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PLEASE NOTE-Advice from Elle is provide solely for entertainment purposes and Funk & Junk® cannot be held responsible for any loses real or imagined for sales or purchases of items mentioned in these articles.
All contents are copyright Funk & Junk® and reprinting in any medium is strictly prohibited without express written permission.
Elle always welcomes responsible replies to any of her postings and additional information is always appreciated.

Please read my article on selling prices as it relates to all values given for VALUE type questions

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Subject: Old Dixie recipe book (Black Memorabilia)
Question:Hi Elle,
Love ya and I check in every other day to read your stuff.

I have a copy of a cookbook/booklet entitled "Fine Old Dixie Recipes". It is 48 pages long. It was published in 1939 and comes in a wooden binder with a colored Mammy picture on the front Both the Mammy and the title of the book are etched into the front cover. There are other illustrations of Mammy scattered throughout the booklet as well. The binder has some normal wear and tear but the booklet is better than excellent.

I want to sell it and though I realize I can't get near retail value I would like to know how much it would sell for in a nice shop.

Thanks for all the great reading!
Shelley
Answer:Hi Shelley,
So glad you enjoy my feature and thanks for passing along your nice comments.

You have a rather scarce piece of Black memorabilia that also has some appeal to cookbook collectors.

The wooden binder is the best part of your collectible and it's very hard to find. More often than not the booklet is found without the ring held wooden cover.

Though the loose booklet too has a value it is significantly increased with a nice condition binder. Though you didn't mention it I have seen these before and the inscribed decorations and illustrations are very well done. When they can find them retail stores sell these in the $65 range in excellent condition.

Thanks,
Elle

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Subject: Stork Club pair of dice
Question:Hi Elle,
Here's an unusual one for you.

I have a pair of standard, and probably Bakelite, dice from the New York Stork Club. I have been told that they are from the 20's or 30's. One of the dice is normal while the 2nd one has the Stork Club logo. They are in NM condition.

Any value and who would be interested (other than me!) in these dice.

Thanks for your feature,
Jack
Answer:Hi Jack,
Quite an unusual item indeed. Not beyond being a Collectible, however.

Your dice would appeal both to collectors of Stork Club memorabilia as well as gambling item collectors.

Though I'm not certain, you are probably right that your dice are made of Bakelite or a similar, early, plastic. In such great condition your dice would retail in the $40-50 range.

Your faded (ok, this one is really obscure but a few of you are smiling a little),
Elle

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Subject: Santa German candy containers
Question:Hi Elle,
With the Holiday season just around the corner I thought you might need a topical question for a near future article.

My Grandmother gave me a small collection of German Santa Claus figural candy (or so I'm told) containers. They are all very similar except for their sizes; 6 inch, 8 inch (2) and 9 inch. They all split in half at the waist and are hollow. I was told that originally they came with hard candies in them. There is some understandable wear on the edges and a few flacks off the waist areas from opening and closing. The body has a felt covering over a stiff material. I think that given their intended purpose that they would be evaluated in very good condition.

I know that Santa stuff is very popular and some items can be very valuable so I'm curious to know their value. I would never part with them however and plan to pass them down to my kids who will hopefully follow suit.

Thanks for all the great, free, information over the years and, in case I don't hear from you, have a Merry Christmas!
Molly
Answer:Hi Molly,

You were right, yours was one of the very few seasonal questions that has ever been submitted so it's nice that you sent me your festive question.

Christmas collectibles are hotter this year than they ever have been. Not only are the Santa image items super hot but Christmas tree pins and aluminum Christmas trees are coming up strong.

You have a nice collection of highly sought after paper mache/composition Santa containers with felt overlay. German Santas can easily be collectibles on their own and the images are usually beautiful.

Prices go up as the size goes up. Your Santas would range from $375 to $500 or more depending on the individual condition and size.

Nice to hear that they are staying in the family and I hope that they are at least displayed every Christmas so others can see them and your family can enjoy them.

