About the author
Author Nancy Schaut and her husband Jim (a photographer) have been writing about antiques and collectibles, especially old cars and automotive memorabilia, since 1978. Hundreds of their articles have been published in collector-oriented magazines. The Schauts cover the Cowboy and Native American art scene, and have profiled talented artists and craftspersons. Nancy enjoys writing about historic travel locations in the American West and is currently working on a series of stories about the history behind our Western tourist railroads.

Books by
Jim and Nancy Schaut

 
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Collecting the Old West

Horsin' Around: A Guide to Equine Memorabilia

American Automobilia: An Illustrated History and Price Guide

It seems that just about everyone with any interest in the West collects something. Whether it's books, vintage photographs, jewelry, guns, blankets or saddles, collectors like to surround themselves with vestiges of the American frontier. Artifacts and contemporary Western memorabilia are popular all over the world where they can be useful antiques or decorative items. What better way to remember the past then to live with it?

The Western collectibles hobby is as expansive as the West itself. It encompasses not just boots and spurs but reaches out to include art, textiles, ceramics and even toys. American's perception of the frontier moved as the settlers ventured farther and farther West. After all, Western Pennsylvania was once a wilderness inhabited only by Native Americans and, somewhat later, Chicago's stockyards were perched on the edge of civilization. Today, the Mississippi River defines the West for most folks and memorabilia from those states is actively collected. Regional memorabilia has more of a following in its home state than anywhere else. Texas natives enthusiastically collect Texas-made pottery, saddles and spurs just as Arizonans seek ephemera from their pre-statehood territorial days.

Whether your collection was passed on to you by a loving family member or you are starting from scratch, you can choose the focal point of your collection and branch out into related fields. It is easy to move on from a collection of spurs to a collection of bits by the same manufacturer, then on to bridles displaying old bits, then buy a saddle or two, and then move on to other cowboy equipment. Collections have a way of just growing, straining the limits of their owner's wallet and storage space! In this age of specialization, many collectors have decided to limit themselves to specific items, like 101 Ranch memorabilia or Navajo jewelry or ladies' bonnets or Tom Mix premiums.

Collections are often inspired by family stories handed down from one generation to the next. Around the turn of the century, many families had a relative who ventured West with the military, or to try his or her hand at ranching or gold mining or missionary work or teaching. Ask grandparents, aunts, and in-laws about family history. There is no telling what sort of tales you might hear. Keep in mind that many folks headed out West wanted to avoid something, whether it was legal prosecution or social ostracism, so be prepared for genealogical surprises. Related or not, collectors are fascinated with the legends and lore surrounding some of the characters of the Old West, especially lawmen and outlaws. They will buy Wyatt Earp's signature or Billy the Kid's hat if they believe it is authentic. Who else but a pack of Western enthusiasts would stage a seminar on a confrontation between the good guys and the bad guys in an obscure territorial town over a hundred years ago? Yet, folks still travel to Tombstone from all over the world to have their pictures taken at the O. K. Corral and the arguments over who shot first or which gun was carried continue today as hot and heavy and the initial dispute between the Clantons and the Earps.

Why we collect remains a mystery. Harry Rinker, noted author and collector, claims that some are born with a collecting gene. Some of us are descendants of thrifty pioneers who kept everything because "they might need it someday". Now, generations later, we still can't bear to see anything get thrown away. If you ask fifty collectors what makes them fill their homes and offices with remnants of the Old West, you are likely to get fifty different answers. Collecting the Old West is a nostalgia-driven hobby that depends on the collector's age, memories and interests. For some of us, a cozy home full of Western relics offers a sanctuary from today's fast-paced, always connected world.

Ironically, it is the computer that has introduced new, younger collectors to the Old West. The internet has been a boon to collectors. They now have a wider selection of memorabilia for sale than they might find at a local antique show or flea market. Most of the internet auctions have a Western Americana section, or you can do a random search for spurs or Stetsons with their in-house search engine. This helps if someone has listed a super pair of Crockett spurs under some obscure category. eBay has the largest following, and the most auctions underway at any one time. They have separate categories Native American memorabilia and Western Americana. Before you bid, ask the vendor for answers to your questions about the merchandise, and whether they will allow you to return the merchandise for a refund. I would strongly recommend bidding only on auctions that offer returns. Even an experienced dealer can accidentally overlook a flaw that may be unacceptable to a serious collector.

Before the internet, the dedicated collector would spend hours at a local auction, waiting for that one significant pair of spurs to come on the block or, worse yet, get up at 5 a.m. and hit the flea markets flashlight in hand. Now, you can cruise the internet 24/7. Internet auctions have been good for buyers because something that may be very scarce in their hometown may be more common in a venue consisting of millions of buyers and sellers. These online venues have benefited dealers and collectors alike, but have hurt many small, local antique shows. Specialty shows like the High Noon Wild West Antique Show and Auction on January 22 & 23 in Mesa, Arizona, continue to enjoy the patronage of dealer and collectors. Westerners, especially, are a cordial bunch who enjoy getting out and talking to one another.

Organizations in the past have been made up of collectors who not only preserved the Western lifestyle but lived it, everyday, on ranches and farms throughout the United States. The earliest Western collectors started preserving the trappings of our Western heritage before the turn of the last century. The mission of keeping our Western heritage alive seems to be passing to a new breed of Western enthusiast. Todays collector is more likely to be a computer engineer or attorney or college professor. He or she may not know the right way to saddle a horse, or how to put spur to boot, but collect both.

Getting your own collection started can be as simple as going to your local swap meet or antique show and buying something that catches your eye. You should have some knowledge of the objects you collect. It is helpful to know how they were used, and how they should appear when complete and in working order. It is to your advantage financially to know if that old gun a good buy or an overpriced reproduction. A dealer you trust or an experienced collector can be your best guide to the mysteries of collecting. Educate yourself by reading newsletters, historical books and price guides about Western history and artifacts. Be constantly seeking knowledge about your particular field of interest, whether it is spurs, old leatherwork, blasting powder tins or whatever fuels the fires of your collecting passions. Visit museums, go to auctions and specialty shows, and meet with fellow collectors through clubs and newsletters or participation in internet discussion groups. There are so many tools available today for collectors that there is no excuse for being uninformed.

I hope that you enjoyed my first "Cowboy Collecting" column. I am not an expert, just a collector with love and respect for all things Western. This has been just an overview of the Western collectibles hobby. Next month, I will write about some of the great old spur makers.

I'll leave you with a few words of wisdom from Charles M.(Charlie) Russell:

Copyright © 2000 Nancy Schaut. All rights reserved