Feature:CCS Comments and Queries

We like to pass along some of the comments and queries that come into the Calendar Collectors Society's office, hopeful some of our readers may have additional comments or can respond to the queries. Contact information is provided for each query so that you can respond directly without coming back through the CCS office, however we do encourage you to cc. us on responses. Now, please ready what people are saying:

I am looking for two calendars from 1950 of two paintings by Ogden Pleissner "Early Morning" (duck hunting) and "On the Wing" (grouse shooting). They were done by the Hercules Powder Company. any ideas where to look? Thanks. Cinnie O'Brien E-Mail: cinnie@americansportingart.com

Robin Sainty writes, I have a collection of miniature calendars dating from the late 1800's thru to about 1914. In all there are about 150, mostly in very good condition. They range in size from 1-1/2" x 4" to 6" x 4". They depict children, religious scenes, birds, flowers, etc. I have found it difficult to track down other people who are interested in these items and welcome any inquiries. E-mail: rsainty@msn.com

I have been given a Pirelli calendar from a relative and can't seem to find a date for it. Please could someone help shed some light on this for me. The calendar has a bunch of banannas on the front, but does not mention anywhere the date. Is it rare? I look forward to hearing from you. Will Hives. E-mail: will@alt-design.net

I have a Pirelli 1984 calendar number 03007. It is boxed and in good condition. Please can someone advise on the sort of price I should be looking for and where I can sell it please? Kind regards. Chris and Pete Marlow. E-mail: chris@chestnutcourtcottages.freeserve.co.uk

John Brunner says, I am in possession of several Mercedes-Benz poster calendars. I've always had the impression that they were worth a great deal. Perhaps this is false hope. Some examples: 1986, 100 years of the automobile, 1990-91 motorsport (silver arrows, black & white). I don't need an appraisal, just an indication whether these are collectibles or not. E-mail: bfc4@csolve.net

Trying to find value of a 1954 Marilyn Monroe calendar by Tom Kelly, mint condition. Thanks. E-mail: stnmil5@aol.com

I am trying to find information about some calendars that were given to me. These are calendars that show trains. I have 13 Union Pacific Railroad calendars, 1975-1989. I also have 15 calendars from Orchard Supply & Hardware, a hardware store that was started in 1931 in California. These calendars also show trains. I am trying to find out what they might be worth and who would like to buy them. Thank you. Edward Fresquez. E-mail: edwardfresquez@aol.com

Jim Bofenkamp writes, Dear calendar collectors. I have two plus boxes of calendars stored in a closet and have now come to the realization that I no longer want to collect them. Does anyone have an interest in them? I live in a suburb immediately north of Minneapolis. E-mail: jimbofenkamp@hotmail.com

(200210)

Issue:Determining Condition When Describing Collectibles

As collectors become more and more sophisticated, "condition" can become the single most important factor. The better the condition, the higher the value. Is the item complete? Heavy wear, scratches, dents, chips, fading, soiling, and missing parts or accessories all quickly reduce the value of an item. Original packaging, if it was provided, is equally important to many collectors in some collecting areas since packaging, especially for early era items, seldom remains and is found only rarely on items in optimum condition.

Repair or cleaning may increase an item's value if done with care, caution and expertise. Crude repairs or harsh cleaning can just as easily decrease normal value.

So how do you go about "describing" the condition of an item? In our opinion, one of the very best at this is a friend of over 30 years, Ted Hake of Hake's Americana & Collectibles in York, PA. Ted has been at this for many years and has the reputation of being one of the fairest, most conservative graders on condition, often almost to the point of over-describing any potential defects. His philosophy is that he wants his customers to be pleasantly surprised if they are buying something with a problem, thinking as they get it, "this really isn't as bad as described." By doing this, Hake's has a less than 1% return due to an error in describing the item's description on the 20,000 items they sell annually.

The terms and definitions used to describe items by Hake's Americana & Collectibles in their mail/internet auctions (http://www.hakes.com) is fairly standard in the collectibles hobby. The system used is:

Mint (M): Flawless condition. Usually applied to items made of metal or items that are boxed or otherwise packaged. MIB stands for "Mint in box."

Near Mint (NM): Just the slightest detectable wear but appearance is still like new.

Excellent (Exc): Only the slightest detectable wear, if any at all. Usually applied to buttons, paper and other non-metallic items. Also used for metallic items that just miss the near mint or mint levels.