Thanks and Happy Holidays to you and all my readers too!,
Elle

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Subject: Soaky and other container various values
Question:The following are from a number of readers asking for values on their Soaky (or similar) containers. It's another good opportunity to respond to a number of you at once so here goes.

I've noted the condition in parenthesis next to the description along with the approximate time of manufacture. I have obviously eliminated each requests text but the most relevant information was the name and condition of the container.
Answer:By the way, if you don't know what Soakies are then read
my explanation.

Phew! If your not clean by now you never will be!

Thanks everyone,
Elle

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Subject: Doll house furniture
Question:Hi Elle,
Don't think you've ever answered a question about doll houses and doll items and I'm not sure if it's because you don't have any knowledge about them or whether you've never had a submission so I'm hoping it's the latter and that I'm the first. Hopefully you will find my question of interest and worthy of posting.

I have a growing collection of doll house furniture and I'm curious as to its value. Most pieces I have found for very little money with the exception of the couple of Renwal boxed sets which were still relatively cheap as far as I'm concerned.

All of these loose pieces are in excellent or better condition and the boxed sets are very good with some normal wear on the boxes and excellent condition pieces. It's just a small selection of the pieces that I like the best because I don't want to overwhelm you with an impossible list.

Here's the list:


Answer:Hi Blair,
You were right that it was the latter reason, this is the first dollhouse accessory request I've had.

I'm sure you've seen the decline in the availability of cheap finds on these plastic beauties in the last couple of years as the popularity of these mini masterpieces increased significantly. Not too long ago you could find small bags of pieces for sale but now they are usually sold by the individual piece. Though the pieces you have mentioned are nice examples with decent price tags they are somewhat of an exception and there are still many pieces available in the $5-10 range.

If this is just scratching the surface then I'm sure your collection is impressive:

Thanks,
Elle

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Subject: Motion lamps
Question:Hi Elle,
I just got back from a flea market and I'm carrying my new budding collection. If you could give me some more information (name?) of these lamps along with your idea of value I would appreciate it.

Both lamps have a bulb attached to a base with a thin metal pole that supports a couple of round shades with illustrations on them. When the bulb gets hot the outer shade starts to rotate and with the smaller shade inside of it creates a moving picture.

The first lamp is about 10" high and the picture is of a Merry Go Round that jumps into action when the heats on. The second is of fish under the ocean. Both of them are in very good condition with a few flaws on the shades but they turn just fine and the appearance is great.

I don't think I could go wrong at $50 for the pair, what do you think?

Thanks in advance,
Judy
Answer:Hey Judy,
What you have wisely, and cheaply!, bought are called motion lamps and they were very popular in the 1950's but have been produced since the 20/30's and continued right through the 70's.

2 sleeve shades sit, nested, on the pointy end of a metal stick that allows the outer shade to rotate as the heat from the bulb expands.

You have some pretty nice examples and the picture is really the whole deal with these lamps. Niagara falls and forest fires are quite common but your examples are harder to find and quite desirable.

The best one, in my opinion, is the Merry Go Round which would appeal to a number of collectors in addition to motion lamp buyers. Expect to pay about $150+ for this keeper. Your fish lamp too is a desirable image and creates a beautiful picture. Find it for less than $125 and you've done well.

Thanks,
Elle

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Subject: Nodder / Bobbing head dolls
Question:Hi Elle,
My mother just gave me an instant collection of little dolls in the shape of characters with heads that move around on wires/pegs like the old/new hula girls you see on dashboards of cars but just the head moves.

My Mom says that they always called them bobbers but no one I ask has ever heard of them. What are they really called?

If you could give me a value for any of these I would really appreciate it. No way I'm going to sell them but I do want to start the hunt for more and want to have an idea of retail cost.

Most of them have a few flea bite chips in them and some wear so I would call them VG- in general to make it easy. Here's the list:

Thanks in advance,
Jessica
Answer:Hi Jessica,
Bobbers is as good a name as any and there is really no correct name as different manufacturers called them different things. "Bobbing head dolls" is the more commonly used term along with "Nodders" but none of them is wrong per se.

