Interested in collecting Bossons for over 40 years, Don  Hardisty's first Bossons was PUNJABI. Annual holidays and special events were then celebrated with more Bossons gifts. Finally, to obtain all the current Bossons available at that time from the only local gift shop selling Bossons in Las Cruces and the surrounding Mesilla Valley, New Mexico, Don was given a cooperative nod from his wife, Barbara, to purchase all the remaining current issues as a special reward for being promoted to full professor of music at New Mexico State University (NMSU) in 1979. At that time, Don's collection of Bossons numbered about 40.

Since then he has been challenged to collect every BOSSONS, including every Fraser-Art produced, but because he wanted his own collection to be perfect in every respect, he needed to learn as much as possible about restoring gypsum plaster artworks. The research and study are a labor of love. Though new discoveries are being made everyday, according to current knowledge, there are only a dozen or so Bossons, including Fraser-Art, left until the personal collection is complete.

While working diligently to learn more about Bossons artware and build his personal collection of Bossons and Hummels (and a certified collection of Morgan Dollars), he and Barbara officially opened Don's Collectibles in 1986. It is exclusively a mail-order business.

During those years Don continued his work at New Mexico State University (NMSU). Don taught undergraduate and graduate music classes and performed regularly as bassoonist in local symphonies and opera productions.  Don holds Bachelors and Masters Degrees from the University of Montana, Missoula, and Doctor of Music Arts Degree from Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, NY, (1969). Don retired from full-time teaching at NMSU in 1994 as Professor Emeritus of Music. However, he continued to perform principal bassoon in the Las Cruces Sumphony until 1998. Several of his outstanding basoon students continue to perform in the symphony.

Also during these years he also held several teaching positions in music to include leadership positions in the Music Educators National Conference, Southwest Music Educators Association, President of New Mexico Music Educators Association, Chairman of the New Mexico Alliance for the Arts in Education, and President of the New Mexico Music Teachers Association. In addition to two years as President, for eight years he served as newsmagazine Editor, and later Executive Administrator of the Association of Concert Bands of America. 

As a recognized authority in the field of bassoon reed construction with his patented Video Instruction Series:  "Triple Crow Bassoon Reeds," Don was fortunate to be guest lecturer on this subject at a number of conventions and Universities, including the University of Edinburgh, Scotland (1980), and University of Graz, Austria in 1984. (References to this subject and subsequent publications from his Doctoral Disseration: Collection of Original and Transcribed Rounds for Bassoon,  Eastman School of Music (1969),  are detailed in the International Double Reed Society (IDRS) internet links.

From its inception in 1980, Don has supported and promoted the International Bossons Collectors Society (IBCS). He has contributed numerous pictures, articles and research findings about Bossons (Fraser-Art, Bossons Ivorex, Briar Rose) which are included in Book II (1994) of the "Imagical World of Bossons" by Dr. Robert E. Davis, and released in the BOSSONS BRIEFS, quarterly publication of the IBCS. In financial support of the IBCS, and build one of the most distinctive Bossons collection known today, Don purchased at IBCS convention auctions the following Bossons signed by Ray Bossons, Jane Bossons (his daughter), and Mrs. Alice Brindley: Desert Storm Fighter Pilot, Mountie, the original Liechtensteiner, Fisherman, Laplander, Squire, Doctor Watson, Fly Fisherman, Bears and Bees (Fraser-Art), York (two editions), Aviator, Mozart, Miner, Jolly Tar, Robin Hood, Shepherd and Dog, Golfer, King Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, Catherine of Aragon, Sherlock Holmes, Guardsman, Victorian Bobby, Col. Custer & Chief Sitting Bull, Officier-Trompette and Grenadier (mounted on plaques), Figian, Capt. Pierre Le Grand, Zapata, Sir Lancelot, Himalayan, Cossack and others. Additionally his private collection also contains personally signed Bossons from Mrs. Alice Brindley, Resident Modeler and Art Director for Bossons, 1977-1995. Don assisted in the research and development of two Bossons Characters: Zapata (1991) and Engineer (1992). Both Ray Bossons and Alice Brindley presented him a signed gift of these two Bossons. One of the last Bossons to have ever been produced (but not released or distributed) entitled "CRICKETER" (c) 1995 Bossons England, Sculpted by Alice Brindley, was a special gift from Mrs. Brindley.

CRICKETER

Beginning at the first Annual meeting in 1986,  Don has given the following lectures and demonstrations at meetings of the International Bossons Collectors Society:

1986-Atlanta, GA - "Restoration Techniques for Bossons Artware: A Demonstration Clinic"

1988-Atlanta, GA - "Artistic Excellence in Bossons Artware: Those Fantastic Bossons (one Veiled Caspian Woman, two Bengalis and Six Snake Charmers)"

1990-New Orleans, LA - "Relative Rarity of Discontinued Bossons in North America: A Market Tested Listing and Rarity Scale"

1992-Orlando, FL - "Artistic Restoration: Beauty and Distinction Within the Imagical World of Bossons: A Pictorial Demonstration"

1993-Victoria, B. C., - "Bossons Look-a-Like, Fakes and Rarest of the Rare from an Artistic Perspective"

1996-Baltimore, MD - "Discoveries, Copyrights, Incisions & Formations in Bossons Artware"

1997-Burbank, CA - "Hands-On Cleaning of Bossons With Don," followed by Professional Cleaning: Lecture/slide demonstration

1999-Seattle, WA - "Authenticating Your Bossons: New Structural, Maker, and Copyright findings

2000-Tampa, FL - "The Wonderful World of Bossons in Sight and Sound" A World Tour of Countries Represented by the Rarest Bossons Known Today, Accompanied by Music and Dialogue.

