THE COLLECTOR
Dear Collector,
I inherited this Booth’s Silicon China plate (one of a pair) 35 years ago. Can you please give me some information about them and their value?
Booth, a Tunstall, Staffordshire pottery founded in 1868 by Thomas Booth, would go through a few name changes before merging with Ridgways, another Staffordshire company, in 1955. Your plates, in the Peony & Iris pattern, can be dated to about 1906, which is when Booths used the backstamp described in your letter. Value is $20 to $30 per plate.
Dear Collector,
This tray was given to my in-laws for a wedding present in 1837. The bottom is stamped “Rockford Silver Plate.” Does it have any value?
Since Rockford was established in the self-same Illinois city in 1873 (after a fire at its original site in Racine, Wis.), it would be impossible that this tray existed in 1837. The none-too-clear photos you enclosed show considerable wear, with what looks like base metal showing through the plating. Taking its poor condition into consideration, your tray is worth only $10 or so. By the way, how old are your in-laws?
Dear Collector,
Is there any value to this Roy Rogers holster? I bought it for $5 in 1999.
Even without the cap guns, your circa 1950 double holster could be worth as much as $400. Add guns and box, value jumps to almost $2,000.
Dear Collector,
My parents brought this coin home from their 1960 honeymoon in Greece. Who is the man on the front, and what is it worth now?
Based on Greece’s ancient coinage, your silver 20 drachma piece bears the image of King Paulos (ruled 1947-1964), a cousin of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. According to one price guide, your coin is worth $2.
Dear Collector,
Will you tell me how old my beautiful pitcher is? The only visible marks are a mushroom with “R & S” blazed across it.
A maker of both porcelain and earthenware, Sauer & Roloff, in the German town of Haldensleben, was in existence for only the first three decades of the 20th century. Your circa 1908 hand-painted piece is correctly called a ewer, not a pitcher, and most likely was part of a toilet service set consisting of a tray, bowl, hand mirror, brush, comb, etc.
Dear Collector,
Are these bookends worth anything? My grandfather got them as a high school graduating gift in the 1920s.
Representing the Italian poet Dante Alighieri, and his muse Beatrice, they were made by Ronson in 1923. Current value is between $120 and $150.
Dear Collector,
These photos are of an old Packard Bell radio which my son bought used back in the 1960s. It works fine; is it worth much?
Your Model 602 single- band (AM) tabletop radio in a blond wood case dates from 1952. Its present modest value of $30 represents that is was not top-of-the-line when new.