Are old 78 records worth much?
Q: I have old 78s from the 1950s. How can I find someone interested in them? — Freda, Albuquerque, N.M.
A: I am beginning to sound like a broken record because I answer this question on a regular basis in the column. Unless your records are rare rock ‘n’ roll or blues recordings, the chance that you have any that are collectible is remote. Put another way, visit any flea market and you’ll see boxes of old 78 recordings marked at around 25 cents each, and even at that price there are few takers. Several years ago, a Denver collector sold a collection of 25,000 78s, mostly from the 1940s and ‘50s. After extensive advertising, he eventually sold them to a Canadian collector for about 5 cents per disc.
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Q: I have a Madame Alexander doll that was issued in 1993. It is in its original box and has never been taken out. I would like to know its value. — Frances, Colbert, Wash.
A: The Madame Alexander Doll Club is one of the larger groups for collectors. Its address is P.O. Box 330, Mundeline, IL 60060. For a second opinion, you might contact expert and collector Jane Sarasohn-Kahn, 125 Shelbourne Lane, Phoenixville, PA 19460.
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Q: I have a large collection of postcards, mostly from the Dakotas, that I inherited from an aunt. Who can I contact to sell them? — Walter, Atwater, Minn.
A: Postcards have become one of America’s most popular collectibles. Some addresses that might be helpful are John H. McClintock, International Federation of Postcard Dealers, P.O. Box 1765, Manassas, VA 20108; Dr. James Lewis Lowe, director of Deltiologists of America, P.O. Box 8, Norwood, PA 19074; Martin Shapiro, Vintage Postcards, Inc., 312 Feather Tree Drive, Clearwater, FL 33765; and Roger Harvey, Card Source, 170 Selwun Lane, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089.
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Q: I have a nude print of Marilyn Monroe signed by Earl Moran. Any value? — Etsel, Norman, Okla.
A: Marilyn Monroe is always collectible. To find out about your print, contact Monroe collector and dealer Clark Kidder, 3219 E. County Road N., Milton, WI 53563.