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For the cassette-spinning Sony, the short-lived Sacajawea and similarly middle-aged oddities, the terms “collectibles” and “curiosities” are reserved to distinguish them from true antiques. Of course that’s never stopped these and various reproductions from being sold as such – for shibboleths aside, there’s always been a surfeit of shenanigans played out in the world of antique trading.

The Public Broadcasting System's “Antiques Road Show” has gone far in enlightening the general public to the nature and value of genuine antiques (although the program is criticized for conveying the impression that any rusted Martinson’s coffee can found under the porch might turn out to be an Etruscan warrior helmet from the Battle of Cumae). But as true antique lovers all know, there’s a more adventurous way to see antiques than the one to be found on TV. It’s the one found on the road.  

“Antiquing,” or the ritual of hitting the highway to see what old treasures are to be found amid the antique shops, Goodwill stores and yard sales adjoining it, is a pastime enjoyed by thousands. And you don’t need to be a “picker” (a professional antique hunter), or an unusually-graceful gentleman couple to enjoy it. Antiquing is by definition regionally based – with such New England states as Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Maine drawing its most avid practitioners. But – far from being outdone – the states of the West, Mid-West and South offer perhaps richer antiquing opportunities for their being the less picked over. So whether in search of such Louisiana antiques as an armoire by furniture-maker Celestin Glapion, or such Montana antiques as a 7-Up bottle from the Glasgow bottling company, or such North Dakota antiques as a hog-leg Colt once belonging to one of the Younger brothers -- just fire up the old Desoto Adventurer and follow the misted macadam along on your own antiques road show.