Spy Memorabilia Collecting

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You may be wondering what is the purpose of intelligence or counter-intelligence services. Do their spies just kill other spies? Well, for those un-initiated the primary tasks of an intelligence agent are recruiting moles and mainly acquiring information and passing it on to the handler.

The job of the handler is to pass it to the analysts who will convert billions of bits of data into useful intelligence product. The finished intelligence products are classified information needed by military and political leaders to make better decisions and consequently shape international foreign policies.

The purpose of their work is to prevent war or any military surprises. Through their brave and patriotic work we have avoided going over the threshold of a hot war.

The staple of the spy trade is tradecraft. Tradecraft is the term use for the methods, devices and techniques applied by the spy in clandestine intelligence operations. These devices are mainly concealment devices, objects used to hide top secret documents. These are the most sought after collectibles in the spy memorabilia collecting.

Specifically the espionage artifacts before and during the Cold War are the best ones. Like the Steineck wristwatch camera used by the U.S. Air Force intelligence officers in the 1950’s, The World War ll tool kit which includes a sabateur’s fountain pen which conceals igniters for detonating explosives, Stasi pens which hides a microdot viewer, eyeglass case, cigarette lighter and pack that conceal cameras and ashtray, globe and phone that serve as listening devices.

These are really interesting and intriguing collectibles because it made used of human ingenuity but at the same time limited by human frailties.

These are real world spy artifacts. On the other hand the fictional spy characters James Bond, Maxwell Smart and Austin Powers collectibles have also a wide following but these are just, you know fictional.

There are a garden variety of espionage board games between 1930’s and 1970’s you can collect. Or you might want to start collecting memorabilia of your favorite real world spy like Kim Philby, John Walker and the notorious Alrich Ames.

There are lots of books on the subject and plenty of spy museums to visit. You can do extensive research because you have to get an understanding of how spies operate in order to understand and know what spy equipments look like for they were used secretly at that time.

The great seal above is actually a bugging device.
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Collecting Hawaiin And Surfer Surfing Posters

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Surf movie poster were a way to advertise a certain movie about surfing in the 1950’s and 60’s. The promoters pasted or tacked them on telephone poles, school auditoriums, and car windows. The kids took these posters off and bring it home and display on their bedroom walls. Thus the hobby of collecting surf movie poster was born.

Bud Browne started it all and filmed a movie documentary about surfing. They would filmed it on 16mm and filled it with footages of people surfing and scouting places with perfect waves to ride on. Soon after other filmmakers followed suit with variations as filming not only documentary but beach party movies as well. The movie ‘Gidget’ clearly depicted the surfing lifestyles with campy entertainment scenes.

The surf movie posters are relics of that era. They came in various sizes 8"x 11", 9"x 12" and 11"x 14" unlike the monolithic generic movie posters in those days which measured 27" x 41".
The value of surf movie posters are determined by factors of rarity, condition and demand.

They are graded mint, near mint, very good, good , fair and poor just like the way they grade comic books and baseball cards. If you are serious in collecting posters for fun and investment purpose(like thinking of selling you collection in ten years) you should carefully take care of your items like not folding ,marking or exposing it to light or even UV lighting. It’s common sense how you take care of your goods.

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Aloha Shirt

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Still on the series of collecting Hawaiin kitsch. Aloha shirts or Hawaiin shirts as the rest of the world term this piece of clothing made of exotic, colorful fabrics. The shirts first appeared in the 1930’s.

When Hawaii became a state in 1959 aloha shirts became even more popular along with long flowing muumuus.

Local artists created styles and designs that depicted the lifestyles, experiences and of course the environment of the South Pacific Islands such as the warm balmy breeze, white sandy beaches, crystal blue waters, palm trees and golden sunsets.

Aloha shirts which are manufactured for local use are considered formal, actually wearing them is a cross between formal and informal for you can wear them on the streets on ordinary day and you can as well wear aloha shirts on official business meetings, during weddings or any other important occasions. It is socially accepted norm of dressing whatever the occasion.

Ellery Chun trademarked the name aloha shirts after it become a bestseller. He made the shirts out of unsold fabrics in his store. Soon after, local residents, surfers and tourists came bustling into his store to buy his creations. It was such a big hit especially when celebrities like Elvis Presley and Harry Truman wore the shirts.

Vintage prints and textile from the 1930’s and 40’s are extremely collectable today. They fetch in prices as much as thousands of dollars a piece.

Aloha shirt is as symbolic as any Hawaiin treasure.

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