New Hampshire lost another “old-time” antiques dealer recently as Mabel Joslin (doing business as M.J.’s Antiques) died on Sunday, April 1, at the age of 97.
Mabel did shows throughout New England and set up on Sundays at the Merrimack Flea market near the toll booths in Merrimack, N.H., during the 1960s. Her booths were always loaded with good glass, china, silver and jewelry from $5 to thousands. Her late husband, George, was always remembered for having two or three refinished trunks at every show and he would “sell out.”
Mabel’s own collection included the largest sugar shaker and syrup collection (authors would photograph her rare items for their books), Dresden ballerina figurines, hundreds of Royal Doulton and Hummel figurines and much more.
M.J. would take time to answer questions from prospective buyers and other dealers about her antique offerings or their own.
How many collectors and dealers remember the smiling faces of Mabel and George Joslin at shows and flea markets in Essex, Gardner and Acton in Massachusetts; Merrimack, Burlwood, Amherst, Wolfeboro, the Concord Highway Hotel and others in New Hampshire; Ludlow, Essex Junction and Rutland in Vermont; and Glens Falls, New York?
Mabel and George are gone but not forgotten by the remaining old-time dealers. †Mr & Mrs Raymond DeRocher, soon-to-be old-time dealers.