Since its earliest known mention in 1066, the wonderfully diverse and always impressive cape has ebbed in and out of fashion more than any other garment we can think of. And today, it’s coming back around again, which is why the cape comeback highlights the February issue of Kovels Antique Trader.
Capes have been worn throughout history by many noteworthy figures, including Julius Caesar, King Arthur, Napoleon Bonaparte, Jackie Kennedy, and even Princess Diana, to convey authority, power, and sophistication. They are also associated with fantasy settings and stories involving Dracula, pirates, superheroes, wizards, and even swashbucklers like Zorro. Writer Kris Manty explains that in all its different guises and aesthetics throughout history, one thing about the cape remains the same: wear it with flair, and you can wear it anywhere.
You may even want to wear a cape on a Valentine’s Day date, but best check with your loved one before making your bold sartorial statement. What better way to do just that than with a Valentine’s Day card? A whopping 145 million valentines are exchanged each year, all thanks in part to the vision and astute business acumen of a young woman named Esther Howland. In the mid-1800s, Howland, a 20-year-old graduate of Mount Holyoke College living in Worcester, Mass., ushered in what is now a $26 billion holiday by introducing the first mass-produced commercial valentines in the U.S. You’ll read all about Howland and her early Valentine’s Day cards in the February issue of Kovels Antique Trader.
Consigning your treasures for auction can be the best way for many collectors to sell their valuables. Even so, the process can be a harrowing and even confusing experience. The auction consignment guide found in the February issue explains everything from what to expect during the process, how to find the right auction house, what fees you can expect to pay, how your items will be marketed, who potential buyers are, the likelihood of your items selling, and much more. Our auction consignment story walks you through the entire process so you can make the best possible decision when it comes to selling your collectibles at auction.
Along with Sales Reports covering Redware, Japanese toy robots, and collectible fishing lures, readers will enjoy Pamela Wiggins Siegel’s Walk on the Wild Side featuring the big, chunky, looking-to-be-noticed Monies jewelry. In our fan-favorite feature, Collector’s Gallery, a reader discovers that their family’s folk art Norwegian box dates to 1844 and is far more valuable than they ever imagined. Meanwhile, another reader learns their pristine childhood Tonka dump truck remains a Mid-century marvel coveted by collectors.
Speaking of yearning, Editor Paul Kennedy shares a love letter to a typewriter, of all things, in his monthly column. That long-ago typewriter, a space-age IBM Selectric, introduced during a summer school fling featuring lots of QWERTY dancing, ignited a lifelong love affair with writing. You’ll read all about it and much more in the February issue of Kovels Antique Trader.