2002-Phoenix, AZ - "Bossons Creation of Engineer, Zapata, and Recent Discoveries of Rare Bossons."

2003-San Antonio, TX- "San Antonio Rose Meets Friends & Enemies" The cherished and extremely rare "Rosa" from 'The Child Studies' and her other 'friends' (other magnificent Bossons) were compared through a pictorial study of fakes and fraudulent figures often sold on the internet as Bossons.

2004-Orlando, FL- "Discriminating Bossons Collecting:"  The Wonderful World of Bossons-2004 Edition, including some of the rarest Bossons known today.

2007-Burlington, VT- "My Life As A Collector" Traces Don's collecting activites from the age of one year through to the present. The 35 minutes iMovie was presented on DVD and includes all facits of his collecting including the 1984 visit to Bossons, the rarest Bossons known today and Don's collections of Minerals, Hummels, and rare coins.

2008-Omagh, Northern Ireland "Don's Bossons Reflectibles"  Another 25-minutes DVD presentation 'down Bossons memory lane'. In flashbacks and in real time, Don reflects on his many experiences in collecting Bossons. In advance of his traveling adventures back to the UK and return visits to Congleton, he meets with several Bossons friends including Jackie Brindley Thomas (Alice Brindley's daughter), Richard Bossons (Ray's Son), and Kevin and Ruth Phipps (see his web site). They take him to many places emortalized in Bossons plaques such as Warwick and Windsor Castles, Up-and-Down Along Clovelley, Ship Porlock, the beautiful river Thames, and then on to Ireland for the IBCS meeting. 

2009-Irving, TX- "England and Ireland Revisited" with the 2008 Cast: Carol and Charles Nike (Birmingham), Jackie Brinley Thomas and Barbara Potts (Congleton),  Richard Bossons (Henley-on-Thames), and Kevin and Ruth Phipps (Bristol, England). All the above detailed for 2008, plus visits to twelve points of interest as shown on the "Pen and Ink Drawing of the Borough of Congleton" by Ray Bossons as immortalized in Bossons Plaques; visit to the Congleton Museum where the original Bossons signs from the Old Mill are displayed; pictures from the home of Ken and Barbara Potts showing many rare Bossons; the 1964 "Pathe Movie" production of Ray Bossons, Fred Wright and Ken Potts working at Bossons;  finally, activities at the IBCS meeting in Omagh, Northern Ireland: the auction, banquet, costime party, all hosted by Frank and Gretta O'Neil with a visit to their home and viewing of their extensive collection of Bossons; all included in a 48-minute iMovie DVD including sound co-ordinated with inspirational background music.

2012-Sacramento, CA  "Rosa Travels the Imagical World of Bossons" with her friends including Captain Whozhe and his magic carpet, the four traveling Disney Characters of Bossons pottery including Mickie, Minnie, Donald Duck, and Goofy (they serve as Tour Guides. The 42-minute DVD produced in iMovie '11 format on a 27-inch Mac  was inspired by the following music: Dvorak "Symphony #9 New World"; Bach/Gounod "Ave Maria" "That Old Black Magic" with Frank Sinatra; "Got A Black Magic Women" with Carlos Santana; Celine Dion singing "Over The Rainbow" from Wizrd of Oz and "I Will Show You The World: from Aladdin; "Oh Baby Baby with Brittnehy Spears, James Galway playing "Belfast Hornpipe"; Tiki Tki Tki Room from Disney World; and Nat King Cole leading a Sing-a-Long of "Ramblin' Rose."  The group travels to Congelton and visits "people" who made them including the Bossons creations of Doris Condliffe, Fred Wright, Alice Brindley and Ray Bossons who had invited Don to be his guest at the factory in 1984. Major Bossons works from Don's personal collection are featured in HD digital colored projection. The show ends with a UTube short movie of a wildlife study done in the UK of an Osprey fishing in its natural environment. It is a recapitulation of the earlier showing of Don's OSPREY ON WAVE, a rare Bossons prototype from his collection. In addition to the three Child Studies with Rosa taking a leading role, Mimi, and Pony Girl  are worked into the story along with all the rare Bossons Caspian Woman, Black Woman (Sophie Shelf & Nigerian Woman), Red Lady and Mexican Senorita. They are escorted to the final Osprey movie by Zapata and the Yellow Kurd, preceeded by the triumphant entrance of Queen Elizabeth herself guarded by the fifteen French and English Bossons Military Masks.
THE DVD SHOW IS AVAILABLE  ON LOAN FROM DON upon request.  (5-9-12)

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