Tin box was a gift from the queen

Dear Collector: I would like to find the value of this tin box, which was given to British forces during the Boer War?

A New Year’s gift from Queen Victoria to all the Tommies (from Thomas Atkins, the archetypal British soldier) in South Africa, this small metal box bearing the queen’s likeness originally contained a bar of chocolate, probably Cadbury’s. The first 40,000 containers were made under contract with J.S. Fry & Sons of Bristol. The presentation of “comfort tins,” as they were sometimes called, became a tradition among the royals, lasting until WWII. If your 1900 tin had its contents intact, value could be several hundred dollars. Empty, I think it’s worth about $100.

Dear Collector: Can you give me an idea what this Coca-Cola belt buckle is worth? I received it from a friend who brought it down from Alaska in 1977.

Sorry, it’s not the real thing. During the late 1960s, replica and fantasy (not exactly forgeries but close) pieces purporting to be vintage Coke items began surfacing, among them quite a few buckles.

Dear Collector: Here’s a photo of an original painting by Tillman Goodan. My father purchased it for me in the late 1930s.

A for-real cowboy and rodeo rider, Till Goodan (1896-1958) employed his own experiences in painting western-themed canvasses. As an illustrator, he produced covers for Gene Autry comic books and even designed dinnerware. He is a favorite with collectors, selling for as much as $2,000.

Dear Collector: My mother gave me this Tom and Jerry guitar that she found while clearing out her house. She says it was a toy I played with as a child, but I don’t remember it. Does it have any value, or should I just put it out for the trash pickup?

Listed on page 192 of “Cartoon Toys & Collectibles” (Collector Books, 1999, $19.95) by David Longest, this 1960s Mattel musical toy is now priced at $125-$175.

Dear Collector: I have a large one dollar bill showing some fellow with a long beard. Who was he, and what is this worth now?

Sounds like you possess an 1890 or 1891 series Treasury Note graced by the portrait of Edward Stanton (1814-1869) who served as Lincoln’s Secretary of War. It was Stanton who said “he now belongs to the ages” upon the death of Lincoln. Depending on year, seal color and condition, your bill’s value ranges from a low of $80 to a high of $750.

Dear Collector: I bet you cannot identify the maker of this vase?

You’ve got me there; since there’s no backstamp or other maker’s mark, I can’t tell you who made it. But I can tell you that you have a bean pot, not a vase!

Dear Collector: I am 14 years old and collect old records, usually 1960s rock and roll. At a flea market last week, I got The Standells “Dirty Water” album. I paid $2.50 for it, even though the guy selling it wanted $4. Was it a bargain?

Sounds about right for this 1966 Tower stereo record. A longtime favorite in the Boston area, the title song is often heard at Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox.

Recommended reading: “The Illinois Watch,” Frederic J. Friedberg (Schiffer, 2004, $79.95). “McCoy Pottery, volume III,” Bob & Margaret Hanson, Craig Nissen (Collector Books, 2002, $24.95). “Retro Housewife: A Salute to the Suburban Superwoman,” Kristin Tillotson (Collectors Press, 2004, $16.95).