In With The Old Step Right Up

From signage to souvenirs, these prized country-fair collectibles conjure nostalgia for the midways of yesteryear.

- SARAH ZLOTNICK

Best in Show

Doled out in everything from pie-baking contests to livestock exhibitions, satin prize ribbons are the ultimate fair keepsakes. (Did you know that while “blue ribbon” is often used to connote top-quality in casual conversation, purple is the official color of champions in most competitions?) Vintage ribbons can be picked up for as little as $5 apiece, but more elaborate rosette- and button-topped numbers, particularly from the early to mid-1900s, can fetch between $10 and $100 each.

One Felt Swoop

Pennants have long served as cheerful souvenirs of a day at the fair. Today, examples from the early 1900s can command upward of $80 apiece due to their unique visuals and occasional presence of specific dates. As the felt pennant industry consolidated, pre-designed graphics became commonplace, and pennants from the 1960s onward now cost $15 to $50. Though most collectors look for pieces touting a sentimental locale, rodeo motifs are also always in high demand.

train your eye