Bruce from Virginia called us recently, telling of his experience at a local garage sale. He paid $25 for an old walnut-cased shelf clock a gilt Statue of Liberty and the word “Liberty” on the glass front. Checking the Worthopedia, he found the exact same clock that sold at Cowan’s Auctions in Cincinnati for $747.50 in 2005.

The fact that WorthPoint is an Internet company will not come as a surprise to you; it is my guess that you are reading this on a computer or tablet or, maybe—if your eyes are strong—a smart phone. As such, most of our communication with our members is through the computer. But we do sometimes receive phone calls from WorthPoint users, often because they wanted to tell us, first-hand, how we were able to help them identify and value their items.

John, from Ohio, called to tell us the story of his great find. He and his brother- in-law were cleaning out an old warehouse office and about to throw out a bunch of old junk. But there was an old, hand-operated printing press that caught his eye, so instead of heaping it into the Dumpster with the rest of the garbage, John decided there might be some value to it, so they loaded it up and took it home. He said the thing wasn’t granted a permanent reprieve; if he couldn’t figure out what it was, it would make its way to the Dumpster to join the rest of the office flotsam and jetsam.

Later, after looking up in the Worthopedia, John was able to identify the piece as a Chandler Price Pilot Off-Set Printing Press, and even better than just recognizing the piece, an example just like the one he and his brother-in-law saved had sold earlier last year for $3,000 on eBay.

John said he just wanted to call thank us for helping him figure out what he had.

A Statue of Liberty Garage Sale Steal

Bruce from Virginia also called us recently, telling us of his experience at a local garage sale. He spotted an old walnut-cased shelf clock a gilt Statue of Liberty and the word “Liberty” on the glass front. He liked the look of the clock, so he dropped $25 for it.

Later, after logging into his account and checking the Worthopedia, he found the exact same clock that sold at Cowan’s Auctions in Cincinnati for $747.50 in 2005.

The Lost Secret of the Osmond Brothers’ Mother’s Meat Loaf

Finally, Beth from Florida told us about how she had an “Osmond Brothers’ Mother’s Cookbook” Her mother had passed the book down to her and she loved the recipes in the book. But the cook book went missing after she moved into a new house and was distraught at the loss. Later, she couldn’t believe her luck when she actually found another one at a thrift store.

The recipes were collected by Olive Osmond, the matriarch of the Osmond family, and each recipe was “hand-written” inspirational sayings written on the other side. Having secured a replacement cook book, Beth looked it up in the Worthopedia to see what, if anything it might be worth. To her amazement, a third copy of the cookbook brought $105 when it sold on eBay in 2008.

Beth from Florida told us about how she had an “Osmond Brothers Mothers Cookbook” but lost it in a move.

After she found a replacement in a thrift store, Beth found that a third example of the cookbook sold for more than $100.

Even better than knowing the cookbook has a certain monetary value, what she really called to tell us was that in her original cookbook, the page with the recipe for the Osmond meatloaf was partially missing, so she always had to free-style that one a bit. Now she had the complete recipe.

While she was excited that she only paid a few dollars for the replacement cookbook, and knowing she might be able to secure up to $100 if she tried to sell it, Beth said she would never part with it again.

When you make a purchase or find something hidden in your attic, you are successfully able to identify it and it turns out that it’s a really good find, it’s only natural to want to crow about it. So if you need to give us a call to brag on yourself, well, we understand.

Happy hunting.

Gregory Watkins is the editor of WorthPoint.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Cue the heavy metal; switch to monster truck announcer voice. Well, get ready for the 2012 version of grandma’s Antiques Roadshow: “Market Wars!” A new competition series from the producers of Antiques Roadshow, Market Wars will give you a bare-knuckles business of scoring a bargain. In each one-hour episode, professional antiques dealers put their reputations on the line—as they’re pitted against the clock, a budget and each other—and embark on nationwide treasure hunts, scouring flea markets and antiques shops for vintage valuables. The goal: to score the biggest profit in each show’s final auction segment.

This new 20-episode series, to air on PBS this summer and fall, will pit four antiques professionals in a head-to-head competition, foraging for items and taking them to auction. Each episode will follow the experts on their pursuits, highlighting the marvels that different areas of the country can offer the intrepid antiques hunter. The expert who makes the highest total profit at auction in each episode is named the winner, earning bragging rights for toppling his peers.

According to the press release, we will be able to watch as the pros pull out their best tactics from their bags of tricks and try to knock out their opposition. “With affectionate humor, ‘Market Wars’ follows the combatants, gleaning the best tactics from the battlefield and arming viewers to pursue their own successful treasure hunts.”

“ ‘Antiques Roadshow’ has been the leader in the popular antiques and collectibles genre for a long time,” said Marsha Bemko, the show’s executive producer. “ ‘Market Wars’ turns its lens on the antiques experts themselves and the real, rough-and-tumble competition they face in the marketplace.”

Hoping to use AR as a lead-in, “Market Wars” will follow the old antiques show warhorse on Monday nights.

“PBS continues to implement our primetime strategy to combine new shows with popular, like-minded content,” said John F. Wilson, senior vice president & chief TV programming executive. “We’ve had great success pairing natural history and science programming on Wednesday nights. We’re confident that teaming ‘Market Wars’ with ‘Antiques Roadshow’ will even more firmly anchor Monday nights as a popular viewing destination for exploration and history.”

With a pedigree that features the “Antiques Roadshow,” this production company may be able to combine the fascination of the history of the piece with the amazement of value and the wheeler-dealer abilities of the contestants to get these items on the cheap. Those are the necessary elements in a winning antique television show model.

Many of the spin-offs and clones that have come out this year that have failed—most noticeably (and deservedly)—being NBC’s “It’s WorthWhat?” Shows that tease at being about the antiques themselves, only to pander to the exorbitant prices and showbiz glitz fail (and they are often made exactly this way because they are nothing more than summer schedule filler and end up just more crappy flotsam in the sea of canceled TV. Those programs that honor the pieces themselves, on the other hand, and explain why they are rare or fascinating or historically relevant, are the ones that antique buffs want to watch, and thereby, succeed.

Gregory Watkins is the editor of WorthPoint.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Would this collection of Converse shoes make the cut for "My Obsessive Collection" television show?

What about this collection of action figures?

A collection of pens?

Is collecting a part of your daily life?

Are parts of your collection in every room of your house?

Do you have unique and special objects that you are extremely proud of?

Finally, do you want to show off your collection on national cable television?

The producers of “My Collection Obsession,” which will air on a national cable network, are currently looking for serious and dedicated collectors of all kinds who could appear on the show.

But fair warning: MCO is not looking for your average collector who has their pieces displayed on the mantle or in a few curio cabinets. Oh, no. They are looking for the collector on steroids, who devotes just about every waking hour on the hunt for new or elusive additions or in the spent in the service of the collection. The collectors the producers are looking for live, eat and sleep their collections.

