Alfred W. Lawson Artifacts

With the publication of Baseball Fiends and Flying Machines I did my best to help drive up the value of AWL collectibles, but it looks like I made no dent at all. In fact, the prices I see on eBay tend to be going down. I suspect that as old DCS members die off and their effects are sold, more items have come on the market. Additionally, the sale of the University of Lawsonomy Farm property in Wisconsin seems to have moved some ephemera onto the market. ...and there aren't many of us out there collecting this stuff...

I've had two artifact collections: the first, gathered between 1979-1985, had Lawson books, Benefactor issues, pamphlets, and a commemorative poster. None of it was rare (though copies of Fifty Great Speeches are expensive). That collection resided in a cardboard box that had followed me through three relocations, and I started to worry that they would deteriorate in my basement or attic. So in 2002 I donated them to the Wisconsin Historical Society.

When my interest in Lawson was revived by newly digitized historical newspapers, I started collecting anew. Thanks to eBay, some of the stuff is rare. Over the next few posts, I'll exhibit photos of these items. Most recently, I scored a DCS cap and sash which, worn with a white shirt and pants or dress, comprised the Direct Credits Society uniform. [I know Allan Janus has one of the caps, too.] I'm embarrassed at how little I paid for these wonderful pieces of arcane Americana.

If I wore these duds to a Tea Party gathering, would anybody notice?

Comments

[Allan Janus]

I do have a Direct Credits Cap -

http://www.janusmuseum.org/panabasis/dcshat.jpg

Wow - a sash!