Eighteenth century dolls
Q: I have four antique dolls that were made in Germany during the 18th century. I would like to find out how much they might be worth, but I can find no one in my area to appraise them. — Katie, Albuquerque, N.M.
A: Collecting dolls has become one of America’s most lucrative and rewarding hobbies. Prices have soared in recent years, fueled in no small part by eBay.
Although there are dozens of price guides available, I recommend the services of an expert. For a nominal fee, you can get a written appraisals that will be helpful if you want to either sell or insure your dolls in the near future. As with most collectibles, values are generally determined by several factors, including condition, desirability and rarity.
Three appraisers who specialize in dolls are Judith Katz-Schwartz, Twin Brooks Antiques, P.O. Box 6572, New York, NY 10128; Nancy Burke Bosch, Bosch Appraisal Service, 1610 Northstar Drive, Petaluma, CA 94954; and Norene Ott, Antique and Collectible Doll Appraisal of Seattle, P.O. Box 46134, Seattle, WA 98146.
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Q: My sister has a collection of several thousand movie-star images that were clipped from movie magazines during the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s. Is there a demand for them? — Marino, New Rochelle, N.Y.
A: It’s unfortunate that your sister didn’t save the magazines intact, since early movie publications are in demand and some of the better ones sell for upward of $50 an issue.
To see if there is interest in the clipped images, you might want to contact Rich Zelachowski, an appraiser who specializes in movie memorabilia. His address is P.O. Box 1131, Secaucus, NJ 07096. Two shops that deal in movie-related items are Hollywood Book City Collectibles, 6627 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90028; and Eddie Brandt’s Saturday Matinee, 5006 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91601.
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Q: I have a mirror that was manufactured in 1862. Whom can I contact to see how much it might be worth? — Ida, Dunedin, Fla.
A: Robert Eastrope is the owner of Reflections Again, a shop that restores antique mirrors, and he might be able to help you. His address is 156 Goble Lane, San Jose, CA 95111.