How much is Life worth?
Q: I have six copies of Life magazine, including those depicting Martin Luther King’s assassination and funeral, the Marvels of Egypt, and the 1969 Year in Review issue. I also have an Esquire magazine and Harper’s Bazaar, both from 1937. — Pat, Conyngham, Pa.
A: A quick check of several magazine dealers confirmed that most issues of Life magazine from the 1960s are worth an average of about a dollar per issue. Like all collectibles, there are always exceptions. To find out how much your magazines are worth, you need to contact an expert. Denis C. Jackson is a collector and author of Life Magazines: A Value and Identification Guide, now in its third edition. His address is P.O. Box 6433, Kingman, AZ 86401.
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Q: My dad and I found an Indian peace pipe in Washington state some 40 years ago. Who can we contact to find out if it has any value? — Jerry, Spokane, Wash.
A: One of the better dealers I recommend is Michael Higgins, Michael Higgins & Son, 4429 North Campbell Ave., Tucson, AZ 85718. Higgins, who has been in business since 1972, specializes in American Indian art and Mexican antiques.
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Q: I have a set of five sterling silver spoons that were issued in 1939 to commemorate a U.S. visit by the King and Queen of England. How much are they worth? — Genevieve, Viroqua, Wisc.
A: Ian Ingram of The Royal Pavilion buys and sells British Royalty commemoratives, from King George III through the present. His addresses are 4741 East Palm Canyon, PMB 167, Palm Springs, CA 92264; info@theroyalpavilion.com; and www.theroyalpavilion.com.
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Q: I have sheet music from the late 1930s through the 1960s. Who do I contact to sell my collection? — James, Carpentersville, Ill.
A: One of the larger clubs is the New York Sheet Music Society, P.O. Box 354, Hewlett, NY 11557. Wayland Bunnell is a recognized dealer and expert in the field. Write to him c/o Clean Sheets, 199 Tarrytown Road, Manchester, NH 03103.