So, do you have it in you? Can you make the cut? Interested collectors must meet the following three requirements:

• Collectors must reside within the United States, U.S. territories or Canada.
• Your collection must either be truly grand in scale, extremely unique or rare or have an amazing back story.
• Collecting must be part of your lifestyle, not just a small side hobby.

If interested, please send a description of what you collect, and why and how you do so to mycollectionobsession [at] gmail [dot] com. Please also include any photos, articles or videos that will help us assess the extent of your collection. All submissions will be kept for internal use only.

Gregory Watkins is the editor of WorthPoint.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

“Net Profits,” which focuses on maximizing net profits when buying and selling online, reaches 10,000 to 12,000 listeners in and around Indianapolis.

Rich Redstone, the host, provides useful tips and information about the art of buying and selling online, including the correct and most efficient ways to buy and sell on the internet (eBay & Craigslist) and maximizing profits. Redstone usually has industry guests on the show, and on Saturday, he will ask Seippel about how he became involved in the Internet industry, why he established WorthPoint , what he collects and how WorthPoint and sister company GoAntiques can help listeners monetize their collectibles. Redstone also owns SellMeYourCollectibles.com.

“Net Profits” is a call-in show, so this is a fantastic opportunity to call and ask Will about antiques, collecting and how you can use WorthPoint to your advantage. Call in live to the radio show at 317.228.1430 or toll free at 866.440.1430.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Hollywood westerns icon John Wayne’s costumes, documents, awards and other memorabilia from the John Wayne Foundation will offer to fans in a public auction to be conducted by Heritage Auctions in Los Angeles in October 2011.

LOS ANGELES — Saddle up, Pilgrim, and move out. Fans of Hollywood icon John Wayne will want to be at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on Oct. 6 and 7 to put in bids on cowboy hats, costumes, boots and scripts from John Wayne’s estate.

More than 700 personal and professional items—including an eye patch and hat Wayne wore in his Golden Globe-winning performances as the character Rooster Cogburn—will be sold through Heritage Auction Galleries. Public exhibitions are planned in Dallas (Sept. 16-18) and New York (Sept. 23-25).

The Nudie’s cowboy hat Wayne wore in “Rooster Cogburn” the 1975 follow-up to “True Grit.” Wayne portrayed the title character in the film that co-starred Katharine Hepburn. The presale estimate for this hat is between $30,000 and $40,000.

John Wayne is most widely known as the definitive Hollywood cowboy, although he played several types of roles throughout his career. He died of cancer in 1979 at the age of 72, but his popularity remains unequaled, as he was listed as America’s third-favorite actor behind Johnny Deppand Denzel Washington in a Harris poll released earlier this year.

Ethan Wayne, an actor and stuntman and the youngest of Wayne’s sons, heads up John Wayne Enterprises in California, is planning the first single-owner auction from Wayne’s personal collection. He said it was tough selecting which items to auction off.

“My father’s fans were very important to him. He was open and accessible to them, and making these items accessible to the public is something that feels right,” said Ethan Wayne. “Museums have large collections of my father’s personal property, and our family has had a chance to select and keep items sentimental to us. There is no need to keep this memorabilia locked away when it can be enjoyed by his fans.”

“The John Wayne collection is a time capsule of classic Hollywood and U.S. history that has remained carefully preserved by his family since John Wayne died 32 years ago,” said Greg Rohan, president of Heritage Auctions. “We anticipate attracting a wide range of people to the auction, from serious collectors and loyal fans to movie fans and the simply curious.”

John Wayne Enterprises, which is owned by the Wayne’s children and grandchildren and whose primary mission is to preserve and protect the image of the larger-than-life movie star. This large collection of the actor’s movie memorabilia that will cross the auctioneer’s block is not the entire contents of the auction.

One of the eye patches John Wayne wore in his award-winning role as Rooster Cogburn in the 1969 film, “True Grit.” The patch is expected to earn at least $4,250.

Ethan Wayne told the Los Angeles Times, “No matter what you do, someone is going to be looking over your shoulder saying that it’s great that you are allowing it to go and another person is saying that it’s horrible, how can you do that? Yes, the Golden Globe is going but the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Oscar are not going. We are keeping some scripts and letting some go.”

Wayne won the Best Leading Actor Oscar as the crotchety, one-eyed marshal Rooster Cogburn in 1969’s “True Grit,” and starred in some of the most classic films of the 20th century such as “Stagecoach” (1939), “Fort Apache” (1948), “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” (1949) and “The Quiet Man” (1952).

In addition to the “True Grit” hat and eye patch, other items to be auctions include the Golden Globe Wayne won for his role as Cogburn, a costume from “Sands of Iwo Jima” (1949, opening bid of $20,000); a Stetson cowboy hat from “Hondo” (1953, $25,000 opening bid) and a limited-edition signed print from Andy Warhol’s “Cowboys and Indians” series ($20,000 opening bid).

Fans and admirers of more modest means will also be able to participate in the auction, as several of the items will open in then $100 opening-big range, including the Duke’s American Express card from 1973 and other more mundane, yet unmistakably John Wayne-ish items, such as money clips and plaques and other honors given to America’s cowboy.

As John Wayne once said: “Nobody liked my acting but the public.” Now, the public will have a chance to own a little bit of the Duke.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Identical twin brothers Leigh and Leslie Keno of “Antiques Roadshow” fame are the hosts of Fox TV’s “Buried Treasure,” which has them traveling across the country trying to help ordinary people discover the unknown treasures in their homes.

Following on the heels of NBC’s antiques and collectibles game show, “It’s Worth What?,” Fox TV is going to try it’s luck with “Buried Treasure,” which premiered earlier this week. Based on the talent, “Buried Treasure” may stand a chance to survive, but based in the number of people who watched the first episode, the show may simply be buried.

“Buried Treasure” combines two popular reality televisions genres—antiques and collectibles shows and programs about people who hoard things—and two popular antiques and collectibles experts, identical twin brothers Leigh and Leslie Keno of “Antiques Roadshow” fame. “Buried Treasure” has the Kenos traveling across the country trying to help ordinary people discover the unknown treasures in their homes, employing both high-tech and low-tech in their endeavors. When they have their “eureka moment”—when the dig up something that has value—the owner then has to decide whether to sell the piece to help them out of some terrible financial circumstance.

Ah, but these people are hoarders, remember, and getting someone like this to part with anything—from hundreds of those little plastic devices that keep pizzas from being crushed in the delivery boxes, let alone a doohickey that could net them $500,000—is nigh-on impossible.

According to media releases, some people with have actual treasures, such as a rare, 300-year-old violin, while others times the brothers’ treasure hunting will simply turn up trash.

You can watch the trailer here.

When it debuted on Tuesday evening (Aug. 24), “Buried Treasure” drew 3.65 million viewers, which sounds like a lot, but in television ratings speak, it scored only 1.0 for adults in the 18-49 demographic. If it doesn’t draw better in coming weeks, “Buried Treasure” will simply be buried.

