottery from Acoma Pueblo and the women artists who sustained and developed the tradition. The community-curated exhibition remains open through November 30, 2026.

The anniversary is also traveling beyond Santa Fe. The Arts of Democracy in New Mexico, presented through the mobile Wonders on Wheels museum, continues through December 31, 2026. New Mexico’s eight historic sites are displaying 250th anniversary banners through July 4, 2027, using archival photographs and text to tell lesser-known stories from the state’s pre-statehood history.

Collecting New Mexico

New Mexico offers collectors an extraordinary range of material, but some of its most meaningful collectibles are being made right now. Pueblo pottery, Zuni carvings, Diné silverwork, and basketry are not remnants of vanished cultures. They are living artistic traditions practiced by named artists whose work continues to evolve.

A four-color parrot jar by Acoma Pueblo potter Grace Chino offers a bridge between generations. Chino (1929–1994) was the daughter of noted potter Marie Z. Chino and sister of potters Carrie Chino, Charlie, and Rose Chino. The Chino family became known for adapting designs found on ancestral pottery sherds to contemporary pottery forms. Grace’s traditionally made jar uses native Acoma clay and features the thin walls and polychrome decoration associated with Acoma pottery. The jar is currently offered for $2,250 by Steve Elmore Indian Art.

Living artists show how varied contemporary Native collecting can be. Zuni Pueblo artist Gloria Chattin’s Pink Mussel Shell Double Corn Maiden sold for $70 through the Zuni Artist Resource Team. Jemez Pueblo artist Bonnie Fragua-Johnson’s $565 male Storyteller with four children continues a modern Pueblo art form developed by Cochiti Pueblo potter Helen Cordero in the 1960s. Storyteller figures grew from Pueblo oral traditions and have themselves become widely collected Native art.

Jewelry making is another thriving tradition among Native artists in New Mexico, particularly among Diné, Zuni, and Pueblo silversmiths. Artists work in distinctive traditions ranging from Diné silver and turquoise jewelry to Zuni stone inlay and petit point work, while individual makers continue to develop their own designs and techniques. Fourth-generation Diné/Navajo silversmith Nicholas Jackson combines turquoise and sterling silver in contemporary jewelry made in Albuquerque. One of his turquoise-and-sterling-silver statement rings, set with a large turquoise stone marked by a dramatic golden matrix, sold for $495.

Basketry remains a living art among several of New Mexico’s Native communities, including Diné, Pueblo, and Apache artists. Materials, forms, weaving techniques, and uses vary among communities, reflecting distinct cultural traditions rather than a single Southwestern basketry style. Navajo artist Joan Yazzie carries another tradition forward through basketry. Her $370 wedding basket is handwoven from natural plant fibers in the traditional red, black, and natural palette.

Collectors looking for authentic contemporary Native art can buy directly from artists or seek established sources that clearly identify the maker and tribal or Pueblo affiliation. The Indian Pueblo Store, Zuni Artist Resource Team, Nicholas Jackson’s The Silver Artichoke, and established secondary-market dealers such as Steve Elmore Indian Art provide places to begin. Collectors interested in learning more about the distinctive pottery traditions of the Pueblos can also consult the Indian Pueblo Store’s Pottery Collector’s Guide.

Federal law provides another reason to pay attention to attribution. The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits falsely marketing arts and crafts as Native American-made or as the work of a particular tribe when they do not meet the law’s requirements. The U.S. Department of the Interior recommends buying from reputable dealers and obtaining documentation identifying the maker and tribal affiliation.

Historical Native American art and artifacts require additional care. New Mexico’s extraordinary archaeological record can make ancient objects tempting to collectors, but provenance matters. Removing objects from archaeological sites can destroy information that can never be recovered, and material taken from protected lands may have been obtained illegally. Collectors should not purchase archaeological art or artifacts of uncertain origin. Historical Native pieces should come from reputable dealers, auction houses, or other sources that can document an object’s ownership history and lawful provenance.

New Mexico collecting extends well beyond Native art. Roswell’s association with the mysterious events of 1947 has spawned an entire universe of alien souvenirs and memorabilia. A wonderfully kitschy Roswell alien snow globe populated by green aliens and a flying saucer sold on eBay for $29.69 in May 2026.

Route 66 offers another collecting road to follow. The historic highway crossed hundreds of miles of New Mexico, although its route changed substantially in 1937. Postcards, motel memorabilia, maps, menus, matchbooks, signs, and other roadside ephemera preserve the automobile culture that grew along the Mother Road. A colorful vintage Route 66 postcard mapping the highway across the country, including New Mexico, is currently offered on eBay for $4.

Fred Harvey and the Santa Fe Railway left behind another field of affordable collectibles, including china, menus, postcards, advertising, and other railroadiana. A vintage 1960s Jackson China coffee cup decorated with a Harvey Girl sold on eBay for $36 in June 2025.

Even New Mexico’s atomic history has found its way into collections. Los Alamos, the Manhattan Project, and the state’s later involvement in nuclear research and military training produced decades of ephemera and memorabilia. A vintage Defense Nuclear Weapons School mug bearing the school’s Albuquerque, New Mexico, emblem is currently offered on eBay for $55.

