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Collectible News & Notes
No matter what they collect, hobbyists enjoy sharing stories about interesting or hard-to-find pieces from their collections. Here we’ve gathered a sampling of tips, tidbits, and true tales from across the collecting world.
What’s It Worth?
Getting an honest and accurate appraisal of a treasured collectible can be tricky, but the Internet has made the job a little easier.
For decades, the Kovels’ guides have been the gold standard of antiques and collectible pricing. In addition to Kovels’ well-regarded price guides (available in bookstores and libraries), kovels.com offers a range of news, information, and resources, whether you’re trying to find the value of heirloom jewelry or want to know if Grandma’s antique pie cabinet is worth repairing.
Collectors flock to online auction site eBay.com, not just to bid on hard-to-find items, but to search previous auctions to check the sale prices of pieces they own.
Nice Catch
Baseball memorabilia is one of the country’s most popular and diverse collectible fields. Vintage baseball equipment is particularly hot these days. Just ask Joe Phillips, editor and creator of The Glove Collector newsletter that covers the history of glove companies, which gloves were worn by famous players, and how to find and appraise collectible gloves. The most valuable gloves, Phillips says, are of course those owned or endorsed by famous players. Lou Gehrig’s game glove was auctioned for $387,000. Mickey Mantle’s went for $239,000. Older models, like the pre-1900’s cutoff finger gloves, are also very collectible. Prime examples can fetch $5,000 to $8,000.
Sky-High
Comic books from the 1930s and 40s are valuable (many were lost in wartime paper drives), but none more so than those featuring the debut of a popular character. Earlier this year, a 1939 copy of Detective Comics #27 (the first appearance of Batman) went for the sky-high price of $1,075,500. A few weeks later, Superman beat the Caped Crusader when auction house ComicConnect.com sold a 1938 copy of Action Comics #1 (the Man of Steel’s debut) for a record $1.5 million.
G.I. Bills
Most coin and currency enthusiasts build collections based on rarity and value, but some prize the history behind the hard cash, as in the case of a “short snorter.” During World War II and the Korean War, short snorters were typically $1 bills that servicemen carried as good luck charms. When soldiers gathered, they sought out other short snorters and signed each other’s bills, often including dates and locations. High-ranking officers and even celebrities signed them, too. For more about these unique pieces of history, visit the Web site shortsnorter.org.
Roaming Gnomes
Gnomes are a popular and decorative collectible for many gardeners (and tempting targets for pranksters). The most famous gnome-knapping occurred in 2008, when Murphy, a leprechaun gnome, vanished from his owner’s garden, then turned up months later, accompanied by a photo album. His abductor took him on a world tour, and the album featured shots of Murphy swimming in Thailand, rappelling down a mountain in New Zealand, and more. Securing beloved gnomes to a concrete base or garden stake is usually enough to prevent unexpected walkabouts.
—Chelsey Fleming
What do you love to collect? Tell us about your favorite collectibles. E-mail us at editor@saturdayeveningpost.com, or write to Collecting Column, The Saturday Evening Post, 1100 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202.
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11 Comments ( Post a Comment )
my father has a US one dollar bill from 1942 with the Hawaii stamp on it
Would like to know if it is worth anything ?? Please
i would like to know how much a signed matted & framed picture of Hyke is worth.
also i inherited a ton of gnomes from a 80yr old aunt and i dont want them but i dont know where to go to sell them
I have some old magazines that I want to sell. I have 43 Saturday evening Posts. 2 from 1909 and 41 from 1959. I also have about 950 Life magazines starting from 1939. Any ideas on how much they are worth and what would be my best way to sell them?
I would like to know how much is a special edition DC comics of superman #11 in mint condition
My boyfriend has a vintage copy of Saturday Evening Post, April 30, 1938 and May 7 1938. Both are in excellant condition. Does anyone have any info on what these would be worth, or anyone who buys them?
My grandfather worked for the publisher of the Saturday Evening Post – he received 2 framed artist illustrations (story) – 1 is oil…both backs say “No of pictures 1″ and both are signed. Illustration story #7613 is titled Meal Ticket (boxers & referree in ring); story #7172 is titled Skullduggery in the Incinerator (sailor warning workman with cigarette)…[perhaps the story title was changed for publication??]. Trying to determine value, their year, and acquire copy of the story.
Also, 1 framed Bantam book cover illustration (1951) The Cold Journey, with a brass plaque on the bottom: “Compliments of Bantam Books.”
Any help is appreciated.
I am trying to find the value of old Saturday Evening Post magazines, I have several, and they date way back…any information will be helpful. Also would consider selling them if someone is interested. I saw an article on the antique
road show about a very rare one but not sure about the others. Thanks
Dear Chelsey, I have a Saturday Evening POST, May 25, 1957, After the Prom Norman Rockwell serving tray. The title of the print drawn on the tray is, I Call on Groucho, by Pete Martin. Can you tell me if this tray is valuable? Thank you!
What is the value of the Dec. 26, 1959 Saturday Evening Post that features the Life of Jesus in paintings? Does anyone know?
I have 4 magazines that i would like to see if they have value they are may 1951 feb 1954 Aug 1917 sept 30 1916 can you please help me to determine the value of these. Thank you
I have an Issue of Saturday Evening Post from Sept 5, 1942. Does anyone know the value of it? It is in good-better condition but used. Whole magazine intact.