‘It’s Worth What?’ Painful to Watch

I watched the first couple episodes of NBC’s antiques and collectibles game show “It’s Worth What?” and realized why something like “Storage Wars” or the venerable “Antiques Roadshow” works and network attempts fail.

“It’s Worth What?” has all the production value and glitz anyone could want in a show like this. Unfortunately, for those of us starved for the stories behind the antiques and collectible, this show is nothing but empty calories. Throw in some truly obnoxious and annoying contestants, and it’s unwatchable.

Cedric the Entertainer, the show’s emcee, was bearable as a Budweiser pitchman, but on “It’s Worth What?” he grates, which is an understatement. Having him yell out the show’s name before revealing the value of every single item on the show is beyond torture.

For those of you lucky enough not to have seen it, Cedric introduces a series of old and supposedly interesting items, provides no real background, and asks a two-person team of contestants to guess which is worth more: “Is this gizmo, that was once owned by so-and-so celebrity, worth more than this platinum-plated thingamajig?”

If you are like me, you watch these shows to learn a little something about the items being discussed. Imaging looking through an auction catalog that was filled with beautiful photographs, but the captions were simply labels, telling you that this gorgeous watch is a “watch.” You’d end up getting more and more frustrated the longer your flipped through the pages. Watching “It’s Worth What?” is exactly like that, only with someone dragging their fingernails down a chalkboard in the background.

Gregory Watkins is the editor of WorthPoint.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

“It’s Worth What?,” to be hosted by Cedric the Entertainer, is slated to premier on Tuesday, July 19 at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Central Time).

If something works on television, you’re sure to see impersonators all over the airwaves. This is certainly true for antiques and collectibles shows, as antiques TV warhorse “Antiques Roadshow” has been followed by the likes of the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars” and “American Pickers” and Spike TV’s “Auction Hunters.” Now, at least one of the networks is getting into the act.

NBC is joining the antiques and collectibles television competition with a game show called

“It’s Worth What?” slated to premier on Tuesday, July 19 at 8 p.m. (7 p.m. Central Time). To be hosted by Cedric the Entertainer—the Budweiser pitchman who is co-starring in the upcoming Tom Hanks movie “Larry Crowne”—the show’s website teases with the following question: “What’s worth more? An appearance by “The Situation” or the world’s most expensive M&M? Makes you really start to wonder, doesn’t it?”

Well, yeah, I do have some wondering about the show that “taps into America’s curiosity with cost and value.”

I wonder if it will work. It looks to be something like a cross between several current game shows, in which two contestants have to consider disparate items and decide their prices. If one maneuvers through the six levels, the payout could be $1 million. But what pricy items do “It’s Worth What?” producers believe will keep a short-attention-span audience tuned in? If they are truly looking for art, antiques and collectibles fans, I don’t believe they’ve chosen wisely. How many of you even know “The Situation” is a person?

For those of us who enjoy “Antiques Roadshow,” et al, we like looking at old, interesting stuff and the vicarious thrill of finding out that the old thing that’s been on the mantle for years turns out to be worth more than the whole house. This new show, though, is described thusly:

“Through set imagery and a never-ending flow of collectibles, antiques and near-priceless treasures, America is brought into a world of doors, behind which are various objects ranging from a life-size White House replica to William Shatner’s kidney stone that was auctioned off for charity . . .”

For as funny as Shatner is (in his post-Star Trek, self-parodying commercials among his other current gigs), I’m thinking his kidney stone isn’t going to set the collectible world on fire. Other than a weird interest in what some über-Trekkie with too much cash on hand would pay for it, who cares? I guess we’ll see . . . if we watch it.

“It’s Worth What?”
NBC
Series Premiere, Tuesday July 19, 8/7c

Gregory Watkins is the editor of WorthPoint.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Which makes the current batch of antiques and collectibles television shows so nice: you can flip through the channels and if you land on one of them, you can watch it for five minutes or the whole episode. There is not plot to follow and more often than not, what they are talking about is usually pretty darned interesting.

If you had been channel surfing through the reality cable channels recently, you might have come across these shows and items:

Cash and Cari
Cari Cucksey, estate liquidator and host of HGTV’s “Cash and Cari,” is followed by cameras as she digs out hidden treasures while helping people with their estate sales. In a recent episode, Cari was working closer to home—handling her grandparents’ estate.

Some of the items she found—which could be in just about everyone’s grandmother’s house—can be identified by matching them to items in the WorthPoint Worthpedia:

Metlox China Set

Metlox China Set

Swinging Butter Churn

Swinging Butter Churn

Cambridge Rose Point Glassware

Cambridge Rose Point Glassware

American Pickers
Meanwhile, on the History Channel’s American Pickers, Mike and Frank pull out some gas station sings and a piece that any firefighting memorabilia collector would want. Mike bought two of these signs for $475, and while this helmet is not the exact same model, it is representative of the type.

Shell Gas Sign

Shell Gas Sign

Leather Firefighters Helmet

Leather Firefighters Helmet

PawnStars
On the other History Channel hit—Pawn Stars—The following items came into the show; their owners hoping to score a big payout.

Cast Iron Uncle Sam Coin Bank

Cast Iron Uncle Sam Coin Bank

1942 Chicago Bears Autographed Team Photo (The guy on the show had an autographed football by this same team)

1942 Chicago Bears Autographed Team Photo

Officer’s Commission from the Revolutionary War

Officer’s Commission from the Revolutionary War

Authentic Playboy Bunny Uniform

Authentic Playboy Bunny Uniform

Auction Hunters

On Spike TV’s Auction Hunters, is Tom and Allen storage unit buy going to be music to their ears?

Thomas Edison Gramophone

Thomas Edison Gramophone

So, what are your watching habits? Do you know which nights these shows are on and make plans to watch, or do you play antiques TV roulette?

Gregory Watkins is the editor of WorthPoint.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

 

 

 

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Katsushika Hokusai's (1760-1849) famous print, “The Great Wave of Kanagawa.” The people of Japan have faced countless earthquakes and tsunamis during their history. In Shintoism, nature is recognized as infinitely more powerful than humankind—as in the wave—and that humankind is in nature with the permission of the gods but with no particular concern from the gods.

WorthPoint Worthologist David Pike—who specializes in Japanese and Asian antique and collectible items, including porcelain—lives in Nara Prefecture, Japan. While he and his family were unaffected physically by the devastating earthquake and resulting tsunami, he is planning to do his part in helping the country rebuild by doing what he knows; he’s going to form, fire and donate porcelain tiles to be used for reconstruction.

He intends to make and deliver 500 tiles first and will make more if others donate funds to pay for materials.

“My idea is to provide a more personal way to give,” David said. “Other donation mechanisms are available, but this is one where there will be a physical remainder along with a cash gift.”

David, who has lived in Japan since 1994, says he is planning on creating 500 porcelain tiles first—to be fired in his two wood-fired kilns. “It would be nice to do many more, but I have to see how the first batch turns out and what kind of volume is needed. I have until the end of this month to prepare for the firing. Going into my studio is a lot easier since I know I’m doing something that feels like it will be of some use to others.”

