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By Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel

his vintage bank is easy to date. It is a type of tin bank that is
Collecting Tip:
no longer popular and the dog decorating the front was a comic
Tcartoon star from the 1920s to the 1940s. This is the first Don’t store fabrics in plastic bags. Use a well-washed Terry Kovel
famous Bonzo. white pillowcase. Plastic holds moisture and the fabrics
A live dog by that name became should breathe.
famous in the movies years later. Bonzo
was first pictured in a British comic strip Q. While going through my parents’ things, I found a paperweight of a
in 1922, but the bank was made in bulldog’s head. It’s heavy and about 2 inches tall. The bottom says “Tiffany
Germany by Saalheimer & Strauss. The Studios, New York” with the number “888.” I think it was a gift my dad
company made toys, especially cars and received back in the 1930s. What is this worth, and how can I sell it?
motorcycles, until it was bought in 1936. A. Tiffany Studios made this bronze paperweight about 1910. Louis
The toys had an oval mark with two over- Comfort Tiffany (1848-1933) had companies under several different
lapping S letters on top of the word names from about 1879 until 1933. The name became Tiffany Studios in
Success. There are two similar versions of 1902. Bulldog paperweights like this have sold at auction. If you decide to
the bank; a poem explaining how to send it to an auction to sell, be sure to ask what the seller’s premium and
deposit money is on the front of one type any other charges will be. You can also consign it or sell it to an antiques
but not on the other. shop or to a dealer at an antiques show. A bronze Tiffany Studios
Bertoia Auctions sold this mechanical
bank for $1,800. paperweight with added gilding sold for $500 in 2019.
***
Q. How much is a newspaper from May 7, 1945, the day World War II ended
To deposit a coin in the Bonzo bank, you had to in Europe, worth? I have the Louisville Times and the Courier-Journal from
push his tummy. His tongue would come out of his
mouth to deposit the coin inside. Many similar that date. They are both in good condition. Where can I sell them?
banks were made picturing other comic characters. A. Old newspapers from important events that occurred in the 20th
century are not usually worth as much as you might think, unless the
t is easy to guess what this is – a rainbow spatterware water pitcher. newspaper has some special connection to the event. News of the end of
But how old is it? Spatterware was first made in the late 1700s in the war in Europe was published in newspapers around the world, and
IEngland, but most found today dates from about 1800 to 1850 in many people saved copies for posterity. Copies of the newspaper for that
Staffordshire, England, made to sell in the United States. date sell for under $10 if the paper has yellowed to $75 if the paper is white
Unfortunately, the word “spatterware” now has several meanings, and flexible.
probably because novice collectors didn’t realize there is a difference ***
between spatter and spongeware. Another hazard is that there are fairly Q. My mother has a five-shelf bookcase made by the Globe-Wernicke Co. in
good copies of spatterware made today to be used in the kitchen. Cincinnati. The stamp on the inside states the size is D-8 1/2 and the grade is
Experts can tell the old from the 398. Can you tell us more about the bookcase and its worth?
new by the shape, weight and the
white glaze color. They also know A. Otto H.L. Wernicke was granted a patent for his stackable “sectional
the difference in the look of a stock case for mercantile houses” in 1892 and founded the Wernicke Co.
spattered paint mark and the in Minneapolis in 1893. He patented his design for a bookcase of
mark left by a paint-dipped interchangeable sections, which collapsed for shipping, in 1896. The
sponge. Old rainbow spatter like company moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1897. It merged with the
this pitcher is expensive. This Globe Co. of Cincinnati in 1899, and the name became Globe-Wernicke.
piece sold with the buyers’ premi- It was sold in 1955 and became Globe-Weis Systems Co. in 1963. The
um for $5,227. stackable bookcases, sometimes called “elastic bookcases” or “barrister
This 11-inch-high antique rainbow bookcases,” were made with ash, mahogany, oak or walnut finish. The
spatterware water picture with bands in “grade 398” stamp indicates the finish is imitation medium dark
five different colors sold for more than mahogany on maple/red birch. It was used beginning about 1899. The
$5,000 at a Conestoga auction this year.
Notice the double G-scroll handle, an “D-8 1/2” size stamp indicates they are 9 1/2-inches deep and 8 1/2-inches
added value feature. high. Retail value of your five-shelf bookcase is about $900.

Current prices are recorded from antiques shows, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States.
Prices vary in different locations because of local economic conditions.
CURRENT PRICES
Wood candlesticks, carved, Wilhelm Schimmel style, Folk art, mirror, hand, make-do, wood, chip carved Weathervane, golfer, silhouette, swinging driver, golf
central ball, tapered sections, stepped base, 1900s, frame and handle, teardrop shape, Pennsylvania, bag with clubs standing behind, copper, verdigris
10 1/4 inches, pair, $95. 19th century, 11 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches, $440. patina, 25 1/2 x 21 1/2 inches, $445.
Alarm clock, travel, gilt brass case, square, white dial Quilt, piecework, Steeple Chase pattern, blue cotton, Jewelry, cuff links, clear, red and orange gemstones,
with Roman numerals, Swiss quartz movement, white patterned fabrics, hand stitched with white faceted pillow shape, bezel set round stones in each,
marked Tiffany & Co., c.1970, 4 inches, $115. backing, c.1900, 56 1/2 x 82 1/2 inches, $110. 18K gold, chain link connector, marked, Trianon,
1/2 inch, $610.
Furniture, chair, Neoclassical style, fruitwood, Toy, Playland Merry-Go-Round, children on horses,
carved swan arms, silk brocade upholstery, 1800s, multicolored, tin lithograph, windup, J. Chein & Sterling silver tray, “IL” in cartouche at center, oval,
31 1/2 inches, pair, $885. Co., box, 11 x 11 inches, $270. reeded rim, 4-footed, late 1700s, 7 inches, $565.

Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel answer questions sent to the column. By sending a letter with a question and a picture, you give full permission for use in the column or any other Kovel forum. Names,
addresses or email addresses will not be published. We cannot guarantee the return of photographs, but if a stamped envelope is included, we will try. The amount of mail makes personal answers or
appraisals impossible. Write to Kovels, (Journal of Antiques & Collectibles), Kovels.com P.O. Box 23192, Beachwood, Ohio 44122.
January 2021 43