From a $4 Route 66 postcard to a four-figure Acoma pot, collecting New Mexico can take almost as many forms as the state itself.

Looking Ahead: New Mexico’s America 250 Calendar Highlights

Communities across New Mexico are commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary with exhibitions, educational programs, cultural events, and opportunities to explore the people and places that have shaped the Land of Enchantment. New programs and events continue to be added throughout the anniversary year.

Through Nov. 30, 2026 — I Am Clay: Acoma Life in Figures, Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe

The community-curated I Am Clay: Acoma Life in Figures explores representational pottery from Acoma Pueblo and the women artists who have sustained and developed the tradition. The exhibition runs through Nov. 30.

Through Dec. 31, 2026 — The Arts of Democracy in New Mexico, Wonders on Wheels, Statewide

The traveling Wonders on Wheels museum brings The Arts of Democracy in New Mexico to communities around the state. The mobile exhibition explores democracy and community through New Mexico’s history and cultural traditions.

Through Jan. 20, 2027 — Americana at 250: Eagles, Flags, and Uncle Sam, New Mexico History Museum, Santa Fe

Americana at 250: Eagles, Flags, and Uncle Sam brings together historic objects and works by New Mexican artists to explore familiar symbols of American identity. The exhibition remains on view through Jan. 20.

Through March 7, 2027 — Stars, Stripes, and First Americans, Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, Santa Fe

Stars, Stripes, and First Americans examines the American flag through an Indigenous perspective. Ten objects include traditional beadwork and jewelry alongside contemporary works, including Diné artist Kee Yazzie’s portrait of a Navajo Code Talker.

Through July 4, 2027 — 250th Anniversary Banners at New Mexico Historic Sites, Statewide

New Mexico’s eight historic sites are displaying 250th anniversary banners using archival photographs and text to share lesser-known stories from the state’s history before statehood. The displays continue through July 4, 2027.

Explore More America at 250:

America at 250: New Jersey: The Garden State

America at 250: New Hampshire: The Granite State

America at 250: Nevada: The Silver State

America at 250: Nebraska: The Cornhusker State

America at 250: Montana: The Treasure State

America at 250: Missouri: The Show-Me State

America at 250: Mississippi: The Magnolia State

America at 250: Michigan – The Great Lakes State

America at 250: Massachusetts: The Bay State

America at 250: Maryland’s Chesapeake Heritage

America at 250: Maine’s Enduring Traditions

America at 250: The Legacy of Louisiana

America at 250: Kentucky’s Bourbon, Bluegrass, and the Kentucky Derby

America at 250: Kansas, the Sunflower State

America at 250: Iowa, the History and Heritage of the Hawkeye State

America at 250: Indiana, the Crossroads of America

America at 250: Illinois, the Prairie State

America at 250: Idaho’s Hidden (and Not-So-Hidden) Gems

America at 250: Hawaii’s Aloha Spirit

America at 250: Guam’s Cultural Legacy in the Pacific

America at 250: Georgia’s Craft, Commerce, and Cultural Influence

America at 250: Florida’s Diverse Heritage

America at 250: Delaware’s First State Heritage

America at 250: Connecticut’s Colonial Craft and Industry

America at 250: Colorado’s Land and Living Traditions

America at 250: California’s Golden State Traditions

America at 250: Arkansas’s Ozark Traditions

America at 250: Arizona’s Traditions Shaped by the Southwest

America at 250: American Samoa’s Enduring Island Traditions

America at 250: Alaska’s Living Indigenous Heritage

America at 250: Alabama’s Hand-Shaped Heritage

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Promotional popcorn containers have been part of movie merchandise for a long time, but they have taken on more elaborate designs in the last few years—and have become a hit with collectors. The most popular pieces are figural, often shaped like a character’s head, an important prop, or even a related item like the IMAX camera promoting The Odyssey or the red handbag for The Devil Wears Prada 2, both released this year.

This new wave of merchandise has been a boon for movie theaters. Cinema attendance has been declining since streaming took over film and television, but the tide has turned this year, with what might become the best box office since 2019. While it’s unlikely that popcorn buckets are solely responsible for their success, they appear to be a significant factor. Employees at movie theaters say they see customers come in just for the buckets. Theater chain Cinemark reported record merchandise sales this year, noting that figural popcorn buckets are their most popular offerings.

The popcorn buckets are sold as limited editions and, based on retail prices listed online, usually cost between $20 and $70. Prices climb higher on the resale market. For example, a Spider-Man: Brand New Day popcorn bucket in the form of the titular hero’s head is priced at $34.99 on the AMC Theatres site. The same design has sold on eBay for nearly $60.

Popcorn containers shaped like characters or referencing attractions are classic theme park souvenirs, and their use as movie merchandise may help to bring a similar feeling to the cinema. They are tangible souvenirs, helping to turn moviegoing into an experience that can’t be replicated at home. Social media plays an important role in the trend, with collectors sharing pictures of their purchases and the most outlandish designs going viral.

From a marketing perspective, these novelty buckets are a stroke of genius. But for collectors, will they hold on to their value, or are they just another fad? Only time will tell. Maybe you should have some popcorn while you wait.

