Antiques and Collectibles Appraisal

So, you've inherited a wonderful whats-it from your great aunt Verbena. Or perhaps you bought a terrific thing-a-ma-jig at a garage sale. But what is it, and more importantly, what is it worth? Read on, and find the way to begin your research in the following pathfinder.

Places to Visit on the Internet

Antiques Roadshow Online
The popular TV show goes online. There are many useful sections. One is "Tips of the Trade," which details a particular facet of collecting each month, and the previous articles are still accessible. Another section, "Antique Speak," is a small, but growing, glossary of antique terms. Make sure to check out "Stories from the Road," where you can get sneak previews of appraisals on upcoming shows.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/roadshow/

Ebay
Ebay is an excellent resources for beginning collectors. Often, sellers have very good pictures in their ads, which can help with identification of your item. Also, for up to the minute pricing of items Ebay is the place to go. Some people have not appreciated the advent of online auctioning of antiques. Certainly, fakes and reproductions are much easier to pass online than in person. However, if you want to know what your item is currently selling for, and what you might reasonably hope to get for it, then look on ebay.
http://www.ebay.com/

Kaleden
You'll find several useful features on this site. Antique dealers/members of the site put items up for auction. You don't need to buy anything, but cruise through the different galleries and look at the incredible pictures, which you can enlarge to full-screen view. Another not to miss section is entitled "Online Publications" which features articles from 19 antiques publications. Make sure to browse through "Antiques &Collecting Magazine."
http://www.kaleden.com/

Sotheby's This is the site for one of the world's premiere auction houses. If you have what you believe to be a really high ticket item, take advantage of their appraisal service.
http://search.sothebys.com/services/ for appraisal.
For main site: http://www.sothebys.com/

Appraiser Organizations

American Society of Appraisers Visit this site to find an expert appraiser in your area. You can search for appraisers by their speciality.

555 Herndon Parkway, Suite 125
Herndon, VA 20170
(703)478-2228 — Fax:(703)742-8471
http://www.appraisers.org/

The Appraisers Association of America Another professional appraisers association, also with a appraiser database, searchable by location and specialization.

386 Park Avenue South, Suite 2000
New York, NY 10016
Phone: (212) 889 5404
Fax: (212) 889 5503
Email: aaa1@rcn.com
http://www.appraisersassoc.org/

About.com

About.com is a collection of meta-sites designed to help you navigate your way through a chosen topic on the web. The following about.com sites should prove helpful to you.

Antiques http://antiques.about.com/

Collectibles http://collectibles.about.com/

Yahoo! Categories

If you chose to search in Yahoo!, ( http://www.yahoo.com ) then these categories are where you find what you seek.

For Appraisals: http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/Antiques_and_Collectibles/Appraisal/

For Antiques and Collectibles: http://dir.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Shopping_and_Services/antiques_and_Collectibles/

Usenet Groups

To join a usenet discussion group about antiques, go to Google Groups (http://groups.google.com/) and search the complete archive for "antiques." There you will find information about joining these five groups. If you prefer not to join, you can simply read through the archives that Google Groups maintains.'

rec.antiques

alt.marketplace.collectables

alt.collecting

rec.collecting

rec.antiques.marketplace

Print resources

There are so many books about antiques and collectibles that you could start a collection of them. Here are a few to get you started. Once you find your particular collecting niche, you'll want to get more specific books. Here's a hint to help keep your costs down - look in antique stores for older editions. The pictures are still relevant and useful for identification, and the older books are a fraction of the price of newer editions. If you don't see any at your local antique store, ask the owner - almost all of them have a stack of these books somewhere. Also, check for older publications and newsletters. Although the prices given for items will be outdated, the information is still good.

More print resources can be found in your library under these call numbers from the Dewey Decimal Classifications:

Antiques: 745.1

Collecting: 790.132*

*For more indepth books on your particular item, you will need to find its classification. Ask your librarian for help.

The Library of Congress Subject Heading under which you would find books on antiques and collectibles is:

NK 1125

Again, for specific information about an individual item, you may need to ask your librarian to assist you.

Books

Antiques Roadshow Primer: The Introductory Guide to Antiques and Collectibles from the Most Watched Series on PBS Carol Prisant and Chris Jussel Learn about antiques from the folks that bring you the "Antiques Roadshow." The book deals with 'traditional' collectables, such as furniture, glass, pottery, and silver. You'll find tips on telling reproductions from the real thing and a basic introduction to the appraisal process.

