Sunday, December 31, 2006

USA, Nuggets Alaska, Great Stuff


This soft leather pouch and its content were bought in 1985 at Anchorage Airport, Alaska, when I'd stopped by for a breather on my way home from New York City.

There are about 30 pieces of small nuggets.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

Is there Something at the Far Side?


Looking out from my window on December 30 at dusk, the early evening at about 6:25pm, I saw this long rainbow across the sky. A drizzle had just ended in time for me to shoot this photograph.

After watching the rainbow fading away slowly for about ten minutes, I'd wondered if the proverbial saying about that pot of gold might just be there among those trees at the far side. Heeheehee!

Quartz Rock, Different Texture, Palm Size


This is an interesting piece of rock made of quartz.

It has this somewhat rough but nice surface on top, and a smooth surface underneath.

SOLD!

Large Natural Green Quartz Crystal


This is a large piece of green quartz crystal that weighs about 1.1 kilogram.

It is a natural piece of specimen that is great for display in your home or office.

Natural Cluster of Multiple Crystals


This is a fine cluster of multiple quartz crystals that has a pleasant appearance.

It is a natural piece of specimen that is great for display on your bookshelf.

Friday, December 29, 2006

Natural Rose Quartz Crystal


This is a beautiful piece of pink rose quartz crystal that has a balance and pleasant appearance.

It's a natural piece of specimen that's great for display in your home or office.

Thursday, December 28, 2006

Romie's Crystal, For Display Only


This is a nice piece of quartz crystal that Romie likes to display in his bookshop.

It was given to Romie sometime early this year by one of his friends, who'd bought it from Thailand.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Romie of Books Galore, Far East Plaza


BOOKS GALORE
14 Scotts Road,
#05-107,
Far East Plaza,
Singapore 228213.

Sole Proprietor: Romie (left photo).
Telephone Numbers: 67328773 and 93852696.

Check out my friend's bookshop selling mostly second-hand (used) books like Fiction (Novels), Non-Fiction (Self-Help, Inspirational, Motivational, Business, Hobbies, Fashion, General), Children's Books, Comics, and Imported Magazines.

Best bookshop downtown selling and renting used books. No regrets walking into Romie's bookshop 'coz I've been buying used books and magazines from Romie since 1991. This is the man who has been selling books since the good old school days at Bras Basah Road. He will gladly answer all your questions about books.

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

Dollar Bill on a 12-inch Single


The Valentine Brothers, 2 tracks, 1991 Valentine Brothers Music Inc., 12-inch Single.

This record sleeve has a large image of the dollar bill printed on it. Nice, very nice!

Monday, December 25, 2006

White Gold, 12-inch vinyl LP


The Love Unlimited Orchestra, White Gold, 11 tracks, 1974 20th Century Records, Philips/Phonogram, 12-inch vinyl LP, 33 rpm.

This record was produced by Barry White, the man who'd composed the romantic Love's Theme that was used as a signature tune in a commercial by Cathay Pacific Airways of Hong Kong.

It's nice to look at some gold pieces displayed on the record sleeve of this LP, and I think it's gonna be a great and golden 2007.

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Four Christmas Albums, Vinyl LPs, 33 rpm


I don't have many Christmas albums of those 12-inch vinyl LPs.

Here are the rest of them and they were produced in the 1970s.

Have a Happy Christmas.

SOLD!

A CHRISTMAS PRESENT, Pop-Up Album



Various Artists, A CHRISTMAS PRESENT, 20 tracks, 1973 Columbia Special Products, produced for Ronco Teleproducts, Inc.

The front cover of the double gatefold pop-up album, vinyl LP, 33 rpm.
Double gatefold pop-up. Sold!

This is a nice Christmas album that children will enjoy seeing when its double gatefold opens and displays a lot of colorful pop-up paper cuttings of Santa Claus, reindeers, Christmas trees, and other great stuff.

Saturday, December 23, 2006

Western Union Band, We've Got Love



Western Union Band, We've Got Love, 1978 EMI (Hong Kong) Ltd,
11 tracks, 12-inch LP,
33 rpm. Color poster enclosed. Nice used. Sold!

This nice used LP was sold to a customer at Yahoo! Auctions Singapore sometime in December 2005.