As you eluded to with your new hula girl reference, these dolls are back with a vengeance. Many new characters are being manufactured and include, among others, Speed Racer, Barney Fife and Andy Griffith and Austin Powers.

Old ones are available in a mix of medias including wood, paper mache, plastic and ceramics. Because some of the older nodders were made of paper mache and other rather fragile materials you might need to give a little on condition. Near mint and mint examples are a rarity.

Your mother started you off nicely with some hard to find characters but there are hundreds you don't have so get cracking! There are also sports team nodders which are a collection unto themselves!

Nodding my thanks,
Elle

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Subject: Flying things wacky airplanes
Question:Hi Elle,
I have a small collection of "Flying Things" airplanes in their packages. Topps gum company manufactured them and I believe they are from the 60's or, at the latest, early 70's.

I have quite a few but here are some examples:

I'm hoping you can shed some light on the current value for these sealed airplanes in their near mint packages. I was a both happy and a little disappointed to see them for only $8.00 on the Funk & Junk® site but I've seen a good number of super deals there before so I'm hoping that they're just cheap. Of course, I did fill in some of my collection with some of those since I think they are very cheap.

I haven't listed them all but if there are any stand outs in terms of price I would love to know.

Thanks,
Phillip
Answer:Hi Phillip!,
Flying things were produced from 1965 to 1975 and were, obviously, popular. Each figural airplane came in two parts made of a Styrofoam like material (early ones may have been balsa wood but I have no confirmation of this fact at my fingertips) and, once the wing and tail were inserted, actually flew quite well. I don't have exact numbers on hand but there are at least 45 different airplanes and they were all wacky. Some/all of the designs were re-released a number of times over the 10 year period.

You are correct in assuming that the $8.00 each price on the Funk & Junk® site is a bargain indeed and they did not lie when they originally posted collector's retail values at $10 to $15 for the loose airplanes and $25 to $35 for the wrappers! In speaking with the Funk & Junk® staff I am told that a number of sealed boxes (which have now dwindled to only a handful) were bought many, many years ago by one of the Associates. As is their policy, they have passed this wise purchase along to the customers and still manage a modest profit.

However, values have risen since the original posting. Current values for the airplanes are $15 to $20 with the envelope values still in the $25 to $35 range. These are for mint and close to near mint examples and the year of issue does have slight effect on where your planes will fall in these ranges though it is minimal. The wrappers have a higher value simply due to the fact that they were normally discarded.

Now it's simply a matter of doing the math for your collection with a conservative estimate of $30 for each sealed plane.

Thanks,
Elle

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Subject: Swanky Swig juice glass premiums
Question:I was at an action and bought a box of junk in this box was some small juice glasses, they were wrapped in 1960 news paper. they have red chicken or hens on them.

I also got some with dog, cats, bears on them they look like little toy pictures.

Are they worth any thing?

Tracy
Answer:Hi Tracy,
Although you submitted this as a history request it sounds like your really after the value but I will give you a little of both.

What you have are normally called "Swanky Swigs" and yours are from the 50's though they were made in the 30's and 40's as well. Swanky Swigs are a generic terms for glasses that used to come filled with Cheese spread, jelly and relish (probably some other products but these are the ones I know of). Specifically, Kraft Food is credited with most of the glasses but it has become a general term as other companies have produced similar glasses over the years.

Just like the jelly glasses of today they were produced to entice the buyer who could rationalize that they could build a set of juice glasses while they bought their favorite product.

The range of illustrations is huge and I've never seen a full accounting of them in any guide or elsewhere. Values depend mostly on the animal shown but also depend on the whimsical (or not) nature of the illustration. Values range from $2 for some of the lesser ones with unstylized flowers on them to $12 for some of the better animals/illustrations. There are exceptions up to $20+. Your glasses are likely to fall in the $6-10 range for each. Glasses came in both standard juice sizes as well as 10 ounce (roughly) tumblers and sets of the two do exist. The larger of the glasses tend to be more desirable and harder to find.

