Roseville pottery

Q: I have inherited about a dozen pieces of Roseville pottery from a distant cousin and understand that some of the patterns have become quite valuable. How can I determine how much my collection is worth? — Susan, Pueblo West, Colo.

A: Warman’s Companion Roseville Pottery by Mark F. Moran (KP Books, $17.99) might be a good place to begin your search. This easy-to-use guide has a brief history of the company, fake and forgery alerts, tips, authoritative pricing, detailed descriptions and more than 1,000 illustrations in full color. It should answer most of your questions.

You might also contact the Roseville Historical Society, 91 Main St., Roseville, OH 43777; and one of the larger groups for collectors, Valley of the Sun Roseville Collectors Club, 4681 North 84th Way, Scottsdale, AZ 85251.

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Q: My grandson found a British half penny from 1875. Any value? — Eleanor, Brattleboro, Vt.

A: You need to contact a dealer in your area. Two in your region are Allen Berman, P.O. Box 605, Fairfield, CT 06824; and Scott A. Travers, P.O. Box 171, FDR Station, New York, NY 10150. The value of most collectibles depends on three major factors: rarity, condition and desirability.

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Q: I have a collection of playbills, mostly from the 1930s and ‘40s. Where can I market them? — Robert, Palm Coast, Fla.

A: Lacy E. Long buys, sells and trades theatrical memorabilia and might be interested in your playbills. Her address is 199 Tarrytown Road, Manchester, NH 03103. A second source is Marty Jacobs, Museum of the City of New York, 1220 5th Ave. at 103rd St., New York, NY 10029.