posted on October 4, 2007 11:22:31 AM
First part - Off Topic
The news stories about the 50th Birthday to Sputnik caused me to remember the launch, which really shows my age.
Second part - On Topic
Thinking about Sputnik reminded me of this button which then reminded me that I have been wanting to list the collection of pin-back buttons that we inherited from our mother.
She also left a collection of many thousand sewing buttons but that is another story. I know that some of them were quite expensive but she kept no records and I have no idea how we will ever value them.
The pin-backs on the other hand were never a serious matter for her. Her favorite method of acquisition was to give her "poor little old lady on a fixed income who's drab life would be so much brighter if she had the button you were wearing" story to every waitress, sales clerk, bank, or airline employee she saw wearing a pin-back button. It is surprising how many fell for the line. In addition she bought them at yard sales and flea markets.
Some of them appear to be quite old advertising and political buttons but I am concerned about listing them on eBay. I know that at least some of the political buttons are repros and I have no idea how to know which is which. We do have one book on buttons from the 1980s but that seems too old to be very helpful as a guide.
Is it enough to put good pictures or the front and back and avoid any mention of age? Does anyone have advice on listing pin-backs on eBay? -----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on October 5, 2007 03:39:39 AM
My dh shares his 50th birthday with Sputnik! Every year I hear his mother say she was going to name him Sputnik...maybe I should bid on your pin for him.
posted on October 5, 2007 05:57:31 AM
Sue, If I decide to start listing some of the pin backs I'll let you know. I think I missed a great tie in to the 50th anniversary with the Sputnik button.
-----o----o----o----o----o----o----o----o
“The illiterate of the future will be the person ignorant of the use of the camera as well as of the pen.”
Maholy-Nagy, Vision in Motion, 1947
posted on October 5, 2007 09:23:12 AM
What a lovely story about your Mum's methods of obtaining pins!
It made me remember that when Sputnik was launched I was still living in London, England and after the Russians launched Sputnik my mother-in-law used to blame them for everything.
She had a luverly Cockney accent and used to proclaim loudly to anyone who would listen:-
"The wevver just ain't been the same since them Ruskies sent that Sputtynik thing up there, it just ain't natural".
Thanks for bringing back that memory of a simpler time!
posted on October 5, 2007 09:47:45 AM
LOL otteropp - maybe your MIL was clairvoyant - premonitions of global warming? (never mind about all the nuclear bomb testing being done).
Neat story photo! I don't really remember the Sputnik launch but I do remember the sputnik rage following it.
-------------------------------------