Thanks,
Elle

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Subject: Cleaning rusted chrome
Question:Hi Elle,
I'm sure you have a bag of tricks stashed for cleaning, fixing, etc. even though I only found one or two questions. I recently bought an old 1950's dinette set with a linoleum topped table and heavy vinyl covered chairs. The set looks pretty good with the exception of rust on almost all of the legs from being kept in a covered but open porch. The rust has also caused some blemishes in the metal.

Can you give me any suggestions on how to improve the appearance of the set? I gave some thought to painting the legs but that's really my last resort.

Help!
Pauline
Answer:Hi Pauline!,
Fear not and please don't paint those legs!

My bag of tricks isn't huge but I have gathered a few over the years and your right that it is simply the case that it hasn't come up in any of my writings for Funk & Junk®.

This side of re-chroming the set (which is an option, albeit an expensive one) you will not get perfect legs.

I have had great results with a product call "Liquid 1st Class". Though I have seen it in two auto supply stores years ago it is difficult to get and used to be available through the mail only. I have a large supply so I haven't even searched it out in a long time but you might also try car collector shows since that was how it was first marketed. However, any bug and tar remover/polish should do the trick nicely and I've known people who have used other products with similar results. You just wipe some on and let it dry (takes less than a minute) then wipe it off.

The blemishes are usually referred to as "pitting" and the polish actually helps to smooth things a little. I have never tried this since the dinettes I've used this trick on came out looking great and the pitting was only visible upon close inspection but you might try a little very light grit sandpaper. Try this only on a small spot (probably near where the leg of the table meets the table itself since it is never seen) since it is bound to cause some scratching even with a fine grade of paper. This scratching, too, might only be visible when you are up close so you can decide which is the lesser of the two evils. I would follow that with a wiping of the polish and take it from there depending on the outcome.

I think you will find that once you've cleaned the legs up you wont even notice the pitting.

Breakfast is on you!
Elle

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Subject: Pee Wee Herman Colorforms set(s)
Question:Unopened box of colorforms. Pee Wee Herman's Play house.

What is value?

Thank you.
Ron
Answer:Hi Ron,
Pretty straight to the point but not enough information as they made two sets so I will address both for you.

The deluxe Pee Wee set would sell for $60-65 while the regular set sells for $45-50.

Thanks,
Elle

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Subject: Little Orphan Annie and Sandy wood figures
Question:Hi Elle,
Your feature kicks butt!

I have a pair of wood strung together figures of Orphan Annie and her dog, Sandy.

Annie is about 5" tall and the body parts for the figures are strung together though it is tight enough to stand up. There is some light paint wear but I would say the pair is in very good condition.

Treasure or trash?

Thanks,
Becki
Answer:Hi Becki!, Thanks, I've been know to kick a few butts in my time!

Treasure indeed! Your figures were probably made by Jaymar toys who are probably most easily known for their extensive puzzle offerings.

Paint is very often found flaking off and figures in such nice condition are increasingly harder to find. Not the most popular of characters right now but still a pair that would retail for $150.

Time for an Ovaltine break!
Elle

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Subject: Underdog lunch box and thermos
Question:Hey Elle!,
I have a nice lunch box that I thought you might be able to give some insight to me with regards to value. I have asked a few local dealers and have gotten values/offers anywhere from $50 to $200.

Back in 1974 my mother bought me a great metal Underdog lunch box. When I got it not only did I love it but it was the hit of the playground. Call me a strange kid but I always wanted my Mom to wrap the lunch box in another bag so I wouldn't damage it. I was pretty careful with most of my toys and, sometimes, to the point of annoyance. Instead of doing that and robbing me of the show off rights as I went to school, my great Mom went out and bought a duplicate box for me. She told me something to the effect of if my original box was ever damaged she would simply pull out the brand new one but she was certain that I would keep my treasure in great shape.

