Drinkable Collectibles & Russell Finally Signs Memorabilia

The arts, antiques and collectibles news features still-more campaign goodies, a basketball superstar who has refused to sign any memorabilia for 35 years, gas-station collectors and some "hot" football keepsakes.

Not the run-of-the-mill campaign collectibles

Not wishing to belabor campaign collectibles, but Gannett News Service recently did a roundup of some that are not the usual buttons and T-shirts.

How about the Jones Soda’s Campaign Cola? You can buy a Yes We Can Cola adorned with a picture of Barack Obama or the Pure McCain Cola, so named because Jones soda is made with pure cane sugar. Neither grab you? Try the Ron Paul Revolution Cola or the Capitol Hillary Cola. They can all be had for $14.99 a six-pack and $23.99 a 12-pack. In addition, you will receive a Campaign Cola Button with your order.

Vermont Teddy Bear is offering candidate bears—presidential and vice presidential—for a mere $110 each.

Predictably, there are presidential flip-flops. Obama’s is blue, McCain’s red. They both sport somewhat strange toy heads of the candidates on them.

Bill Russell, the best of the best

Basketball fans will always argue who was the best player. George Mikan? Oscar Robertson? Michael Jordan? Larry Bird? On whichever side your vote falls, there is no arguing that Boston Celtics player-coach Bill Russell has to be included toward the top—if not the top—of the list.

And Russell is of particular interest to sports-memorabilia collectors. He has refused to sign anything for the last 35 years.

Until now.

According to a press release, Russell will be autographing basketballs, photos, jerseys and other items at the new Hollywood Collectibles store in Hollywood, Fla., on October 14.

This event is labeled “private,” but anyone can request an invitation.

Petroliana?

Yes, petroliana collectors are out there. Translated that means gas-station memorabilia. The New York Times recently reported on a mayor of a small New Jersey town who bought a vintage Ford Model A and then “immediately felt the need to accessorize it.” So then he purchased a gas pump nicknamed Mae West. Next came the Glascock Coca-Cola cooler until finally he felt compelled to build a 1931 Mobil station—in his backyard.

Check out oldgas.com and auctions if you’re interested in starting an antiques gas-station collection.

"Hot" football collectibles

We have restrained from mentioning the latest O.J. Simpson trial even though it was all about his football collectibles.

Apparently, the jury in Las Vegas did not feel it was justified to invade a hotel room with five other men, make armed threats against two collectibles dealers even if the former football star felt hundreds of his keepsakes had been stolen.

Thirteen years to the day after Simpson was acquitted in the murders of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and Ron Goldman, he was found guilty of armed robbery, kidnapping and 10 other counts. Simpson faces up to 30 years in prison.

WorthPoint—the premier Web site for art, auctions and collectibles