Rare Finds is a bidorbuy blog about antiques and collectibles, including coins, stamps, gems and militaria

The fotoverhaal phenomenon

by Lana on October 21, 2019

Do you know that fotoverhaal is one of the most-searched for keywords on bidorbuy? Month after month, it’s up there among the top fifteen or so, rubbing shoulders with high-tech products such as newest models of smartphones. So, what is so special about …

Collecting glass paperweights

Antiques & Collectables

by Lana on August 22, 2018

A glass paperweight is a solid object with a flattened base, originally made to hold down papers. The best paperweights are a wonder of design and workmanship. They are recognised as works of art. Paperweights made entirely of glass were first …

Militaria: 6 books on warfare

Militaria

by Lana on July 9, 2018

As every collector knows, half the fun of collecting is in the learning. All collectors want to know the story behind a specific artefact, but to also find out the history relevant to their collection. This is especially true about militaria collectors, …

How much is that in notgeld?

Coins

by Lana on May 16, 2018

What, have you never traded in notgeld currency? No? Well, I hope that you never have to. Notgeld is a German term for emergency currency, and it does not take an economics brainiac to figure out that emergency currency is not a good thing: it means …

Does that glass have blemishes?

Antiques & Collectables

by Lana on April 9, 2018

Learn how to recognise manufacturing flaws and wear-and-tear damage in antique, vintage and collectable glass objects. Antique, vintage and collectable glass and crystal are very popular on bidorbuy. And what’s not to like! Our crystal and glass …

Vintage wooden kitchen tools

Antiques & Collectables

by Lana on February 14, 2018

You’ve just renovated your kitchen. It looks all spick-and-span... and a little impersonal. There’s nothing better than a touch of antique or vintage kitchenalia to add a bit of character! The options are practically limitless, but this time I’d like to …

Tips for collecting die cast cars

Antiques & Collectables

by Lana on December 6, 2017

Die cast cars were originally designed in the first half of the 20th century as children’s playthings. But the children grew up, and some of them decided to keep and collect those old toys... thus creating a collecting boom that’s still going …

Collecting sneakers

Antiques & Collectables

by Lana on October 4, 2017

The history of sneakers goes back almost two centuries, but they became an object of interest to collectors only about four decades ago. This type of footwear saw the light of day in the 1830s, when the British Liverpool Rubber Company released simple, …

Vintage writing instruments

Antiques & Collectables

by Lana on September 1, 2017

Can you guess which writing instrument I am using to write this post? Yes, you are right. I imagine that you too are most likely to reach for your keyboard on keypad, as the case may be, whenever you need to write something. That does not mean that you …

The edge of a coin

Coins

by Lana on July 11, 2017

Have you ever noticed that many coins have engravings around their edge, usually in the shape of miniature vertical lines? These edges are usually referred to as reeded or milled in the United Kingdom, and ridged or grooved in the United States of …

Movie stars on stamps

Stamps

by Lana on May 8, 2017

If you are bitten by the thematic stamp collecting bug, sooner or later you will stumble on a stamp depicting a movie icon... and you will want to start collecting those. There is no denying it. Famous actors and actresses make an attractive subject for …

RAREFINDS

The fotoverhaal phenomenon

Collecting glass paperweights

Militaria: 6 books on warfare

How much is that in notgeld?

Does that glass have blemishes?

Vintage wooden kitchen tools

Tips for collecting die cast cars

Collecting sneakers

Vintage writing instruments

The edge of a coin

Movie stars on stamps

Our Writers