She was right (of course!) and I never had to use my reserve. The great news obviously is that I not only have my original box in great shape but I have a dead Mint version complete with thermos to sell off.

The values I got were so different and, frankly, the dealers seemed a little cagey so I thought I would take a few additional steps and start with contacting you.

Should I take the $200?

Thanks,
Michael
Answer:Hi Michael,
Though the dealers you dealt with may or may not have been cagey, certainly one of them either doesn't know the market or is taking advantage of you at a $50 selling price to him/her. The other dealer, though giving you significantly more, also seems to use a lower percentage of retail selling price. Having said that, buying items is not a cut and dry situation and many variables enter into it. These can include the dealers market which may not include lunch boxes (or Collectibles for that matter) to any great degree hence a lower retail price and purchase price from you. Generally excepted dealer purchase percentages usually run in the 25-33% range. See my
article on selling for a more detailed discussion of this and other relevant points.

Underdog is a very popular character and both the metal version and the harder to find, though cheaper, plastic version command surprising prices. Mint examples are almost impossible to find and your box would certainly sell for $1000. At the right auction it could go past this mark easily with a couple of eager collectors. The bonus is that your thermos alone also has a great value and a mint thermos by itself could bring $300-350. The matched set also could would, almost certainly, top the combination of these two values.

My advice would be to pass on both of the dealers you have consulted so far. Consignment to a better shop or auction would probably be a good bet and the auction would probably command the best value provided it is a well known house that specializes in toys and Collectibles or at least has feature auctions 2 or more times a year. Again, take a look at the above linked article which may shed some light on selling this and other items.

Thank god for Moms!
Elle

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Subject: Alice in Wonderland head vase
Question:Hi Elle,
I have a lady head vase called "Alice in Wonderland" it is marked on the bottom under the glaze Walt Disney Productions There was a plant in it at one time for there's dirt stains one the inside. In excellent condition except for the crust the dirt left behind.

I don't want to clean it because I don't want to damage it by not knowing how to get that junk off. Inarco made one just like the one I have,just different markings.

Thank you for your time,
Charlene
Answer:Hi Charlene,
I'm not familiar with the company called Inarco and the only version of the Alice head vase I have seen was by Enesco in the 60's. This may actually be what you referring to.

You may simply have a different firing by Enesco as you seem to think they are near identical. Enesco used a lot of foil labels that were prone to peeling off.

The dirt left behind from use may have already stained the vase which lowers the value but not too significantly. It would be a good thing to attempt to clean the residue away as best you can. Start with a mild soap and luke warm (pretty hot but not boiling) water in a room temperature room. You may also try Windex on a small portion. It should not damage it at all and I use Windex for many of my cleaning jobs. I always suggest a test portion before doing the entire piece just in case. Windex will provide a little more cleaning power without being too harsh.

Oops!, you forgot a condition statement. The vase ranges in price from $95 to $175 in at least excellent condition.

Thanks,
Elle

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Subject: Jams World Hawaiian shirt
Question:I have a men's button-down shirt, size Medium. The label reads, "Jams World... Collectors Edition." In the middle of the label there's a logo of the world with a banner across that reads "30th anniversary." The shirt is in excellent condition and is quite attractive. The color scheme is yellow, green, brown & a little aqua. The print appears Caribbean (?), with tropical trees which I originally thought were coconut; however, there's sliced fruit that looks like it could be kiwi. This is a 100% Rayon shirt, with a breast pocket and buttons that are speckled to match the print design. The shirt was made in the USA. The care label reads Jams World R/N #40179, style# M630RE, cut #0302B (if that's useful.)

I bought it at a thrift shop a few years ago when I was actually looking for Hawaiian shirts.

Is this worth anything & when/where would you date it? I hope you can help.

Thanks much!,
Denise
Answer:Hi Denise,
I'm taking a backseat on this question and passing along to Funk & Junk®'s resident Aloha shirt expert. The retail manger, Jeff, has been collecting and wearing Hawaiian shirts for over 20 years and his experiences include buying in Hawaii. So without further ado...here's Jeff:

Hi Denise,
Well, you actually completed your mission of finding a Hawaiian shirt whether you realize it or not.

