PHOTOS - Non-dug treasures 1

Old books are collectible, some very valuable. This one I found in a large lot I bought - it was published in New Orleans when the city was a part of the "Territory of Orleans."

Civil War relics are not the only valuable war artifacts. WWI and WWII relics, like this WWI trench knife and WWII German patch, are fast going up in value.

Cigar cutters are great collectibles. I bid on this one at a local auction, then sold it on eBay at three times my investment.

Zippo lighters are highly collectible, especially those with special significance. I bought this one along with some other "junk," and after noting the engraving - "Mobile Riverine Force, Vietnam" - decided to try it on eBay. I was surprised at the high bid, which far exceeded my expectations.

A "post-mortem" daguerreotype of a child. The photo reportedly is of a young girl who lived in a plantation home near Natchez. It came from a local resident.

The original Sun Records are highly collectible, especially the ones on which Elvis Presley issued his first songs. A number of Sun Elvis records have been found here in Vicksburg, including one I bought at a garage sale, then sold for a 140,000% profit.

A highly valued collectible all across the country, the Biedenharn Candy Company hutchinson-style bottle is found often here in Vicksburg. This ca 1890 bottle was the first used to bottle Coca-Cola.

In 1784, hoping to provide some income for her family, Hannah Adams published a volume entitled "An Alphabetical Compendium of the Various Sects Which Have Appeared from the Beginning of the Christian Era to the Present Day." The edition quickly sold out, and Adams went on to publish additional books on religion. The book shown here is one of the original 1784 first-editions of Hannah's publication, and I found it right here in Vicksburg, Mississippi!

Small brass souvenir jewelry box from the 1907 Mardi Gras. There are thousands of collectors of Mardi Gras items; this piece is a very desirable one among them.

Steiff Teddy Bear ca 1905 that had been in the same family here in Vicksburg since it was purchased new. Vintage Steiff bears command a very high price.

First edition set of Tolstoi's "War and Peace" purchased along with a large collection of antiquarian books. There were a total of six of these books in the original issue, sold in pairs. This set is the last two of the original issue.