More tasty treats:

Vintage cereal premiums serve up nostalgia

Cracker Jack: A prize collection that’s a treat for the ages

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You never know what you will find in a box of donations. When staff at the Oxfam bookshop on Portobello Road in London were looking through a box of donated books, a worn copy of Harper Lee’s novel To Kill a Mockingbird immediately stood out to Deputy Manager Gurpreet Karlcut. Research by shop manager Olivia Haysman-Walker determined it was a first US edition.

In a press release published September 22, Haysman-Walker said, “It could so easily have been missed,” but “We realised quite quickly that we had something really special. The dust jacket showed its age, and although it was worn around the edges, the pages inside were in beautiful condition.”

When the shop listed the book for sale, it came to the attention of the British Library, whose Eccles Institute for the Americas and Oceania purchased it after an assessment of its condition. The price has not been disclosed, but the money will support Oxfam’s work around the world helping people facing poverty, conflict, and humanitarian crises, including the recent floods in Nepal.

The book’s sale was likely made a significant contribution to Oxfam’s work, since first editions of To Kill a Mockingbird can easily sell for thousands of dollars. A first edition in similar condition to the one donated to Oxfam sold at Freeman’s Books & Manuscripts, including Americana auction in Chicago last May, for $6,080, including buyer’s premium.

Haysman-Walker said of the purchase, “It’s amazing to think that this book has passed through our Oxfam bookshop and into the national collection at the British Library – I delivered it to the Library myself! It really has been quite a journey, and it’s a lovely reminder, during Second Hand September, of the kind of treasures that can be hiding among the shelves and donations in our shops.”

To Kill a Mockingbird was an immediate bestseller when it was published in 1960 and won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961. Its 1962 film adaptation, which won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Writing, and Best Actor in a Leading Role, further encouraged its popularity, with Gregory Peck’s performance in particular helping to cement attorney and widowed father Atticus Finch as one of American literature’s great heroes.

Although the book is considered uniquely American, with its detailed, immersive depiction of life in a small town in Alabama and its examination of issues like race, class, justice, and prejudice, it is well known and appreciated in England. In 2006, British newspaper The Guardian reported that it topped a poll by the Museum, Libraries and Archives Council asking “Which book should every adult read before they die?” A 2018 theatrical adaptation by screenwriter Aaron Sorkin recently completed a limited run on London’s West End.

More tangible connections to the written word:

A First-Edition Library

Unexpected Tolkien Treasure Fetches $51,000

Harry Potter Paperback Sets World Record

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October has arrived, and the latest issue of Kovels Antique Trader is getting into the spirit of the season with a little “Monster Mash.” From vintage Halloween decorations and classic movie monsters to Oktoberfest celebrations and the traditions of Día de los Muertos, this month’s stories explore the history behind some familiar autumn favorites.

Our feature, “Monster Smash,” celebrates the unforgettable artwork of Basil Gogos, whose colorful portraits for Famous Monsters of Filmland helped define the appearance of classic horror icons for generations of fans. Frankenstein’s monster, Dracula, and their fellow creatures remain fixtures of popular culture, and the artwork associated with them has become collectible in its own right.

Pamela Wiggins Siegel brings a little feline magic to the season with “Charming Black Cats for Halloween.” Exploring the folklore surrounding these mysterious creatures, she introduces readers to collectible black cat brooches, including vintage costume jewelry by familiar makers.

October isn’t all about ghosts and goblins. “Dust Off the Lederhosen and Dirndls” explores Oktoberfest celebrations across the United States, while our Sales Reports keep the seasonal spirit going with collectible beer steins, antique jack-o’-lanterns, Dennison party decorations, and other vintage Halloween treasures that recently crossed the auction block.

The issue also explores Día de los Muertos, the Mexican tradition honoring loved ones who have died. In her Editor’s Note, “And Then I Was There,” Kele Johnson recalls a visit to Teotihuacán and Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology, reflecting on the ancient cultures whose beliefs helped shape her understanding of remembrance and the objects people leave behind.

Elsewhere, “Relics & Roots” examines the preservation of Jewish history through Judaica, while Elizabeth Burroughs Heineman explores the artistry and symbolism of chrysanthemums in East Asian porcelain in “Beyond the Block.” Readers will also find an interview exploring the creation of a Chicago antiques institution.

Whether your October traditions involve carving pumpkins, celebrating Oktoberfest, or remembering those who came before us, there’s plenty to discover in the October issue of Kovels Antique Trader.

The post A Look Inside the October 2026 Issue of Kovels Antique Trader appeared first on Antique Trader.

Furniture can take unexpected forms, especially in contemporary design. From the late twentieth century onward, advances in technology created a wealth of new materials and construction techniques for designers to use, while social and cultural changes encouraged experimental approaches with new shapes and styles.

Philippe Starck, born in Paris in 1949, is responsible for some of the most famous and creative furniture and industrial designs of the 1980s and 1990s, and he is still working today. One of his most famous designs, the “Louis Ghost” chair of 2002, is a fairly conventional-looking chair whose uniqueness comes from its material and construction. Made of clear plastic, it is injection-molded in one piece.

