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Pop Art Continues to be Major Draw for Fine Art Collectors

Thu, 07/07/2011 - 9:17AM by thrim001 0 Comments - 3 Views

Seeking unique memorabilia and valuable metals since 1996, Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR), one of the premier dealers of gold, silver, militaria, guitars and fine arts in the entire world, has trekked all across North America and even Europe. Among this crew, however, is a focused group of art gurus who travel alongside their THR counterparts to nearly 100 shows a week in an effort to track down the lost and forgotten works of America’s best artists.

Even though the classic landscape artists such as Thomas Moran and Albert Bierstadt are often the most commonly sought after items by fine art collectors in the United States, there is also an increasing demand for the works from the “pop art” movement by major innovators such as Roy Lichtenstein.

These pieces are meticulously examined by the specialists, and if they deem them to be of value and genuine, they will make an offer to buy them on the spot. With the Treasure Hunters Roadshow Tv show gearing up for yet another season, these art fans are eager to see what other fantastic paintings they will be able to uncover this time around.

While the height of Roy Lichtenstein’s work came in the 1960s, Treasure Hunters Roadshow authorities have noticed that collectors these days continue scooping up his authentic prints and are inclined to shell out major bucks to complete their collections. Lichtenstein grew to become well-known for his works that were inspired by graphic novels and advertisements, revealing a whimsical humor and pop culture satire that appeared to define the pop art movement.

Roy Lichtenstein grew up in New York City in an upper-middle class family but was not a student of the arts. Alternatively, he toyed with design and style and painting as a hobby. Oftentimes, Lichtenstein could be located drawing pictures of the artists performing music at the Apollo Theatre. His higher education at Ohio State University was interrupted by a stint in WWII, but Lichtenstein eventually returned to complete his Master’s of Fine Arts degree.

It was at this time that he started experimenting with expressionism and cubism and would later be a part of the abstract expressionism school, despite the fact that he did so much later than other artists. Following a dare from his son, who stated, “Hey, dad, bet you can’t paint as good as this,” and displayed a Mickey Mouse comic book, Lichtenstein finished his first work entitled “Look Mickey” in 1961. His work was displayed for the first time at the Castelli gallery in 1962, where each and every piece was bought by investors before the display even opened.

Numerous art reviewers, nonetheless, began to criticize Lichtenstein’s inventiveness due to his use of topics from other kinds of pop culture. He was most recognized for his artwork of well-known comic book panels, but by 1965 had moved on to other subject matter. Graphic novelist, Art Spiegelman, became annoyed with Lichtenstein declaring, “Lichtenstein did no more or less comics than Andy Warhol did for soup.”

Responding to his critics, in the late 1970s Lichtenstein began to use a more bizarre style in his artwork with plastic and metal sculptures and several hundred screen-printed pieces. In 1996, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. came to own the largest assortment of Roy Lichtenstein pieces, although it is believed that a significant quantity of his work continues to be in personal collections.

Have some pop art lying around the household but not positive if it is of value? Go to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow activities website to find out when the fine arts specialists will be in your region to assess and quite possibly buy your collection. A piece of paper that appears like a comic book in your attic just may well be a Roy Lichtenstein original well worth thousands of dollars!



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Treasure Hunters Roadshow Finds Classic American Art to be Major Hit Amongst its Network of Collectors

Tue, 06/28/2011 - 2:56PM by thrim001 0 Comments - 2 Views

As one of the premier purchasers of valuable metals, musical instruments, militaria and jewelry in the world, Treasure Hunters Roadshow has become accustomed to unearthing a wide variety of long-lost treasures and restoring them to their rightful glory within their network of world-wide collectors.

A unique crew of artwork experts will be joining the treasure-hunting crew as they hit the road this week and they will be keeping their eyes peeled for the forgotten works of great American painters, photographers, sculptors and comic artists. The THR associates will continue their quest for these fine art collectibles as Treasure Hunters Roadshow TV gears up for another season.

American art encompasses a range of mediums and spans a handful of centuries, but what continues to be a lasting legacy among collectors is the desire for classic items by the masters such as Edward Hopper, Thomas Moran, Albert Bierstadt and Thomas Cole. All of these great artists had been involved with landscape painting but found notoriety and fame in their unique styles.

