I was captured by Martians..& DG abbreviations

Well not really - but writing 6 blogs and listing dozens of items a week on eBay took it's toll. And then in January, it's always time for retesting DH's thryoid cancer status so I went away mentally and just got back. BUT...we did buy an amazing amount of depression glass (some even was green in honor of the Martians) at an estate sale... a local dealer..who shall remain nameless 'cause ALWAYS outbid me in real life and I got most of his stuff for way less than he paid. LOL........ AND we'll be bringing it to you over the next few weeks/months.

Today, let's review some standard (for glass collectors) abbreviatons/buzzwords found on eBay and elsewhere...

NM - near mint
fleabite..No no glass fleas here...but this is the unimaginably small invisible to the eye, chip you can feel with a nail or a fingertip but can't see even wtih a magnifying glass some times.  NO it is not acceptable to fail to mention it in a listing
Ding - bigger fleabite..

Inner rim - lots of Depression Glass has a sharper inner rim - like around the inside of a dinner plate or a soup bowl and those, in some patterns particularly are more brittle - Royal Lace, my favorite is especially susceptible to damage in this area.

Flake - this is a flat chip - normally, in my experience comes from a sideways strike..so if you bang the plate edge against the serving bowl or pitcher..when that's what makes it flake. Should also always be mentioned when selling glass - and MEASURE IT width wise...

HOW NOT to pack Glass for shipping

They say a picture is worth 1000  words so you've got about 4000 words worth here.  These are items we purchased, on eBay, for our personal collection.  Everything was described as perfect...so something has been lost in the translation...

Ok, #1 RULE of shipping glass, even NEW glass is?? DON"T USE NEWSPAPER.

#2 Rule is DO USE BUBBLE WRAP AND PACKING PEANUTS and use them together.  I feel safer with small bubble bubblewrap...a double layer folded with the bubbles in so it makes a nice sturdy layer.  Wrap the item with that, at least 2 layers of double.  IF it's a big item... make a BIG double piece

3. Take your packing peanuts and put them in a plastic bag.. This is a way to recycle all those plastic grocery bags. Fill them 1/2 to 3/4 full with peanuts, tie them or tape the shut. Use them like a "pillow" for your item.  One under and one over your item.

4. Put the under pillow in the box.. put cardboard over it.. Put another one on top of your cardboard.  Now put the item on the pillow, preferably in it's designed position. So the way it was supposed to be used... if it's a vase stand it on the base.  If it's a glass, same thing. Don't lay things down sideways. Don't put them in on an angle.

5, Surround the item with pieces of cardboard... then fill the rest of the space both inside and outside the cardboard fram with packing peanuts... next

6. put another piece of cardboard over the item... and fill the rest of the box with packing peanuts.

OVERFILL the box. Those peanuts settle.  Hold the box closed and shake so they settle sooner.

Now put more in..

Tape everything in..

MAKE sure you double tape all the closures and then tape across them in the oppsoite direction. Ya want your stuff falling out??? My shipping department goes to excess and tapes ALL 4 corners and all 4 top and bottom edges. NOTHING is getting out of my boxes without a razor knife in it's hand.

Ok, before you label it, shake it. Hear rattling?? NOT GOOD, open it up and put a stop to that with either more cardboard or more peanuts or more of both.

Do the tape thing again and apply postage and OFF it goes the PO or UPS or where ever..