An unfired tile. Worthologist David Pike plans to make at least 500 tiles to donate to a rebuilding effort.

The tiles measure, undried, 15 centimeters by 5 cm by 12 millimeters thick.

Nara Prefecture is landlocked with the nearest Eastern coastline more than an hour away. It was never in any danger from the tsunami. David says that while he doesn’t think even a book fell off a shelf in Nara during the earthquake, the local population is feeling the effects of the earthquake and tsunami.

“The mood of everyone I have talked to is one of shock, of sadness, and there is a feeling of disbelief at the failure of planning at the nuclear plants. In this area, called Kansai, there had been some calls for conservation of electricity, but it was pointed out that there is a difference in the electrical cycles between the eastern and western parts of the country. So even if this area wanted to send power to the east, it isn’t possible,” David says.

While he formulated his idea to create and donate porcelain tiles fairly quickly after the disaster, he hasn’t identified a specific area to make his donation. Anyone interested in making a donation to David’s project, you can e-mail him at david [at] davidmorrisonpike [dot] com. Additionally, several shops on arts web site Etsy.com, including David’s, will be donating a portion of sales to earthquake and tsunami relief efforts.

“I have tremendous respect for the Japanese people on the whole. They are hard working, honest, resilient,” David says. “These are a people who are tough and will rebuild. There have been no scenes of looting or other civil unrest. Hats off to them.”

You can follow David’s progress on his web site.

David Pike is a Worthologist who specializes in items from Japan, including porcelain.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

One of the new crop of shows is HGTV’s “Cash and Cari,” about estate liquidator Cari Cucksey, who uses the program to showcases her talent for finding hidden treasures in garages, attics, flea markets and anywhere else she can get a look.

Among the items Cari has recently uncovered are pieces that also show up in the WorthPoint Worthpedia (items pictured are similar to the ones featured on the various shows):

Bowling Alley Machine

1887 Elgin Pocket Watch

1946 Harley Davidson Knucklehead

Meanwhile, on the Discovery Channel’s “Auction Kings”—which showcases one of the country’s most storied auction houses, Gallery 63, in suburban Atlanta—owner Paul Brown and his crew get a new cashe of unique items every week. Some of the interesting and thought-provoking items to come through the door at Gallery 63 include:

WWI Boy Scout War Bonds Poster

Martin Luther King, Jr. signature

And on a recent “American Pickers” on the History Channel, the guys dug through a huge, deserted storage unit in New York City. Among the treasures they pulled from the jam-packed space were:

Carnival Banner by Fred Johnson

W.F. Mangels - Coney Island Kiddie Whip Car

The “Antiques Roadshow” on PBS always comes through with unknown riches, including a beauty like this:

Newcomb College Pottery Vase

Is there an item that you have seen on one of these shows that sticks with you? I remember one Roadshow episode when someone brought in an old engraved helmet found in the rafters of an old barn that turned out to be an Italian Renaissance-period parade helmet worth some $400,000. It’s enough to get you off your sofa and out looking for an old barn to search through.

Gregory Watkins is the editor of WorthPoint.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

In 1979, the granddaddy of antique shows—“Antiques Roadshow”—premiered on British television. At first, we here in the States were treated to reruns of the BBC version until 1997 when an American version of the show began airing. Now, well, you can flip through basic cable on most any evening and be treated to stories and images of fascinating pieces of history.

The “Roadshow” model is perfect for the sort of armchair suspense many of us love about the Great Find: A woman has brought some Prior-Hamblin School portraits that once belonged to great-granny. Who knew they were worth—“conservatively, at auction” of course—several thousands of dollars each.

Prior-Hamblin School portrait of a young child

Prior-Hamblin School portrait of a lady

Prior-Hamblin School portrait of a gentleman

Among the antiques and collectibles shows that are currently airing, the History Channel’s “Pawn Stars” and “American Pickers” has caught the attention of several WorthPoint readers, who have noticed that many of the rarities that pass through Rick Harrison’s Gold & Silver Pawn Shop in Las Vegas or a rusty, dusty piece of Americana dug out of the rafters of an Iowa barn by Mike Wolfe and his buddy Frank Fritz are also located in our Worthopedia.

“Pawn Stars” Items:

1940 WWII U.S. Navy Quartermaster 16 Power Spyglass

Kiss Pinball Machine

1861 $20 Liberty Gold Double Eagle

Howdy Doody Wonder Bread Ad

“American Pickers” Items:

1954 Schwinn Jaguar Bicycle

Hula Girl Lamp

Buick Radiator Cap/Hood Ornament

Antique Crescent Bike

There is now a new show on Spike TV called “Auction Hunters” that is all about the “Great Find” with a twist, as Allen Haff and “Ton” Jones “patrol the unique and exciting world of storage auctions.” Yeah, storage auctions . . . bidding to purchase the contents of storage lockers whose rent is in arrears and the owners have forfeited all that is inside. It premiered earlier this week, but a quick check shows that, yes, the stuff found in storage auctions can also be found in Worthopedia. For example, Allen and Ton picked up a Juki industrial sewing machine Episode 1similar to this one:

Juki Industrial Sewing Machine

So, what is the fascination with watching these shows? Do you race to identify and appraise the object in question before the experts show up or the pickers can settle on a price with Farmer Brown (after the commercial, of course)? There are many more shows dealing with art, antiques and collectibles… what are your favorites? Leave a comment at the bottom of this page… we’d love to know. Maybe we’re missing one that we need to see.

Gregory Watkins is the editor of WorthPoint.

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WorthPoint—Discover Your Hidden Wealth

Will Seippel, the founder, CEO and president of WorthPoint, recently discovered a pair of these 18th-century Sevres end pieces at an estate sale after many people passed them over, including a pair of expert appraisers, who tagged them at $125 each. Their true value is much, much more.

Just as the everyday collector hopes to come across a Great Find—an item bypassed by many, purchased for a pittance and worth thousands—experts can miss a valuable item staring them in the face.

Will Seippel, the founder, CEO and president of WorthPoint, recently had such an experience.

Will wanted to attend a private estate sale in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta, but circumstances—in this case a late flight back from Ohio—had delayed his arriving at the sale. By the time he got there, there were only minutes left before it closed for the day at 5 p.m.

“I thought I could get them to apply their second-day 50-percent-off discount early, if I found anything,” Will said.

But after briefly talking with the organizers of the sale, Will had learned that most of the estate’s pieces had been sold ealier in the day, prior to his arrival. Additionally, the sales company had hired two appraisers to help evaluate prices before the sale. So, he thought, finding anything worthwhile was going to be a longshot.

Still, Will decided to look over what was left. His eyes were immediately drawn to a pair of white porcelain pieces—each with four cherubs surrounding a pillar holding up a low bowl. He looked at the tags: $125 each.

He picked one up and turned it over: “I thought I recognized the mark on the bottom and knew immediately I had something.”