Very Fine (VF): Bright clean condition. An item that has seen little use and was well cared for with only very minor wear or aging.

Fine (F): An item in nice condition with some general wear but no serious defects.

Very Good (VG): Shows use but no serious defect and still nice for display. Metal items may have detail or paint wear. Paper items may have some small tears or creases.

Good (G): May have some obvious overall wear and/or some specific defect but still with some collectible value.

Fair (F): Obvious damage to some extent.

Poor (P): Extensive damage or wear.

In the collecting business, particularly when purchasing items through the mail, from collector publications or over the Internet, it is best to have a clear understanding with the seller that the item can be returned for a refund if the item has more wear or damage than the seller specified.

In the collectibles business much wishful thinking occurs regarding condition, particularly by less experienced dealers and collectors and among the general public attempting to sell items found around the house (This is particularly true if they have located their item in a collectibles' reference book which indicates a price guide of mint condition or above. They think their item should be worth that much, or even more!).

Of course, you may from time to time also run across that certain collector who scrutinizes every item under high magnification and may not be happy with the piece even if it is mint from the factory. We have a name for these people but normally only use it in private around the office. The best way to deal with the "mint perfectionist" is to accurately and meticulously describe...in fact, to the point of over describing...everything you feel might be considered wrong with the item right up front. Unless this is done, the person probably won't be happy with it. And, if the item fits in the good, fair or poor categories, you might simply tell them you don't think it would fit into their collection...even if it means a lost sale.

On the other hand, many collectors will buy items that do have defects and are priced accordingly, particularly if they collect with the philosophy of buying items with the intent of "upgrading" if and when they find the same item in better condition.

Again, the best philosophy in dealing with buying and selling collectibles is honesty, accurately describing anything and everything that, in your opinion, you feel is wrong with the item. Don't try to hide a problem or camouflage it.

Specific collecting areas often will have their own grading systems and standards. Obviously, coins, is one example that comes to mind. The best advise here for collectors is to join a collecting club that serves that collecting area, if one exists. Becoming educated about the hobby area in which you are involved or have an interest is crucial.

There is another point we absolutely have to mention here because of personal experience. In dealing with antiques and collectibles, particularly on the Internet, you may find a vast difference in mentality toward imperfections or problems with items in certain parts of the world. For example, in our opinion, Europeans are far more sophisticated, and often have no problems with antiques with major imperfections. We recall once being on a museum tour in Portugal where nearly everything in the castle was damaged. The statues had hands and fingers broken off, bronzes were dented and most earthenware pieces had chips or cracks. In remarking to a British lady in our small group that we would have a hard time selling most of these pieces in America she responded that in England they are suspect of any real antique that doesn't have chips or cracks or major flaws as not being genuine. They dearly love the imperfections of their antiques as they are, indeed, a part of the history of the piece. I do not think the lady would be the least bit interested in a prized "American" collectible in its original box that has never been opened! Contributed by Larry Krug, Americana Resources.

(200210)

Got News? Any News?

If you have items of interest for our Calendar Collectors eNews readers, please send them to: info@calendarcollectors.org. Let us hear from you.

(200110)

Adding People to Calendar & Paper Collectors eNews List

We have had several queries, "can anyone sign up for the Calendar & Paper Collectors eNews, or is it strictly just for calendar collectors and members of the Calendar Collectors Society? The answer is easy. Anyone who has any interest in collecting can sign up for the free newsletter, particularly if their interests involve calendars, calendar art, almanacs, schedules, advertising, paper ephemera, postcards, books or related paper collectibles. Go to http://americanaresources.com to sign up or use the simple guidelines at the bottom of this E-mail. At the americanaresources website you can sign up for several different free newsletters including electronic newsletters directed to the following audiences: political collectors, collecting clubs, antiques & collectibles dealers, flea market managers & vendors, show promoters, antique mall managers, theft reports, auctioneers, reproductions and collecting club convention managers, in addition to the Calendar & Paper Collecting eNews.

We appreciate your promotion of eNews through your newsletters or on your websites. Thanks

(200208)

Calendar Collectors Society Joins ACC

We are repeating the announcement carried in the last CCS eNews that the Calendar Collectors Society has joined the Association of Collecting Clubs - an association of clubs, societies and associations supporting a broad range of collecting areas. Founded earlier this year, ACC's primary purpose is to build coalitions between clubs, networking to share information for strengthening clubs and helping them to better serve their memberships. Since we have a number of new members on the CCS eNews listing we felt it important to share this information again with the entire mailing list.

