By Carol Sims

Interesting tools, clothing, furnishings and family heirlooms were brought to every corner of our developing country as settlers created new towns and cities in every wilderness, territory, and state. It makes sense that today there are people in those same out-of-the-way places that have excellent antiques to offer.

The 2000 edition of Leggett’s Antiques Atlas by Kim and David Leggett will tell you exactly how to find those out-of-the-way places, as well as shows, malls, auctions, and flea markets. The atlas is chock full of practical advice on where to stay, where to eat, who to talk to, and most importantly, where to shop.

  For the first time the Leggetts have divided the atlas into two editions, East and West, using the Mississippi as the dividing line. This is very helpful for collectors who shop primarily in one side of the country or the other, or for travelers who want to keep lightly packed. The volumes are sold separately, but serious antiquers will probably want both anyway.

As with their past editions, the Leggetts have included a map of each state, with the locations of all of the sites to visit indicated numerically. The text portion of each state segment lists towns and cities in alphabetical order. This might sound confusing, but the system is easy to follow and understand.

The authors based their information in part on 53,000 questionnaires sent to antiques shops and markets throughout the country. This is the most comprehensive guide to antiquing in the United States. The Eastern edition has over 9,000 antiques stores, malls, shows, and auctions, and the Western edition has 7,500. At the back of each volume the authors list the largest malls in each state, some with dozens of dealers, and others with hundreds.

The authors have provided much more than a dry listing of businesses. The real draw is the assorted tidbits of history and legend that the locals (and the Leggetts) can tell you about. There are even a number of ghost stories sprinkled throughout the pages.

These books are fun to pick up and read. For example, in the Western edition, the famous Bird Cage Theatre in Tombstone, Ariz., site of the world’s longest poker game, 16 gunfights, and the meeting place for Wyatt Earp and his third wife Sadie Marcus, is alluringly described.

These are good books to help you plan a trip and keep you headed towards antiques. Don’t be surprised if you find them interesting enough to browse in the comfort of your home.