Cocoa beans were thought to have mighty and magical powers. Wisdom and strength came from eating the cocoa bean. Priests used the beans in rituals and religious ceremonies. They were used as a treatment for fever, coughs and even discomfort during pregnancy.

Medals are, by far, the most common military souvenir from World War II. All the participant nations minted and awarded medals in one form or another.

In 1967 I was twenty years old, in the middle of college, and facing the Vietnam draft. So I have paid nostalgic attention to the 40th anniversary of one of the great cultural events of my generation.

By the time this issue reaches newsstands, “Toys & Prices 2010, 17th Edition” will have been gobbled up by toy enthusiasts either at bookstores or online for nearly a month. (But plenty of copies are still available!) In addition to new toys and updated prices, one of the features that has people talking is the 16-page color section that focuses on toys from the 1980s.

Surprisingly collections of uncut vintage paper dolls are not only around but can be reasonably priced, depending where you find them.

Welcome to a world of novelty ceramic collectibles from yesteryear. The time was the late 1950s through the early 1960s when so many collectibles were being manufactured in and imported from Japan.

Why are vintage children's books popular? Perhaps it’s a way of reconnecting with our childhood, or a reminiscence of the nights when someone would tuck us into bed and read us a favorite story.

Throughout the ages, masks have starred in Greek drama, sent men roaring down the warpath, summoned otherworldly spirits, and figured in initiation, healing, and funereal rites. Masks have also masked a multiplicity of duplicity.

Few knives in the world are as instantly recognizable as the red-handle, multi-blade Swiss Army Knife (SAK). Manufactured for over a century, it has shown up in the most unlikely of places, and is carried not only by soldiers but also students, handymen, professionals, travelers and knife enthusiasts across the planet.

Former President Jimmy Carter once said, “Mickey Mouse is the symbol of goodwill, surpassing all languages and cultures. When one sees Mickey Mouse, they see happiness.”