Don Merring of Merring's Prints and Maps (Booth 11) has been exhibiting at the show for 15 years. He says it's a great place to meet regular customers.

An experienced and knowledgeable graphic specialist, Merring always brings a wide variety of interesting illustrated material to the show.

At a typical show, he and his wife Anne bring up to 500 prints, maps and other 19th century Americana, including vintage postcards, playbills and travel items. Most of the prints and maps will wind up framed in someone's home. The tough part is deciding what items people will be looking for and the best way to display them.

This show, about 30% of his inventory will be new items. One special piece that he will offer for sale is a beautiful 1862 hand-colored map of the Roman Empire priced at $200.

He will be showcasing a large selection of natural history material, including detailed and decorative lithographs of fish, each selling in the $75-$150 range.

Another collection of interest is pages from Harper's Weekly that were painstakingly handcolored by widows and orphans for a few pennies each.

"It was quite a cottage industry in the 19th century" Merring said. He noted that collectors especially look for prints with vibrant reds, violets and blues. Particularly desirable are illustrators such as Thomas Nast and Winslow
Homer, whose work frequently appeared in Harper's Weekly.

Merring, who is from Grand Rapids, MI, will also bring a small cache of maps from Germany,
England, Australia and other areas as well as Michigan plat maps.

These maps are often used for genealogical research as they pinpoint specific land owners in the 1800's. The typical plat map sells for about $45. Those depicting Great Lakes frontage can go for as much as $200.

He looks forward to seeing old friends and talking to new collectors.