Book Board Chat

Hello, All!

Back from the Rosemont Flea Market. It was a magnificent day, with temps around 82, plus enough sun to warm everyone. It was the largest market of the year. They opened up sections of the parking lot I've never seen open before. Tables were clustered close to one another and people were buying! Saw bicycles, again, but people were asking for BMX and mountain bikes. Saw one dealer who looked to have cornered the market on Precious Moments, but they weren't selling. Hummels, such as the scarce boy with guitar on his back, marked $30 (a giveaway price a few years ago), were not selling. Breyers were marked $10-15, but were not selling. I took a picture (flea#3 of one bunch). Many, many Halloween costumes and seasonal merchandise was selling briskly. Vinyl albums that were marked $2-3 two weeks ago were reduced to $1 and $2. Jewelry, as expected, was selling, but what was somewhat surprising is that earrings sales were so good. The post card dealers were absent but there were some vendors who had postcards and Victorian ephemera for $1 each. Good bargains for those who wanted to go thru boxes of stuff. I saw 4 half-manniquens (sp?) for $25 each, and a BLICK Aluminum typewriter in bottom half of its case. Looked it up and it seems they are desirable. This one's keys were stuck and goopy, so I took a pass. There were musicians with guitars happily singing off-key, lots of produce vendors (odd looking bumpy pumpkins for $2 each), Concord grapes at $3/basket, etc. Lots of new baby outfits for winter. Tools were there in abundance. De Walt (De Wit?) ones and old tool boxes were going. Camo outfits were also selling briskly. Saw more than a few duck decoys - some plastic ones, and some wooden ones, but none looked hand-made. Mums, again, were on sale (3 lrg. pots for $12). Surprised to see Xmas stuff wasn't more plentiful or the stuff that was there wasn't selling.

People were buying soccer and footballs (Champro brand for $5 and $7 respectively. Football jerseys were also selling at $5 each, along with huge (I mean huge) fishing nets.

The big furniture dealers weren't around, but there were ones selling small tables and one selling an old spinning wheel that worked for $50. There wasn't as much oak furniture as before, more the 1920s stuff. Altho I did see 2 glorious mid-century modern leather covered sleek chairs, in turquoise with red piping for $250. If that were my style, I'd have snapped them up.

Coin and stamp dealers were selling. One guy had paper money from Japanese-occupied Philippines for $1 each ten pesos bill.

There was a man from China selling junk jade stuff cheaply intermingled with some rather nice, but fake, antiques, like a pair of Fu Dogs for $89 in "silver." Looked like he had scooped up a lot of stuff on eBay, actually.

It looked like all the dealers who were there were doing well, and were more than willing to bargain.

Pics:
http://www.windycitybooks.com/ebay/flea1.jpg
http://www.windycitybooks.com/ebay/flea2.jpg
http://www.windycitybooks.com/ebay/flea3.jpg See manni's
http://www.windycitybooks.com/ebay/flea4.jpg
http://www.windycitybooks.com/ebay/flea5.jpg
http://www.windycitybooks.com/ebay/flea6.jpg
http://www.windycitybooks.com/ebay/flea7.jpg
http://www.windycitybooks.com/ebay/flea8.jpg

Next week is supposed to be cold, but the week after is Sandwich Antiques Fair. We are so ready!