Other designs are more unusual at first sight, such as his “Attila” side table designed for the Italian company Kartell. It takes the shape of a smiling, seated gnome with his arms raised over his head, holding up a faux tree trunk slice that makes the tabletop.

Made of fiberglass and rubber, the table was originally made in the 1980s, but Kartell still carries it, albeit in different colors. A vintage example, where the gnome wears a bright green shirt and truncated red hat, sold for $283 at Main Auction Galleries, a lower price than a new model would cost.

Starck designed a similar gnome table he named “Napoleon,” also made by Kartell. Perhaps he was making a statement about leaders famed for their ruthlessness, or maybe he just liked the idea of giving historical names to his whimsical tables.

Contemporary Italian furniture may be associated with postmodern, avant-garde trends like Radical Design, Studio Alchimia, and Memphis, but older styles are always coming back. The Rococo style was revived, like many other past design styles, in the 19th century and came back into fashion once more in the early 20th century.

Today’s design may tend toward minimalism, and the simple, functional mid-century modern look is popular. But the pendulum always swings back. Decorations like elaborate carving, gilded trim, and lush fabrics may come back again before we know it!

Collector Q & A:

Q: I was given this medicine cabinet by a dentist many years ago. Any idea on what it would be worth?

A: Medical and dental equipment, including cabinets, is popular with collectors. Values depend on size, condition, material, and unusual features like rotating cases or other movable parts. Your cabinet is by Clark & Roberts, a company that made dental cabinets, exam tables, and other medical furniture in the early 20th century.

A cabinet by Clark & Roberts sold at auction a few years ago for about $500. More recently, similar cabinets by other or unknown manufacturers have sold for about $200 to $700. Having the label with the maker’s name increases the value. Asking prices online can go from about $400 to over $1,000.

An auction house or dealer who specializes in medical or dental collectibles may be able to give you a more precise estimate.

Q: A family member told me to give you an email to see if you could help me out with a few dolls I have. They were given to me by older family members when I was very little, and I have carried them with me my whole life. I have not been lucky in finding out much about them or their worth. If there is any information you can kindly pass on, it will be greatly appreciated.

A: It is difficult to determine the value of a porcelain doll without knowing its maker, approximate age, or other identifying details. Many companies in the 1980s and 1990s made collectible porcelain dolls that resembled or were inspired by antique dolls. They are generally not period-accurate and not worth as much as authentic antiques.

It’s good that you have the packaging and certificate for the “Soft Expressions” doll. They always increase the value. “Soft Expressions” dolls have sold online for anywhere from about $10 to $70. The highest prices tend to go to dolls with the original accessories, packaging, and papers.

Unfortunately, items made as “collector’s editions” rarely turn out to be the investment that people expect them to be. Many people buy them and keep them in mint condition, so the market quickly gets saturated. If the maker is not known, modern and contemporary porcelain dolls, and even some antique ones, tend to sell for low prices, about $10 to $30.

A doll hospital, dealer, or collector’s club in your area may be able to help you find more information about the other dolls. You can find collectors’ clubs and resources in your area on the United Federation of Doll Clubs website, www.ufdc.org. Other online resources like Doll Reference, www.dollreference.com, may also help.

Q: My great-grandmother bought a Weller Flemish Grapevine jardiniere at an estate sale in the 1920s. There are no flaws or chips, and it is signed. I’ve had it all these years, and I’m getting old. No one in the family seems to want it, and I don’t know what to do with it. My present house is small. Any ideas? I also have a slightly smaller Roma that I can actually use here. But the big Flemish Grapevine is just too huge, stored in the basement.

A: Samuel A. Weller started his pottery in 1872 in Ohio. Early pieces were utilitarian, and the company started making art pottery in 1893. They developed hundreds of lines, becoming the world’s largest art pottery by 1915. The company closed in 1948.

Today, large antique Weller pieces like jardinieres sell for hundreds of dollars. A Weller Flemish jardiniere and pedestal in a different pattern is listed at $427 in Kovels’ 2023 Price Guide. A Flemish Grapevine jardiniere and pedestal with some flaws sold for $500 at a recent auction. If yours is in flawless condition, it is likely worth more.

If you intend to sell your jardiniere, be sure you get your money’s worth! We recommend contacting an antique or consignment store or auction house in your area. Be sure to check for seller’s commissions, buyer’s premiums, and other fees.

COLLECTOR’S TIP: Don’t retouch gold leaf picture frames or other gold trim with anything but real gold leaf.

More Collector Questions Answered:

Collector’s Notebook: Identifying Loetz Austria Glass

Collector’s Questions: Do You Recognize This Painting?

Villeroy & Boch: Looks Like a Fortune, Priced Like a Find

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MILWAUKEE – Today, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum launched a Kickstarter Campaign to produce the first Rocky Horror Show Bobbleheads. The collection features seven bobbleheads based on the original version of the 1973 “Rocky Horror Show,” which inspired the cult classic musical comedy horror film “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” A Kickstarter-exclusive Dr. Frank-N-Furter Bobblehead is only available for backers of the Kickstarter Campaign. Other bobbleheads offered through the Kickstarter Campaign include characters Rocky, Brad, Janet, Magenta, Riff Raff, and Columbia. The bobbleheads are being produced by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, an official licensee of the Rocky Horror Show.

