Where to Find Depression Glass

I'll be honest with you, I've collected a lot of items over the years, and much of that was done before eBay ever existed. There was a certain "thrill" involved in the finding of whatever collectible it happened to be. My tastes have always run toward the vintage end of the spectrum, so although most of my depression glass is green, I also have a rather eclectic collection of all things vintage filling my shelves. Everything from vintage bobble heads to old cartoon glasses given away as premiums adorn my shelves. Most of this was picked up like found treasures as I made my way from place to place every Saturday morning scouring any sale I came across. Whether you are looking for green depression glass or some other special item, you can do OK if you are willing to brave the crowds.

By far, the easiest way to build a collection of almost anything today is to visit eBay, but I would never want to discourage anyone from striking out on their own to hunt for hidden treasures. If you are the adventurous sort and you are not in any particular hurry to find what you are actually looking for, a Saturday morning spent driving around with a friend or loved one with a similar interest can be quite entertaining and even relaxing.
Where to look for Depression Glass
Be sure to check out garage sales. Most communities have small papers that will specifically list garage sales and yard sales in the area. If you don't happen to have a paper like this in circulation, check online for sites that list such events. You will probably have to visit several sales on some days before you find anything that interests you. That is just the nature of this hobby. The best plan I found was mapping out all of the sales in my area beforehand. Having a GPS makes the job of getting from one place to another much easier, but a good map book can help a lot too if you don't have that convenience available to you.

When you get to the garage sale, ask if they have any old glasses for sale. Asking specifically for depression glass may throw some people off. They are probably just thinking about the boxes of old stuff they found in their attic that they want to get rid of and avoid storing any longer. If they have anything, they will show you. Don't be surprised if it isn't even out on display. Many people think that no one would really be interested in the glasses that Grandma had in her cupboards. If you find a seller like this, you could walk away with a major bargain.

Flea Markets and Rummage Sales
These sales are often held by churches and other charitable organizations. People usually donate their old unwanted items to help with some worthy cause. You can sometimes find great deals at these events, but you better get there early. Seriously, people start lining up to enter these sales half an hour to an hour ahead of time looking for things that they can sell on eBay. If you find something you like, grab it. Don't walk around looking for someone who can answer questions about it. If you do, it will probably be gone when you return a minute later. The items at these sales are often dirt cheap, but you have to act quickly. Pick up what looks even remotely interesting and then examine it. If you don't like it, THEN put it back. Seriously, I've seen people push people out of the way at these sales. Also, make sure that you check the boxes that are underneath tables. Sometimes they have some great stuff hidden inside of them.
Estate Sales
You can often find some very nice glassware being sold at estate sales. If the event is being put on by a company that specializes in clearing estates though, you won't find the deals that you will at the previous venues I've mentioned. These people know exactly what they are selling. You can still find some decent deals, but you won't be grabbing up hundreds of dollars worth of glass for a five spot like you might at the other sales.

If you are willing to put in the time, you can build an entire collection just searching on weekends. It will probably take a lot longer than checking eBay though. You also must go in with a fair bit of patience as you will be dealing with many different people. If you do decide to start hunting on your own, go in with a good attitude. Be polite and enjoy yourself. Who knows, you might just stumble across some hidden treasure.

· Michelle · No Comments
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