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Jan and John Maggs Antiques Newsletter
August 2009
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In this Month's Newsletter
This month you'll read about two recent shows that have
raised our spirits and hear positive news about activity
in our shop and on our website. As you scroll down the
page, you'll also find a pictorial history of the early
barn attached to the rear of our house that is
our screened porch in summertime, as well as a story about
two pieces we recently acquired and the interesting
circumstances by which they found their way to us. As
usual, you'll find a monthly installment of
Pippin's Page and The Back Page
and, of course, newly listed stock.
But our biggest news this month is our "What Sales
Tax Increase?" Sale on August 15 and 16. To
continue our traditional "Tax-Free Weekend Sale" in a year
in which we've been hit with the cancellation of the
state's Tax-free Weekend and a 25% increase in the sales
tax, we've devised an alternate strategy which we hope
will save customers money and help us raise cash for our
October buying trip to England. Full details will be found
below.
We hope you'll take a few minutes to explore.
John and Jan
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Since last month's newsletter .
. . .
Last weekend we were in Little Compton, RI for our third
show in as many weekends. Thanks to Saturday's beautiful
weather, the tents were full all day, and many dealers -
ourselves included - reported good sales. Rhinebeck,
too, seemed well-attended, and we felt that our sales were
above average for the summer show. An interesting sidelight:
since the number of exhibitors at the summer show was lower
than in recent years, we'd feared a lackluster show. In
fact, the diversity of the show, with many first-time
exhibitors, gave it a fresh look, albeit one with a
significantly smaller high end. On the weekend before
Rhinebeck, the Dorset show, once a bright star among summer
outdoor markets, was a dud. Many dealers, including
us, reported weak sales, as the energy that once set this
show apart seemed to be nowhere in evidence.
Our shop also enjoyed a very good month, largely due to
Internet sales, encouraging us to continue to invest
significant amounts of time and energy in our newsletter. We
appreciate that so many of you find a few moments to read
your favorite parts. Thanks.
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our first annual(?)
"What Sales Tax Increase?"
Sale
(Replacing our "Tax-free Weekend
Sale")
Last August we held a sale to coincide with Massachusetts'
Tax-free Weekend, and it was so successful that it made the
pages of a major antiques trade journal. We had planned to
repeat it this year, until the Massachusetts legislature
raised the sales tax from 5% to 6.25% and, of course,
dismissed any thought of a tax-free anything!
We feel that an August sale is so important to our business
at home in Conway that we've devised a
customer-friendly alternative to the tax-free weekend. On
August 15 and 16, we're having a first annual What
Sales Tax Increase? sale. For details on this
unique (and legal) event, click
here.
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Quick Links
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Current Stock
Newsletter Indexes
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Newly listed stock
We've just listed this attractive oil
painting on canvas, as well as brass candlesticks,
stoneware, and jewelry. Use
this link to take a look.
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This Month's Feature
The evolution of an early barn
The red building in this print from John Barber's
Historical Sketches of Massachusetts appears to be the
small, post-and-beam barn that is now attached to the rear
of our house. It was probably moved to its present
location in the 19th century, when it housed a workshop,
storage, and a privy. more
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Tale of the Trade
It's a Small World
This trestle table and a William and Mary style sofa shed
light on the small world of buying and selling
antiques. Click
here for the story.
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Pippin's Page
How comfortable is our young Bengal with
our new Asian furniture?
Click
here to find out.
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The Back Page
Click
here for a revealing photo taken at The Meadows last
month.
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