With a goal of raising $15,000, the Kickstarter Campaign started at midnight Central Time on Friday, September 25th and runs through midnight Central Time on Halloween–Saturday, October 31st. The bobbleheads are available for $30 each plus shipping, with other exclusive add-ons also available. In addition, fans who want to show their support for the campaign but don’t need a bobblehead can do so for as little as $1 on the campaign page.

A limited number of bobbleheads will be produced based on the demand from the Kickstarter Campaign. Backing the campaign is the only way to obtain the original Dr Frank N Furter Bobblehead. Standing on a red circular base bearing his name and the “Rocky Horror” logo, which also bobbles, the Dr. Frank-N-Furter bobblehead is wearing his iconic outfit featuring a black corset, fishnet stockings, black briefs, a pearl necklace, and high-heeled platform shoes. After playing Dr. Frank-N-Furter on stage, Tim Curry made his film debut playing the transvestite scientist in the movie. Curry recently died on August 25th, 2026, at the age of 80, making this bobblehead a great tribute to the character that he brought to life.

The Rocky Horror Show first premiered at London’s Royal Court Theatre in June 1973, the brainchild of actor and writer Richard O’Brien, whose love of B-movie science fiction and horror films inspired the show’s campy, genre-bending style. What began as a small fringe production quickly became a cultural phenomenon, spawning the now-iconic 1975 film adaptation “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and decades of stage revivals around the world. In the cult classic musical comedy horror, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire during a storm, discover the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet meet a houseful of wild characters, including a rocking biker and a creepy butler. Through elaborate dances and rock songs, Frank-N-Furter unveils his latest creation: a muscular man named “Rocky.”

Initially, the film was largely ignored by critics, but it soon became a hit as a midnight movie, when audiences began participating in the film at the Waverly Theater in New York City in 1976. Audience members returned frequently to the cinemas, where they talked back to the screen and began dressing as the characters, spawning similar performance groups across the United States. At almost the same time, fans in costume began performing alongside the film. In 2005, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.” In 2025, the film celebrated its 50th anniversary with events in Los Angeles, and, still in limited release in 2026, 51 years after its premiere, it remains the longest-running theatrical release in film history. Meanwhile, the musical returned to Broadway in April 2026 in its current revival at Studio 54.

“We’re excited to launch this Kickstarter campaign to produce the first Rocky Horror Show Bobbleheads celebrating the iconic characters that so many people have come to know and love over the past 50 plus years,” National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum co-founder and CEO Phil Sklar said. “These bobbleheads are the perfect way for fans of ‘Rocky Horror’ to show off their love for their favorite characters.”

About the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum:

The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum, which is located at 170 S. 1st St. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opened to the public on February 1st, 2019. The HOF and Museum also produces high-quality, customized bobbleheads for retail sale as well as for organizations, individuals, and teams across the country. Visit us online and on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About the Rocky Horror Show:

Welcome to the wonderful world of Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show; every moment is a wild adventure through a kaleidoscope of quirky characters, dazzling costumes, and toe-tapping tunes!

The Rocky Horror Show has made audiences shiver with antici…pation since its theatre debut in 1973… Shining a light on inclusivity (at a less accepting time), the musical opened before Punk, Glam Rock, Women’s Liberation and Gay Pride. Performed in over 30 countries and translated into over 20 languages, it celebrated its 50th stage anniversary in 2023.

These products celebrate the iconic costumes and props from the stage production, bringing new creations to life in tribute to the show. What began as a cult classic is now a brand that has become part of our cultural landscape, and it gives these products the official squeal of approval.

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Many thrift shops are good, but it takes a very special store to be unforgettable. The American Thrift in Passaic, NJ definitely falls into the latter category, separating itself from the crowd with both its size, organization, and sheer quantity of goods.

One day, while driving through New Jersey, after visiting kid #2 in NYC, I decided on a whim to look for thrift stores to stop at along the way, since we had some extra time. [Always time to thrift, right?]

Google Maps showed me a promising one in Passaic, NJ, about ten minutes off our route, so we decided to pop in for a visit. And boy, am I glad we did.

Never in my life have I experienced a store like the American Thrift! It contains seemingly endless home goods and clothing across three floors, and their hours are amazing: they’re open seven days a week from 10-8.

Upon entering the store, you first encounter the jewelry and high-end handbag section to the left. A long row of glass cases filled with both fine and costume jewelry runs down the room, with several cashiers manning the station.

Several displays of lower-cost jewelry sit on top, and a large rack of necklaces can be found at the end of the cases. Immediately ahead lies a wide staircase to the second floor.

But before heading up, you have to check out the racks of clothing on the first floor (each topped with home goods) and the shelving that circles the massive room that’s filled with more home goods. This could take a while.

Upstairs contains rack upon rack of more clothing and textiles, like bedding and tablecloths, filling the center of the room.

Around the edges, you find a huge shoe section, a small library of books, tote bags along the back wall, and winter accessories along the next wall.

Walking around the outer edge leads into another room set apart for menswear, electronics, toys, and wall art.

Did I mention the baskets?

