Doll’S Value Increases With Box
Dear Collector: I have a 9-inch tall O.J. Simpson doll (Shindana Toys, 1975) which I purchased without a box at a doll show in the ‘70s. It has not been played with and is in excellent condition.
Japanese toy maker Shindana produced many black-culture dolls, often related to American television programs: “The Jeffersons,” et al. In a box, this O.J. doll would sell for well over $200. Without the box, about $100-$125.
* Dear Collector: Enclosed is a copy of one of a collection of cards that I have. I believe that they were sold shortly after the death of President Kennedy. Do you know if they have any monetary value?
Titled “The Story of President Kennedy,” this 77-card set published by Topps in 1964 is worth about 75 cents a card, or $65-$75 for the complete set.
* Dear Collector: I’ve inherited an interesting collection of over 250 unopened nip bottles dating between 1930 and 1945. All have the original seals and labels. There are no duplicates. Where can I research these items?
There is an out-of-print book, “The Whiskey Miniature Bottle Collection,” to which I do not have access. Since you have so many bottles, why don’t you consider writing your own book?
* Dear Collector: As a child back in the 1930s I collected U.S. postage stamps. I am no longer an active collector, but I do have stamped covers that went on the Byrd Antarctic Expeditions of 1933/34 and 1946/47. Both of these were later autographed for me by Admiral Byrd. I also had a letter being carried around the world by Amelia Earhart in 1937, but she never got back to return it.
Without Byrd’s signature these covers would only fetch $5-$10 each. But since they are signed, you should be able to realize at least $100 per cover at auction. Too bad you never got your letter back from the last Earhart trip. If it ever shows up in the mail, let me know!
* Dear Collector: I have two paintings by Dutch artist H. Maes. Are they of any value?
Maes was in fact a Belgian, not Dutch. High value for this 19th century artist’s work is about $1,000.
* Dear Collector: My parents have a water pitcher that’s been in the family for a long time. Can you give us an idea of the age and worth of this piece?
The marks you described are those of the Belleek Willets firm. Located in Trenton, N.J., from 1879 to 1962, their wares were marked in many colors: brown, green, black, blue, red, etc. Since your item was artist-signed and dated 1915, we can assign a value of $300-$400.
* Dear Collector: I have two decks of Marilyn Monroe playing cards in their original case from Tom Kelly Studios. They were given to me as a gift in the early 1940s.
“La Monroe” was born in 1926 and did not pose for the famous Kelly calendar photos (draped across a bright red drape) until May 27, 1949. So perhaps you are mistaken about the date and you actually received these cards in the early 1950s. Either way, the cards are now worth $40 a set.