This customer had told me that he'd been searching for this particular LP for some 12 years before he'd come across it on display in one of my auctions. He was glad that I'd got what he was looking for after all these years.

Friday, December 22, 2006

Peruvian Baskers along Orchard Road


The weather was cool and a little windy in the afternoon of December 22, as I went to Orchard Road, the shopping district of Singapore.

I saw this great outfit from Peru basking along the walkway in front of Wisma Atria, across Orchard Road from CK Tang department store.

With some luck, I had my digital camera with me and I'd shot a few photographs.

Here are two nice pictures of this group of musicians entertaining the crowd with some cool music of the Andes.

My Scrapbook Nr.2, made in 1971


Scrapbook Number 2, The Best of The Pops.

This is another scrapbook compiled in 1971 and 1972 with clippings cut from pop-magazines, hand-written lyrics of pop-songs, and a list of members of various pop-groups of the 1960s and early 1970s.

For your information, the front cover has a clipping of Procul Harum, and the back has Herman's Hermits.

My Scrapbook Nr.1, made in 1970


Scrapbook Number 1, Top Hits: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow.

This scrapbook was made from a spare school notebook and compiled in 1970 with clippings from pop-magazines and lyrics of many pop-songs of the 1960s.

For your information, the front cover has a clipping of Mary Hopkin, and the back has Creedence Clearwater Revival.

Engelbert Humperdinck, Rare Portrait Poster


I won this handsome portrait poster of Engelbert Humperdinck from a contest in 1970 organized by a local pop-magazine called Fanfare.

The size of this poster is 11 inches by 7¾ inches and it is an excellent pop memorabilia for display.

Thursday, December 21, 2006

The New Seekers, 1970 Double-Page Poster


This colorful poster of The New Seekers was a center two-page clipping from a 1970 issue of the UK pop-magazine called Mirabelle.

It's a seldom seen picture of this American pop-group and I'm pleased to share it with you.

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Mungo Jerry, 1970 Double-Page Clipping


This is a two-page clipping saved in 1970 from an issue of the UK pop magazine called Mirabelle.

It's a seldom seen picture of the pop-group called Mungo Jerry and I'm pleased to share it with you.

In the summertime, it's really hot, so rock on!

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Neil Diamond, 1970 Mirabelle Magazine Clipping


Neil Diamond, pin-up poster-like page, 1970 Mirabelle magazine (UK), well-preserved.

This colorful picture was clipped from the back page of a 1970 UK pop-magazine called Mirabelle.

That magazine had long been discarded, most unfortunately, but I'd somehow managed to save this slightly larger than A4-size page.

Monday, December 18, 2006

The Kinks, Mirabelle magazine (UK) back-cover


The Kinks, pin-up poster-like page, 1970 Mirabelle magazine (UK), well-preserved. SOLD!

This poster-like page was clipped from an issue of 1970 UK pop-magazine called Mirabelle. That magazine had long been discarded, most unfortunately, but I'd somehow managed to save this slightly larger than A4-size page.

The Kinks were the first among the pioneer British pop-groups to experiment with the riff in guitar-playing. So, rock on!


Sunday, December 17, 2006

The Beatles, Mirabelle magazine (UK) back-cover


The Beatles, Mirabelle magazine (UK) back-cover, well-preserved, like a poster. SOLD!

This almost poster-like page was clipped from the back-cover of a 1970 UK pop-magazine called Mirabelle.

That magazine had long been thrown away, but I'd somehow managed to preserved this slightly larger than A4-size back-cover inside my file-folder all these years.


Saturday, December 16, 2006

An Old Beatles B & W Poster


Large black and white poster, 14 by 11 inches in size, bought in the early 1980s from a bookshop at Bras Basah Complex.

Sealed inside a glass and metal frame, this splendid poster features the Beatles and their friends from Liverpool, Gerry and the Pacemakers, and Roy Orbison (wearing sunglasses).

This item was sold to a bidder at Yahoo! Auctions Singapore about a year ago.

SOLD!

Friday, December 15, 2006

An Old Colonial Building Downtown


Large piece of 1984 reproduction black & white picture postcard sealed in a non-reflective glass and wood frame.

That colonial building is currently under some kind of modern renovation for some years and I guess the work is almost done now. Guess where is the site of that building?

This item was sold to a bidder at Yahoo! Auctions Singapore in October 2006. SOLD!

Singapore, Old Colonial Buildings


Nicely sealed and framed, this is a 1984 reproduction black & white picture postcard depicting some old colonial buildings of a bygone era.

Guess which giant shopping complex is situated on that site now?

This item was sold to a bidder at Yahoo! Auctions Singapore in October 2006. SOLD!

Singapore Raffles Hotel, Art Deco Print


Sealed in a solid wood glass frame, this is a large piece of art deco print depicting the famous Raffles Hotel.

The autographed signature of the artist is shown on the print.

This item was sold to a bidder at Yahoo! Auctions Singapore in October 2006. Sold!

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Nice Yummy Postcard for Display


When Kenny Rogers Roasters opened a dining restaurant at Suntec City sometime in the 1990s, it gave away large colorful postcards like this to its diners.

I'd got this nice postcard and later sealed it inside a wooden frame of 20 cm by 25 cm in size.

Now this is really yummy stuff.

Make Your Own Print for Display


When you can't find a photograph or a postcard of a good scenery that you want, try to search for a virtual image and do your own printing.

This large printed picture was done with a HP Deskjet 690C sometime in 1999 and then sealed into a wooden frame of 9¼" by 11¼" in size.

Now you have something almost like a photograph or postcard framed for display.

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Almost Like a Real Photograph


A sparkling diamond among those rough diamonds. They look almost like real stuff on my living-room table.

This is a magazine clipping from an early 1980s in-flight monthly published by Malaysian Airline System. It'd looked like a color photograph when I'd got it sealed inside a wooden frame 11¼" by 9¼" in size more than 15 years ago.

Native Copper Ore not from Australia


This brilliant piece of native copper ore has a shape almost like that of the continent of Australia.

It was bought from an American geologist by a good friend of mine who'd sold it to me in the mid-1990s, after keeping it for quite some time.


Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Annual Reports from Australia


In August of 1995, I wrote to Ashton Mining Limited and Plutonic Resources Limited of Australia and requested for their latest annual reports.

Both companies were prompt in posting their 1994 annual reports by airmail to me within 10 days.

Ashton mined diamonds and Plutonic mined gold. I am fascinated by these two minerals ever since I was young.


Monday, December 11, 2006

National Geographic magazines


I'd started buying old issues of National Geographic magazines from Romie back in the early 1990s when he was then running Sultana Bookstore at Selegie Road.

I recall these five issues were among the very first issues that I'd bought 'coz they have great articles like Gold, The Eternal Treasure; Diamond, The Incredible Crystal; Silver: A Mineral of Excellent Nature; Treasure from the Ghost Galleon (featuring Mel Fisher); The Miracle Metal: Platinum.

Back in the early 1990s, Romie had a huge stock of old National Geographic magazines, and in the following few years I'd bought from him many more issues of these magazines.


Sunday, December 10, 2006

Romie's Bookshop Downtown Singapore


BOOKS GALORE
14 Scotts Road,
#05-107,
Far East Plaza,
Singapore 228213.

Sole Proprietor: Romie (left).

Telephone Numbers: 67328773 and 93852696.

Check out my friend's bookshop selling mostly second-hand (used) books like Fiction (Novels), Non-Fiction (Business, Self-Help, Inspirational, Motivational, Fashion, General), Children's Books, Comics, and Imported Magazines.

Best bookshop downtown selling and renting used books. No regrets walking into Romie's bookshop 'coz I've been buying used books and magazines from Romie since 1991. This is the man who has been selling books since the good old school days at Bras Basah Road. He will gladly answer all your questions about books.



Don't panic when your PC goes beep beep


Sometimes your computer might show a black screen and give a beeping sound when you switch it on. But please don't panic.

Switch off the power supply to your computer.

Unscrew and slide out the cover from your computer chasis and look for the memory RAM chips.

Use your thumb and apply some pressure onto the two ends of these memory chips, indicated by the yellow arrows in my second image.

This will usually do the trick and you can then switch on the power supply and restart your computer.

I am pleased to share with you this simple solution, and your problem is resolved.


1979 $100 Year of the Child, Gold Proof Coin


Canada, 1979 $100 Year of the Child, Gold Proof Coin, ½ oz troy 916 fineness.

This is an official commemorative gold coin of the 1979 Year of the Child, minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, and presented in a dark brown leather-bound case.

This proof coin has a pure gold content of exactly half troy ounce or 15.5517 grams. SOLD!

1978 $100 Unification Gold Proof Coin


Canada, 1978 $100 Canadian Unification Gold Proof Coin, ½ oz troy, 916 fineness.

This is an official commemorative gold coin of the 1978 Canadian Unification, minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, and presented in a black leather-bound case.

This proof coin has a pure gold content of exactly half troy ounce or 15.5517 grams. SOLD!

1976 $100 Olympic Gold Proof Coin


Canada, 1976 $100 Olympic Gold Proof Coin, ½ oz troy, 916 fineness. SOLD!

This is an official commemorative gold coin of the 1976 Montreal Olympics minted by the Royal Canadian Mint, and presented in a solid wood leather-bound box.

This proof coin has a pure gold content of exactly one-half troy ounce or 15.5517 grams.

Saturday, December 9, 2006

Spanish Cob, 8 Reales Silver


Spanish Cob, Philip V (1700-1724), Eight Reales, silver, VF. SOLD!

This piece of Spanish cob was most likely struck at Potosi, Bolivia and brought back by a Spanish galleon. But it could have gone through the hands of buccaneers and privateers along the way before it finally landed in my collection some fifteen years ago.

Many of these Spanish cobs are still being found today in the remains of sunken ships, or dug up in the sand. You can actually do your own treasure hunting along the beach, you know. Most of these cobs have ended up in private collections and only a handful of them are found in museums around the world. But I guess those museums in Spain might exhibit more than a handful of these cobs.

Great Britain, 1899 Queen Victoria Silver Crown


Great Britain, 1899 Crown, Queen Victoria, Silver, 925 fineness, VF. Sold!

When a good friend had traveled a good distance to offer me a silver coin like this at a reasonable price, I was much obliged to take up his offer in 1988.

My friend had half a dozen of Queen Victoria silver crowns inside his briefcase.

He had asked me to pick any piece that I'd liked, and I'd chosen this particular piece.

Royal Selangor™ Pewter Sculptures


These two pieces of Royal Selangor pewter sculptures were bought in the late 1990s from the same shop at Raffles City.

They're excellent display items.


Royal Selangor™ Pewter Dragons


Royal Selangor of Malaysia, formerly known as Selangor Pewter, makes many excellent pewter items for display.

I bought five pieces of pewter dragons sometime in the late 1990s from one of its shops downtown at Raffles City, Singapore.


Friday, December 8, 2006

Myth and Magic, The Hatchlings, Pewter and Quartz


This is a cute little piece of pewter sculpture bought sometime in 1999 from a shop called Zero Gravity in Merchant's Court at Clarke Quay.


Myth and Magic, The Ice Dragon, Pewter and Quartz


This is another great piece of pewter sculpture made by The Tudor Mint in Great Britain.

It was bought sometime in 1999 from a shop called Another Dimension in The Heeren at Orchard Road.


Myth and Magic, The Artist, Pewter and Quartz


This is a great piece of pewter sculpture made by The Tudor Mint in Great Britain.

It was bought sometime in 1999 from a shop called Zero Gravity in Merchant's Court at Clarke Quay.

There was another shop called Another Dimension in The Heeren at Orchard Road that I'd bought a few of this kind of myth and fantasy stuff.

Both these shops are no longer around.

Thursday, December 7, 2006

Fine Fantasy Sculpture, Pewter and Quartz


This costly pewter sculpture of a dragon, crafted on a large piece of amethyst quartz, was bought in the late 1990s from that souvenir shop at Clarke Quay.

I ain't sure that shop is still around today.


GOLD Prospectors, Pewter and Quartz


These two display items were bought in the late 1990s from a souvenir shop at Clarke Quay.

I ain't sure that shop is still around today.


Crucifixion, Pewter, Set of Two Souvenirs


This is a set of two pewter display items bought in 1998 from a souvenir shop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.