Collecting: Avon bottles

Q: I am in possession of a large number of Avon bottles. Where can I sell them? I understand there is a national organization for collectors. — Evelyn, Albuquerque, N.M.

A: I receive questions about Avon bottles frequently.

My usual answer is that they are difficult to sell and that interest in them has lessened during the past decade or so. By monitoring eBay, it is obvious that there are hundreds of Avon products being offered for sale. The bidding doesn’t seem to be as spirited, however, as in many of the other fields of collecting.

For a second opinion and the advice of an expert, I suggest you contact Connie Lark, president of the International Association of Avon Collectors, P.O. Box 7006, Kansas City, MO 64113. Ask Connie about the club’s excellent newsletter, The Avon Times.

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Q: I have a collection of Playboy magazines and would like to sell them if they have any value. — Gary, Gardnerville, Nev.

A: Ronnie Heshishian is a collector who is especially interested in Playboy items. Although he doesn’t buy magazines, he does maintain a helpful Web site at www.magazinesthatmenlike.com/. Monitor his Web site, and you should be able to determine the approximate value of your magazines.

To sell them, I suggest you purchase an inexpensive classified ad in Antique Trader, 700 East State Street, Iola, WI 54990; 1-715-445-4087.

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Q: I have a collection of pamphlets, maps and guides of World’s Fair literature beginning in the 1930s and ending with the last one in 1965. — Robert, Cumberland, R.I.

A: Rich Hartzog is owner of World Exonumia, a shop that buys and sells pre-1940 World’s Fair memorabilia. His address is P.O. Box 4143CNZ, Rockford, IL 61110. One of the better clubs is World’s Fair Collectors Society, Inc., P.O. Box 20806, Sarasota, FL 34276.

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Q: I have five Hardee’s coffee mugs. Are they valuable? — Ann, Port Orange, Fla.A: Not really. A set of six recently sold on eBay for $12.