Featured Anyone Like Vintage Advertising Pencils, Pens, & Similar Items?

Recently got a bag full of old advertising pencils, pens, and even an old letter opener for $5.

The letter opener was from a beer distributor.

I am getting a lot of enjoyment out of looking up the defunct companies and daydreaming what the made/sold during their heyday.

Will hopefully post pictures later if I can get good shots.

I guess what I am trying to say is that even a small/inexpensive purchase can send you down a fun rabbit hole.

Has anyone sold ephemera like this in their eBay store or in an antique mall?

 

Too fun. You'll have to post a sample selection.

Debora

 

I think I sold an Elsie the Cow item from Bordens many many years ago. The buyer said her daughter worked there and collected this type of item.
Fun stuff.

 

Any phonograph related?

 

I've never collected them, but run into them often...
I have a yardstick and ruler with ads that I keep around..

 

I have two metal rules in the trunk of my car. IIRC one is from Finast supermarkets and the other is Wonder Bread. There were two folding yardsticks out there too, but a local antique dealer positively pounced on them. I let him. The advertising pencils are a hoot when you find them.

 

My parents had second hand stores and did flea markets. When they moved down here they brought all their household stuff plus all the stuff left from the last store they had. I have an old cigar box full of advertising pens and pencils plus more in other boxes. There are still boxes in my attic I haven't opened since they moved here in the 80s. Someday my son and grandson will be able to go treasure hunting.

 

Those are becoming hot collectibles now, along with yardsticks and the like. If it's from a place that's still there but a business that isn't, somebody wants it.

 

Hm. Maybe I should list them. One at a time or in a group is the question.

 

Depends on the pencils/pens. At least they're easy to ship. In the old days I used cheap/free pile eyeglass cases if I found hard plastic ones.

 

Really depends what you have. I had a "whiskey" advertising pencil from the 1930's that came in it's own metal case, listed last year. Took me 9 months to sell it (Ebay) only for $14.99.

Bev, check the ebay auctions under "SOLD". With a few exceptions (advertising BEER, that kind of thing) most aren't worth much, IMO. You will see some pretty nice lots of ten or more genuine antique advertising pens/pencils unsold for $20.

They are easy to ship though, and certainly do your research. Could be one or two with more value.

 

I recently found a bag of matchbook covers including one for a bar that had naked girls by a pool. Very 1950s. We want to go to Belgium in April so I need to fund my trip!