When the Protestant Revolution swept across Europe, it caused artists to seek out much more secular subject matters instead of religious ones during the Dutch Golden Age of the 16th century. Intricate landscapes had long been a background staple of the portraits commissioned by affluent European businessmen in Europe. Romantic painters of the 18th and 19th centuries sought to depict a mythical side of nature, in direct contrast to the Scientific Revolution that was lurching ahead.

Documentation through photographs and paintings started to spread in the United States as news of the huge and unspoiled landscapes of the West spread. These had been either commissioned by industrial tycoons who wanted to depict the rising presence of contemporary life in the West or served as reminder of the sacrifice required for this progress.

The works of the Hudson River School artists are of special interest to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow authorities. Thomas Moran’s work was influential in persuading Congress to establish the first nationwide park to protect the natural elegance for future generations, while Thomas Cole painted his pieces on larger-than-life canvasses to capture the epic magnitude of the wilderness and Albert Bierstadt focused his work on the humbling powers of nature.

Landscape painting faded away at the beginning of the 19th century, as scenes of gritty city and urban life started to take hold in place of lush natural views. Abstract expressionism and cubism were European influences on the contemporary landscape painters. Also of interest to THR art gurus are the works of Edward Hopper, an iconic American painter who captured scenes of mundane life through vivid lighting and gentle brushstrokes.

Paintings of street life in the inner city and other consequences of the Industrial Revolution would later gain other American artists global recognition. The Great Depression also allowed for photographers to establish themselves through the documentation of the struggle of everyday Americans. A slew of American artists, such as Roy Lichtenstein, made a splash on the world stage with their influential styles when the modern art revolution hit.

Potential sellers of the works of these or other great artists can visit the Treasure Hunters Roadshow events website page to locate an event coming to their area for a no cost evaluation by one of the fine arts experts.



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Vintage Barbie Dolls Making a Scene at Treasure Hunters Roadshow Events

Wed, 06/22/2011 - 12:55PM by thrim001 0 Comments - 4 Views

Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR) has been traveling the country in search of precious metals, watches, older coins, antiques and vintage toys since 1996. The business has recently expanded their search of treasures into Spain and the United Kingdom. Their international hunt for treasures gives THR with a chance to acquire gold, silver and all kinds of collectibles for their international network of buyers and collectors.

Rare and unique toys are exciting to play with and collect. While mostly a childhood hobby, collecting toys is also popular with grown ups, who appreciate reminiscing with toys they used to play with in their early years. As the demand for vintage toys, especially classic Barbie dolls in excellent condition continues to rise, these classic toys can bring a wonderful paycheck at a Treasure Hunters Roadshow function. Their buyers have been instructed to give top-dollar for vintage mint-condition Barbie dolls.

The very first Barbie doll was released at the American International Toy Fair in New York on March 9, 1959. Mattel debuted the doll after co-founder Elliot Handler’s wife, Ruth, came up with a design for a new doll for her daughter, Barbara. Although hesitant to release the doll at first because Mattel did not believe young girls wanted an grownup-looking toy, Barbie went on to become one of America’s most treasured toys of all time.

Ruth Handler came up with the Barbie doll idea during a family trip to Europe, where she came across just what she envisioned for her daughter – Bild Lilli. Bild Lilli was a doll sold in Germany in the 1950s. She was inspired by a comic strip, in which she was an incredibly self-empowered woman who, at times, was rather controversial. Barbie, or Barbra Millicent Roberts as her fictitious biography reads, has also had her share of controversies over the many years. Criticized by health experts and child psychologists for her unrealistic and unachievable body shape, Barbie has undergone many changes over the years, but continues to be a toy icon all over the globe.

Classic Barbie dolls can be valued at hundreds to really serious collectors. Initially released as a series, number one coming in 1959, Barbie actually had inserts in her feet to help her stand on her own. This original Barbie is the only one to have this copper insert and is quite valuable if in very good condition. In the Barbie series, dolls one through three, and a number of the fourth, ended up being manufactured with a solid torso and solid legs. Each and every Barbie made after these has a hollow body.

