Festive Cheer and a Happy New Year

Hi Guys, yep - it's me again. So sorry - I Know I said I wouldn't leave it too long before posting another blog but time just goes.

I finished writing my book The Greatest Collecting Tips in the World just before sailing off once again across the seas on the P&O Arcadia to all kinds of wonderful destinations in the Med.

The Arcadia is by far one of my most favourite ships, the crew were amazing, the food was fantastic and the entertainment first rate. In fact there I was line dancing until 1am in the morning - although I must confess I wasn't that good at it.

My lectures on Collectables went down really well, with almost full houses every day. The passengers were so passionate and enthusiastic about my talks, so it was lovely to actually feel that collectable buzz again, amongst the audience. Everyone had a story to tell or an item to show and it just proves that there are still so many people out there passionate about this collecting lark.

I also could not resist a little shopping in some of the European ports as there were a few collectable goodies on offer. I purchased a gorgeous Alessi ceramic Father Christmas riding a raindeer ornament in Livorno, Italy and some Murano glass cufflinks for 'im in doors as a xmas pressie. Some of the shops had wonderful array of collectables from the high end Lalique glass through to more affordable items.

Top Tip - If planning a trip to Gibralter save your pennies and buy there as it is tax free and they have everything from Lladro through to Lalique glass and jewellery for such cheap prices.

Once back from the cruise I had one of my auctions, which again proved successful especially the large collection of Carlton Ware that I was selling for a vendor. Collectables go well at Christmas as they make the perfect pressies.

Then I received the first manuscript of my book, plus spoke to the illustrator who is compiling my cartoon illustrations. So getting really excited for the book launch which will take place in April. PR starts in January - so keep your eyes and ears peeled because who knows I may well be coming to a town near you soon.

Another exciting thing that has happened just this week is that I picked up a lovely collection of Foley Intarsio Ware which will be sold in the January sale at Stacey's Auctioneers in Essex. This along with - wait for it - yes another Lenci Nude on Hippo should make this sale quite an exciting one as all these pieces are hard to find top collectables.

Well with Christmas just around the corner (literally) I am hoping that I find a few collectable fruits in my stocking, and New Year promises to be fantastic as I will hopefully have some really interesting news for you all. Then of course there is the highlight auction of the year - The Richard Dennis Sale - A Potted History which takes place at Bonhams in March. This is one not to miss out on as the collection of items up for offer covers a staggering 120 years of pottery history.

Well it only leaves me to say have a Wonderful Christmas and A Fantastic New Year.

xTrace

Skip Find to Fantastic Treasure

The thing I love the most about my job is that when you wake up in the morning you never know what the day may bring. For example just a couple of weeks ago I never expected to find myself photographed by my local newspaper in a skip and then make front page but this is exactly what happened. A local lady had discovered a vintage 1920's Louis Vuitton travelling trunk in a skip and brought in for us to sell. The case was in a sorry state with years of grime and dirt so the LV pattern was only just visible. This lucky find however, transcribed into £1,800 when the hammer finally came down. So it goes to show you never know what you might find - although always ask the skip owners permission if you can take the items from it as this can be classed as stealing.

Another exciting moment this month was when I walked into a couple house and saw the most amazing 5ft murano glass sculpture. Created by Pino Signoretto one of the Worlds most talented designers, it was cleared marked on the base with his signature and dated to 1974. This work of art was also a feat of technical excellence as the top figure actually balanced in the arms of the standing figure. Two pieces of skillfully blown glass I have never ever seen anything like it before. However, the vendor expected to receive around £12,000 at auction which seemed a lot to me. I did insist that this was a little over the top but they failed to take my advice so of course the piece went unsold. However I was honoured to see and handle something that many never will.

Oh and the other thing is I am booked to lecture on anther of P&O's cruise ships, the Arcadia next month. Cruising round the Med I will be giving a series of 7 talks and of course adding to the waistline once again. So I will keep you all informed of how this goes.