Jams, short for pajamas, is a division of the Surf Line Hawaii Ltd. company in Hawaii.

Surf Line began production of Jams in early 1964. The line was started by an avid surfer who believed that the clothing surfers wore should be as vibrant as the sport itself. The original production was knee length shorts. Surfers immediately went nuts for the shorts and the line was sold in a small local Hawaiian shop. This all changed, however, once Life magazine picked up on them and did a huge full color spread in 1965. Within no time the line was picked up throughout the company and sold in exclusive shops that included Bloomingdales, Macys and Lord & Taylor.

Surfline was also producing shirts by then and also produced other unique styles including; "Cheeters" (shorts with slit sides), "Jobbers" (shorts with utility loops) and "Butt Cutts" (low waist bathing suits).

Your shirt was produced in 1994 for the 30th Anniversary. Jams have created a pocket of collectors within the groups of Aloha shirt collectors and some only want Jams. Valuing your shirt is near impossible without a picture and values vary based on manufacturer, pattern, button construction, etc.. I probably would have no problem reselling your shirt in our shop for $40. This is actually a nice buy when you consider that the new shirts in Hawaii (and exported) sell in the $55-95+ range.

The market for Aloha shirts from the 60-80's is really heating up as the older shirts become unattainable for many of us (prices in the multiple 100's is not uncommon at all!) so it is only a matter of time before the quality (not knockoffs) shirts of the 90's begin to climb as well.

Sure makes me appreciate what Elle provides you guys after just this one response!

Thanks for stopping by,
Jeff

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Subject: Barrel of Monkeys, old or not?
Question:Hi Elle,
My now favorite site is improved only by your articles, thanks.

I recently bought a couple of "Barrel of Monkey" toys at a yard sale. One of them is 9 1/2" tall Brown barrel with oversized monkeys and the other is a bright Red standard size barrel.

I know that they still make barrels, are mine old? How can I tell?

Thanks and please keep it up!,
Ted
Answer:Hi Ted,
Glad I can make your shopping experience all that much better!

To the best of my recollection they have not reproduced the Giant Barrel of Monkeys so you can be fairly certain that you have at least the 1971 version. This may be the only version produced but I am not certain. The smaller original barrels were first produced in 1966. Giant barrels are tough to find.

You are right that the smaller Barrels have been and continue to be remade. The key to dating these barrels is that the bottom section of the barrel has the instructions to play, trademark information AND the date of manufacture. New barrels are made in colors only so the Brown barrel is also another visual clue to age.

Thanks for the question,
Elle

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Subject: Quisp cereal Bank
Question:I have seen the Quisp paper mache bank (60's?) list anywhere from $300 to $900. Can you give me your value on this item?

Rick
Answer:Hi Rick,
This range could actually be completely valid since you failed to mention the condition of the bank(s). You are correct in that the bank is from the 60's.

Quisp and Quake are one of the more sought after cereal characters from the 60's and prices for most items are out of this world.

The figural Quisp bank is approximately 6" tall for those who don't know about it. Value would start at about $500 for a G+ to VG- example and would indeed go to $800-900 for a NM to Mint example. So you can see that $300 could easily be a nice buy if the bank were in decent shape.

Thanks,
Elle

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Subject: Grateful Dead poster
Question:I have a Grateful Dead poster, 16x20 from a Mac Court performance in Eugene Oregon from 1978.

Does this have any value?

Thanks,
Elaine
Answer:Hi Elaine,
Unfortunately there is not enough information to properly value your poster. As I've mentioned before, request really need to include just about everything one could observe by looking at the item. In this case, the value rests mainly in the artist and the design or picture. For more details on posters in general and Grateful Dead posters specifically, see a
similar question posed about a year ago.

Both interest and prices have risen slightly for good quality show posters but mostly for the pre-1970 examples and, more specifically, Fillmore posters.

