Children’s book carries low value
Dear Collector,
This “Garrison’s Gorillas” book is from a TV show. All the pages are intact; is it worth money?
Replacing the successful “Combat!” (1962-1967), “Garrison’s Gorillas” was a ho-hum television version of the big screen’s “Dirty Dozen.” It ran for two seasons, during which Whitman published their illustrated adventure kids’ book in 1968. Not worth much compared to other Whitman titles, about $20, but the series was short-lived, which accounts for the low listed price.
Dear Collector,
I am in possession of a $500 bill in excellent condition, and would like to know its value.
Collectors and dealers in American currency notes require bills to be in near or almost uncirculated condition. Your Federal Reserve Note which had enough purchasing power in 1934 to buy a new car is no longer considered valid money; you cannot spend it. Its desirability lies in its being from the first Federal Reserve Bank (Boston), and its five digit serial number. Without visually grading this note, I’d say its value as a collectible is least $700 to $900.
Dear Collector,
Here are some photos of my mother’s china service; I challenge you to supply me with as much information as possible.
This set was produced in great numbers, and therefore has a low value, so I won’t comment on its monetary worth. However, I can tell you it was made by Shenango China of New Castle, PA, between the months of July and December in 1953. The company’s unusual name may come from an Iroquoian word describing the Shenango River as “a beautiful woman.”
Dear Collector,
Does my old, but still working, radio have any potential as an antique?
Dealers and collectors call many radios antiques, even though the rest of the collecting world requires an item be at least 100 years old to be a true antique. Anyway, nit-picking aside, your 1932 Majestic in an attractive wood console is potentially worth $125.
Dear Collector,
I wish to know if this box top for a “Superman Speed Game” is worth anything even if that’s all we have left. The game pieces, board and bottom of the box were all lost a long time ago.
Research shows this 1941 Milton Bradley game, in near mint condition, lists at $200. In my opinion, the colorful graphics showing the “Man of Steel” leaping over a cityscape (Metropolis?) is worthy of framing and display. That way you’d not only preserve an example of pop culture, you’d also have a darn good piece of art.
Dear Collector,
My wife and I found this crock that used to contain “Arsenate of Lead” at a barn sale in Vermont. The stopper is missing and there’s nothing left of the contents, which is perhaps for the best since we think it was poisonous. We paid $35. Was that too much?
An insecticide, made by the Merrimac Chemical Company of Boston, lead arsenate is similar to Paris Green, which was a pigment used in painting house trim and window shutters. Both of these chemicals are so toxic that inhaling their fumes can produce severe physical damage or even death. Your barn buy tops $100.