The pieces were early porcelain, 18th-century French, Will thought, judging by the irregular salt-glazed finish. They were also made in pieces and then combined into the final piece, as the “technology” did not exist in the early 1700’s to mold such intricate and large pieces in one mold.

A mark and the iron assembly helped to determine the identity of this circa 1740 Sevres end piece.

“They were also sophisticated in the detail and that the floral decoration is usually indicative of Meissen porcelain of the period, but the puttis/cherubs were typically French,” Will said. “The square iron bolts holding them together also dated them.”

What he had found, hiding in plain sight from all the experts and experienced buyers all day long, Will decided, were Sevres porcelain end pieces.

Still, he stood there for a few moments, blinking, because he couldn’t believe what he was holding.

Well, it was time to buy. Since it was 5 p.m. and the end of the first day sale, Will asked the persons conducting the sale to give him second-day pricing to save a trip back the next morning, and possibly waiting in line. He ended up with a very good deal, if not a textbook “Great Find.”

The sophistication in the detail and that the floral decoration is usually indicative of Meissen porcelain of the period, but the puttis/cherubs are typically French.

After getting his buy home, he called Thom Pattie, WorthPoint’s chief Worthologist, who, looking at photos send via e-mail, confirmed that Will had indeed made a good buy: the pieces were marked in an early Sevres mark and were made about 1740.

Wow, a pair of Sevres end pieces in great condition, acquired at a steal at $100, that are easily worth $1,000 to $3,000 each. This story only goes to show that when on the hunt for a Great Find, don’t disregard an item just because an “expert” passed on it.

Gregory Watkins is the editor of WorthPoint.com.

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So what, exactly, is a Big Find? It could be an item worth a fortune, bought for a pittance. But it might also be the last piece you need that would complete your collection, but until now, has eluded you. A Big Find, like beauty, it is in the eye of the beholder.

We’re kicking off this inaugural feature with a look back at one of our Worthologists’—Christopher Kent’s—story about his involvement in a Big Find, as well as a couple of articles about cool things we’ve seen recently from Ask a Worthologist and our Consignment and Brokering service.

In a genuine, can’t-believe-your-eyes Big Find, Christopher Kent relates a story about an early 19th-century tea caddy, a hidden compartment, a mother’s hidden sorrow and a hidden king’s ransom.

Great Antiques Find: Tea Caddy’s Secret

by Christopher Kent (09/11/08)

You get 10 Worthologists together under one roof with approximately 30 years each of experience, and I guarantee no matter how diverse their areas of specialty, they all have one thing in common: stories of the great Antiques and Collectibles find. Here’s one of mine. More >>

And in the Cool Things category, Worthologist Audra Blevins tells us about helping a WorthPoint member get what would be someone else’s Big Find at auction, while Maggie Turnipseed, our manager of Worthologists, tells us that Worthologist Liz Holderman recently evaluated this item for a member. It’s a Myriopticon—a Milton Bradley boxed toy created in 1868 that just might be the precursor to today’s home theaters.

Brokering Adventures: Royal Vienna Vase

by Audra Blevins (04/10/09)

. . . Linda reached into her bag and withdrew a carefully wrapped object that turned out to be a stunning porcelain vase. It stood nine inches tall and the background was a lovely iridescent emerald green, with alternating panels of flowers and blue jewels. There was a center medallion that had an exquisite hand-painted portrait of a Victorian woman with rosy cheeks and flowing hair. More >>

‘The Myriopticon, A Historical Panorama: Rebellion’

by Maggie Turnipseed (04/10/09)

The name “The Myriopticon, A Historical Panorama: Rebellion” is not one that rolls off the tongue very easily, and “Myriopticon” is a word very few of us have ever come across. But suppose you find yourself at a flea market and come across a cardboard box that sports the word Myriopticon,” and looks like it might contain an old game. Upon closer inspection, you find the name Milton Bradley printed on it, along with an inscription in pencil, dating the box from the 1860s. You’ve never seen anything like this, but the price is set at just a couple of dollars. What do you do? More >>

If you have a story about a big find, please leave a detailed comment below or send us an e-mail to news [at] worthpoint [dot] com telling your tale.

Ask a Worthologist

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X-Files Collectibles: The Truth Is Right Here

By Kevin Cook

With the recent release of “The X-Files: I Want To Believe” theatrical movie on DVD, there is renewed interest in the groundbreaking sci-fi series that ran for nine phenomenally popular seasons (1993-2002) on the Fox network and spawned a vast menagerie of cool collectibles.

X-Philes, as the show’s devotees are known, couldn’t get enough of the paranormal adventures of Fox “Spooky” Mulder, a maverick FBI agent who never met a government conspiracy or beastie he didn’t believe in, and his skeptical, by-the-book partner, Dana Scully. The merchandising blitz of “X-Files” collectibles let fans plumb the depths of the series’ beguiling mythology long after the credits rolled.

As a guide to completists who absolutely must have everything to do with the show—and this writer is one of you—WorthPoint presents this hall of fame of “X-Files” collectibles.

FIGURES: McFarlane Toys’ “The X-Files: Fight the Future” action figures were a tie-in to the first movie spin-off, a box office smash in 1998. Featuring serviceable likenesses of series stars David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson, figures include Mulder and Scully (in both FBI and arctic garb), Attack Alien and Primitive Man. These are common on eBay at bargain prices in mint-in-package condition. (Another “Fight the Future” tie-in, Mattel’s Barbie and Ken as Scully and Mulder, is creepier than anything ever seen on the show. Trust me.)

The incredibly lifelike, limited edition “X-Files” figures unveiled by Sideshow Collectibles in 2004 quickly sold out and are highly sought after in the collectible aftermarket. The 12-inch figures—including Mulder, Scully, Assistant Director Skinner, Cigarette Smoking Man and Krycek—boast 30 points of articulation and come with a slew of nifty accessories. View the entire line at Sideshow Collectibles.

In 1997, sculptor Randy Bowen created disturbingly realistic “X-Files” resin statues for Dark Horse Comics in homage to characters from two of the show’s most popular episodes: the flukeman from “The Host” and the abducted smoking alien from “Jose Chung’s ‘From Outer Space.’” These high-end “X-Files” collectibles can often be found online for considerably less than their original $125-$150 MSRP.

TRADING CARDS: Three companies have issued highly collectible “X-Files” trading cards: Topps (Seasons 1-3, “The X-Files: Fight the Future,” X-Files Showcase Widevision), Intrepid (X-Files Contact) and Inkworks (Seasons 4-9, X-Files Connections, “The X-Files: I Want To Believe”). While all are desirable, Inkworks’ products, including numerous autograph cards and Pieceworks™ cards (featuring actual cast-worn fragments of clothing) are absolutely, drop-dead gorgeous. More information, visit Inkworks’ site.

In 1996, USPC Games introduced “The X-Files” Collectible Card Game, which allowed X-Philes to “overcome conspiracies and governmental cover-ups as well as paranormal phenomena and supernatural activities as you attempt to solve the mysteries of ‘The X-Files.’”

