PA Foster was a family doctor who married to my aunt in the 1940's.  He was an avid collector including digging up a Sabre Tooth Tiger's skull from the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles in 1905 that now resides in the Los Angeles Museum of Science and Industry.  During his whole life he collected rare items, not after market, trinkets or junk.... for over 60 years including postcards, coins, stamps, art, lithographs, rare maps, first edition books, early 1900 78RPM records and other fine collectables from around the world. Some from as early as the mid 1800's.

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In the early 1960s, my aunt called me and said, "my uncle was closing his medical practice and may die soon from Parkinson's Disease and told me to come pick up anything I wanted out of his massive collection."  I spent several days rummaging through his massive collection stored in their attic and large garage and took three full carloads home in my 1950 Olds fastback.   A collector from Beverly Hills was there at the time and took thousands of first edition books in a large Van and Storage truck. Including 10 bound Harper's Weekly's from the 1860's. All in mint condition. Plus, thousands of other rare books that filled their large garage.

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All the items I selected back then were carefully packed away and stored in my parent's garage at the time and eventually found its way into my new house where it has been since 1974.

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Searching for other stuff recently, caused me to discover and examine this lost collection I had forgotten about a long, long time ago.  That said...it's time to hand it over to those who would now appreciate the items listed in the web site to new owners (serious collectors).  I am sorry, but none of which is "free" or to be "donated".  Meaning, only reasonable cash offers will be considered.

 

THIS SINGING BOWL was collected in 1926 while he was traveling to China and the far east on a cruise trip around the world.  It is in the same original condition as when I stored it way in 1962.   It has not be cleaned or changed for over 60 years. The striker makes it very rare.