Antiques: The Survival Kit for the Canadian Collector

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

Masses of interesting anecdotes—of fakes, of finds, of good buys and
bad—pepper this detailed introduction to antique collecting. This
style takes much of the intimidation out of the subject, encouraging the
beginner to take the first steps toward starting a collection.

The book touches on every type of antique, from precious jewellery and
fine furniture to baseball cards and McDonald’s giveaways. Along the
way, Fox includes glass, china, textiles, samplers, lamps, folk art,
photographica, dolls, teddy bears, and numerous other bits and pieces.
Throughout, she makes an effort to give special attention to items
manufactured in Canada.

Fox discusses various definitions of “antique,” and she covers
insurance and appraisal; government regulations on imports and exports;
conservation; restoration; and sources for clubs, newsletters, and
journals. She frequently gives prices—the topic of greatest interest
to most collectors, and the subject most writers avoid.

The work will be valuable to new and would-be collectors in that it
frankly discusses the dubious investment potential of most collections,
and gives an all-secrets-revealed look at auctions and at how dealers
operate.

Overall, the book is an excellent entry point for anyone venturing into
the popular field of antiques and collectibles.