Or the hundreds of scarves?

The third floor contains furniture and more wall art. When I say it would take days to truly look through all that’s on offer, I mean it.

Recently, we had just an hour to stop by on our way into the City. A number of items drew my attention.

This little Roseville sugar bowl (Snowberry pattern) definitely caught my eye. I was amazed at the $2.99 price and added it to my cart immediately. Value: $25-35

The next item that went into my buggie might surprise you: a Wedgwood jasperware Christmas plate featuring the London Bridge, also priced at $2.99. Value: $20-25

While I had several to choose from, I went with this one because at one time my family of four had biked across the London Bridge (at rush hour!).

Until recently, I avoided any jasperware because for many years it failed to sell well for me, but I’ve begun offering it again, and buyers are snatching it up. If you have grimey jasperware in need of a good clean-up, check out these tips.

Next, I picked up some clothing, including this lovely silk scarf–perfect for fall. As you can see from the tag, I picked it up for a mere $3.99.

Upstairs in the coat section, I came across this nice fall coat that I thought my NYC kid might like. In great shape and well made, its $4.99 price made it a steal.

I also picked up a brand new book: A Guide to Brooklyn for $1.99 and two dusters (or coatigans), one for $3.99, the other for $5.99.

Unlike many other big-name thrift stores, American Thrift offers a number of different ways for shoppers to save:

Every Day: Save 50% off at least one color tag
Monday: Use $5 coupons given out Thursday through Sunday
Wednesday: Senior Citizens save 50% off multiple color tags
Thursday: Reward members accumulate 50% more points on their reward cards
Friday (Happy Hour): From 4 – 8 pm, shoppers save 50% off most colors

Their website explains that they support breast cancer research and awareness, which makes shoppers feel like they’re contributing to something bigger than themselves.

Another added benefit is that all of the staff I’ve encountered, whether on the floor or behind the cash registers, are very friendly and helpful.

Another big plus about this thrift store is the check-out area. While a line of buyers waiting to pay for their goods sometimes snakes around the room, it moves very quickly since there are 10 cash registers, often all manned at the same time.

Finding American Thrift felt like uncovering secret treasure. It turned what could have been an ordinary thrifting experience into an exciting thrifting adventure.

More Diana’s Vintage Ventures:

Brimfield Bound

A Pennsylvania Antique Adventure

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A Brief History of the Garden State

New Jersey has been inhabited since the end of the last glacial period. Paleoindians followed game as the glaciers retreated and established camps where they gathered plants and hunted. Their descendants were among the Indigenous peoples who lived throughout the region for thousands of years. By the time Europeans arrived, the Lenape inhabited much of present-day New Jersey and surrounding areas. They practiced agriculture, hunted, gathered wild plants, and fished in the region’s rivers and streams. Today, archaeological sites throughout the state preserve evidence of thousands of years of Indigenous life.

Dutch and other European explorers reached the region in the early 1600s. The Dutch established settlements as part of New Netherland, which included portions of present-day New Jersey. The English took control in 1664, and the colony was subsequently divided into East and West Jersey. In 1702, the proprietors surrendered their governing authority to the Crown, and New Jersey became a unified royal colony.

New Jersey was one of the original Thirteen Colonies to declare independence from Great Britain. The first Constitution of New Jersey was adopted on July 2, 1776, shortly before the Declaration of Independence. Its voting provisions were unusually broad for the period, extending the franchise to property owners who met the requirements, including some single women and free Black men. Those voting rights were restricted in 1807, when the state legislature limited the franchise to free white male citizens.

New Jersey is called the “Crossroads of the Revolution” because so much of the Revolutionary War was fought across the state. Among its major engagements were the battles of Trenton, Princeton, Monmouth, and Springfield. The campaign known as the Ten Crucial Days began with Washington’s crossing of the Delaware on December 25, 1776, followed by the first Battle of Trenton, the second Battle of Trenton, and the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. The victories revived American morale at a critical point in the war. Crossroads of the American Revolution describes the Ten Crucial Days as a turning point in the conflict.

The Battle of Trenton is immortalized in American art and history by the many powerful images of Washington and his troops crossing the Delaware River the night before. Washington also led the Continental Army at the Battle of Monmouth, but another legendary American figure emerged from the fighting. The name “Molly Pitcher” became associated with women who carried water to soldiers and, according to tradition, sometimes took their places at the guns. The best-known story is often linked to Mary Ludwig Hays, although historians continue to debate how much of the familiar tale can be documented.

In the 19th century, New Jersey once again had a key role in an American revolution, this time the Industrial Revolution. Water power from the Passaic River made Paterson an ideal site for textile mills, eventually earning it the nickname “Silk City.” Thomas Edison established workshops in Newark before opening his famous industrial research laboratory at Menlo Park in 1876. There, Edison and his associates developed inventions including the phonograph and an incandescent electric-light system. New Jersey’s manufacturing sector thrived throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

New Jersey remained at the center of several dramatic events in the 20th century. In 1932, Charles Lindbergh’s 20-month-old son was kidnapped from the family’s home near Hopewell. In 1937, the Hindenburg caught fire and was destroyed while attempting to land at Naval Air Station Lakehurst. The following year, Orson Welles’ radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds, which placed a fictional Martian landing at Grover’s Mill, became one of the most famous broadcasts in American radio history.