BOOKS: The list of “X-Files” compendiums, exposés, scientific tomes, biographies and novelizations would fill a small library. Notable original “X-Files” novels include: Kevin J. Anderson’s three bestsellers, “Ground Zero,” “Ruins,” “Antibodies” and Charles Grant’s “Goblins” and “Whirlwind.”

Nonfiction standouts: “The Unofficial X-Files Companion” by N.E. Genge, “The X-Files Book of the Unexplained” (volumes one and two) by Jane Goldman and, last but not least, “The Complete X-Files: Behind the Series, the Myths, and the Movies,” a definitive guide (published in 2008) by Matt Hurwitz, lavishly illustrated and featuring scads of bonus pullouts.

MAGAZINES: During the program’s heyday, the sultry mugs of Duchovny and Anderson peered out from the covers of just about every mainstream magazine from “GQ” to “Vanity Fair,” with “TV Guide” and “Entertainment Weekly” devoting countless features to the series. Memorable parodies appeared in “Mad” and “Cracked,” and the erudite British magazine, “Fortean Times,” delightfully examined the show’s mythos with a cocked eyebrow and tongue firmly in cheek. The most infamous—and arguably, most collectible—“X-Files” mag is the May 16, 1996 issue of “Rolling Stone,” with Duchovny and Anderson cuddling in the buff on the cover and series creator Chris Carter joining the stars inside for a photographic ménage à trois.

The quarterly “The X-Files Official Magazine” bowed in the spring of 1997 and enjoyed a long run of feature-filled, graphically stunning issues.

COMIC BOOKS: Featuring original stories and adaptations of series episodes, Topps Comics published 41 issues and two annuals of “The X-Files,” all with cover art by Miran Kim and interior art by Charles Adlard, Gordon Purcell and Alex Saviuk. The current, 38th edition of the Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide values the premiere issue at $30 in near-mint condition. Topps collected the first 12 issues of the comic in a pair of trade paperbacks with Checker Book Publishing gathering issues 13 through 26 in a three-volume paperback series.

In July 2008, DC Comics/Wildstorm released “The X-Files #0,” which segued into an “X-Files” miniseries with moody art (several notches above the Topps series) by Brian Denham and scripts by series alumnus Frank Spotnitz and comics legend Marv Wolfman.

WorthPoint—Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles

A Time for Opera

By Mark Peers

Welch, Spring & Co.’s Patti Series Clocks were named after opera singers and are called Patti clocks by collectors today. The three most popular Patti clocks today’s collectors seek are: the Patti V.P.; the Gerster V.P.; and the Cary V.P.

The Patti V.P. is named after the famous Victorian soprano prima donna, Adelina Patti (1843-1919). Born in Madrid, Spain, she moved to New York City with her parents in 1847. Ms. Patti was considered the most famous opera singer of her time and became rather well-to-do because of this. A short biography of Ms. Patti can be read here and even more here.

The Gerster V.P. clock is named after Hungarian soprano prima donna Etelka Gerster (1855-1920), who was considered Adeline Patti’s biggest rival. She lost her voice soon after having a child and began the Etelka Gerster music school. I found an autographed card with a photo of Ms. Gerster for $275.00

The Cary V.P. clocks namesake is Annie Louise Cary, an operatic contralto (1842-1921) who was born in Wayne, Me. Ms. Cary was considered to be he most famous American born singer of her time and was celebrated for her 3 octave range voice. You can read more about her here.

Welch, Spring & Co was formed in the 1868 and produced premium quality clocks until 1884. Nearly all of the clocks produced by Welch, Spring & Co were made of expensive rosewood. While a Victorian could buy a very nice American clock for about $7, the Patti clocks retailed at $15, which, I suspect, is why the company lasted only 16 years. The one thing all of the Patti series clocks have in common is the distinct mechanism. While most clocks manufactured in America during the period had two mainsprings: one for the time; and one for the strike train. The Patti mechanisms, though, employed four mainsprings, two for each the time and the strike. The movements were finely made and were a bit smaller than most others manufactured in the day. The pendulum used on the early Patti clocks is unique in the fact that it has a decorative Sandwich glass center. Similar Sandwich glass inserts are found in some Victorian period curtain tie backs.

Of the various Welch, Spring and Co Patti type shelf clock models, the Patti V.P. clock seems to be the most common, followed by the Gerster V.P and then the Cary V.P.. There was a tiny Patti V.P. #2 produced in low numbers that used a different mechanism than the larger Patti V.P. This clock is called the baby Patti by collectors today and is rather rare.

After E.N. Welch bought out the failing Welch, Spring and Co. in late 1884, the new owner took over the Patti line and added several models with the Patti style movements. These additions were the Judic, Eveline, Khedive, Norma, Nilsson, Scalchi, Victoria and the rare Ernani hanging model wall clock. Also, some less-fancy wood cabinet models, as well as enameled iron and marble cased clocks, were produced. Most of the Patti type clocks made by E.N. Welch Clock Co. did not use rosewood, but instead were made of polished mahogany or walnut. Mr. Elisha Welch was a patron of the arts, so it is no wonder many clocks made by the Welch clock companies were named after musicians, composers and singers.

All of the Patti series clocks are highly sought after by clock collectors today and command premium prices at auction and private sales. Originality is a major factor in determining value as well as desirability and rarity. Collectors look for the original glass with gold decoration, the original wooden pendulum leader, the original Sandwich glass pendulum, (reproductions of this pendulum are out there), the paper label on the back of the case and the flocked black paper inside on the back of the case. As with any antique clock, a somewhat worn original painted dial is always better to have than a replaced or repainted dial. Having the original movement is a must; always look for unexplained holes in the backboard and around the dial to determine if the clock has been modified.

Because of the beauty and value of the Patti series clock there have been reproductions made in the 1980s and are often seen in the online auction websites is the Gerster model. If you find a Patti clock and are unsure about its value or collectability, take lots of photos of it and ask WorthPoint!

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques and Collectibles

Goodbye Mr. Science Fiction,
Dr. Acula and the Sci-Fi Man

By Allan Maurer

Way back in 1957, at the advanced age of 10, I bought a 35-cent magazine at a small town drugstore’s magazine rack called Famous Monsters of Filmland, the second issue, edited by Forrest J. Ackerman, who died Dec. 4, 2008.

That magazine changed my life in more ways than one.

It replayed an incident in Ackerman’s own life, which he often retold. When about the same age as I was discovering FM, Forry saw an early copy of the world’s first science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories, on the newsstand in 1926. He described the moment this way: “It said take me home, little boy; you’ll love me.” And he did.

Forry became science fiction’s number-one fan, winning a Hugo (science fiction’s highest award) the first year they were presented as just that, the number-one fan. He coined the term “sci-fi,” which many people in the science fiction community dislike for its connotation of junky fantasy that is nothing like literary SF. But it caught on with the general public and press to such an extent that it’s firmly implanted now.

