Ted Hake, founder of Hake’s Americana & Collectibles, was honored with a lifetime achievement award at the American Political Items Collectors’ (APIC) 2016 National Convention. The prestigious award was presented at a July 9, 2016 banquet highlighting a five-day series of club-sponsored events headquartered at the Harrisburg Hilton.
Regarded as a top expert on political memorabilia and a trailblazer of America’s collectibles industry, Hake launched his Hake’s Americana auction business in 1967. At that time, there were only three national publications serving collectors and no auction houses at all that dealt exclusively in 20th century American pop culture.
Hake issued his first presidential campaign item sales lists while employed by General Electric at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. “My first auction sold 99 items and grossed $193.67,” Hake recalled. “Had I been told then that collectibles would become an industry measured in billions, I’m certain my reaction would have been, ‘Really?’ – from little acorns…”
In the fall of 1965, Hake entered New York University’s graduate film program, and in 1967, he transferred to the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. Hake received his master’s degree in 1968.
Over the years, Ted Hake has documented his considerable expertise by authoring 18 reference books and price guides on a variety of pop culture topics, from campaign artifacts to comic characters. His lifelong interest in Disneyana led to the publication of the quintessential Official Price Guide to Disney Collectibles.
Hake is a frequent guest on radio shows, was an appraiser on the first two seasons of the PBS series Antiques Roadshow, and was a featured expert on the History Channel’s production History of Toys.
In 2004, Hake sold his auction house to Geppi’s Entertainment Publications & Auctions, but rather than slowing down, he assumed the hands-on role of chief operating officer. Working closely with Hake’s president, Alex Winter, and an accomplished team of pop culture specialists, Hake’s Americana went on to produce dozens of highly successful auctions, including ten $1 million-plus sales from 2011 through 2016. “That’s a far cry from that first $193 auction,” Hake quipped.
The APIC’s 35-state membership includes former US Presidents, Members of Congress, historians, museum curators, and several broadcast and news journalists. Upon receiving his APIC Lifetime Achievement Award, Hake expressed thanks and gratitude that his efforts to create a comprehensive storehouse of knowledge about political memorabilia by means of his auction catalogs and books had been recognized by fellow collectors.
“Political memorabilia is symbolic of our shared history, our concerns and our conflicts as a nation, going back to Washington's inauguration in 1789. Political items also reflect America’s social history,” Hake said. “Our hobby is loaded with endlessly fascinating and very beautifully designed graphic artifacts – enough to absorb a collector for a lifetime, as I can attest.”
To contact Ted Hake email hted@hakes.com.
