Author: Donna Welch

Dear Donna,

We have this Peter Rabbit magician book. I thought the unusual part was that it is all complete. Not sure how it went through all my dad’s family and is still intact.

Would there be a value to something like this?

Thanks for your time, Donna,

Ken

Dear Ken,

I was chuckling as I read your letter. I don’t know how any toys ever survived till today!

The Peter Rabbit The Magician book is from the 1940s and was produced in Illinois. It has a story plus many fun tricks inside for children. How fun this must have been!

Now for a value, Ken, from low to high you can still find this out on the internet. But not many had the original box as well. Having the box and complete magic tricks I would say it’s in the $100 range. Sometimes the original box is a big bonus.

Ken, I thank you for sharing and for the smile. Sweet family toy with memories.

Dear Donna,

I purchased this small cow painting, 3 inches by 2 inches. It’s done on canvas. There is no signature but it does look old. Any information would be appreciated.

Candice in Manchester

Dear Candice,

What a sweet miniature painting. The subject (a cow) is a collectible one.

Miniature paintings are always fun to collect. The older the better, but subject and artist and quality of the work always are in play.

The value of this one, unsigned, would be in the $40+ range, just for size and subject. Sweet little treasure, Candice. I hope this was helpful and you enjoy your purchase.

Dear Donna,

Recently got this bracelet in a box of assorted jewelry. It stood out to me because it’s marked sterling and Dane Craft. Any help would be appreciated.

Sandra in Salem

Dear Sandra,

Good catch in the jewelry box.

Your Dane Craft sterling daffodil bracelet was produced in the 1940s. The company was located in Rhode Island. It has a very interesting story if you want additional information. I have had many pieces over the years from sterling to gold-filled. But I have to say I learned information by doing research for you through Google. I always say learning something new makes for a great day!

The values I found were in the $100 range on average. Some were higher and a couple lower. So for me I would feel safe in the middle.

Sandra, you found a treasure! Hope this was helpful and glad you shared!

Donna

Dear Donna,

We have an assortment of these refrigerator leftover saving dishes. I inherited them through my family. We never use them so now we are wondering if there still is a use or collectibility for them.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Carla

Dear Carla,

What you inherited is several pieces of jadeite (opaque green) refrigerator dishes. Great color and collectible too.

Your pieces are from the 1950s and done by the Jeannette Co. This was after they purchased the McKee Co. They produced them until the company closed in the 1970s. Even though there are other colors as well, the green jadeite seems to still today have a high demand for dishware, utility ware, etc.

Carla, the values depend on their being in great condition with no chips or cracks, and complete sets (dish and cover). I think for the amount you have the value would be in the $100 range as long as there is no damage.

Thanks for sharing and I hope you find a new home for your pieces.

Donna

Hello,

I have a set of Mexican blue glass dishes/glasses/candle holders that were purchased in Mexico between 1930 and 1950. There are over 80 pieces, all in perfect condition with the exception of one glass with a small chip on the rim.

I would like to sell all of them as a set if possible. I have no idea what they are worth and how to sell them. Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Judy

Dear Judy,

Your set looks sweet! Color is everything and cobalt blue is usually a hit.

I can’t say I’ve dealt with a lot of Mexican glassware from that period of time. I’m thinking it’s probably not easy to determine a value here in the U.S.

To give you my best advice, to price it for sale I think you have to look at it for color, style and condition. Also look at how many pieces you have! I think it should be in the range of $150+.

Now you have to find a buyer and that could be a bit hard. I agree that you should try to sell it as a set. Individually I don’t think it would get as much value.

Judy, I hope this helps and your dishes find a new home! Thanks so much for sharing.

Donna

Note: Judy, pull the one that’s chipped and offer it to the buyer after. Don’t include it in the price. Most people have no interest in any dishes damaged.

Dear Donna,

I was wondering if you could give me information and perhaps a value on this lamp. It is musical and the woman slowly spins as the music plays. It is 19¼ inches high. The clock works but it is missing a hand. Thank you for any information you can provide.

Gayle

Dear Gayle,

Your sweet mechanical 1960s lamp was made in Germany. It appears to be in great condition except for the missing clock hand.

The value depends on whether it is complete, working and in original condition. You can find these in the antiques market; they range from $50 to $100. You might even be able to find a similar one not in good condition, for an original clock hand. If you want to keep this one because it’s a family piece, I think it’s sweet just the way it stands or should I say spins!

I hope this was helpful for you, Gayle. Thanks for sharing.

Donna

Hi Donna,

This is Marcie writing to you, to ask your opinion on this small collection of vintage jewelry that I have inherited from my mother-in-law’s estate,

Thanks so much.

Dear Marcie,

The costume jewelry you inherited looks to all be in great condition. Most of it looks to be from after the 1960s.

Old costume jewelry can be tricky to figure out. Sometimes it can just be a name of the maker that will make it more valuable. Most of the time the name will be on the back.

Marcie, remember that costume jewelry is made to look like real expensive and authentic stones. Instead it is a more affordable alternative. I would say the items you inherited have a value in the area of $30. I am sure they have more of a sentimental value than that to you.

Thanks for sharing and enjoy your gift.

Donna

Dear Donna,

Picked this up last year, and one of the dolls is missing. Does it have any value the way it is?

Thank you for any information.

K

Dear K,

It’s tough to give a value on items with damage, missing pieces etc. I do think, though, being a Cabbage Patch toy it still might have value.

Your little box of Cabbage figurines manufactured in 1984 is by a company out of Georgia. If complete and in good condition the values run from $25 to $50.

Knowing that it falls into a very collectible market, just the figures individually could hold value to others missing one as well. You just have work ahead of you to find your missing one.

My suggestion would be to look at thrift stores, flea markets and online. Good luck to you finding your treasure and thanks for sharing with us.

Donna

Hello, Donna,

I plan to sell this piece of furniture but am not sure what to ask for it. The item is from the Paine Furniture store in Boston. I refinished it in 1968 and my in-laws had it for probably another 50 years. There was a door but it was cracked and I unfortunately removed it.

Thank you,

Carole

Dear Carole,

Even though your commode appears to be in clean usable condition, it’s lost its antique furniture value, with the door being gone and the piece being painted. So what you need to do now is find a new home that can reuse it.

Your piece of Paine furniture was used for holding a bowl and pitcher, chamber pot etc. used around the late 1800’s or early 1900’s. Paine was a high-quality furniture company.

So now it’s here in this modern age looking for a new purpose. I think, Carole, as a piece of furniture you might sell it for $40. It’s going to take the right person and reason to use it. I look at it and see a great towel holder in a bathroom. Maybe a microwave holder with cookbooks in the opening? I hope you find it a new home for any purpose.

Thanks for sharing.

Donna

Dear Donna,

Would you know anyone with interest in used Legos? If so, any help with pricing?

Thanks.

Lisa

Dear Lisa,

Legos are a memory from my childhood. Even though they were around earlier, they came to the U.S. in the 1960s.

I have to admit I’m not too familiar with them individually. I do know, though, that they would be worth having a toy specialist look at. Some can be of minimal value and others very high. This would all be depending on age, complete sets, original condition with box, rarity, and with no damage etc.

Lisa, to give you pricing without knowing all that information would not do you justice. My suggestion to you is to do research either by using Lego books or looking online. This way you can narrow down exactly what you have there. I feel older or even modern ones would and could be worth the effort. Thank you for sharing, Lisa, and hope you have a treasure there.