The great Philly quest

When this column is published on Oct. 4, I should have just returned from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Let me tell you how this eastward trek came about.

My wife and I have collected antique furniture since 1971 and our house is filled with 18th and early 19th century furniture, though as such things go, our pieces are not very fancy. But all those who collect are similar in some ways: There’s alwa...