Tom Gordon: The Collecting Gene
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when I started collecting – probably around 4 or 5 years old – and I collected
everything from fossils, rocks, comics and coins to items relating to the U.S.
space program. But comics were definitely one of my first true collecting
loves.
Because I had a number of older Dells that were my Dad’s, I can’t
really say what my first comic was. I had some of his old TV and Funny Animal
comics from when he was a kid – he had hundreds of them and read them till they
were worn and dog-eared. He gave most of his comics away to other kids who could
not afford to buy them, but one of the first books I do remember having was
Detective Comics #455. I got that book one day when my Grandfather and I
were out looking at coins, and I still have it today.
I honestly think I
was born with the “collecting gene.” I know some people grow up around antiques
and collectibles and absolutely hate them, but I got really interested in them
fast. I am part of a family that has had at least 5 generations of collectors.
My great-great-great Uncle Phillip L. Straus went west in the 1860’s and
collected Indian artifacts and traded with members the Crow Indian Nation. My
great-great Uncle Phillip G. Straus lived in Baltimore and continued collecting
through the turn of the century. He amassed a collection of over 50,000
autographs, buying many from a dealer in Paris in the 1920’s. He possessed a
large coin collection and personally dealt with people in the field like Tom
Elder. His Americana collection contained an original hand written copy of the
“Star Spangled Banner” by Francis Scott Key, and he obtained the White House
“Day Book” from the first 6 months of the Lincoln Administration. He discovered
it in the possession of the doorman who had worked at the Executive Mansion when
Lincoln resided there. It was eventually purchased during the Lyndon Johnson
administration, however, and went home to Washington D.C. Uncle Philip
personally knew numerous personalities from the 19th century and the
early 20th century, some of whom included: John Singleton Mosby and
the Confederate “Grey Ghost,” John Suratt, the son of Mary Suratt who was hanged
for her part in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He also personally knew
Teddy Roosevelt. “Uncle Phil,” as my Dad affectionately refers to him, held
influence upon both my father and my grandfather.
My grandfather, Tom
Gordon Sr., has been collecting since 1936. He is a collector of coins, stamps,
political memorabilia, and other Americana. My father, Tom Gordon Jr., collects
and deals in political Americana, American military items, 19th
century country store material, paper Americana, antique advertising, and
numerous other antiques. Recently, my wife Jenny became a collector of Wedgwood
Christmas plates. It seems that after our dating and two years of marriage, the
collecting bug has bitten her also!
As for me, Batman is probably my
absolute favorite. Growing up, my Dad and I used to watch reruns of the old TV
show together. He always claimed that he had the Batman costume in the old dark
basement of our house! Of course I never did get to see it. I’ll never forget
the question asked in one Batman story by the Riddler: “What makes the car go?”
The stories were good clean fun and really got this kid’s imagination going!
They still do to this very day!
Growing up in a family of antique
dealers, it’s difficult to not get drawn into the business. Even the house that
I was raised in is historically significant – it witnessed the Civil War
skirmish between Confederate General Jeb Stuart’s Cavalry division and Captain
Charles Corbit’s 1st Delaware Cavalry in 1863, when Stuart was on his
way to join the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia during the Gettysburg
Campaign. My home place is perhaps one of Carroll County’s largest Civil War
relics and is scarred by gunfire from that cavalry fight. At a very young age, I
helped in our little shop that we ran in Westminster in the 1980’s – just three
steps from the back porch of this home.
There are many great memories
from then. I met many interesting collectors, and though they were years older
than I was, they always had the spark of collecting which kept them young at
heart! I also traveled a lot, and still do, up and down the East Coast. One
place in particular that I’d visit with my father and grandfather was
Renninger’s Antique Market in Adamstown, Pennsylvania – considered by many to be
the “Antique Capital of America.” Over the years, many rare antiques and
collectibles have originated in this area.
I officially started my own
business, Monumental Collectibles, several years back. The name actually has
historic significance to my family, as my great-great grandfather, William
Straus, founded the brewery in Baltimore known as the “Monumental Brewery.”
Unfortunately, prohibition greatly affected the business that had been highly
successful over many years. For a time, in fact, Baltimore (especially during
the 19th and early 20th Centuries) was called “The
Monumental City.” Hence the name Monumental Collectibles.
Victorian Age
and Platinum Age material have also found their way into my collection. The
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide began listing the two in separate
sections, and I found it interesting, as it is essentially the origin of comics.
I have also always enjoyed a number of the early characters including The Yellow
Kid, Buster Brown, Maggie and Jiggs, etc. I find the amount of information
discussed online regarding Platinum Age comics to be amazing. Many people tend
to ignore this area of comic history but it is actually quite fascinating when
you realize that the origin of comics goes back pre-1900. The online discussions
are also a great way to learn and share a lot of intriguing information. I
believe that you need to know where comics came from to know where they’re
going.
Giveaway comics are also something I love. My Dad and I started
collecting them several years prior to Overstreet noting them in their
own category. Dad found them interesting because he enjoyed the advertising, but
I’ve always found them interesting due to their various types and examples –
from politics to promotional advertising. It’s rather amazing when you think
that these types of comics were marketed to children. In many ways, they are a
great representation of the times and issues of the era in which they were
published.
It’s very difficult to pick a favorite piece from my
collection, but here are a few. My WWII Donald Duck Bomber Patch, 1942 Mighty
Mouse Doll, Superman Syroco Statue, Yellow Kid Highchair, and my Adventures
of Detective Ace King Comic.
I can’t think of a single best
experience in collecting, because I actually have several. I enjoy the hunt and
the chance of finding something that no one has seen or that is not listed in
the price guides. I have also enjoyed the opportunity to learn history and the
facts surrounding the many items we all collect and enjoy. I would have to say
that best experiences in the hobby are meeting and getting to personally know
many of the people who are also involved. To name a few, they include: Ted Hake,
Brian Block, Steve Borock, Mark Haspel, Bill Hughes, Michael Naiman, Ken
Chapman, Danny Fuchs, Mark Wilson, Matt Nelson, Al Stoltz, Marc Nathan, Bob
Coup, Charlie Oliver, Bob Beerbohm, Richard Olson, Walter Koenig, Ron Plotkin,
Joe McGuckin, Bob Overstreet, J.C. Vaughn, Don Flanagan, Gary Greenberg, and
many others.
