Genuine jug in field of phonies
Dear Collector,
Enclosed is a photo of the Shirley Temple pitcher given to me by my grandmother who is 86 years old. She had it for more than 60 years. Can you tell me something about it?
The anecdotal history proves your keepsake to be authentic. Manufactured in the early 1930s (at the height of Shirley’s movie career) by Hazel Atlas, at that time the largest glass maker in the world, this cobalt blue creamer has been duplicated a number of times. In fact, on a good day, one can find replicas by the dozens on eBay, the Internet auction site. Part of a kid-sized cereal set offered by Wheaties, which included a bowl and tumbler, your vintage pitcher is worth $20 to $30.
Dear Collector,
Enclosed is a picture of a cast iron pan smaller than an ashtray. I’ve never seen one before; any value?
Let’s call it a circa 1950 ashtray and value it at $10.
Dear Collector,
I have issues of “Sports Illustrated” that date from 1983 to 1992. I was wondering if these magazines might be worth anything or are they cluttering up my closet space?
It’s time again to remind readers that here at THE COLLECTOR our focus is on pre-1970 collectibles and antiques. Your SI magazines have little significance now, but wait another decade or two and they may appreciate in value.
Dear Collector,
One very hot summer in South Texas I purchased a Coke from a vending machine for 5 cents. Around the bottle’s middle it states “Pat’d Dec. 25, 1923.” It is in excellent condition and has made a great conversation piece. My question is: Is it worth more than the 2-cent deposit I paid?
Because of its date, Coca-Cola collectors call your keepsake a “Christmas Bottle.” Listed in guides at $40, I would downgrade that value to about $30 due to the large numbers of these bottles being traded on the Internet. For 7 cents, you got an adventure in history.
Dear Collector,
I have an 1880 Indian Head penny that I found under the floor in a church we were remodeling. It looks new with a reddish brown color. What is it worth?
That coloring on this bronze coin is called “patina” by numismatists. When this penny was first issued a loaf of bread cost 2 cents out of an average yearly wage of almost $500. Using your description, I’d rate this coin as very good, putting its value at $6.
Dear Collector,
This cowboy action-figure/doll was one of my birthday presents when I was 5 years old. Is he worth much now?
Heartland Industries manufactured your Josh Randall figure based on Steve McQueen’s character in the 1958-1961 “Wanted Dead or Alive” television series. If you still have the horse (what was his name?) which accompanied Josh, value would be over $500. Minus the cayuse, your plaything is worth $250.