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Take the Guesswork Out of Holiday Shopping:

Where to learn more about what you buy and collect

hen it comes to researching and valuing of vintage and shows you how to spot that rare example that may be worth twenty
antique treasures, technology has come a long way, baby! times more than another piece.
WMany companies that would have printed hundreds of pages In-depth features explain why one piece is worth more than another,
of item descriptions and prices have now turned to the online approach show how to value an item and teach you to be your own expert when
to make the search easier and more convenient. appraising everything from 20th-century glass to costume jewelry.
Apps and websites offer a variety of ways to look up items and to Comprehensive sections cover a wide range of objects, with
find values. It is worth it to try out a few and then pick one that is easy additional pages on pencils, toys, vintage handbags, trunks, and
for you to use and comes up with the exact information you are looking costume jewelry for this edition.
for, then download it to your preferred device (iPad, cellphone, desktop
computer, etc.).
Here are a few that are worth a look. WorthPoint.com’s Worthopedia
WorthPoint Corporation features a suite of
offerings on WorthPoint.com that includes a
Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles price guide for researching and valuing antiques,
Price Guide 2021 art, and collectibles; a resource gallery for iden-
Written by: Terry and Kim Kovel tifying makers’ marks; and, a digital library of
Published by: Black Dog & Leventhal books from leading publishers on a wide range
Pages: 592 Price: $29.99 of collecting topics. WorthPoint’s Worthopedia price guide gives
The Kovels are the most trusted source for
both the casual and expert collector. With subscribers access to more than 550 million historical prices and over
1.2 billion photographs. This data is aggregated from online market-
11,500 actual prices and 3,000 full-color pho- places, including eBay, and from some of the leading auction houses in
tographs, the guide also features exceptionally the country, covering information as far back as 2006. A monthly sub-
well-organized, wide-ranging, and up-to-the- scription to Worthopedia is $23.99, or $199.99 annually. Access to
minute information, and includes more tips, WorthPoint’s Marks & Library feature is $22.99, or choose a year sub-
marks, logos, and photographs than any other
competitive title. Kovels’ is the only guide with prices based on actual cription for $256.99. A bundle of both options is available for $39.99
per month or an annual fee of $439.99 when signing up for both.
sales from the previous calendar year, never estimates. WorthPoint’s powerful search engine has advanced filters that let
Unlike other guides, which focus almost exclusively on English or members access what they are looking for fast, by price range, location,
high-priced items, Kovels’ covers all American and international items category, with or without images, and more.
and includes reasonably-priced goods. The book is organized by categories
most sought-after by collectors, including depression glass, dolls, jewelry,
furniture, porcelain, and sports memorabilia. Indexes, cross-references, Online Pricing Archives
and expert commentary throughout empower readers to collect with ust about any online selling site or Auction House you turn to offers
confidence and price their own antiques. past results using some sort of search mechanism. This can be
Also from Kovels: Jespecially helpful when you are looking for the value of a specialty
For an annual fee, Kovels offers Kovels Knowledge, an online item and you turn to a site that tends to specialize in that particular
monthly membership providing access to over 25,000 premium articles, area. Here are a few to visit:
identification guides, market trends, monthly sales reports and expert
answers to reader questions. Includes the digital version of the award- Heritage Auctions ha.com
winning Kovels On Antiques & Collectibles newsletter plus 46+ years of Heritage Auctions, like many other auction houses, offers the curious
archives. Readable on cellphones, iPad, and other social media devices. a chance to scour auction results to research items and ascertain their sold
Kovels Knowledge is $4.99 per month for a month-to-month sub- prices. By opening the floodgates to the massive amount of information
scription or $29.99 for the annual plan (a savings of 50%). available for searching, Heritage Auctions also offers a large variety of
While comprehensive in topics covered, a subscription to Kovels online guides for things like condition, maintenance, and investing.
Knowledge does not include access to the Detailed Kovels Guides. Searching can be done by auction, item number, and keyword.
Kovels offers an All Access membership to get both.
RubyLane.com
RubyLane offers a search of current items for sale that can give you

Miller’s Collectibles Handbook a general feel for how items are being valued by their carefully selected
vendors. There is another link to a RubyLane site called “Real or
& Price Guide 2021-2022
The indispensable guide to Repro” (realorrepro.com) that offers alerts and solid information
regarding reproductions coming to the marketplace that you may want
what it’s really worth
Written by: Judith Miller to keep on your radar. You can also educate yourself on how to spot
reproductions in a variety of antique and collectible categories.
Published by: Mitchell Beazley
Publication Date: April 6, 2021 RR Auction rrauction.com
Pages: 416 Price: $29.99 RR Auction has a searchable Past Auctions section that includes
Miller’s Collectibles Handbook & Price about 10 years of auction results and is easy to use.
Guide 2021-2022 is the up-to-date guide to the
collectables market no dealer, collector or Invaluable invaluable.com
auctioneer should be without. Featuring more than 4,000 objects in full The searchable Invaluable Price Archive carries results from pre-2000s
color, each with a detailed description and price range, the book also Auctions to today.

36 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles