Collecting: James Bond novel
Q: I have a first edition of “The Spy Who Loved Me” by Ian Fleming. It has its original dust jacket and is in excellent condition. I have been offered $50 for it by a James Bond collector. — Susan, Little Rock, AR
A: Your first edition is valued in the $125-$250 range.
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Q: I have a number of old postcards that are mostly birthday and holiday greetings from the early years of the last century. Where can I sell them? — Leslie, Las Lunas, N.M.
A: Your nearest large post card club is the Tucson Post Card Exchange, the region’s premiere group for enthusiasts. Joan Gentry is president and can advise you. Her telephone number is 520-297-0980.
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Q: While working at the General Electric plant in Erie, Pa., I met and got the autograph of company spokesman Ronald Reagan. Can you tell me what his signature is worth? — Mae, Silver Creek, N.Y.
A: Presidential signatures are always of interest to collectors. Typical values are $4,370 for a document signed by Thomas Jefferson in 1802, $490 for a thank-you note from Grover Cleveland and $950 for a signed photo of Dwight D. Eisenhower. To find out the value of your Reagan signature you need to contact a reputable autograph dealer. Two I highly recommend are Brian Kathenes, National Appraisal Consultants, LLC, P.O. Box 482, Hope, NJ 07844; and Charles Searle, Searle’s Autographs, 20 Highland Point Court, Weaverville, NC 28787, and 828-658-2465.
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Q: I have several albums of bicentennial stamps issued by The Franklin Philatelic Society. How can I find out the value of them? — Ruth, Mentmore, NM
A: Most of the Franklin issues are difficult to sell in the secondary marketplace. That’s because the “instant collectibles” marketed by this company were churned out by the millions. I checked several online auction companies and there doesn’t seem to be much interest or demand. With that said, I suggest you contact George C. Baxley, an expert in your area, and see if he can help you. His contact information is P.O. Box 807, Alamogordo, NM 88311; gbaxley@netmdc.com; and www.baxleystamps.com.