Collecting Western Memorabilia

The perfect guide for all collectors of Western film, television, radio and comics memorabilia, this book contains everything you need to know about getting your old Lone Ranger comic book signed by Clayton Moore or tracking down that Hopalong Cassidy lunchbox. Festivals and conventions in your area, the best museums (from art to Native American history to toys), which newsletters and magazines to subscribe to, which websites to check. The section on reference books includes biographies, genre histories (radio drama, mysteries, comedies), studios, music reference, serials and cliffhangers, locations and movie ranches, episode guides, cast listings, film listings, price and collectible guides, and a list of publishers. Each entry shows the author(s), publisher, format, length, and a brief summary.
This book has it all: commemorative artwork, posters, production stills, lobby cards, autographs, books, costumes, newspaper strips, comic books, cups, plates, and utensils, commemorative weapons and play sets, toys, games, models, lunchboxes, Christmas ornaments, magazines, movie and TV props and memorabilia, scripts, press packets, audio and video recordings, and cereal box premiums. The book tells how best to preserve your treasures and how to get in touch with other fans, whether buying, selling, or swapping. A survival guide to auctions, garage sales, flea markets, estate sales, and antique stores follows. Systems of ranking item quality, cataloguing guides, and format diagrams for listing and insurance purposes are included, as is a list of collector clubs.

Collector and writer Tim Lasiuta lives in Red Deer, Alberta.

Tim Lasiuta
Foreword by George Coan
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 183
Bibliographic Info: 91 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2004
pISBN: 978-0-7864-1660-8
Imprint: McFarland

Foreword      1
Introduction      3

1. Heroes and Friends: Conventions and Other Gatherings      7
2. Trail Whisperings: Newsletters and Magazines      25
3. They Went Thataway: Web Links      27
4. Cowboy Cultural Go-to-Meetin’s: Museums      33
5. “Say, Do You Know Where to Find…?” Books for Reference and Research       52
6. Trail Gear: Collectibles      75
7. Trading Posts: Buying, Selling, and Swapping      141
8. Though Decay May Call: Care and Preservation Techniques      153
9. Into the Sunset: The Future of Collecting      166

Bibliography      171
Index      173

“highly recommended”—Suite101.com; “a incredible resource…an excellent guide”—Wildest Westerns; “a worthwhile addition…a must-have”—Scoop; “the perfect guide…everything you need to know”—University of Saskatchewan Alumni Magazine.