Classic Barbie dolls still in mint condition, which include ones that have remained in the box for over 5 decades, are a toy collector’s dream. The potential buyers at THR are seeking to buy these uncommon, collectible items and all vintage toys on behalf of their network of buyers and collectors. A list of objects that the Treasure Hunters Roadshow buyers are looking for can be found on the company’s website.



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Bobblehead Prices Turning Heads at Treasure Hunters Roadshow Events

Tue, 06/21/2011 - 9:05AM by thrim001 0 Comments - 2 Views

Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR) is a vendor of classic collectibles and precious metals. Teams of treasure hunters have been hosting thousands of shows a year all across the continent since 1996. A couple of groups have not long ago expanded across the Atlantic Ocean to the United Kingdom and Spain. THR buys antiques, collectibles, gold, silver, jewelry, vintage comic books and sports memorabilia, specifically bobbleheads, at events on behalf of their world wide network of collectors.

Sports memorabilia is enjoyable to the Treasure Hunters Roadshow sports experts as they see numerous rare and one-of-a-kind items. Baseball objects are most common, but the treasure hunters are all set to buy vintage or rare memorabilia from any sport.

One of the popular items in the arena of sports memorabilia is the athlete, coach or mascot bobblehead. The bobblehead entered the sports world almost 100 years ago in the 1920s. The New York Knicks launched a bobblehead of a player for their followers to purchase and collect. The sports bobblehead became a fan favorite in the 1960s. To start off the 1960 baseball season, Major League Baseball made a series of papier-mâché bobbleheads for each and every team. These collectibles had every teams’ jersey on them but the numbers and the faces were all the same.

Bobbleheads with certain players’ names were released for the New York Yankees in the World Series in 1960. The four players, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Roger Maris and Roberto Clemente, each had their very own number on the bobblehead, but the heads remained the same. Because of the fragility of the material, numerous of these papier-mâché bobbleheads did not last long.

As bobblehead recognition continued to grow, suppliers started to use ceramic rather than papier-mâché so that they would not chip or crack as quickly. Baseball teams went on to release bobbleheads of their star players for enthusiasts to acquire and many of the other major sports, such as basketball and football, followed. Teams loved the concept of promoting additional souvenirs and fans loved to have comical collectible items from their preferred team that they could display at work or in their vehicle.

Bobbleheads became incredibly well-known in late 1990s because companies made the decision to start making them out of plastic, which made the bobbleheads much more inexpensive. As the decade ended, major league sports teams realized that not as many fans were buying the bobbleheads, so they made the decision to give them away as a promotional item. The San Francisco Giants were the initial team to do this in 1999. They handed out 35,000 Willie Mays bobbleheads to followers at a game. This fad caught on and teams started producing bobbleheads for their players, mascots and even coaches.

The sports memorabilia specialists at THR stress that condition is extremely vital when purchasing and selling any type of collectible item, and this is accurate with bobbleheads as well. The vintage ceramic and papier-mâché bobbleheads are going to be a lot more valuable if they are in very good condition. Plastic bobbleheads are newer and mass produced, so they are not as valuable as the others. Nevertheless, the rare ones can still bring in a excellent paycheck.

All aged, rare and strange sports memorabilia can be brought to the specialists at Treasure Hunters Roadshow for a free of charge evaluation and perhaps even an offer to purchase.



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Shedding Light on Three Behind-the-Scenes Precious Metals

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 9:45AM by thrim001 0 Comments - 2 Views

The specialists at Treasure Hunters Roadshow see a wide wide variety of precious metals during their adventures around the globe. While gold and silver may be worth great money, there are three other precious metal heavy hitters which the THR experts want the public to know a lot more about: platinum, palladium and rhodium.

Platinum has been referred to as the “choice precious metal of the stars” due to its hefty value. Its price tag is double that of 18kt white gold of the same weight. It is generally used in men’s and women’s wedding rings as well as women’s engagement rings. The steep price keeps it from becoming utilized in a wider array of jewelry, the exception being the bling of the rich and famous. Platinum is a white metal that, unlike gold, is used in jewelry in an almost pure form (close to 95%). Its ability to retain its luster over time allows it to forgo the rhodium plating that other metals like white gold need to go through. And Treasure Hunters Roadshow experts enjoy jewelry with shine.

