Page 18 - May 2020

By Terry Kovel and Kim Kovel

f you have several generations of “things”
Collecting Tip:
that you have inherited and now have to Do not dry-clean an old quilt. The chemicals will
Imove to a smaller place, be careful what damage the fabric.
you give or throw away. Of course you check Terry Kovel
on oil paintings or prints to see if they can be
sold. The local historical society might want Q. I saw a TV show the other day, “Better Call Saul.” The plot included a Hummel
some of your family pictures and letters from figurine that was so rare it would sell for thousands of dollars. I have seen your
soldiers in past wars. Some old magazines, comments on Hummels that say they are bought for very low prices today, most
comic books, autographs, souvenirs and It’s only 7 inches long and missing under $50, many sold in lots of 10 for less than $100. Did the show make up the
a little paint, but this early toy by
clothes, even a uniform from a famous a well-known German toymaker story? Or is there a type of Hummel that sells for over $1,000?
fast-food restaurant that a family member sold for $24,000 at a Bertoia A. The “Better Call Saul” show was talking about the rarest Hummels, a group
worked for, or an early gym suit with auction in New Jersey last year. called International Figures. The characters talked about the Bulgarian figure
bloomers would be welcome for displays. but the real one depicted a Bavarian figure. In 1976, eight were in a sale by
And be sure to check out everything made of silver or gold, even the ugly tea Robert Miller, the author of the first Hummel price book and an expert in all
set, since there is a meltdown value to precious metals. But very old toys are things Hummel. He realized they were different from any he owned, so he
among the items that sell for more than most people expect. A 7-inch tin toy made for a dealer in Hungary before WWII. Later research claims that 24 or 26
that was made in Germany years ago found its way to a recent auction of different designs were made in the 1940s. The figures are marked with the M.I.
toys and hobbies. It was a motorcycle with a driver in a racing position. Hummel signature used from 1935 to 1955 and mold numbers that run con-
There was a wind-up mechanism where the motor would have been on a secutively from 806 to 813 and others with numbers up to 968. Each figurine
full-size motorcycle. It was painted black and yellow and had yellow tires, is depicted in its country’s national dress. The thieves in the TV show wanted
and the driver had a suit and hat painted brown. Most of the paint remained to steal an ordinary Hummel figurine and redecorate it to look like the famous
and the toy was listed as being in very good to excellent condition. The one that has sold for thousands of dollars. The first sales were at $20,000, but
auction house knew it was a valuable old toy, a Gunthermann racing by 2013, the price for the International figure was as low as $5,000.
motorcycle. Bikes and motorcycles are very popular toys. So although this ***
toy was estimated at more than $7,000, it surprised most when it sold for
$24,000. Antique toys in good condition can be very valuable. Q. I found a little booklet titled My Victory Book while going through some old stuff
from my childhood. It’s partially filled with 10-cent war stamps. They were used to
buy war bonds for our American fighting men and women during World War II.
hat is “tramp art?” There is folk art, regional art, naive art, fine Does this have any value today?
art and other very special names for groups of collectibles A. War bond stamps were issued beginning in 1942, after the United States
Wand antiques, but tramp art is probably the latest one to become entered World War II. Stamps were sold by the Post Office and some organi-
popular. Tramp art has been made for many years, but the name was zations in denominations of 10 cents, 25 cents, 50 cents, one dollar or five
invented by a folk art author in 1959 to describe whittled objects made from dollars. A full book of stamps could be redeemed to buy a War Savings Bond.
old cigar boxes and other scrap wood. Although wooden cigar boxes were Bonds were issued in denominations of $25 to $1,000. The 10-cent book
used to hold cigars since the 1850s, the idea of chip carving the wood into required 187 stamps plus a nickel, $18.75, to purchase a savings bond that
picture frames, birdcages, dollhouses and more didn’t become a noticeable matured at $25 in 10 years. Collectors sometimes buy the partially filled books
craft until about 1875 to the 1930s. What is still as part of World War II history for $5 to $10.
called tramp art was made not only by the “tramps” ***
(hobos) of the past but also by prisoners, sailors, and
others, almost always men. Today we can use a cell- Q. I’ve been holding onto a pair of candlesticks given to me more than 40 years ago,
phone to fill lonely hours, but in the past, whittling and I never use them. They’re not really my thing. Can you help with the marks? It
and other crafts were popular. At first, collectors has a “W” in a circle with three curved lines on either side. It also says “sterling
thought it was an American idea, but by the 1980s, cement reinforced.” Any pricing info would be great, too?
antiques dealers were finding similar carved boxes in A. Your candlesticks were made by Frank M. Whiting Co., of North Attleboro,
Europe, especially Germany, and bringing them back Massachusetts. The company was in business from 1878 to 1940, when it
It might be hard to see to sell at shows. Today tramp art, like graffiti, has became a division of Ellmore Silver Co. That company went out of business
the bird in this cage, about 1960. Silver that is “cement reinforced” is also called “weighted” silver.
but it is probably a been accepted as an art form. This 34-inch-wide The heavy base helps the candlestick stand up. One of the ways to value silver
model that was part of architectural tramp art birdcage has five doors and is to find the meltdown value by multiplying the current price of silver by
a tramp art collection. other openings. It sold at a Skinner auction in Boston
It sold for $615. as part of a collection of tramp art for $615. the weight. The cement is heavy and makes judging silver value different.
A weighted Whiting candlestick sold online for about $20.

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
Medicine bottle, Dr. Kilmer’s Swamp Root, label, Cigar tin, Sunset Trail, two horseback riders, 5 cents, Glass, punch set, carnival glass, Acorn Burrs, green
contents, box, $75. 5 x 6 x 4 inches, $420. iridescent, punch bowl with pedestal base, 6 cups,
Northwood, 11 x 11 1/2 inches, $425.
Political, campaign plate, tin lithograph, Howard Taft Doll, Seminole, cloth, jacket, yarn hair, sterling pin,
& James Sherman, 1908, 9 1/2 inches, $140. 1922 token, 17 inches, $526. Redware, puzzle jug, holes in neck, inscribed 1767,
4 inches, $750.
Furniture, chair, bergeres, upholstered, carved crest & Kitchen, kettle, apple butter, copper, dovetailed
stiles, open padded arms, shaped seat rail, cabriole construction, iron bail handle, J.P. Schaum, Paperweight, Baccarat, canes, roses, shamrocks, 3-inch
legs, France, 1800s, 45 x 32 inches, pair, $400. Lancaster, Pa., 1785-1814, 13 x 22 inches, $236. diameter, 1849, $1,800.

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.
16 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles