All the Best Rubbish

“A delight. All the Best Rubbish is one of those rare volumes that both instruct and entertain. I recommend it to any collector.” —Harold L. Peterson, Chief Curator, US National Park Service Ivor Noel Hume, the former chief archaeologist of Colonial Williamsburg, offers a delightful, anecdotal, and informative celebration of the joys of collecting.  In his newly revised edition, All the Best Rubbish traces the fascinating history of collecting from its recorded beginnings and describes the remarkable detective work that goes into establishing the probable facts about uncovered and often underappreciated treasures. Now expanded with hints, tips, and helpful information about antique-hunting online, All the Best Rubbish is the ideal book for the antiquarian or amateur. Noël Hume has pursued bottles, pottery, clocks, and coins through junk shops, street markets, attics, and cellars on two continents. He's unearthed the most fascinating—and valuable—rubbish from the most unlikely places: the shores of the Thames in London; the lagoons of the Caribbean; the bottom of Martha Washington's well. Hume knows everything that's worth knowing about collecting—why we do it, what we can find, where we can find it, and what we can learn from it. Part historical adventure, part masterclass for the modern collector, this beloved book reveals: Antique Hunting Adventures: Follow an archaeologist’s journey from the junk shops of London to the bottom of Martha Washington’s well in search of forgotten history. The Art of Collecting: Learn how to evaluate everything from pottery and coins to clocks and curiosities, and understand the story each object has to tell. Separating Treasure from Trash: Discover the detective work and expert techniques used to spot underappreciated gems in the most unlikely of places. Fakes, Forgeries, and Grave Matters: Delight in tales of mermaids, blunderbusses, and “Billie and Charlie”—the infamous forgers who fooled London's experts. Collecting in the Digital Age: A newly expanded guide to navigating the world of online auctions and hunting for antiques on the internet.