What does this mean to CCS?

ACC can serve as the conduit for CCS developing closer relationships with other clubs and groups with similar interests.

ACC membership can help make the Calendar Collectors Society more visible to a much broader segment of the collecting community including those collectors who may have an interest in studying and collecting all forms of calendars and calendar art.

ACC offers broad areas of club leadership information, resources and idea exchange. Some of these areas include serving new audiences, membership recruitment and retention, management and finances for clubs, law & legal ramifications for clubs,s reproductions, and strengthening club websites.

The Calendar Collectors Society will receive a direct link from the ACC website homepage to the CCS membership application form on CCS's website through a special section, "Join a Club," on the ACC site.

The Collecting Clubs News Service, a service to ACC member clubs, allows us to broadly distribute news releases to the antiques & collectibles industry at no cost to us. The News Service offers coverage to over 600 publications, news services, columnists and other news outlets.

What does this mean to YOU?

If you are receiving this Calendar & Paper Collectors eNews electronic newsletter, you are considered a member of the Calendar Collectors Society. For every club which joins ACC, all club members automatically become members of NAC, the National Association of Collectors - ACC's "sister association." This means as a CCS member you have full use of the NAC program areas and the NAC Partnership program offering reduced prices on a broad range of products and services; everything from display cases and collector supplies to Internet software programs, reduced subscriptions and price guides & collector books, and the NAC Insurance Program for Collectors. The Partnership Program will be a growing area offering more products and services as they become available.

The NAC/ACC website at http://collectors.org offers collectors a broad range of free educational information in the forms of directories, schedules and current news about collecting and collecting clubs. There is a Collecting Clubs' Directory, a directory of antiques and collectibles shows, flea market directory, auctioneers' directory, a directory of glossaries, special issues' surveys, dozens of discussion forums, theft reports and much more. The CCS website at http://calendarcollectors.org already has a direct link to the NAC/ACC website from it's homepage.

All CCS members for which we have current e-mail addresses will receive the weekly Collecting eNews electronic newsletter conveying information on all types of collecting and news from the collecting industry.

TO ACCESS THE MEMBERS ONLY AREA FOR ACC AND NAC ON THE http://collectors.org WEBSITE, PLEASE NOTE THAT BOTH THE ID AND PASSWORD ARE CASE SENSITIVE. Please keep the below ID and Password listed below in a convenient location near your computer - this is now you gain access to the members' only areas on the website.

Login ID: CCS
Password: Pirelli

The Calendar Collectors Society is pleased to be a member of the Association of Collecting Clubs and to be able to offer our members additional member benefits through the ACC and NAC offerings. If you have any questions please e:mail info:calendarcollectors.org

(200210)

Calendar Plates from 1930s and 1940s

We often get requests from people seeking calendar plates from years representing the decades of the 1930s and 1940s. Although we deal in a number of calendar plates on our own personal site, we know the those from the 1930s and 1940s are tremendously scarce. In fact, there may be some years where they are totally void. We would like to determine if, indeed, there are certain years where no calendar plates were produced. For you calendar plate collectors, let us hear from you about what you think regarding the '30s and '40s. We'll try to publish the results in the next eNews newsletter. Write: info@calendarcollectors.org

(200209)

CCS e-News Members To Get Collecting eNews Electronic Newsletter

Recently, when CCS joined the Association of Collecting Clubs, one of the benefits was that of the Collecting eNews electronic newsletter - the official newsletter of ACC and the National Association of Collectors (NAC). As CCS members, you are now receiving the Collecting eNews.

Collecting eNews provides news and issues about all kinds of collecting and information on other collecting clubs. The vast number of collectors who are interested in calendars, also are active in other types of collecting. We hope you will enjoy this new member benefit. If you have any questions, please e-mail: info@calendarcollectors.org

(200210)

Check Out the MICE Freecard Guild

M.I.C.E. is a friendly, non-profit making card exchange circle for collectors of pictorial non-insert advertising/publicity cards which are given away free. Founded in January 1996 it has members in the United Kingdom and is now spreading throughout Europe as the free-card scene expands.