He called himself FJA and Dr. Acula, and others called him Mr. Science Fiction. He played cameo roles in films such as “The Howling,” and “The Time Travelers,” among many others.
Ackerman’s pun-crazed articles about horror and science fiction movies and their stars in FM were on the juvenile side, to say the least, but he illustrated them with an amazing assortment of stills, posters and artifacts from his own vast, 300,000-item collection. It sparked my own lust for movie memorabilia.

While I never did it for money, at least not for decades (I collect as an investment now as well as for pleasure), I never lost a penny on movie memorabilia. Even when I sold items for a tenth of what they would bring now, I made 10 times my own initial investment.

I recently bid on and won a linen-backed glossy still from Forry’s own collection, much of which he auctioned to pay legal and medical bills. It’s from Anne Bancroft’s only foray into the horror movie genre, “Gorilla at Large,” showing her held by said gorilla and has “Oh Forry, you tickle so,” written in Forry’s own hand (and also came with two other stills and his very own file folder). I paid $60 for it, and it was one of the less expensive items the dealer sold in that auction of stills from Forry’s files.

I particularly like it because it unites my substantial Anne Bancroft collection with my equally substantial collection of science fiction and horror movie collectibles, which range from posters, lobby cards and stills, to toys and assorted odds and ends. Not only that, I remember seeing that still in FM so many years ago, not least because of the adolescent excitement Bancroft’s figure stirred in me.

The connection to Ackerman’s FM, which as much as anything is responsible for my collecting in the first place, is equally pleasing to me. I met him several times at science fiction conventions over the years, shaking his hand, on which he wore one of his most prized collectibles, the Dracula ring that Bela Lugosi wore portraying the vampiric count. Forry’s legacy lives on in the work of many people in the science fiction, fantasy, and film worlds.

Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante, John Landis and many, many others loved his magazine and freely admitted Forry’s influence, and they’re only a few among thousands. I started my professional writing career publishing short stories in science fiction pulp magazines (Fantastic) and magazines about SF films (Starlog), and even when I moved up in the world to major national slick magazines, I published most often in OMNI, which ran both leading edge science stories and science fiction. Even my work for non-genre publications often covers SF subjects, from film and book reviews to assorted related topics.

Many of the obituaries of Ackerman note that he died without heirs. That’s not true. He had many thousands of heirs. I know, because I’m one.

Some links about Forry:

L.A. Times blog

The Wikipedia entry on Ackerman

His My Space Page

Lladró, creator of artistic porcelain sculptures, will be hosting a historic online auction, offering collectors an opportunity to bid on 14 special pieces carefully selected and signed by Juan Lladró, one of the three founding Lladró brothers. These pieces will immediately become high-value collectibles.

The auction will begin on Dec. 4 and run through Dec. 10, and participants will be able to make their bids online for a chance to own iconic pieces of the Spanish porcelain brand. The exact starting prices will be announced on Lladró´s Web site Dec. 4, but will range between $1,000 and $50,000.

“We have never had an auction like this. These are rare, sold-out limited editions, and all are signed by Juan Lladró—the eldest of the three founding brothers—who is retired and does no longer attend shows or signings,” said Gemma Cortijo, marketing manager for Lladró. Cortijo said that Lladró was offering this auction as a new way for buyers to acquire these special figurines, possibly as a holiday gift for a Lladró enthusiast.

All of the 14 sculptures that are up for auction are exclusive limited editions, including “Allegory to the peace,” which the company calls “a sculpture so special it was never introduced or available for sale.” The first one was presented to German politician, journalist and Nobel Peace Price recipient Willy Brandt in 1971. Others were later given to Pope Paul VI and President Ronald Reagan.

Additionally, all auction bidders will be entered into a raffle to win a Christmas gift, the sculpture “Beautiful angel,” a Lladró creation that “expresses the eternal hope and humanity of the holiday season.” It has a retail value of $510.

Lladró Auction Process

Those wishing to bid on items in the auction will have to register on the Lladró Web site and agree to the terms and conditions of the auction before being able to participate. To register, go to the Lladró´s Web site, click on “My Account,” and simply enter your name and e-mail address. To place a bid, return to the Lladró Web site after the auction has started (at noon EST on Dec. 4), and place a bid. Bidding will begin at the set base prices. From there, bids will be accepted in $100 increments.

The auction will continue through Dec. 10, with the ending times as follows: 12 p.m.: “Eagles nest”; 1 p.m.: “Forest,” “Tit birds and flowers vase,” “A timeless moment”; 2 p.m.: “Turtle-dove group,” “Radha Krishna,” “True affection”; 3 p.m.: “Road to Mandalay,” “Peacock vase,” “Maternal joy”; 4 p.m.: “Gypsy dancers,” “Scheherazade,” “The voyage of Columbus”; 5 p.m.: “Allegory to the peace.”

The person with the highest bid when the bidding ends will be the winner of the piece and informed via e-mail.

History of Lladró

Lladró was formed when brothers Juan, José and Vicente Lladró made their first creations in 1953 in a Moorish furnace built in their home in Almàssera (Valencia), Spain. They further developed their artistry working in a tile-and-crockery factory, carefully designing pieces. In 1958, the brothers decided to dedicate themselves exclusively to their own works and transfer their small company to a warehouse in the neighboring town of Tavernes Blanques, introducing innovations not only in the design and style of the figurines, but also in the firing techniques, reducing the three-layer firing to a one-layer process. One-firing is an innovative method that creates the crystalline finish and the pastel tonalities typical of Lladró works.

Each year, Lladró produces new porcelain figurine collections, but the collections are often limited in numbers and then discontinued shortly following their release. When each figurine or collection is removed from the commercial market, the collectors’ market takes off.

And because collections of these figurines are created in such limited quantity, they are, by definition, difficult to find and even harder to get hold of. When these pieces are sold, they sell at a premium. Some collectors refuse to part with their pieces, building their collections for posterity.

In addition to the relative scarcity of the individual figurines, the small differences in the finish and the minute attention to detail of each piece keep their values high. Some Lladró figurines are created from more than 250 molds, and each piece is painted by hand.

Gregory Watkins is the WorthPoint newsletter editor

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques and Collectibles.

Collecting Baseball Cards and the 1948 Leaf Set

By Ed Kushner

As a baseball card collector and likely a collector of all collectibles, the first of each item, set, issue is generally the most sought after items pertaining to a particular producer. In this case it was the first and last set produced by Leaf Gum. With an exception to a small set Leaf produced in 1960 that is often forgotten about, this is their first and last.

This set was the first color baseball cards of the post World War II era and consisted of 98 baseball players. The whole set consisted of 168 cards, but also included Football and Boxing athletes’ cards. This is probably one of the most difficult set of the post-war era to complete, mainly due to the fact that exactly one-half of the set, 49 cards, are considered to be “short print” cards (the term short print means those particular cards were produced in significantly less numbers then the other 49). There is no definitive ratio, but is estimated that the short print cards were produced 1 to 12 of the other 49 cards. That means there are only 8.5 percent production, in estimation, of one half the set in comparison to the other half, so collecting the easier to obtain 49 cards isn’t too much of a problem. It’s getting the second half of the set that becomes very challenging.