Kovels' Antiques &Collectibles Price List Ralph and Terry Kovel You'll see the Kovel name mentioned more than once on this webpage, and with good reason. The Kovels have been publishing their yearly price guide for over 30, and are respected names in the antiques world. The book includes record setting prices from the last year, and predictions about what items will be "hot" in the future. The Kovels do no limit themselves to "true" antiques, you'll also find prices for lunch boxes and Pez dispensers.

Antiques Trader's Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide Kyle Husfloen This is another trusted book that has a yearly edition. Good pictures and detailed descriptions make this an excellent resource.

Buying and Selling Antiques: A Dealer Shows How to Get into the Business Sara Pitzer and Don Cline If you get bitten by the antiques bug in a serious way, this book will help you develop your appraisal skills and advise you on how to get around in the professional world of antiques.

Antiquing for Dummies Ron Zoglin and Deborah Shouse With the clear writing and arrangement characteristic of the "Dummies" series, this book illuminates a clear path into the world of antiques.

Schroeder's Antiques : Price Guide Sharon Huxford and Bob Huxford Yet another popular price guide, with very good photographs.

Maloney's Antiques and Collectibles Resource Directory David J. Maloney This book provides some infomationabout specific kinds of antiques and collectibles, but more importantly, it includes website and email addresses of clubs, experts, and buyers.

Kovel's

Ralph and Terry Kovel have been respected names in the antique and collectibles business for over 30 years, publishing a yearly price guide.

Kovel's Online The Kovel's now have a website full of wonderful resources. You can search for current prices on items. The site also contains in-depth articles, many of which are alerts about reproductions. This is a highly useful site that you will want to return to again and again. (http://www.kovels.com/)

In addition to the previously mentioned annual price guide, the Kovels have written 75 books about specific types of antiques and collectibles. This abbreviated listing will give you an idea of the kind of resources you can expect from the Kovels. The Kovels also publish a monthly newsletter, subscription information is available on their website.

American Country Furniture, 1780-1875

Bid, Buy, and Sell Online: Basic Auction Information and Tricks of the Trade (March 2001)

Directory of American Silver, Pewter and Silver Plate

Kovel's Advertising Collectibles Price List

Kovel's American Art Pottery

Kovel's American Silver Marks: 1650 - Present

Kovel's Antiques and Collectibles Fix-It Source Book

Kovel's Antiques and Collectibles Price List

Kovel's Book of Antique Labels

Kovel's Bottles Price List

Kovel's Collector's Guide to Limited Editions

Kovel's Collectors' Source Book

Kovel's Depression Glass and Dinnerware Price List

Kovel's Dictionary of Marks — Pottery and Porcelain 1650 to 1850

Kovel's Guide to Depression Era Glass

Kovel's Guide to Selling Your Antiques and Collectibles

Kovel's Guide to Selling, Buying and Fixing Antiques

Kovel's Illustrate Price Guide to Royal Doulton

Kovel's Know Your Antiques

Kovel's New Dictionary of Marks: Pottery and Porcelain 1850 - Present

Kovel's Organizer for Collectors

Kovel's Quick Tips: 799 Helpful Hints on How to Care for Your Collectibles

Kovel's Yellow Pages: A Directory of Names, Addresses, Telephone and Fax Numbers, E-mail, and Internet Addresses to Make Selling, Fixing and Pricing Your Antiques and Collectibles Easy

The Label Made Me Buy It: From Aunt Jemima to Zonkers — The Best Dressed Boxes, Bottles and Cans from the Past

Miller's

Judith Miller is the British equivalent to the Kovels. She produces a yearly price guide, as well as several other books about antiques. She also has written several books encouraging people to decorate with their antiques. The following list is meant as an introduction to her works.

Care and Repair of Everyday Treasures

Miller's Antiques Checklist: Art Deco

Miller's Antiques Checklist: Furniture

Miller's Antiques Checklist: Victoriana

Miller's Antiques Encyclopedia: The Definitive Reference on Antiques and Collectibles

Miller's Art Nouveau and Art Deco Buyer's Guide

Miller's Collectibles Price Guide

Miller's Collector's Cars Price Guide

Miller's International Antiques Price Guide

Miller's Picture Price Guide

Miller's Pine and Country Furniture Buyer's Guide

Miller's Pocket Antiques Fact File: Essential Information for Dealer's, Collectors and Enthusiasts

Miller's Silver and Sheffield Plate Marks Including a Guide to Makers and Styles

Miller's Antique Checklist: Porcelain

Miller's Understanding Antiques

Miller's Victorian Style: Creating Period Interiors for Contemporary Living

Miller's World Encyclopedia of Antiques

Period Design and Furnishing: A Sourcebook for Home Restoration

The Antiques Directory: Furniture

Victorian Style

This pathfinder was created by Maureen Campbell