Saturday's Estate Sale Finds

I started going to estate sales a few months ago. I don't usually find any series books and have very little expectation of finding any. My main purpose is for recreation and to find useful items for low prices.

This weekend I finally found some series books. At the first sale, which was near where I live, I found a number of Hardy Boys books with dust jackets.

I also bought two Tom Quest, a Rick Brant, and a Landmark book at the same sale.

I next decided to drive to the other side of the city to attend several estate sales that were clustered close together. I normally don't drive to that part of the city, since the trip takes too long for very little reward. The only reason I decided to make the trip was because one sale showed a ceramic Christmas tree in one of the preview photographs, shown below.

The tree looked too much like the one on the cover of the Judy Bolton book, The Secret of the Musical Tree, for me not to check it out. I ended up purchasing the tree, which is very cute. The tree measures 12 inches tall and 7 1/2 inches in diameter at the widest point.

The pictures never show the ceramic Christmas trees to be as nice as they actually are.

At another sale, I found six assorted series books.

I would not have purchased the above books if I had not decided to go after the ceramic Christmas tree.

The Prettiest Ceramic Christmas Tree

This beautiful tree was purchased one week ago. It cost $14.00 and was worth every cent! It is big, gaudy, and pretty. I do believe I like it the very best of all of the trees that I have ever purchased. The tree stands approximately 21 inches tall and is approximately 14 inches wide at its widest point. Whenever I photograph these trees for this blog, they all end up looking about the same. There is no way to truly appreciate their differences without seeing them in person. This one is wonderful! Even though this isn't the holiday season, I decided to have it lit for the duration of the Memorial Day weekend. This tree is too nice to wait until later this year to enjoy it!

Another Ceramic Christmas Tree

This ceramic Christmas tree was purchased last week. It cost only $2.00 plus tax. Most of the lights were still present, so I had to replace only around six of them. Including the base, the tree stands 13 1/2 inches tall. Without the base, the tree stands 11 inches tall.

For newer readers of this blog, my interest in ceramic trees began when I found one in a thrift store and was struck by how similar it was to the ceramic tree on the cover of the Judy Bolton mystery, The Secret of the Musical Tree. I buy my ceramic Christmas trees exclusively in thrift stores, where I find that they consistently underprice them. These trees can easily sell for $20.00 and up on eBay.

My Newest Ceramic Christmas Tree

This tree was purchased last week in a thrift store. The tree measures eight inches tall. It was priced at $3.00 and was missing all of the plastic lights, just like nearly all of the ceramic trees that I have bought. I decided to use lights that are shaped like bows. I find that the tiny ceramic trees often look best when the lights are something special like bows or butterflies.

Ceramic Christmas Trees

Judy Bolton #19, The Secret of the Musical Tree, features a ceramic Christmas tree on the front cover and as an important part of the story. For a number of years around 1997 to 2002, I put together a Christmas display each year featuring any of my series books that have a Christmas or winter scene on the front cover. My favorite one has always been The Secret of the Musical Tree.

One day around six or seven years ago, I was in a thrift store and saw a ceramic Christmas tree which reminded me a great deal of the tree seen on the Judy Bolton book. On a whim, I bought it and proudly took it home. This tree is pictured at the top left. The tree was missing one light, and I had to find a replacement. Quite by accident, I discovered the replacement lights, which are actually pieces of plastic that are shaped to look like bulbs, in a local craft store. The actual light source of a ceramic Christmas tree is from a light bulb that is placed inside or under the tree. The light shows through the holes to the plastic "lights."

In time, I gradually began to find additional ceramic Christmas trees in the thrift stores. Nearly all of the trees that I have purchased have been missing most or all of their lights. This is probably why the thrift stores undervalue the trees and price them at around $3.00 to $7.00 each. On eBay, some of the nicer and larger ceramic trees can sell for $200.00 to $300.00. Even the trees which sell at very low opening bids will still cost the buyer at least $25.00 when the postage cost is added to the purchase price.

I rather like the random way in which I continue to build my collection of ceramic Christmas trees. I never know when I will find the next one, how large it will be, or whether it will be green or white. I tend to favor the white trees over the green trees since I feel like the lights show up better in the white trees. Most of the trees that I find are around 15 to 17 inches in height. I have found a couple that are around 20 to 23 inches in height. I also have a few smaller ones that are around 10 inches in height.

The replacement lights can be bought online, both on eBay and at various craft websites, such as the Ceramic Painters Web Site or the Ceramic Art Space. The lights can be purchased in several sizes and types. There are the traditional ones which are shaped like bulbs as well as others which are birds, bows, butterflies, or flowers. Stars can be purchased for the tops of the trees, and the stars come in both small and large sizes.

The best time of year to find ceramic Christmas trees in thrift stores is any time of year other than the holiday season. I have never found ceramic Christmas trees in December, but I have found them during all other times of year. I have noticed that often I will find a tree during the month after Christmas. I believe that many people weed out old Christmas decorations after the holidays, and the ceramic trees are old-fashioned. Of course, this is exactly why I like them! I am looking forward to checking my thrift store during the next few weeks in the hope of finding another nice ceramic tree!