The range of collectible free-cards is vast. There are postcards, bookmarks, tourist information cards, radio/T.V. presenter cards, recipe cards, telephone publicity cards, dance & night-club flyers, pocket calendars, advert playing cards, free scratch cards...and that's just naming a few of the different categories.

All cards are exchanged by monthly mail and you also receive a free copy of `M.I.C.E. Tales', which is the Guild's newsletter.

Complimentary sample cards and an information pack regarding membership qualification and participation can be obtained by sending two x 1st Class postage stamps to: MICE Freecard Guild UK, 4 Stiles Avenue, Marple, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 6LR, England. The e-mail is: anonymouse@micefreecardclub.co.uk Check out the website: http://www.micefreecardclub.co.uk

(200210)

Classified Advertising - Special Deal Offered!

Classified advertising on the Calendar Collectors Society website are offered under a number of topic headings at a low price of 50 words or less for $10/year. For a short time, a special offer is being made to also include the new CCS classified advertisements on the website of the National Association of Collectors and the Association of Collecting Clubs.

The NAC/ACC website at http://collectors.org offers classified advertising for $20/year. You may place an ad on the Calendar Collectors Society website and have it listed on the Collectors.org website, too, for a special price of $20/year total cost for both! The Collectors.org website has 65-75,000 visitors each month.

This is a great way to reach the collecting community at very reasonable prices. Ad guidelines: Ads are limited to 50 words or less, including your contact information. This may be your postal mailing address, telephone number, fax number, and/or e-mail address or website URL. Please include a complete description of what you are offering or looking for. Multiple units are available, i.e. 100 words for $40, 150 words for $60. For more information simply "click" on the Classifed Advertising button on the CCS website at http://calendarcollectors.org If you have any questions, contact: info@calendarcollectors.org

(200210)

For Those Who Take Life Too Seriously...

I read recipes the same way I read science fiction. I get to the end and think, "Well, that's not going to happen."

(200210)

NAC Offers Their Insurance Program to Paper & Calendar Collectors

The National Association of Collectors (NAC) insurance program was developed strictly with the collector in mind. If you have a collection, you need NAC Collectors' Insurance. Where can you get $25,000 in coverage for only $86 annually? ...or, $125,000 worth for $271 annually? Check out the rate schedule listed below:

Why you need it...Many Homeowners Insurance Policies do NOT cover antiques and collectibles or have limited coverage and qualifiers. Some Insurance companies will add scheduled coverage but the rates are high and they require an appraisal or require a list of every item which can be expensive and difficult to get.

Check out the NAC insurance program's economical rates. Amount of coverage: Minimum $20,000 - annual premium $66. $25,000 costs $86. $30,000 costs $103. $50,000 costs $166. $75,000 costs $213. $100,000 costs $242. $125,000 costs $271. $150,000 costs $300. $200,000 costs $357. For a complete chart of insurance rates go to: http://collectors.org and click on the NAC section, insurance program.

NAC Insurance is provided by Association Insurance Administrators. No appraisals are required. Only single items over $2500 need to be listed on the application. For replacement cost, you will be paid the current market retail value of the item at the time of loss. NAC Insurance is truly "all-risk" coverage, including fire, lightning, windstorm, vandalism, theft, vehicle overturn, accidental breakage, flood, earthquake, and shopping coverage. There is hassle free claim settlement by Association Insurance Administrators' experts. NOTE: This policy WILL NOT cover dealer inventory.

For more information visit the NAC Insurance page on the http://collectors.org website, call Association Insurance Administrators toll free at 1.800.287.7127 or FAX 1.704.895.9088. Ask for an NAC insurance information packet.

(200210)

Newest Edition of Farmers' Almanac Now Available

The 2003 Farmers' Almanac is now available for purchase in many of the major chain stores in the United States and Canada. Here's just a small preview of what you'll find in the new edition:

A Kinder Gentler Nation. Kindness...We teach it. We expect it. We're offended when we're not the recipients of it. Yet what do we as individuals do to encourage it? Read about the newest Farmers' Almanac crusade.

Apple Pie Recipe Winners announced. From Maine to California, Farmers' Almanac readers submitted their recipes for the best All-American Apple pie. The three winners share their price winning recipes.

