We love lists

Here are some of our favorites.


The 5 Most Commonly Mispelled US Cities

  1. Pittsburgh (PA)
  2. Tucson (AZ)
  3. Cincinnati (OH)
  4. Albuquerque (NM)
  5. Culpeper (VA)

Have we mispeled any?

The 5 Most Widely Assigned HS Reading Books

  1. Adventures of Hucklberry Finn
  2. The Scarlet Letter
  3. To Kill A Mockingbird
  4. Lord of the Flies
  5. The Great Gatsby
  6. Betcha Didn't Know That by Brian and Leon

5 Things Invented By Monks

  1. Mechanical Clocks
  2. Pretzels
  3. Roulette
  4. The @ sign
  5. Munster Cheese

(You thought we were going to say beer and fish n chips!)

Cities with Nicknames

  1. The City with Big Shoulders - Chicago
  2. Emerald City -Seattle
  3. Queen City - Charlotte
  4. Flour City - Rochester, NY
  5. Magnolia City - Houston
  6. Cream City - Milwaukee

Weird Things Found in Vending Machines

  1. Emu Jerky
  2. Poached Eggs
  3. Holy Water
  4. Beetles (Not the Musicians)
  5. Live Shrimp

Weird Things That Should Be in Vending Machines

  1. Japanese Tea sets from the 1940's
  2. Collectible Sport Cards (Especially Those From Athletes Who Used Steroids)
  3. Copies of the Declaration of Independence
  4. Betcha Didn't Know That Book By Brian and Leon
  5. Wooden Nickels

 

A Top Ten List From Abe Books

Abe Books is a source Brian and Leon use on a regular basis to research book prices on rare and collectible books. Book sellers from around the world provide listings of books for sale or sold. We recommend using their web site. Here is a list of the top 9 most expensive sales from their listings from February 2010.

  1. Ottoman Atlas - $19,500
    Published in 1860s this atlas contains thirty-nine hand coloured maps prepared and printed in the Muhendishane I Berri Humayun (the Royal School of Millitary Engineering in Istanbul)
  2. Titanic and Other Ships by C.H. Lightoller - $11,742
    A first edition copy from 1935, inscribed "To my old shipmate & companion survivor. C. H. Lightoller" with ownership inscription "Please return to H.J. Pitman." Lightoller and Pitman were Second and Third Officers respectively on the Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage.
  3. The Holy Bible: Reprinted according to the authorized version of 1611 - $7,500
    The full pressing contained 1075 copies, this was one of only 75 which were printed on Arnold unbleached rag paper, this five volume set was published from 1924-27 by the Nonesuch Press in London.
  4. Historic Families of America: Armorial Edition by W.W. Spooner - $7,500
    Limited edition of 50 numbered sets, three volumes, published circa 1910 where it was originally offered for US$300, this edition set the benchmark in the genealogy genre.
  5. Wine in Peace and War by Evelyn Waugh - $5,775
    Waugh's 1947 tribute to his beloved vino with illustrations by Rex Whistler, this edition was signed and limited to 100 copies.
  6. Selections from Poems by W.H. Auden - $4,287
    Published in 1974 this edition was limited to 400 copies and contains lithographs and a signature by English sculptor and artist Henry Moore.
  7. A Compendious Dictionary of the English language by Noah Webster- $4,063
    Published in 1806 this is the first edition of Webster’s first dictionary. With the 19th century oval rubberstamp on the front pastedown stating "Property of G. & C. Merriam Co. Springfield, Mass." An important association copy.
  8. The Mexican Portfolio by Paul Strand - $3,560
    A collection of photos taken in Mexico by photographer Paul Strand in 1932-33 this second edition was Limited No. 370 of 1000 copies signed by Strand, published 1967.
  9. Oh! Shinjuku by Shomei Tomatsu - $3,500
    Tomatsu's "undeniably radical" book provides images of student protests and various aspects of Shinjuku, Tokyo, including its sex, crowds and excitement, in the late 1960s. First edition, 1969 by Japanese photographer Shomei Tomatsu.
  10. Chronica by Ramon Muntaner- $3,500
    A chronicle of the life of Ramon Muntaner, commander in the Catalan Company who lived c. 1270-1336; they were a group of mercenaries who fought under Roger de Flor for the Byzantine emperor Andronicus II against the Turks. This, the second edition, was published in 1562.

 

THINGS NEVER TO DO!

 

TOP 5 WARNING LABELS: (Honest to God They're True)

  1. In a Microwave Manual: Do Not Use for Drying Pets
  2. On a Propane Blowtorch: Never Use While Sleeping
  3. On a toner cartridge: Do Not Eat Toner
  4. On a Toilet Bowl Cleaning Brush: Do Not Use Orally
  5. On a Batman Costume: Warning: Cape Does Not Enable User to Fly

 

ITEMS WITH MINIMAL OR NO VALUE

So You Don't Have to Call Us
(Or Anyone Else)
Click Here For A List

BRIAN & LEON'S TOP 10 PICKS FOR 2007

(Until We Decide Otherwise)

  1. Anything Really Good. (If it was good 100 years ago it will be good today.)
  2. Autographs of the Rich and Famous (Better Famous Than Rich)
  3. Photography (A good shot is worth many words and many dollars.)
  4. Space Items (Not big items but items from the outer frontier.)
  5. California Artists (Not Recent But Before California Became a Happening Place.)
  6. Technology (Anything that your kids don't remember...record players, typewriters, etc.)
  7. Civil War (The war of northern aggression is still hot on both side of the Mason Dixon.)
  8. Garden Ornaments (OK, we agree with Country Home.)
  9. Costume Jewlery (No, we don't wear any but we hear it's still strong...but weakening.)
  10. Old Trash or Treasures with Brian and Leon Shows. (You just can't find them...who'd want to?)

 

Value This Top Ten Fads

  1. Weimo the Clown (You Had to be Listening)
  2. Pet Rocks
  3. Mood Rings
  4. Furbies
  5. Trolls
  6. Smurfs
  7. Hula Hoops
  8. Beanie Babies
  9. Cabbage Patch Dolls
  10. Brian and Leon Bumper Stickers

 

Value This Top 7 Invention Collectibles

  1. Phonograph
  2. Fender Guitar
  3. Automobile
  4. Typewriters
  5. Telephone
  6. Sewing Machine
  7. Video/Computer Games

    These lists are comprised by our on air callers...so don't blame us!


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