Antiques column
Q. How are officially authorized Beatles items marked? – Paul, Pasadena, Calif. A. Because of their mega-popularity, the group was featured on scores of items ranging from bubble gum cards to schoolbags. These British imports made their TV debut on the Ed Sullivan Show in the 1960s. One-of-a-kind items such as autographs or original drawings by John Lennon, are rare and very expensive today. Search for treasures marked “NEMS or “SELTAEB” or “NEMS” which was the acronym for Beatles manager Brian Epstein’s company, North end Music Stores, while ” SELTAEB,” the group’s American licensing company, was simply “Beatles” spelled backwards. A movie poster, one sheet of Yellow Submarine from 1968, fetches over $1,000 today.
Q. Can you list prices on the most sought Schoenhut toys? – Ty, Cambridge, Mass.
A. Philadelphia, Pa., was the home base for this unique toy maker around the beginning of the 1900s. The Humpty Dumpty circus figures are all high on collectors’ wanted lists. Other comic characters are also in demand. A Bonzo dog figure that belonged to Betty Boop can sell for $1,200. Happy Holligan can reach $2,000. Felix the Cat in the rare size of 6 inches trades hands at $1,200. KoKo, the Inkwell clown, featured in King Features and created by Max Fleisher, is considered extremely rare and has sold for $5,000. Maggie and Jiggs can command $1,400 for the pair. Condition is crucial for best returns.
Q. Can you discuss Ribbon Doll pictures? – Melanie, Boca Raton, Fla.
A. Figures dressed in ribbon colonial clothes and framed on a black background are what we are talking about. These were popular art form for ladies to indulge in during the 1930s thru the 1950s. They are sometimes referred to as ribbon ladies or ribbon pictures. The makings of ribbon lady was available in kit form. Ten-cent patterns were also offered. Women in hoop skirts carrying bouquets of flowers or parasols were a staple in this field. An unusual pose would be one smoking a cigarette. The majority of the subjects were female but a male can be found in many collections. Value guide: colonial ribbon doll at spinning wheel, framed, $90.
Q. Is it true some Fiesta ware pieces can cost thousands? – Ann, Toledo, Ohio.
A. Yes, many current price guides list a covered onion soup bowl in turquoise at $8,000. This line of dinnerware, which was inexpensive at the time, was made by Homer Laughlin. It was produced from 1936 until 1973. It was made in 11 different colors. During the 1950s, the colors offered were gray, rose, chartreuse, and dark green. These colors are more difficult to find along with a medium green and thus they command higher prices. Look for two types of marks: an ink stamp on machine-jiggered pieces and an impressed mark on Holloware pieces.
Current Prices
– Fan, lace, French, sequin applique, tortoise shell sticks, 1890, $600.
– Sword, Bronze, Celtic, circa 8th century BC, 23 inches, $22,000.
– Magazine, American Legion, H.C. Christy cover, February, 1927, $25.
– Bookends, elephant heads, gray metal, Jennings Bros., 1928, $225.
– Huckleberry Hound, bank, figural, plastic, 1960, $40.
– Statue of Liberty, admission card to inauguration, 1886, $80.
– Charlie McCarthy, radio, Majestic, white or brown case, $1,200.
– Tool, axe, Fordham and Hedges, $125.
– Halloween, Costume, Flipper, Collegeville, 1964, $50.
– Boudoir Doll, composition, jointed, smoker, 1930s, $800.
Write to Charles Mather in care of the Herald-Standard at Crown Syndicate Inc., P.O. Box 99126, Seattle, Wash. 98199 or call (206) 285-1888.