The flag we so proudly hail. In a time of renewed, unabashed patriotism, our interest in all things American is rekindled. We're much more interested in and curious about the American flag. What does our flag stand for? What makes it such a powerful symbol, and such an important part of our everyday lives?

Plus...Weather, gardening tips, humor and so much more! Find out why the Farmers' Almanac has been a favorite in millions of homes for 186 years!

As a bit of history, in 1818 David Young along with publisher Jacob Mann founded the Farmers' Almanac. David Young was editor until the time of his death in 1852. Foresighted, Young left no one to carry on his work. Fortunately, an astronomer named Samuel Hart Wright became his successor. Wright supplied all calculations for various Almanacs until his passing in 1875. His son, Berlin Hart Wright, took over as calculator through the early 1930's as Geiger Bros., then located in Newark, New Jersey, acquired the Almanac Publishing Company. Berlin was helped in his declining years by his son-in-law, Roland E. Hart, who calculated the astronomy, and weather forecasts until he forwarded those duties to Harry Buie. Buie did the calculating and the weather prophesying until his death in 1981. Kenneth Franklin, a master scientist and astronomer with the Hayden Planetarium in New York City was then chosen as his successor until his departure from the Almanac.

Since then, the Farmers' Almanac has become more guarded with its famous weather formula and created "Caleb Weatherbee," a pseudonym that is given to all past, present, and future Almanac weather forecasters.

Today, the Farmer's Almanac has become a part of everyday life, culture and tradition. City folks, as well as country farmers, prize the Farmers' Almanac highly. People still consult it as frequently as did generations long ago. Set in a nostalgic theme, the newest edition, the 2003 Farmers' Almanac is filled with entertaining short stories, good cooking, fun, facts, forecasts, timely household tips, calendars for fishing, gardening and more.

With offices located in Lewiston, Maine, the Farmers' Almanac is recognized worldwide and can be found throughout the U.S. and Canada. With this ever increasing popularity, the Farmers' Almanac and its editors, Peter Geiger, Philom and Sandi Duncan, receive extensive national media coverage each year which includes newspaper, magazine, radio, television networks, and the Internet. More information on the Farmers' Almanac, or to order the 2003 issue on line, go to their website at: http://www.farmersalmanac.com

The Calendar Collectors Society has a number of members who collect almanacs, which are obviously considered a type of calendar. If you collect almanacs, we would like to hear about your personal collection. Write: info@calendarcollectors.org (information taken in part from the Farmers' Almanac website, www.farmersalmanac.com)

(200209)

Pirelli Calendars - What are They Really Worth?

Some collectors call them the "most sought after calendars in the world." With absolutely nothing coming in as a close second, queries on the values of Pirelli calendars are by far the most asked question at the Calendar Collectors Society. Until now, we have not had a good response to these queries.

Over the past three months we have been tracking the prices realized for Pirelli calendars on eBay. Normally, we would only use the eBay pricing as one source in attempting to determine the value of a collectible, however in the case of Pirelli items, since the buyer and seller base is totally worldwide - all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada, United States, and elsewhere - we feel the eBay prices realized may be close to realistic.

Before we get into our results, however, let's do a quick recap of this impressive phenomenon. The calendars are world famous for their stylish and glamorous photography. The annual calendars were first published in 1964. The calendars are not for sale and as one seller put it, "only 45,000 people are privileged to get one each year!"

The Pirelli Calendar dates back to 1964 when the marketing department of Pirelli Ltd. in the UK decided to issue a calendar for their top UK customers as a gift for the closing year. In fact the Pirelli calendar project had been born one year earlier, in 1963 with Terence Donovan, but had not met the approval of Pirelli's mangers. However for 1964 the pictures were so beautiful that the new calendar was released for distribution and the success on the media was immediate.

Over a period of nearly 40 years the Pirelli calendars have shaken the media world with their audacity, innovation and spectacular imagery. The calendar was very much a product of the cultural revolution which inspired a new sensuality, a new appreciation of the female form and, above all, an urgent need to break taboos. In the sixties a tidal wave of creative energy swept through rock music, fashion, films and photography, and the stuffiness and austerity of post-war London quickly surrendered to a new vitality which turned the city into the style capital of the world. At the same time a tire manufacturer with a foreign name shot to fame outside Italy with an annual PR extravaganza which became coveted by students, cabinet ministers, royalties and superstars alike. An idea of creative genius became a printed icon for each year, spawned many inferior imitations and stretched the parameters of sensual fantasy and fabulous photography. The Pirelli calendar has redefined the rules of glamorous photography; by tradition calendars were hung on garage walls - now they hang in museums, and Pirelli have gone on redefining those rules year after year. Its 12 leaves were - and still are - awaited with enthusiastic anticipation.