Your poster in relative terms is an older one and prices remain fairly low for the majority of these examples. One reason for these lower values rests in the fact that they have become a known Collectible and, therefore, many more examples survive.

As I've mentioned, it is impossible for me to nail down a value without any details but I would expect that your poster would be near the $30 mark but please take everything I've said both here and in the related article into account. I should also mention that some concert posters have been reproduced on hard card stock and the Grateful Dead are among those reproduced. These posters sell for about $5 but I am unsure as to their measurements.

Sorry I couldn't be of anymore help,
Elle

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Subject: Peter Max eyeglasses
Question:Dear Elle,
My first pair of glasses were designed by Peter Max. They are from approximately 1972. The design is a stop sign shape, the colors on the glasses are purple, green & yellow. Rims are green, bridge is purple and the sides are yellow. A Peter Max logo is on the side as well.

Last year, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Max and he was kind enough to autograph the glasses on the lenses. I have since had the glasses framed in a shadow box.

What value do you think they have?

Thank you,
Suzanne Rogers
Answer:Hi Suzanne!,
You have a great pair of glasses that are highly sought after these days. Values for Max glasses depends on design and color. Your frames were done in a number of color schemes. Condition, which was not mentioned, is of the utmost importance. You have essentially pulled your glasses from the wearable market where they are best sold, particularly in the ever growing Vintage clothing market of today.

Though the autograph would certainly help the value, with a recent autograph it may have done you a better service, in terms of value and sale, to maintain the wearable status of the glasses. If selling was never your intention and you can't pull of the style for yourself then framing was a great road to follow so don't get me wrong.

Again, you didn't mention the condition but most pairs sell in the $225-350 range. The glasses were sold with Max designed cases which add greatly to the value. I would expect that you could add another $75 or so for the autograph. Your value may be lower (or higher) than the combination of these two values due to the framing but I have no references for similar sales to compare.

Thanks,
Elle

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Subject: Calypso autographed album
Question:I'm trying to get some info on a record that was in a box deal at an auction.

Title: Calypso Vibrations Universal Sounds, dated: 1978, autographed: by all four band members, record # CV-001, record speed 33 1/3, distributed by: The Calypso Vibrations and Clem Grosvenor.

Any info is appreciated. Value???? / History????

Elmo
Answer:Hi Elmo,
Though I can't give you any information on the band itself I can shed some light on your item that may help.

Calypso music is not only experiencing a boom now in popularity but was even more popular in the 50's through early 70's (especially in the 50's and 60's). Not a trip was taken to the Caribbean without a souvenir record from the band that either performed at the hotel (as was popular in the 50's and 60's) or the local restaurant. It was a common practice to get the albums autographed as the band usually was very audience friendly and mingled with the crowd, often sparking vacation friendships and fans. Though you don't mention the condition of the album and cover (shame on you!), generally speaking these albums are found in near mint condition as the vacation thrill faded and the albums were pulled out only for the occasional wild party. Bonus for us collectors!

Though I am familiar with many known, and even more relatively unknown, Calypso artists and groups of these time periods, I am not familiar with the Calypso Vibrations. It is quite possible that I would recognize one or more of the band members who might have gone on to other groups and Clem actually sounds familiar. Some of these artists, Ronnie of Ronnie and the Ramblers for example, continue to contribute to the music to this day.

To date the autographs in and of themselves have not become a hot collectible or added significantly to the values at sale time. I'm really into the music so I always love the autographed versions and I'm sure there are others searching out these personalized gems. Certainly doesn't detract for the album and in time they should add value.

As I mentioned, Calypso, Reggae and the like are really popular and some artists albums command significant money. This is especially true for the 50's records and 78s. Even though your album is of a later vintage it would probably sell in the $12-15 dollar range (excellent or better condition please!) in a shop.

If you haven't done so already, I would suggest that you give the album a listen. More than likely it will remain in your collection!

Thanks,
Elle

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