Today, New Jersey is the most densely populated state in the nation, shaped by centuries of immigration, industry, transportation, and its position between two of the country’s largest metropolitan areas.

Honoring the 250th

The Garden State is commemorating the nation’s anniversary through events, educational programming, exhibits, art, concerts, reenactments, and community projects throughout the state. The official commission, RevolutionNJ, is a collaboration between the New Jersey Historical Commission and the nonprofit Crossroads of the American Revolution Association. Its focus is on New Jersey’s crucial role in the American Revolution and how the state and its residents carry the revolutionary spirit into the present day.

New Jersey celebrates its history as one of the most significant sites of the Revolutionary War. More than 600 battles, skirmishes, and other acts of war took place in the state, and historic houses, landmarks, parks, memorials, and museums preserve that history throughout New Jersey. Those sites take on additional significance for America’s Semiquincentennial. Crossroads of the American Revolution identifies more than 150 historic sites associated with the Revolutionary era. Crossroads of the American Revolution

Many communities throughout New Jersey have developed their own 250th commissions with programming, exhibits, and festivities highlighting local places, historical figures, and events. These celebrations capture each community’s identity and role in history while connecting local stories to the larger American experience. A timeline by RevolutionNJ helps link specific events from the Revolutionary War to relevant present-day locations.

Collecting New Jersey

The first potters in New Jersey were Indigenous peoples, who made pottery long before European settlement. Centuries later, the state became home to some of America’s most important commercial potteries. Trenton, in particular, developed into a major ceramics manufacturing center during the 19th century, producing everything from utilitarian wares to fine art porcelain. New Jersey companies including Fulper and Stangl are especially well known to American pottery collectors.

Trenton also had several porcelain factories that made decorative pieces with distinctive styles. Boehm birds, Cybis figurines, and American Belleek pieces by Willets and Lenox are all sought by collectors. Trenton’s ceramics industry included internationally recognized makers of art porcelain, with Walter Scott Lenox working at both Ott & Brewer and Willets before establishing the Ceramic Art Company, later Lenox.

New Jersey also has a long history of glassmaking, dating back to the colonial years. There are collectors for all sorts of glassware made in New Jersey, from antique whiskey flasks to Durand art glass. But among the state’s most distinctive glass pieces are Millville rose paperweights, named for the New Jersey city where glassworker Ralph Barber developed a metal crimp used to create the characteristic rose design.

New Jersey’s many industries included some of America’s best-known toy manufacturers. Unique Art Manufacturing Company of Newark made colorful lithographed tin windup toys during the 20th century, while Barclay Manufacturing Company became known for its small metal figures. Another New Jersey company that became a major name in toys began in 1926 as Mantua Metal Products, a manufacturer of model-train equipment. The company later developed the Tyco brand and eventually became Tyco Toys before being acquired by Mattel.

New Jersey also provided inspiration for classic toys. One of the most famous, and today among the most expensive, Lionel toy trains is the Blue Comet, inspired by the luxury passenger train operated by the Central Railroad of New Jersey from 1929 to 1941.

Collectors of antique and vintage technology are likely to find items with roots in Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory. The most famous, and most collectible, may be the phonograph. Edison invented the phonograph at Menlo Park in 1877, and the technology went through many changes in the decades that followed. Today, collectors can choose among numerous Edison models and formats.

Of course, Thomas Edison wasn’t the only New Jersey innovator. One Newark company played an important role in the development of a favorite collectible, the pinback button. The Whitehead & Hoag Company, founded in 1892, became a major producer of celluloid novelties and advertising items after acquiring rights to patents for celluloid pinbacks in the 1890s.

If your historical heroes are a bit more, well, creepy and kooky, New Jersey offers another collecting connection. Cartoonist Charles Addams grew up in Westfield, where the houses and surroundings of his hometown helped shape the macabre sensibility that later made him famous. His characters inspired The Addams Family television series, films, a stage musical, and an enormous range of collectibles. Original Addams illustrations can sell for substantial prices, while prints, books, and memorabilia offer more accessible options for pop culture collectors.

Looking Ahead: New Jersey’s America 250 Calendar Highlights

Throughout 2026 — America 250 New Jersey Statewide Programming

Communities across New Jersey are commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary with educational programs, arts and entertainment, heritage events, and opportunities to explore the people and places that shaped the Garden State. New programs continue to be added throughout the year.

Through February 2027 — Spirit of ’76: The Bicentennial, New Jersey State Museum, Trenton

The Spirit of ’76: The Bicentennial exhibition looks back at how Americans celebrated the nation’s 200th anniversary in 1976. Drawing from the State Museum’s collection, the exhibition features art and artifacts produced for the Bicentennial, including New Jersey-connected works. It opened Feb. 14, 2026, and runs through February 2027.

Sept. 25–26, 2026 — The Crossing Musical Concert Preview, Flemington

A preview of The Crossing, a new musical centered on Black Revolutionary War patriot Jacob Francis, comes to the Historic Hunterdon County Courthouse ahead of the production’s world premiere in Trenton on the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Trenton. Performances are scheduled for Sept. 25 and 26.