The aim of the Pirelli calendar is to produce through the photographer's creativity a theme and a set of pictures of high artistic level: its exclusivity was planned and carefully maintained by Pirelli.

Now, on with the big question: What is my Pirelli calendar worth? Most people making this inquiry seem to have dollar signs imbedded in their eyeballs. They've heard the stories and feel (even without the benefits of the "Antique Roadshow") that they are sitting on a small fortune. Well, this may or may not be the case. It's true that there are many Pirelli collectors out there, and the interest in Pirelli calendars is most definitely worldwide, but there still are a significant number of them produced annually. We'll let the three months of monitoring eBay sales tell the story.

Perhaps the most impressive sale was one by a German collector who sold his complete collection of 29 issues covering the years from 1964 through 2002 (some years missing) to a Swiss buyer on eBay Germany for $12,819.01 US funds.

Most other eBay Pirelli sales have been for single calendars so we can offer our observations of value over the 1964-2002 period having tracked the sales of a couple of hundred of these calendars.

Decade of the 1960s - A "first ever" 1964 calendar sold for $678. The seller noted there was a slight crease (1/4") on the corner of one of the pages otherwise it was excellent. Few other 1960s calendars were auctioned. A 1966 sold for $160 and a 1969 for $195. Both were described as being in "good" condition. A 1969 Pirelli near mint with box commanded an even $500 price.

Decade of the 1970s - An unboxed 1971 calendar bought $20. Several 1972s were sold, all in very good to excellent condition, prices ranging from $78-$104 with one exception being a very good 1972 in the original box at $58 (someone got a bargain!). Four 1973s were auctioned, displaying a wide range. A "never used" in the box went for $57, one in good condition with box went for $60, and three in excellent condition with box topped out at over $100 each. 1974 perhaps displays the significance of condition more so than any other year. A 1974 in good condition sold for $56 and one in very scuffed condition for $9 whereas two in near mint boxed condition went for $143 and $190 respectively. "Pirelli in Jamaica" was the 1975 theme and in very good condition these calendars bring between $125-140. We did not see any examples of Pirelli calendars go up for sale for the years between 1976-1979.

Decade of the 1980s - There were few calendars from the 1980s sold during the past three months. Here are is the complete listing: Three 1984 mint in box at $62, $66 and $78. One 1985 calendar in excellent condition sold for $54. A 1986 calendar in perfect condition without box sold for $33. 1987 Pirelli in "perfect" condition at $28. A 1989 "unopened" Pirelli sold for $78. Like the ending years of the decade of the 1970s, there were no Pirelli representatives offered for the early 1980s from 1980-1983. This void between 1976 and 1983 will continue to need monitoring.

Decade of the 1990s - Most of the calendars during the early to mid-1990s are in the same value range depending entirely upon condition. Most of these calendars, if near mint and with box, were selling from $20-50. A couple of 1992s, near mint, sold for $15 and $16 respectively. For the later years of the 1990s the story is slightly different. A 1998 mint in box sold for $280 and a 1999 mint in box went for $103, yet another 1999 described as "excellent" only brought $37 so the two higher prices may not be an accurate appraisal.

The 21st century - The 2000 Millennium calendar goes for $25-35 in excellent, in the box condition. We only saw a couple of 2001 calendars sold - mint in the box at $44. Mint in the box 2002 calendars, of which there were several auctioned, sold for a low of $25 to a high of $80.

As we have noted above, like most other collectibles, the values of Pirelli calendars vary significantly depending upon condition. A calendar which is mint in unopened box may bring 10 times more money than another calendar for the same year which has tears or stains, sometimes even somewhat minor. A Pirelli "in the box" will bring slightly more than one in excellent condition but not in the box, however this may be more of a psychological thing...buyers feeling "in the box" really means "mint" or "near mint" whereas a calendar not in the box may be called "excellent" but may not truly be so. There is a market for Pirelli calendars, even if they have problems, but the value is very low. We did see on occasion separate pages from a calendar being offered on eBay (probably from a damaged calendar where some of the pages were still OK so the owner decided to "bust" the calendar up and sell it by the page). These single pages normally sold for $3-5 each, hardly worth the effort in our judgment particularly if sold as single sheets as in this case.

