Some Collector Stores bring together the best of a Museum and a Swapmeet


Musings By Joschik
Christian obsesses over collectibles, antiques and toys more than the average person, but (he believes) in a productive way. Documenting collectibles has been a passion since working on a book about his favorite childhood toys from Timpo 38 years ago.

There is nothing more enjoyable than to go to a good swapmeet (we wrote earlier about how different those are in Europe and the US here) or is there?  Some stores manage to rival the excitement.  I wrote earlier about Sinclair’s Auto Miniatures, an amazing store in Erie, Pennsylvania in the 1970s and about Mile High Comics, the biggest comic store just down the road from us in Denver and now came across a book announcement that fascinated me.

Vladimir Antaki’s book on amazing stores is just a must have when it hits the US later this year.  Since 2012 he has been seeking out unusual shops around the world and then photographing them.  This, his first picture book will feature the most intriguing 45 store owners and their stores.  Here are two of them  –

Henri Launay does doll repairs out of his store in Paris

Marie Gagné used to run an amazing collectible store in Montréal

If like me you adore this kind of book add it to your wishlist here (we will try to get some for sale on our Marketplace).  And if you have or had your own favorite shop please share your experience and if you can a photo in the comments!

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
7 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Bud Kalland
Bud Kalland
4 years ago

Very cool subject. It would be great to get the book and see posted follow up stories/pictures from hobbydb collectors/sellers.

Ines Betancourt
Ines Betancourt
4 years ago

Thanks for sharing this! I am a big fan of store displays and collect images of them like this one from an old toy store which I assume would have been in Paris, NY or another big city.

Ewald
Ewald
4 years ago

It was always my dream to make it one of the Mint & Boxed stores (I think there was one in London and another one in New York).  I found some images online and am adding one for your enjoyment.

Dan Seeley
Dan Seeley
4 years ago

Besides the largest comic shop also used to have the biggest model train shop in the world here in Denver! Caboose Hobbies was enormous before it down-sized a few years back with thousands of locos in display.

Dan Seeley
Dan Seeley
4 years ago

And this was their famous mural on the wall

7
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x