Sept. 26, 2026 — A Taste of Cacao: The Mount Vernon Way at Washington’s Headquarters, Kingston

At Rockingham State Historic Site, visitors can learn how cacao was prepared in the 18th century as historical foodways interpreter Susan McLellan Plaisted demonstrates traditional chocolate-making techniques.

Nov. 6, 2026 — November 1776: When the Revolution Came to Newark

A program at the Newark Public Library explores Newark’s experience during the critical months of 1776 as the Revolution reached the city.

December 2026 — Patriots Week, Trenton

Trenton’s annual Patriots Week commemorates the events surrounding the Battles of Trenton with historical programming, tours, art, music, and living history. The 2026 observance marks the 250th anniversary of the first Battle of Trenton.

For More America 250:

America at 250: New Hampshire: The Granite State

America at 250: Nevada: The Silver State

America at 250: Nebraska: The Cornhusker State

America at 250: Montana: The Treasure State

America at 250: Missouri: The Show-Me State

America at 250: Mississippi: The Magnolia State

America at 250: Michigan – The Great Lakes State

America at 250: Massachusetts: The Bay State

America at 250: Maryland’s Chesapeake Heritage

America at 250: Maine’s Enduring Traditions

America at 250: The Legacy of Louisiana

America at 250: Kentucky’s Bourbon, Bluegrass, and the Kentucky Derby

America at 250: Kansas, the Sunflower State

America at 250: Iowa, the History and Heritage of the Hawkeye State

America at 250: Indiana, the Crossroads of America

America at 250: Illinois, the Prairie State

America at 250: Idaho’s Hidden (and Not-So-Hidden) Gems

America at 250: Hawaii’s Aloha Spirit

America at 250: Guam’s Cultural Legacy in the Pacific

America at 250: Georgia’s Craft, Commerce, and Cultural Influence

America at 250: Florida’s Diverse Heritage

America at 250: Delaware’s First State Heritage

America at 250: Connecticut’s Colonial Craft and Industry

America at 250: Colorado’s Land and Living Traditions

America at 250: California’s Golden State Traditions

America at 250: Arkansas’s Ozark Traditions

America at 250: Arizona’s Traditions Shaped by the Southwest

America at 250: American Samoa’s Enduring Island Traditions

America at 250: Alaska’s Living Indigenous Heritage

America at 250: Alabama’s Hand-Shaped Heritage

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Nearly thirty years after her death, Princess Diana is still one of popular culture’s most fascinating figures. Described as “one of the most photographed women in the world” during her lifetime, part of her enduring legacy comes from her signature style and her understanding of the power of an image. Her clothes continue to sell at high fashion auctions, with their provenance adding to their appeal. One of her most famous dresses, the “revenge dress” she wore in 1994, is currently on a tour of Sotheby’s galleries around the world, which will culminate in a single-lot auction, “Princess Diana: The Revenge Dress,” at Sotheby’s New York on December 9.

The black silk cocktail dress has a pre-sale estimate of $150,000 to $300,000 and is expected to sell for even more. Part of the proceeds will be donated to NHS Lothian Charity to support the patients, staff, and families of the Royal Edinburgh Hospital.

Diana was famously photographed wearing the dress to the Serpentine Gallery in London on June 29, 1994. That same evening, a televised interview would broadcast the interview where then–Prince Charles would publicly admit to infidelity. Despite the spotlight on her estranged husband, Diana ensured that the world’s attention would be on her.

The dress was already a few years old by then. In 1991, Diana visited Greek designer Christina Stambolian at her Beauchamp Palace studio. According to fashion journalist Claudia Joseph, she wanted “a special dress for a special occasion” and worked with the designer to bring the vision to life. The resulting dress, with its off-the-shoulder neckline, figure-hugging silhouette, and asymmetrical hemline that hit above the knees, defied royal conventions. In another departure from royal dress standards, Diana wore it to the Serpentine Gallery with her nails polished bright red.

Morgane Halimi, Sotheby’s global head of handbags and fashion, told AP News, “I personally believe that this dress is the most beautiful and powerful item linked to Diana.” Part of its power comes from the message it sent in 1994: “I’m taking back the story and I’m here and I stand for myself.”

The dress was previously sold at Christie’s in the 1997 auction “Dresses from the Collection of Diana, Princess of Wales” to raise money for AIDS charities. The Sotheby’s lot includes a catalog from the Christie’s auction signed by Diana and the designer of the dress, Christina Stambolian.

Halimi notes that “The Diana provenance always attracts collectors.” Sotheby’s has plenty of firsthand experience. The auction house has sold several other clothing pieces she owned in previous auctions, including her “Warm and Wonderful” sheep sweater, which achieved a record-breaking $1.1 million in 2023.

All images courtesy of Sotheby’s.

More Princess Di:

Three of Princess Diana’s Royal Gowns Sell for $1.65 Million at Julien’s Auctions

Diana’s Dresses Dazzle at MoPOP: A Royal Fashion Exhibit Like No Other

Stunning Princess Diana Ball Dress Sells for $600,000

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