Palladium is yet another metal that strays from the spotlight. This precious metal is similar to white gold in pricing but carries the long-lasting splendor of platinum. At one-third the selling price of platinum, palladium is made with the very same purity level (about 95%) and keeps its shiny white coloring for a life time. Since it is a naturally white precious metal, there is no need for palladium jewelry to be rhodium-plated.

So what is this rhodium?

Rhodium is not found in its pure form. Alternatively, it must be derived from platinum or nickel ores. About 20 tons of rhodium are produced a year, 80% of which is sourced from South Africa. The price of rhodium is around 50% more than gold by weight. Its principal use is as a strengthening agent against tarnish, specifically for jewelry produced from white gold. When electroplated onto other precious metals, a coat of rhodium generates a reflective white surface known in the business as “rhodium flashing.”

Its high melting point, poor malleability and high cost make rhodium a weak choice from which to produce whole items of jewelry; it is best used as an addition to other metals. The clinical field is a major purchaser of rhodium-plated devices, such as filters for mammography machines and optical instruments.

The pricey metal is also utilized in commemorating special honors. In 1979, Paul McCartney was awarded a rhodium-plated disc by the Guinness Book of World Records for becoming the best-selling songwriter and recording artist of all time.

While platinum, palladium and rhodium might not be sitting around the house, the THR authorities believe that knowledge is power and understanding a lot more about precious metals keeps buyers and sellers on an even surface, keeping the world of jewelry purchasing entertaining and thrilling. THR is constantly on the hunt for new jewelry of all varieties throughout their weekly trips across the U.S., Canada and Europe and they pay out on the spot for any items they purchase. Check out the Treasure Hunters Roadshow site for more info and a complete listing of approaching cities.



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Soccer Jerseys Earn Big Bucks for Sellers at Treasure Hunters Roadshow Events

Fri, 06/10/2011 - 3:07PM by thrim001 0 Comments - 2 Views

Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR) is one of the top buyers of precious metals, comic books, toys and other antiques. Since 1996, teams of treasure hunters have traveled to over 1,000 metropolitan areas in the United States, Canada and Europe, in search of some of the most unique and rarest treasures.

Even though THR is a buyer of all antiques, a specific group of treasure hunters is dedicated to finding sports’ greatest collectibles. Even though signed autographs, equipment and cards are all popular products, sellers are encouraged to bring their exceptional or one-of-a-kind game-worn jerseys to the THR events.

If the sports specialists at Treasure Hunters Roadshow, many of whom are sports enthusiasts with extensive collections themselves, deem that the jerseys are authentic and valuable, and are of interest to their international network of buyers, they will make an offer to purchase the item on the spot.

While football, basketball and baseball jerseys continue to be popular in the United States, there is a huge global current market for soccer jerseys from around the world. As the popularity of soccer has continued to climb internationally, so has the interest in jerseys worn and signed by its biggest stars.

Soccer (or football, as it’s known in the vast majority of the world) got its humble beginnings in the English countryside in the mid-19th century. Although the first recorded soccer match took place in 1860, it was far from the neat and rigid game we know these days. Most notably, teams had no regular uniforms. Instead, they often wore bulky knickerbockers and inconvenient colored sashes to distinguish teams.

To reduce the confusion, teams in the 1870s began to ask their players to wear similar colors. However, there were no guidelines governing that a team must wear the same color for every single game, nor a way of distinguishing players from one another.

As the game started to develop all through the globe at the turn of the 20th century, so did the list of guidelines governing it. Quite a few teams began to adopt a single color or style, most of them based on the designs of clubs that had taken shape in England.

Following WWII, many teams began using a lot simpler uniforms because of to economic restrictions. These resembled the present day v-neck shirts manufactured of all-natural fibers. In order to raise revenue for their club, Real Madrid became the first team to design and market a replica jersey sold to fans beginning in the 1970s.