But priority at the moment is finishing my book as I am now nearly on deadline. Remember I told you in the first blog that "The Greatest Collecting Tips in the World" will be released in March next year. I have crammed the book full of interesting stories, hot tips, how to bag a bargain and where to look. So make sure before you start your bootsale season again next year you go armed with a copy of my book. Oh and the wonderful Eric Knowles of Antiques Roadshow fame has kindly written my foreward so hopefully you will all enjoy the hard work that I have put in.

Anyway that's it for now but I promise I won't leave it as long next time. Oh and to that man that stopped me in the street this week and asked if I was Tracy Martin who wrote the blog - thank you so much for reading - at least now I know I have one dedicated follower.

xTrace

LUSCIOUS LENCI

Well I don't really know what to start - what a month it's been. As mentioned before I work as a collectables specialist at my local auction house - Staceys. Well I was so excited about our last sale because I had discovered some really rare Italian Lenci figures.

I received a call from a lady who said she had some items to sell and wondered if they would be auctionable or not? On a visit to her house I had to disguise my excitement as sitting on the fire surround was a Lenci "Daydreaming" figure, Lenci Nude in Pond and a Nude on Hippo (Nudino Su Ippopotamo). I knew instantly that these figures would fly at auction so packed them up ready for cataloguing.

Also in the same sale I had a large private collection of coins, including proof sets and gold soverigns, a schuco vanity bear, a couple of crocodile handbags, Merrythought Teddy Bears and loads of Royal Doulton.

On the lead up to the sale I already had 7 telephone bids booked for the Lenci and loads of commission bids left on the book. When the lady arrived who was selling the items I was so excited for her, not only had she never been to an auction before but was about to have a very memorabile experience.

The bidding in the room started high for the coins, with the proof sets achieving £650 and the soverigns selling for £1,100 but the Lenci was to be the star.

After frantic telephone bidding, in the room and on the book the Daydreaming figure sold for £3,600, the Nude in Pond £1,900 and the nude on Hippo £4,600. A fanstic result for me and an even better on from my client.

All in all a fantastic day, a great sale and a success for myself and my sellers.

Collectablesmad

Hi everyone, firstly, let me introduce myself. I am Tracy Martin, sometimes referred to as a Collectables Expert, although I prefer the term "Knowledgable Enthusiast". I wear many hats which include working at my local auctioneers "Staceys" in Leigh-on-Sea Essex as their Collectables Specialist, have written and am still writing for many specialist magazines including Collect it!, Doll Magazine, Teddy Bear Scene, Antiques and Collectables, Pottery and Porcelain, and the Australian magazine "Antiques for Profit and Pleasure." But of course one of my favourite writing jobs is for this worldwide acclaimed collecting site WorldCollectorsNet. I have appeared on television as an expert for This Morning, BBC Breakfast and 20th Century Roadshow to mention a few and also particiapated in radio, lectured on Cruise ships and am currently in the process of writing my first book "The Worlds Greatest Collecting Tips" which is due for publication next March.

I am a collector through and through, and have over the years collected many things from Royal Doulton Bunnykins as a child to vintage handbags, powder compact and my most prized collection being Sally Tuffin designed vases from Dennis Chinaworks. I have also just recently started to buy Schuco toys - mainly the furry kind as I have a bit of a passion for teddy bears.

I have already this year been on two cruises, the first with Saga in January on the first leg of the World Cruise - No! I am not of the generation that should be travelling with Saga - infact 15 years younger - but I had the most amazing time sharing my passion for collecting with other like minded people. I have just recently returned from a three week cruise on the Aurora with P&O to Mexico and the Carribean - again sharing my knowledge and passions. This is a lovely way of earning a living - you get to cruise the world, meet wonderful people and eat all day long - although my waist line is a little larger than it was before Xmas. I have been booked to do the Page & Moy Baltic Cruise next July which I am so looking forward to - this also gives me time to get my figure back in shape before I go.

I have decided to write this blog and share my interesting life with you as on a daily basis I discover wonderful collectables and antiques, meet the most fantastic people and do things that others might not ever get a chance to do. So I am hoping that this blog will encourage you all to go out and hunt out bargains and also give you an insight into my hectic day to day life.

So join me on a regular basis as I update you with all the interesting stories, bargains I find and the colourful people I meet along the way.

xTrace