Being the first of its kind and that most are considered a 1948 issue by collectors, it is thought that many of the cards weren’t actually issued until 1949. So when referenced, one may think there were two sets produced, but either 1948 or 1949 is correct in describing these cards.

This set contains many significant cards of player’s first appearances, better known as rookie cards, including: Jackie Robinson; Stan Musial; Phil Rizzuto; and, by far the most popular 1948 Leaf card, Satchel Paige. In addition to such great rookie cards, the set also contained legends who were either at their peek years, near the end of their legacies, or retired, such as: Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, Babe Ruth, and Honus Wagner.

The Values
The values of these cards, based on mid-range grades, such as the Jackie Robinson (pictured), range from average prices to highly priced. For example, a common card (non-short printed card) averages about $25-$40 for excellent-to-mint (ex-mt) condition, the Jackie Robinson shown is valued at $1,250 in the condition shown, and the highest-priced card being the Satchel Paige rookie card, which would sell for about $10,000 in ex-mt condition. The short-printed cards are very expensive, and common players sell for about $500 in ex-mt condition, while star player cards that were short-printed usually sell for anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000 per card. Overall, if you were to manage to put this set together in ex-mt condition, which is a 6 in the PSA (Professional Sports Authentication an independent sports card grading company) 1-to-10 grading scale, you could expect to spend about $50,000.

The unique thing about this set, unlike just about every other set produced, is that the card numbers range from 1-168 but there are only 98 baseball cards in the set, so the other sports players fill in the number gaps. You can have a baseball player whose card is number 117 and the next baseball card is number 120. The two cards in between could be a football card or boxing card, so unlike any other baseball set, this one had it’s sense of being unique even before collecting baseball cards was a form of an investment; when most kids bought the cards for the gum.

The concept of mixing sports cards into one set with hard-to-find cards did not seem to go over well with the public. My thought is that kids got so many duplicates and couldn’t get the other 49 cards they needed to complete the set they gave up on them since another company, Bowman was introduced the same year and all the cards were equally available.

A Very Challenging Set to Fill
This set is a very nice and colorful, and these cards are highly sought after by collectors today. Condition is always an issue with all cards when determining value, and these weren’t made on the best quality of cardboard, so finding them in top condition is very challenging. Of course once you are fortunate enough to find top-grade cards, keeping them in that condition is very important. The best way to store these cards are in non-pvc holders that don’t allow the card to move around and cannot be damaged easily. Being that these cards hold significant values, it is highly recommended that one who possesses high-grade examples of this issue have them professionally graded and sealed in one of the grading company’s holders. Of the major graders, I generally don’t like endorsing one over another, but my preference is with SCG (Sportscard Guaranty) or PSA, as those grading companies have shown their responsibility in correctly grading and authenticating cards over their years of service.

If you are collecting and interested in starting a collection from your favorite set, I always recommend reading up on that particular set and seek out reputable dealers what will assist you and work with you in your interest. The 1948 or 1949 Leaf set is a very nice set, but extremely tough to complete and there are many cards in this set in average condition will cost a pretty penny to obtain. So if you are on a restricted budget, this may be a very tough set to work on.

And even if you are not on a budget, this set is very challenging to complete; just finding some of the short prints are just impossible to find regardless, of cost, and if they appear at auctions you may find you need to pay five to 10 times their value to own them. I’m not trying to discourage people from collecting this set, but just be prepared for a long and costly battle if this is the set you choose to assemble.

Until the next article, happy baseball card collecting.

WorthPoint: Get the Most from Your Antiques & Collectibles

Collecting Amputation Sets 101

By Laura Collum

One hundred-forty-six years ago, in December of 1862, 72,000 Confederate and 106,000 Union soldiers clashed in what is now called the Fredericksburg Campaign. When it was over, Fredericksburg was still in Confederate hands and 5,200 Confederate and 12,700 Union soldiers were injured or killed.

Disease killed more men on both sides of the war than anything else. Of the 600,000-plus fatalities suffered on both sides during the Civil War, only one-third died from wounds inflicted during battle. Amputations were the most common surgical procedure performed. If a man was wounded in an extremity, removing it was the best way to save his life. That is why you see so many amputation sets or kits at Civil War shows.

Amputation sets consist, in their most basic form, of a large bone saw, a set of knives, tissue forceps, rongeur, tenaculum, scalpels and tourniquet in a fabric-lined box. More elaborate kits will include smaller saws, such as metacarpal saws, chain saw, bistuouries, foreign matter probes, surgical scissors, etc. The instruments of this era had ebony or even ivory handles. Gutta percha handles are rare. The handles were often checkered to provide a firm grip. Germs were known but not really believed to be the cause of patients’ problems at this time, so instruments were not designed to be sterilized. (Instruments with wood handles were still in medical catalogues well into the 20th century due to the conservative nature of the medical profession.) However, all-metal instruments made their entrance in the 1870’s and, in my opinion, made them less interesting to collect.

The boxes the instruments are housed in are made of mahogany, oak or walnut, and often have brass strapping and corners for strength. They are lined in velveteen or chamois, with purple or red being the most common colors used. The colors often faded to green, tan or pink. The instruments are fitted into slots or shaped holes and held down with brass fasteners or fabric-covered wood. They also had trays that lifted out to expose more instruments underneath. Most of the instruments in a kit are marked with the maker’s name, unless the instrument is too small. Sometimes you will find a kit with some instruments by other makers. Makers often have a label inside the box with the name and address. This is of interest to collectors because the address will help date the kit.

The most famous American surgical instrument maker is Tiemann, which was in business from 1826 to 1900. Other makers include Hernstein, Snowdon, Gemrig, Leach and Green, and others. Collectible European makers include Mathieu, Maw, Charriere, Evans and others.

What can be of greatest interest to the collector is the brass plaque on top of the box. It could have the name of the surgeon engraved on it. Research will reveal who the surgeon was, what army, and when served. The Union and Confederate Armies also issued kits and labeled them as such “Medical Department USA,” or better yet, “CSA.” You might also see a kit presented to a surgeon from a grateful town or group after the war with this information on the plaque.

Prices for amputation sets start at about $1,200 for a very basic kit and go up depending on condition, maker and provenance. The Mathews set in the first photo sold for $4,800 at a Civil War show in 2007. It had two trays and lots of instruments, and only a couple of minor instruments were missing. The bullet forceps helped sell the set. If this set were ID’d to having belonged to a Union surgeon or Medical Department, approximate value would be $6,500.

As a general rule of thumb, a Confederate set can bring twice, perhaps three times the amount for an equivalent Union set. A presentation set has interest too. A customer called me a couple of years ago and asked if a complete set presented after the war to a Navy surgeon from Charleston, S.C. by a women’s group (I can’t remember what they were called), also from Charleston, was worth $7,000. I told him to pay it and run!