Antique-News Guy's blog

Google began digitizing half a million books from the Municipal Library of Lyon, France, this week. Google is contracted to scan the books in the library within 10 years. The antique books include a 16th-century edition of predictions by Nostradamus and Isaac Newton's 17th-century scientific treatise "Principia."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy said its government would spend 750 million euros (1.07 billion U.S. dollars) to digitally scan the content of its museums, libraries and cinematographic heritage via a public-private partnership.  read more of this post »

One of the largest antique flea markets in the Atlanta area was completely destroyed by fire. Investigators preliminarily believe the fire was started by a space heater.

Fire fighters were called around 11:30 to the Yesteryear Antique and Flea Market at 4375 Cobb Parkway where one of the metal-roofed buildings was on fire, authorities said.

Several merchants' booths were burned, and the building was completely destroyed. It took fire fighters about 45 minutes to put out the fire.

Andy Warhol's 1984 Silkscreen of Michael Jackson up for auction at liveauctioneers.com.

The Description:

ANDY WARHOL, Michael Jackson, 1984

Silkscreen inks on paper. 126 x 94.9 cm. (49 5/8 x 37 3/8 in). Stamped lower right '© ANDY WARHOL'; stamped by the Art Authentication Board, Inc. and numbered 'A205.046' on the reverse.

PROVENANCE Max Lang Gallery, New York



ANDY WARHOL, Michael Jackson, 1984

To view this auction click here.

Here's a funny story..

Scott Zubee,, went to Clinton, Connecticut's police headquarters over a court warrant charging him with stealing a valuable antique mirror that a Vermont man had put up for auction, the New Haven Register reports.

Zubee, who lives in Haddam, CT. and has a shop in Clinton, was released on bond. But, when the arresting officer returned to the booking room, he could not find the arrest warrant or supporting documentation.  read more of this post »

OK, I think we've all been on the suspicious side from time to time, you have to be in the antique business but this story really makes you think more than twice. Someone is claiming to have found a cigar half-smoked by Prime Minister Winston Churchill as he planned D-Day. This cigar reportedly has been discovered in a small market village - after being hidden for over 50 years.

Christian Williams, 33, was given the cigar when he was just 12 by his grandfather Ronald Williams, a WWII veteran.  read more of this post »

A couple of weeks ago, employees at a goodwill store in Ohio opened a donated water jug and found almost a pound of pot. The donation was anonymous, and police estimate the amount to be worth around $1,500.

Police Captain Jeff Waite made this pitch, in an attempt to find the donator(s): "If anybody would like to come in and claim this "cooler," which is probably an antique... well, watch the video...  read more of this post »