For others, like Howard Rossen, author of the book World’s Fair Collectibles with Price Guide, who began collecting in 1965 when he was in law school, paper items, glass and china, and key collectibles have been his passion. While Rossen collects items from all the major world’s fairs, he enjoys collecting from the 1939 Fair the most.

Beginning collectors often purchase posters, ticket books, and other assorted paper items, as well as any of the hundreds of pinback buttons, mainly because of their relatively inexpensive prices. Advanced collectors like clocks and watches--the harder-to-find pieces. According to Schwartz, women often collect jewelry--bracelets, rings, necklaces with Fair emblems.

"Any image of the Trylon and Perisphere on an item automatically makes it more highly valued," added Schwartz. "But collectors seem to be turning up their noses at the 1940 Fair items. This goes against what collectors would normally do. Since Fair attendance was down in 1940 and the Fair, itself, was surrounded by controversy, it seems logical that there would be fewer items on the market, thus making these items more valuable."

Schwartz said that anything a little bit different seems to be popular with collectors of World’s Fair souvenirs today. "The ubiquitous milk glass vinegar bottle and coins are passe now," she said, "but anything unique will sell in a second." For instance, a snow dome paperweight with black snow falling on a Trylon and Perisphere, or a plastic pencil sharpener, or a plywood jigsaw puzzle in its original box. They even sold birthday candles in the shape of the Trylon and Perisphere.

Most major manufacturers of fine china, novelties and toys made items for the Fair. The Arcade Toy Company made a four-piece metal tram with driver painted in bright orange and blue Fair-Corporation approved colors. RCA Victor created a splendid table model radio. Macy’s had a

Toyland Dutch girl doll made for them by the Alexander Doll Company. An assortment of ladies’ cosmetic compacts--from Girey, Elgin-American and Zekll--proliferated at the Fair. Even Parker Brothers got in on the act with a board game called Bobby and Betty’s Trip to the New York World’s Fair. And Whitman Publishing Company created New York World’s Fair Bingo.

Most Sought After Items
But some of the items most sought after by collectors are a series of china plates attributed to Homer Laughlin, creator of Fiesta Ware. These attractive plates in purple and green sported stylized buildings around their rims and Deco logos. Also highly prized is a series of plates from the joint exhibit of management and labor. These pottery plates were made at the Fair, although everyone seems to think they were made by Homer Laughlin because they have the Fiesta Ware look. Some of the most beautiful ones were made by Cronin China Company, J&G Meakin, and Mason’s China Company of Great Britain. The latter created a stunning scalloped souvenir plate showing New York skyline.

Art Deco china display plates were also manufactured by the Edwin Knowles China Co. Even Tiffany and Company got in on the act with a pink and white china place setting featuring pictures of modern New York. There were also china pieces from Scammell’s Lamberton China Company(George Washington commemorative plates), Atlas China(scalloped plate), Paden City Pottery Co(salad bowl), Hall China(cobalt blue teapot), and Porcelier China(cream colored teapots and pitchers), plus hundreds of items made in Japan, including assorted lusterware, hand-painted porcelain, jasperware and imitation Wedgewood. The Libby Glass Co. made sets of eight juice glasses in a holder.

Fakes Galore
The market has spawned fakes, actually fantasies--items made to look like they were produced for the Fair but are actually new. Schwartz warns collectors about rings and cuff links that are surfacing, as well as paper coasters in the shape of the Trylon and Perisphere that sport a Coca Cola emblem. All are obviously in mint condition.

Rossen said that police badges have also been reproduced and again, some as fantasy pieces, since these are also popular with those who collect police memorabilia. "However, I’ve seen very few reproductions from any World’s Fair," he said.

As for the market, both Schwartz and Rossen agree it’s sky high. "I assume it will level off somewhere," said Schwartz. "I bought four little cups for $185 that I thought were drinking cups, but it turned out that they were toothpick holders and sold them for $400. I find out later that I could have sold them for probably $400 a piece!"

Each year on Memorial Day Weekend, the World’s Fair Collector’s Society sponsors a show of only 1939 World’s Fair collectibles at the Andria Motel on Northern Boulevard just opposite Corona Park. "At this year’s show I saw only three or four rare pieces," said Rossen.

"Most of the rest was middle of the road stuff. But everything from that fair is getting much more collectible because ‘39 and ‘40 are so hot and there are so many new collectors coming in."

"It’s all supply and demand," he added. "The really good stuff is unavailable. In fact, I recently bought a duplicate piece for $700--a Remington typewriter in mint condition--and made a major investment. It’s only the fourth typewriter I’ve seen in 25 years!"

Prices for paper goods can be as low as $5 for a postcard but can climb to $275 for a girl guide’s jacket and upwards of a $1,000 for a set of New York World’s Fair silver flatware by William Rogers Co. and over $2,000 for an RCA table model radio.

Schwartz’ advice for 1939 World’s Fair collectors: Start small and inexpensive. "Get an education while you’re learning and don’t exhaust your resources right away, " she said. "If you’re going to make a mistake, make one at the $5 or $10 level not at the $600 level."

The World’s Fair Corporation buried a time capsule under the Westinghouse Building so that future generations in the year 6939 would be able to get an idea of what life was like in 1939. Torpedo shaped and 7 ½ feet long and 8 ½ inches in diameter, it contained samples of plastics, metal and fabrics, numerous books and essays reproduced on microfilm, newsreels with instructions and a key to the English language. What they forgot to include was an assortment of souvenirs of the Fair, which while clear to fair goers at the time, would probably confuse generations to come.