Old new again—June 10, 2011
Attention oxymoron aficionados and others who like a good contradiction in terms: some of the newest items at your library are, well, about old things. You may use these new books to identify and assign a current value to your antiques and collectibles such as baseball cards, jewelry, guns, coins, furniture, toys and much more.
Let’s say you found a single baseball card in a garage sale bargain bureau. You wonder about its value. Start by referring to the back of the card where the issuer or sponsor’s name will usually appear. Then check the 2011 Standard Catalog of Baseball Cards published by Sports Collectors Digest. The indexes are arranged by the name of the set of origin, but you’ll also find chronological and alphabetical indexes.
Alright, Great Aunt Edna left you a rhinestone brooch as well as an unusual cameo ring. Proceed directly to Kathy Flood’s Warman’s Jewelry, Fine & Costume Jewelry 2010. Before proceeding, do take time to read Flood’s introduction on p. 7-9 which starts out “This book is dangerous…so you’ve been warned.” A wealth of large color photos makes this title visually enticing.
Speaking of money, and we are, the Standard Catalog of U.S. Paper Money 2010 by George Cuhaj catalogs and values paper money issues of the Government of the United States of America since 1812. Included are small and large notes of $1 to $10,000, national bank notes, pre-Civil War U.S. Treasury notes and various military payment certificates. The most controversial component of paper money collecting is grading, a rating system that is only somewhat standard. Small differences in grading can mean significant changes in value.
Toys & Prices 2011, edited by Justin Moen, has 807 pages listing 35,000 post World War II toys and 100,000 values. Value depends on condition. There are many black and white and some color photos.
General and more inclusive antiques and collectors identification and price guides are a great place to start since so many categories are covered. A quick thumb-through of Warman’s Antiques & Collectibles 2012 yielded headings such as autographs, bookends, coin-operated devices, fishing and hunting equipment, guitars, maps, modernism, perfume, movie posters and space memorabilia in addition to much longer sections on furniture, ceramics, glass and toys. Many large glossy photos are helpful. Please don’t miss Antique Trader Antiques & Collectibles 2011 Price Guide with over 4500 color photos and categories such as art deco, the vintage kitchen, advertising, records and 45’s.
Antique price guides check for one week. You will find these guides and many more in the adult nonfiction area.