Although this is an extremely uneducated "price guide" to Pirelli values, hopefully it will make some contribution enabling buyers and sellers to determine a likely value range for a particular year. We welcome your comments! E-mail: info@calendarcollectors.org

(200209)

Upcoming Paper Shows

Following is a listing of some of the upcoming paper shows. If you know of shows which are not listed, please send us the details at: info@calendarcollectors.org Contact information is provided for each show. If you are traveling a distance, we urge you to contact the show promoter to make sure the dates and location are accurate and the show is still scheduled.

Oct 5-7 - Allentown, PA. Great Eastern U.S. Antique Book, Paper & Advertising Show. Agricultural Hall, Allentown Fairgrounds. G.E. Productions, Joyce Heilman. 215.529.7215

Oct 11-12 - Golden, CO. Postcard & Paper Odyssey 2002, Jefferson County Fairgrounds Auditorium, 15200 W 6th Ave. Bobbie 303.333.6818 or Randy 303.628.5460

Oct 12 - New York, NY. Rare, Used, Out-of-Print Book Fair. Tip Top Shoe Building, 155 W 72nd St, 4th Floor (near Broadway). Subway #1, 2 or 3 train to 72nd St; bus #7, 11 or 104 to 72nd St. 10am-2pm. 212.579.0689 weekdays. E-mail hfis646942@aol.com Website: www.hometown.aol.com/hfis646942/books.htm

Oct 12-13 - Santa Rosa, CA. Redwood Empire Postcard & Paper Show. Finley Hall, Sonoma County Fairgrounds. Joseph Jaynes. 831.476.3262

Oct 12-13 - Portland, OR. Greater Portland Postcard & Paper Show. Oregon Army National Guard, 10000 NE 33rd Drive. St 10am-6pm; Sun 10am-4pm. Terry Weis. 503.324.0970

Oct 12-13 - Charlottesville, VA. Children's Series Book Convention. Best Western Mt. Vernon, Sat 10am-4pm; Sun 10am-2pm. Mark Johnson, PO Box, 241, Barboursville, vA 22923

Oct 19 - Springfield, MA. Springfield Armory Antiquarian Book & Ephemera Fair. Springfield Technical College. Oliver & Gannon Associates. 518.861.5478

Oct 26 - York, PA. York Book and Paper Show. York Expo Center, Old Main Bldg, York Book & Paper Promotions. 717.428.3776

Oct 26-27 - Boston, MA. Book, Print & Ephemera Show at the Garage, The auditorium Garage, Bornstein Shows. David at 978.535.4811 or Bernice at 413.623.0105

Oct 27 - St Louis, MO. The Great American Paper Show, 2 Hearts Banquet Center, 4532 So. Lindbergh at Gravois. B&B Promotions. 636.296.8866

Nov 1-2 - Atlanta, GA. Atlanta Antiquarian Book Fair. Oglethorpe University, 4484 Peachtree Rd. Fri 6-9pm; Sat 10am-5:30pm. Georgia Antiquarian Booksellers Assn. 706.789.3206

Nov 2 -Winter Garden, FL. Annual Florida Citrus Crate Label Show. Winter Garden Heritage Museum, 1 N Main St. 10am-2pm. Sponsored by Florida Citrus Label Collectors' Association. Rod Reaves at 407.656.5544 or Brenda Eubanks Burnette at 561.684.4567

Nov 2-3 - Garden City, NY. The Long Island Autumn Antiquarian Book Fair. Garden City Field House, 295 Stewart Ave. Sponsored by The Long Island Antiquarian Book Dealers Association. Flamingo Promotions. 631.261.4590

Nov 2-3 - Roanoke, VA. Semi-Annual Postcard & Paper Collectibles Show. Days Inn at I-81 exit 146. William Mankins. 540.593.2283 or 540.798.1205

Nov 9 - Palo Alto, CA. Palo Alto Papermania Show. Elks Lodge, 4249 El Camino Real. Mike Rasmussen at 831.759.0259 or Joseph Jaynes at 831.476.3262

