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Antiques & Collectibles

So, you've purchased a fabulous thing-a-ma-jig at a garage sale or flea market. Or, you've inherited an interesting what's-it from your great Aunt Verbena. But what is it, and more importantly, what is it worth? Read on, and find the way to begin your research.

  1. Check the LIBRAweb catalog from home or visit the reference collection in the library.
    Often the best place to begin your research is with general sources and price guides; that is, resources that offer a little bit of everything. The following print resources available in the reference collection of the Henrietta Public Library can give you general information, history on a type of collectible, background on marks and makers, price ranges, and suggestions for further study:
    • Kovel, Ralph and Terry. Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price List. New York: Random House, Annually Updated. (r749 K88ko)
      The Kovels offer a practical, alphabetically-arranged price guide for collectors. Helpful historical backgrounds of the items are included.
    • Maloney, Jr., David J. Maloney's Antiques & Collectibles Resource Directory. Dubuque, Iowa: Antique Trader Books, Regularly Updated. (r745.1025 M257c 2003)
      This reference book contains collectors, dealers, experts, businesses, magazines, museums, and publications to assist you in location, study and authenticity, replacement, repair, valuation, or buying and selling of over 2,900 categories of art, antiques, collectibles and other types of personal property.
    • Warman's Antiques and Collectibles Price Guide. Iola, Wisconsin: Krause Publications, Regularly Updated. ( r749 WAR 2004)
      A valuable large-format price guide. Warman's refers readers to pertinent reference books, museums, collectors' clubs, periodicals, and auction houses.
    • Check LIBRAweb catalog to see if books are available on a specific kind of antique or collectible. A keyword or a subject search (like "depression glass," "baseball cards," or "clocks AND watches"), will lead you to a wide variety of print sources available in the library system. You can also try general subject searches like "dolls" or "paperbacks," looking for the sub-heading "Collectors AND Collecting."
  2. Look for more information online.
    The Internet offers a wealth of information about all kinds of antiques and collectibles. Use a search engine like AltaVista or Google to search the name of an item. Try a general search using a company name and descriptive words, such as "Meakin ironstone" dish. You may not find your specific item, but something similar.

    Other general web sites with useful information about antiques and collectibles include:
    • About:Antiques
      Check here for a wealth of information on the care, purchase, and sale of antiques
    • About:Collectibles
      A treasure house of information on all kinds of collectibles. This resource offers forums, chats, flea markets, and hints on beginning your collection.
    • Antiques Roadshow
      Find out when the popular television show "The Antiques Roadshow" is coming to your town and how to get tickets. Learn about appraisers and auction houses, see highlights from previous broadcasts, absorb the vocabulary of antiques (Antique Speak), and view a listing of Roadshow Resources.
  3. Search for articles, news, and electronic journals.
    You can find news stories, the latest collecting trends, calendars for shows and auctions, and online classified ads in e-journals and the online versions of antiques and collectibles trade publications. The library provides access to InfoTrac OneFile, Ebsco MasterFile Select, and GeneralReferenceCenter, which provide full-text articles and abstracts from thousands of periodicals covering a wide range of subjects including the decorative arts, antiques and collectibles.
  4. Find a price range, approximate value, or a listing of similar items for sale.
    When researching antiques and collectibles, please keep in the mind that the library can help direct you to the best sources about your items but cannot do appraisals identify a particular piece or establish authenticity. Published price guides give a sampling of representative prices taken from a variety of sources, and although you may not find your exact item listed, you may find something similar.

    Try online price guides:
    • Kovels'
      A handy online version of the standard price guide, registration is required, but free. Here, you'll find news and tips from America's favorite experts, Ralph and Terry Kovel.
    • Prices4Antiques
      Reference database of values for antiques, collectibles and fine art from an independent reporting service for appraisers, auctioneers, museums and dealers.
    • Collect.com
      From Krause publications and Antique Trader, an online price guide for many categories of collectibles which has free access, though registration is required.
  5. Investigate auction houses online.
    The auction sites are a good source for information about auction prices, reserves, and lot descriptions with color images. Many auction houses offer complimentary pre-auction estimates for consignments they typically carry.
  6. Locate an appraiser or expert.
    If you need a free verbal estimate or a written appraisal for a fee, try using the local phone books (search under Antiques-Dealers; Appraisers; Art Galleries, Dealers and Consultants; Auctioneers; or Collectibles. Also, try looking under specialties like Coin Dealers or Book Dealers-Used and Rare. Many of the professional appraisers associations will send a list of members or give names of local members over the telephone.

    Listed below are links to association web sites as well as some additional sources for online appraisals:

May your treasure hunting this summer be a fruitful adventure!

If you have questions, after consulting these resources, please contact the Information Desk at (585) 359-7092.

Updated August, 2006

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