American-seller-67

08/20/2026

**They carry the world’s cargo. This year, some have paid for it with their lives.**

This 1946 U.S. postage stamp honored the **United States Merchant Marine** with three simple words: **PEACE AND WAR.**

Eighty years later, those words have taken on renewed meaning.

Since the war with Iran began this spring, merchant ships in and around the Persian Gulf have been attacked by missiles and drones. Mariners have been killed and injured. Thousands of civilian seafarers have found themselves trapped aboard vessels for weeks or months, unable to safely leave, while some crews have faced dwindling food, water and other essential supplies.

These are not combat troops. They are merchant mariners doing the dangerous and largely unseen work that keeps fuel, food, raw materials and manufactured goods moving around the world.

When war reaches the shipping lanes, they are often among the first civilians placed directly in harm’s way.

That makes this little stamp, issued in 1946, feel remarkably current in 2026.

**U.S. Merchant Marine: Peace and War.**

From my collection. **Not for sale.**

https://ebay.us/m/bdI1dC

08/09/2026

Down Barnegat Bay — a little piece of New Jersey maritime history from 1980.
This signed first edition of Robert Jahn’s Down Barnegat Bay: A Nor’easter Midnight Reader was issued by Beachcomber Press in Mantoloking, New Jersey, in an edition of just 3,000 copies.
The book explores the history and folklore of the Barnegat Bay region — the coastal communities, maritime traditions and stories shaped by life along this stretch of the Jersey Shore.
More than four decades later, surviving copies are an interesting reminder of the small regional books that preserved local history long before so much of it moved online.
Anyone here have memories of Barnegat Bay or the Jersey Shore?

https://ebay.io/m/zQuZlX

08/07/2026

The bold colors, whimsical illustrations, expressive characters, and clean mid-century graphic design immediately caught my eye. It's easy to see why so many vintage children's magazine covers have become collectible in their own right.
This charming April 1958 cover is one of seven original Jack and Jill magazines I recently listed. Published by Curtis Publishing, Jack and Jill combined beautifully illustrated covers with stories, poems, puzzles, games, and educational activities for young readers.
Beyond the stories inside, these magazines are wonderful examples of 1950s commercial illustration and graphic design. The artwork reflects an era when magazine covers were created by skilled illustrators to capture a child's imagination with just a single image.
Nearly 70 years later, these magazines remain appealing to collectors of vintage illustration, mid-century design, Americana, children's publishing, and paper ephemera.
Do you have a favorite vintage magazine cover that you think deserves to be framed as art?

07/26/2026

🏁 Remember when NASCAR came to Fontana?
In 1997, California Speedway opened in Fontana on the former Kaiser Steel mill site, bringing NASCAR's premier series to Southern California in a big way.
The inaugural California 500 marked the beginning of a new era for SoCal racing. The massive two-mile superspeedway became a familiar stop on the NASCAR calendar and eventually became known as Auto Club Speedway.
This original memorabilia collection comes from that inaugural 1997 California 500 weekend — including the official race program, event poster, Team Penske merchandise guide, WinCraft window clings and even a factory-sealed AOL “iRace Online!” promotional disc.
That AOL disc alone takes you right back to 1997.
Today, the old speedway landscape has changed dramatically, making memorabilia from those early Fontana races an interesting snapshot of a chapter in Southern California motorsports history.

The collection is currently available for sale:

https://ebay.io/m/RFrol7

07/24/2026

How many of these original Santa Fe Railroad calendar tops have survived 85 years?
This beautiful 1940 "Navajo Shepherdess" calendar top features artwork by T. B. Gallaher and was produced for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. Rather than simply advertising train travel, Santa Fe became famous for promoting the romance and scenery of the American Southwest through commissioned artwork like this.

https://ebay.io/m/AiVKhK

Original prewar calendar tops are much scarcer than the complete calendars once hanging in homes and businesses. Many were discarded after the year ended, making surviving examples increasingly difficult to find.
If you had walked into a railroad office or business in 1940, this is the kind of artwork that would have greeted you.
Would you have saved it—or tossed it with the old calendar?

07/20/2026

How many of these WWII insignias can you identify without reading the captions?

This striking color plate comes from an original 1945 U.S. Armed Forces reference book featuring shoulder patches, airborne units, combat divisions, service ribbons, rank insignia, and decorations. It even includes the rare illustrated supplement.

The book has endured more than 80 years and shows noticeable signs of age and fragility—but the vibrant military artwork remains captivating.

Which emblem caught your attention first? I’m especially drawn to the Merrill’s Marauders patch in the lower-left corner.

Explore more interior plates and the complete listing here: https://ebay.io/m/ZYtlGj

07/19/2026

Nearly 90 years old—and still striking.

This original 1936 Santa Fe Railway calendar artwork, “The Chief Is Still Chief,” features a powerful image by noted Western artist Eanger Irving Couse. With its bold color, unmistakable Santa Fe emblem, and early railroad history, it would make an exceptional framed display.

Just listed in our eBay store. https://ebay.io/m/1M3IsX

What catches your eye first—the portrait, the colors, or the Santa Fe connection?

06/29/2026

If you enjoy books, vintage finds, collectibles, artwork, and unique estate sale discoveries, I’d love to have you follow my Pinterest page. I regularly post items from my collection and eBay store, along with interesting historical and collectible finds.

Thanks for stopping by!

https://pin.it/4Rs2omYix

06/04/2026

🇺🇸 A Glimpse Into American Classrooms of the 1930s 🇺🇸

Long before smartphones, social media, and even television became common, schoolchildren learned about the American flag from small educational booklets like this one.

Published by the Lincoln School Supply Company of Lincoln, Nebraska, this vintage booklet taught students the history, symbolism, etiquette, and proper display of the Stars and Stripes. It’s a fascinating reminder of how civics and patriotism were taught to earlier generations.

This surviving example dates from the 1920s–1930s era and features striking red, white, and blue cover artwork that still catches the eye nearly a century later.

A small piece of Americana, but an interesting window into the values and educational materials of its time.

https://ebay.us/m/VbMMKn

05/10/2026

https://ebay.us/m/RXWM7w

Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most photographed and recognizable figures of the 20th century — a blend of Hollywood glamour, vulnerability, and cultural myth that still fascinates people decades later.

This special 1997 American Photo Collector’s Issue focuses on rare and lesser-seen Marilyn images, along with reflections on how photographers, artists, and popular culture shaped her enduring legacy. Features tributes and interpretations from celebrities including Heather Locklear, Cindy Crawford, Ashley Judd, Daryl Hannah, and others.

A great piece for:
• Marilyn Monroe collectors
• Photography and pop culture enthusiasts
• Hollywood memorabilia fans
• Vintage magazine collectors
• Coffee table display collections

Available now from my eBay store american-seller-67.

Includes work and discussion connected to celebrated photographers including Bert Stern, Herb Ritts, Francesco Scavullo, Philippe Halsman, Douglas Kirkland, and others associated with Marilyn Monroe imagery and celebrity portrait photography.