‘Tom’ teapot won’t bring home the bacon
Dear Collector,
I would like to know about the pictured teapot that I received from my grandmother in the late 1940s or early ‘50s.” It is marked “Tom the Piper’s Son.”
Tom is pictured bearing his plundered pig (which forms the spout) under one arm, just as in the famous 18th century nursery rhyme. This Shawnee product came in a number of paint schemes with your variant being one of the least decorated. Values range from over $100 for the more colorful teapot, to under $75 for a modest type such as yours.
Dear Collector,
My mother gave an 1852 Liberty Head penny to my husband in 1949. Can you tell me if it has any value?
This Christian Gobrecht design is called the “Braided Hair Cent,” to differentiate it from earlier styles bearing a portrayal of Lady Liberty. Value on this large copper coin is $20-$30.
Dear Collector,
When we moved into our current home we found this doll at the back of a storage closet. We hope you can identify her and put a value on her?
Your circa 1957 “Tiny Teen” has seen better days. Made by Uneeda, a New York City doll maker, she was one of the most popular pre-“Barbie” toys of the time. Value is about $45.
Dear Collector,
I bought the small bank in these photos for a few dollars at a roadside sale. Is it from Queen Elizabeth’s coronation?
Listed as being made in 1953, your bank in the form of a throne has a value of $35.
Dear Collector,
I think this glass implement was used in the kitchen; is that so?
I can see how you’d believe this would be a food preparation tool, but it is in actual fact a ring tree; perhaps made in the Victorian era as part of a dresser set.
Dear Collector,
My hopes are that this lunchbox is valuable enough to save it from the trash. My husband says it’s worth nothing, even though I’ve had it for almost 40 years. Can you intervene?
In the case of this circa 1966 “Casper the Friendly Ghost” plastic box (minus bottle), you are the winner! Conservative value of your King Seeley Thermos Company product is $400. Not exactly rubbish, is it?
Dear Collector,
During a trip to our county fair I bought a Them album featuring the song “Gloria.” Was $5 too much?
Them was a Northern Ireland blues/rock group formed in the early ‘60s by lead singer and writer George Ivan Morrison, better known as Van Morrison. Several versions of this record were made under the Parrot label. Unless it’s in near mint condition, value is about $20.
Dear Collector,
My grandfather collected bookends, and we were given a portion of the collection upon his death. Under no circumstances would we sell, but we would like to know the age of this particular pair?
I think this set is called “Joan of Arc,” and came from the Jenning Brothers foundry in the 1920s.