Nov 9 - Odessa. DE. Americana Paper Show. Odessa Fire Hall, Main St (Rte 299). 10am-6pm. 302.378.8838

Nov 9-10 - Nashville, TN. Postcard & Paper Show. Drury Inn-Nashville South, 340 Harding Place. Mickey & Sharon James, 1011 N 16th St, Nashville, TN 37206

Nov 10 - Lansing, MI. Classicon XXIII (a collectable pulp, paperback & glamour art show), Day's Inn Lansing-South, 6501 S Pennsylvania Ave. 10am-4pm. Ray Walsh, Curious Book Shop. 517.332.0112

Nov 16 - Hartford, CT. Greater Hartford Antiquarian Book, Print & Ephemera Fair. Connecticut Expo Center, 265 Reverend Moody Overpass. Bornstein Shows. Bernice at 413.441.1010 or David at 978.535.4811

Nov 16 - New York, NY. Rare, Used, Out-of-Print Book Fair. Tip Top Shoe Building, 155 W 72nd St, 4th Floor (near Broadway). Subway #1, 2 or 3 train to 72nd St; bus #7, 11 or 104 to 72nd St. 10am-2pm. 212.579.0689 weekdays. E-mail hfis646942@aol.com Website: www.hometown.aol.com/hfis646942/books.htm

Nov 22-23 - York, PA. York International Postcard Show. York County Fairgrounds. Mary L. Martin, Ltd. 410.642.3581

Nov 23 - Albany, NY. Albany Institute of History & Art Antiquarian Book & Ephemera Fair. 10am-4pm. Oliver & Gannon Associates. 518.861.5478

Nov 23-24 - San Francisco, CA. San Francisco Bay Antiquarian Book, Print & Paper Fair, Fiesta Hall, San Mateo Co. Expo Center, Hwy 92W off Rte 101. Sat 10am-7pm; Sun 10am-5pm. Walter Larsen & Associates. 510.525.2708

Dec 8 - Rockford, IL. Paper Show. For more information contact: Jerry Andreen, 2304 17th Ave, Rockford, IL 61104

Dec 14 - New York, NY. Rare, Used, Out-of-Print Book Fair. Tip Top Shoe Building, 155 W 72nd St, 4th Floor (near Broadway). Subway #1, 2 or 3 train to 72nd St; bus #7, 11 or 104 to 72nd St. 10am-2pm. 212.579.0689 weekdays. E-mail hfis646942@aol.com Website: www.hometown.aol.com/hfis646942/books.htm

Jan 5 - Columbus, OH. Columbus Book & Paper Show. Vets Memorial Hall, 300 W Broad St. 10am-4pm. Columbus Productions, Inc. 614.781.0070

Feb 2 - Tarrytown, MNY. 15th Annual Winter Westchester Antiquarian Book & Ephemera Fair. Westchester Marriott Hotel. Oliver & Gannon Associates, Inc. 518.861.5478 E-Mail: shows@albany.net

Feb 9 - Huntington, NY. The Long Island Spring Paper & Ephemera Show. Camelot Exhibition Hall, 585 Broadhollow Rd, Rte 110. Flamingo Promotions. 631.261.4590

Mar 14-16 - Old Greenwich, CT. Ephemera 23-International Show & Conference. Hyatt Regency Hotel, The Grand Ballroom. Sponsored by The Ephemera Society of America. Flamingo Promotions. 631.261.4590

Mar 21-22 - Boston, MA. 11th Annual M.A.R.I.A.B. Boston Antiquarian Book Fair. Boston Center for the Arts. Oliver & Gannon Associates, Inc. 518.861.5478 or e-mail: shows@albany.net

Apr 5-6 - Garden City, NY. The Spring Long Island Antiquarian Book Fair. Garden City Field House, 295 Stewart Ave. Sat 11am-6pm; Sun 11am-4pm. Flamingo Productions. 631.261.4590 E-Mail: flamingoshows@aol.com

Sept 21 - Columbus, OH. Columbus Book & Paper Show. Vets Memorial Hall, 300 W Broad St. 10am-4pm. Columbus Productions, Inc. 614.781.0070

Sept 29 - Huntington, NY. The Long Island Fall Paper & Ephemera Show. Camelot Exhibition Hall, 585 Broadhollow Rd (Rte 110). 10am-4pm Flamingo Productions. 631.261.4590 E-mail: flamingoshows@aol.com

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