CITY OF LAMBERTVILLE THROUGH THE EYES OF CRILLEY

My wife and I always enjoyed the vast selection of well-merchandised antique stores and art galleries in Lambertville, New Jersey. We loved it so much that we took an apartment there for a few years to delight in exciting weekend "treasure hunts." Now living in South Florida we're grateful to enjoy this lovely bird's eye view of that quaint hamlet along the banks of the Delware River. It's perhaps my favorite painting executed by the talented Bucks County artist Joseph Crilley. His mastery of structure, light and composition make this painting a cherished one in our "New Hope Collection."

ORIGINAL ATLANTIC CITY BOARDWALK ROLLING CHAIR

I've always enjoyed the automobile in art. We assembled a world-class collection of this "automobilia" and sold it years back. The collection is now on display in a wonderful museum in the Netherlands. Even though the sum of the parts are gone, I still held back a few of my favorite pieces and continue to find fun and exciting additions like this original rolling cart from the Boardwalk of Atlantic City. In original condition, it still boasts the plate explaining the fare. A great slice of history that we can relax on and talk about the good ole days down at the Jersey Shore.

Some Thoughts on Collecting...

I've been fascinated with assembling collections for over 50 years. No one in my family completely understands the joy I experience when I find just the right piece to add to an existing or newly formed collection. As a younger man one of my first collections was German tin toys, particularly those with a transportation twist. I've seen the value of these toys rise and fall with the economies of the marketplace. And while no one wants to lose on their investment, a real collector holds the value of the piece in the passion they possess for it. German tin toys are now perhaps one of the most fluid of all collected antiques in this unusual and tumultuous market. It's just a cycle.