Seeing the results of these replica jerseys, other teams started to design more complicated jerseys for both their players and to sell to fans. Manchester United made global headlines in 1996 when their coach, at halftime of a game, declared that his team was losing because of the gray-colored jerseys they had been wearing (which had been purposely selected to be worn with jeans) since the players could not see each other on the field.

Jerseys continued to climb in popularity as followers eagerly scooped them up in order to display their team loyalties. Currently, followers continue to shell out big bucks for athletes’ jerseys, particularly those worn in games. Not too long ago, a World Cup-worn jersey sold at auction for more than $800.

A lot of of these authentic jerseys continue to make their way to THR events, where sellers are eager to cash in on their most valuable sports items. A listing of upcoming Treasure Hunters Roadshow events can be found on the company’s website.



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Celebrities Outshine the Bank with Pricey Bling

Fri, 06/10/2011 - 9:00AM by thrim001 0 Comments - 3 Views

The jewelry industry experts at Treasure Hunters Roadshow can under no circumstances get enough of that shiny stuff. When not offering the best purchase prices possible at their shows, the authorities are admiring other collections of precious metals and jewels. And where better to find the most pricey and flawless pieces of jewelry than mainstream celebrities?

When it comes to expensive jewelry, R&B singer Beyoncé is at the top of the list. Her wedding ring from hubby Jay-Z is valued at more than $5 million. Developed by the renowned celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, Beyoncé’s ring contains an 18k flawless diamond. Other clients of Schwartz include Jennifer Lopez, Barbara Streisand and Heidi Klum. Kim Kardashian is also amongst the list of stars sporting jewelry by Schwartz. Her 20.5-carat ring carries a selling price of $2 million and has attracted considerable interest by celebrity media sources.

Actor Tom Cruise also has a spot around the top of the list for celebrity jewelry. The 5-carat engagement ring he bought for Katie Holmes set him back a cool $1.5 million. Cruise claimed he bought it after his initial date with Holmes. The <Treasure Hunters Roadshow experts ask, “When you have acquired that much money, why not?”

Although motion picture stars and singers may go big on their jewelry purchases, no other group of celebrities outshines rappers in their public exhibit of bling. With collections of gold and jewels amassed about their necks, it’s a wonder some rappers have not popularized back braces. Lil John is a good instance of this showmanship via hordes of jewelry. Along with his ever-changing collection of necklaces, rings, bracelets and diamond-encrusted chalices, he is also known to sport big pendants. His “Crunk Ain’t Dead” pendant got him in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for possessing the biggest diamond pendant ever before made. The $500,000 piece stands seven and a half inches tall and weighs in at a hefty 12 pounds. It consists of 3,756 round-cut white diamonds totaling 73 carats, all rooted in 18k yellow and white gold. How’s that for staying shiny?

Although the THR specialists appreciate the sight of a multi-million dollar necklace, their real enthusiasm lies in smaller items. The company is constantly treasure hunting for all forms of precious metals and jewels, big or small, as well as antiques, fine art and collectibles on behalf of their global network of buyers.

Items are bought on the spot at the THR events, which are held throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe every single week. A comprehensive listing of events can be found on the Treasure Hunters Roadshow web site.



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The Inspirations in the Generation of Superman

Fri, 06/10/2011 - 6:39AM by thrim001 0 Comments - 2 Views

The comic book specialists at Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR) often run across an extensive selection of superheroes. But none catches their eyes more than Superman. With his signature red cape and “S” logo splayed proudly across his chest, he is one of the most recognizable superheroes ever created, let alone a globally-renowned American pop culture icon. But from where did the Man of Steel’s creators draw their inspiration?

