By JOSHUA THOMAS

C-S-E Editor

CANAJOHARIE — On Saturday, the Palatine Settlement Society held the eighth annual antique show to benefit St. Johnsville's Nellis Tavern at the Arkell Museum and Canajoharie Library. This is the third year that the Arkell museum hosted the event — one that the dealers present are thrilled to display at — as they have the opportunity to sell and pass on pieces of history to help the PSS preserve it for future generations.

Event Chair and PSS Vice President Donna Reston noted that there were three new dealers present amongst the 25 filling the Great Room of the Arkell Museum. "I think all the dealers have done pretty well today," said Reston, who herself sells at the show annually on behalf of her business Reston's Books and Antiques, which currently has items on display and for sale at Brotherhood Antiques. 

A dealer present for the first time Saturday was Ed Moody, who had a vast stock of historic postcards for sale, the most popular ones being, unsurprisingly, cards depicting local scenes. Moody noted that some collectors focus on certain areas, while others look for cards showing specific things, such as bodies of water or dams.

Jonathan Maney, of the Cooperstown area — a part time dealer who enjoys displaying items at various small shows such as Saturday's — stated of the Nellis Tavern fundraiser, "I always sell well here, and I always buy well here," explaining that he always finds items at the show for his personal collection.

On Saturday afternoon, he perused booths with stereo view photos for sale. The photos are printed on heavy stock, sturdier than cardboard, but more pliable than wood. Two photos exist side by side on each card, which are inserted into a slot on a wooden stereoscope — basically an old version of a Viewmaster. Maney viewed the cards, which contain terrific detail, with a magnifier, or a "loupe,' which he said could pick out details of dress, actions and activities to unveil stories in each scene.

"A lot of these tell a story," he said, of people working together, waiting for their daily milk delivery, "or in some cases, flirting, and so on." The cards, said Maney, "are typical of the type of things people had in their parlors so they could travel on the cheap," explaining that people would've viewed these cards for entertainment in the same way modern people watch television.

"It's been a good show, and it's for a good cause," concluded Maney of Saturday's show, a sentiment with which local dealer Janet Clark agreed, having sold very well this year. 

Clark said she sold items such as dishes, coverlets, Beech-Nut boxes, pieces of old Beech-Nut advertising, and old recipe books. In terms of trends, Clark said that sometimes items will be popular one year and much less so the next, noting, as an example, that she brought various paintings and prints to this year's show — and better ones than last year, according to Clark — and not one was sold, while last year "they cleaned me out," she said.

Clark also pointed out some funny details, including the fact that if she brings a certain item to a show three times and it doesn't sell, she doesn't bring it the fourth. Many times, she said, somebody will show up at the fourth show looking for that exact item.

The PSS, which five members of were present Saturday, also sold a variety of food at the show to benefit their organization, which already has a full roster of repair and restoration plans in the works for 2013.