It was 46 years ago, May 19, 1962, that New York had a birthday salute for President John F. Kennedy. What a celebration it was. Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday, wearing a dress that would later sell for over a million dollars!

The program for the event sold at auction for $115,000 and the dress . . . Well, I'll let you take another look at it, as well as read the final hammer price.

• The Dress!
• More Marilyn Monroe Auction Items
• Also read: Collecting Marilyn Monroe Memorabilia

Ty has a new Beanie Baby in their online store. Check out Heartland, an adorable dark red bear with a large embroidered heart centered on his chest. The heart has an American flag design on it. Heartland also has a bright white nose, which certainly stands out! Price is $6.00.

It's almost time for the annual Raggedy Ann & Andy Festival in Arcola, IL. This year's theme is "TOGETHER AGAIN" and celebrates Andy's induction in the National Toy Hall of Fame in 2007. The festival kicks off on June 13th with a dinner/auction and continues through the weekend with parades, kids events and lots more.

TIP: Want to learn more about the latest Raggedy News or product? Sign up for Raggedy Land's free email newsletter (link on Festival page)!

Learn more:

• Festival Information
• Raggedy Ann, An American Icon

^{Photo ©Barb Crews}

Wall-E is in the stores!

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Listen carefully to the next pottery piece you find for sale. Does it have a clear ring or does it have a flat sound when it's "flicked"? That's one quick way to tell if it has a hidden hairline crack.

Listen to my Plink or Plunk test on two pieces of pottery purchased online, both were said to be in excellent condition. One was and the other, well let's just say, it didn't ring any bells for me!
Plink or Plunk

The April 2008 Bertoia Auction items reached their predicted high estimates, with the 2,462 lot auction realizing $1.8 million. The highlight of the show was an early Erzebirge-style Noah's ark selling for $36,800.

Other highlights include the Jean Austin du Pont scale model roombox, a scale model of Philadelphi's Fairmount Park residence, a Marklin tin gazebo and a selection of Dresden ornaments from the collection of Fred Cannon.

From Gifts & Decorative Accessories:
"Gift vendor Enesco LLC inked a deal to design, manufacture, and distribute all The Boyds Collection Ltd. products. The contract is structured as an exclusive, long-term, worldwide licensing agreement rather than an outright sale."
Read more from Gifts & Decorative Accessories

The forum has been pretty busy the last two weeks with lots of questions. Can you help out with these folks out?

• Gold and Ruby Tumbler
  Reader needs help recognizing the pattern!
• Cat and Mouse Ladle?
  Silver and gold ladle that looks like a cat and maybe a mouse.
• Pink Dancing Elephant Shaker
  Is it Hazel Atlas?
• Oh Jenny Doll House Worth?
  Matchbox set of accessories and doll house
• Kershaw Swords
  Any information on these?
• Rocking Chair Values?
  Can you help?

Anyone for a Garage Sale?

Wordless Wednesday Posts
^{(c)Barb Crews}

If you're a history buff or just an avid viewer of the John Adams mini-series, you're probably quite familiar with the image of Ben Franklin's "Join or Die" cartoon published in the May 9, 1754 Pennsylvania Gazette. It's one of the first important political cartoons, with the segmented snake representing the colonies and regions in the New World.

From GEM:
"Drafted as a call for unity among the British colonies in advance of the French and Indian War, it was the first American political cartoon of lasting impact and later took on new meaning leading up to the American Revolution. It has been reprinted widely since that period and adapted for different causes, including use by both the Union and the Confederacy in the U.S. Civil War."

Glimpse a piece of history and see the only known privately owned copy on display at Geppi's Entertainment Museum in Baltimore.
Source: GEM
^{Photo by Barb Crews}