Before Superman was born, his creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, were hammering out the mold from which he would gradually be designed. In 1933, they published a short story named “The Reign of the Super -Man,” which featured a telepathic villain determined to dominate the globe. Later on that year, Siegel rewrote the character as a hero, stripping away virtually all of his earlier characteristics, including a bald head. The hero was given a full head of hair, one of numerous features Siegel derived from the renowned film actor, director, producer and screenwriter, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Known best for his roles in the silent films “The Mark of Zorro” and “Robin Hood,” Fairbanks had a specific quality of strength and morality Siegel found extremely favorable for a superhero. For Superman’s alter ego, Clark Kent, Siegel looked to the infamous film actor Harold Lloyd. His soft, unsuspecting demeanor was ideal for the gentle-mannered Daily Planet reporter. (Treasure Hunters Roadshow trivia bonus: the Daily Planet newspaper for which Clark worked was originally named Daily Star.) Clark Kent’s name was derived from actors Clark Gable and Kent Taylor.

During the early years, Superman took an aggressive method to fighting scrappy villains. He would throw bad guys about with superhuman strength, showing little concern for the consequences. In late 1940, editor Whitney Ellsworth created a code of conduct for Superman to adhere to. One particular aspect of the code stated that Superman was to never kill a human being, which had a great impact on the violent, animalistic nature of his original nature. Changes were made, and the new Man of Tomorrow took on a much more controlled, Herculean strategy to crime fighting, which included his old destructive type of combat.

Even kryptonite cannot keep the THR specialists away from their beloved vintage Superman comics, which are highly sought after by collectors about the earth. THR would like to buy aged ten- and 12-cent comic books, valuable metals, antiques and collectibles on behalf of their global network of buyers.

Items are purchased on the spot at the THR events, which are held throughout the U.S., Canada and Europe every single week. A comprehensive listing of events can be found on the Treasure Hunters Roadshow web page.



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Baseball Cards Rack Up, Register, Earn, Score Big at Treasure Hunters Roadshow Events

Wed, 06/08/2011 - 1:04PM by thrim001 0 Comments - 3 Views

Treasure Hunters Roadshow (THR) is a premier vendor of valuable metals and vintage collectibles based in the United States, with branches in Canada and Europe. Though the treasure hunters are passionate about gold, silver, guitars and unusual publications, among other things, they have a special affinity for sports memorabilia. At practically every THR event, which have taken place in just about 1,000 metropolitan areas internationally, fans line up to have a treasure hunter appraise their boxes of baseball cards, vintage autographed photos, game-used equipment and championship trophies and rings. Goods that are old, unusual or uncommon normally have the highest appeal.

When sports enthusiasts have one of a kind sports-related collectibles they want to offer, they are encouraged to bring the objects to their nearest Treasure Hunters Roadshow event for a cost-free evaluation by an professional in the business. Many of the THR staff members are passionate sports junkies who have their own extensive collections. If the THR professionals deem an item to have appeal and be of interest to their international network of customers, they will make an offer to buy the item on the spot.

Some of the important sports memorabilia bought by THR includes game-worn jerseys, uncommon cards, gear used and signed by athletes, and autographed vintage photographs, such as a signed Babe Ruth picture that was quite a treasure. Comparable Babe Ruth signed photos have sold for as much as $8,000 at auction.

Among sports enthusiasts, baseball cards are one of the most popular things to be collected. Baseball cards became especially common in the United States throughout the mid-twentieth century, when tobacco corporations began to incorporate, in their merchandise, cards featuring photographs and facts about some of baseball's greatest heroes. This advertising and marketing scheme quickly took hold among American youth, and soon, baseball card collections became a bragging point.

Baseball card collecting enjoyed its prime in the 1930s, soon after chewing gum corporations decided to mimic what the tobacco corporations had so effectively done. When financial priorities shifted at the beginning of the Second World War, baseball card printing halted till after the 1950s. Right after 1950, as curiosity in great baseball legends peaked again, autographed caps and baseballs became an integral element of the ballpark experience. In the modern day age, sports collectors have shifted their focus to objects owned and used by athletes in actual competition. Game-worn jerseys have proven to be particularly preferred items.

When assessing sports memorabilia objects, condition is generally the single-most crucial component. To keep the items in mint condition, they need to be placed out of the reach of dust, sunlight or other damaging elements, such as in an acid-free display case or frame.

These days, a lot of of the well-preserved vintage cards, jerseys and balls make their way to the roadshow events, where they provide delight to on-lookers, sellers and treasure hunters alike. A listing of upcoming Treasure Hunters Roadshow events can be found on the business website.