Little Golden Books

Who doesn’t have fond memories of Little Golden Books from their childhood? Well now those Little Golden Books are very collectible and can be worth quite a bit!

Little Golden Books first appeared in 1942 for 25 cents each. Previously, children's books sold for two to three dollars each and were considered a luxury. Little Golden Books changed the children's publishing industry forever.

Little Golden Books have featured many children's popular culture characters over the years including: Captain Kangaroo, Lassie, Mister Rogers, Sesamie Street, The Lone Ranger, Howdy Doody, Raggedy Ann, Smokey the Bear, and many more.

Timeline (randomhouse.com):

• 1942: The original 12 Little Golden Books:
• The Poky Little Puppy
• Three Little Kittens
• Bedtime Stories
• The Alphabet A-Z
• Mother Goose
• Prayers for Children
• The Little Red Hen
• Nursery Songs
• The Golden Book of Fairy Tales
• Baby's Book
• The Animals of Farmer Jones
• This Little Piggy
• 1944: First Walt Disney Little Golden Book, Through the Picture Frame, is published.

• 1951: Doctor Dan, The Bandage Man is released with Johnson & Johnson® Band-Aids glued to the right side of the title page. This marked one of the first ventures into book and product joint packaging. First printing is 1.75 million--the largest first printing of any Little Golden Book to date.
• Mid-1950s: Top-selling Little Golden Books center around children's TV shows and westerns (The Roy Rogers Show, Howdy Doody, The Lone Ranger, Captain Kangaroo, etc.).
• Early 1960s: A large number of new Little Golden Books focus on popular Saturday morning TV shows such as Huckleberry Hound, The Bullwinkle Show, Yogi Bear, The Flintstones, and Bozo the Clown.
• 1992: Little Golden Books celebrates its golden anniversary--50 years! In recognition of this milestone anniversary, a permanent Little Golden Books exhibit is given to the Smithsonian Institution. The exhibit, titled Little Golden Books and American Culture 1942-1992, can still be viewed there.
• June 2001: Little Golden Books Classic line is launched to great success (many titles have sold over 200,000 copies in just over a year!) The new line brings back popular vintage Little Golden Books titles based on consumer demand. The first six titles in this new library include:

• Richard Scarry's Good Night Little Bear
• Animal Orchestra
• The Lion's Paw
• The Fire Engine Book
• The Little Red Hen
• The Good Humor Man

So how do you know the value of your Little Golden Books?
With Little Golden Books it can be hard to determine the edition number. Here are some tips (auctionbytes.com):

1. Look at the bottom of the title page. Some LGBs have the edition listed, or there might be a series of letters, with the letter farthest to the left designating the edition. Example: c d e f g h i j = 3rd.
2. Check the bottom corner of the last page, near the spine. A letter or double letter corresponds to the edition. Examples: A = 1st, B = 2nd, CC = 29th, etc.
3. If the book has been published since 1991, it may have Roman Numerals at the bottom of the title page in addition to the copyright date. If the Roman Numerals are preceded by an A, it is a First Edition. An R preceding the numerals indicates a Revised Edition.
4. Remember Classics Illustrated? You could pretty much figure out when an issue was printed by the last title listed on the back. The same with LGBs. If your copy of Three Little Kittens has a 1942 copyright date, but the last title listed on the back board (cover) is Little Mommy, then it had to have been printed no earlier than 1967.

You cannot rely on edition number alone when determining value. As with any collectible, condition is a huge factor.

Also, rarity plays a big part. Some of the less common and highly sought after titles include Little Mommy and Little Black Sambo.

We have lots of Little Golden Books at the shop right now. Stop by and take a look. Now that you know how to value them you never know what you might find!

Jadite

Green milk glass aka jadite is very collectible right now.

Jadite was manufactured by several companies from the 1930’s to 1972.

McKee was the first to first mass-produce jadite dinnerware in the '30s. It can be identified by a "McK" in a small circle on the back.

The Jeannette Glass Company was the first to call it jadite. Most is unmarked, except for some of the first pieces, which have the letter "J" in a triangle, followed by the mold number.

The Anchor Hocking Company produced Fire-King to withstand the high temperatures of ovens and stoves. "Jade-ite" was one of their best selling colors. It was popular for institutional use in restaurants, hotels, and hospitals.

Jadite is very durable and dishwasher safe. However, repeated trips though the dishwasher may slightly dull the finish. Never microwave your jadite.

American Fostoria

1948 Ad

Fostoria began producing glass in 1887 in Fostoria, Ohio. Shortly after it moved to Moundsville, West Virginia in 1891.


Fostoria is considered “elegant” glassware. Although much of it was produced during the depression era, it is a higher quality than most other depression glassware.

The American pattern was produced from 1915 until 1986 and is the most commercially successful pattern ever produced.

Comparable patterns were produced by several other glass companies including Jeannette Glass Co. which produced a cube pattern from 1929 to 1933 and Indiana Glass Co. which had a similar Whitehall pattern in the 1950's.

Look for the following to distinguish American Fostoria from its look-alikes:

• Colorless glass. Most American Fostoria pieces are clear with few exceptions. Pieces in the Jeannette Cube pattern are frequently pink or green. (Fostoria did make a few pieces of American glass in ruby.)
• A fire polished surface. American Fostoria glass has a smooth finish because pieces were put back in the furnace to soften the edges. Whitehall Indiana glass has a rough finish.
• Three mould marks. Most American Fostoria has three seams with a few exceptions. Whitehall usually has two seams. (Always look for three seams except on the following: plates, Banana Splits, 14 inch spun glass punch bowls, the twin salt dip, and the glass handled cake plate.)
• A flat, level base as opposed to a pressed bottom.
• Clarity. Since American Fostoria is considered elegant glass and Jeannette Cube is condsidered depression glass there is a visible difference between the two. Often, if you hold up a piece of Jeannette you will see wavy lines within the glass while American Fostoria should always be clear.

We have lots and lots of American Fostoria in the store right now. Come down and take a look!

Coin Collecting 101

Coin collecting can be a rewarding hobby and a great investment. Don’t be intimidated! With a little research and attention to detail you too can start a collection.

Numismatic (Coin Collecting) is the science of coins under an economic, legislative, metrological and artistic point of view. It has a great importance in the whole Historical and Archaeological science; as a matter of fact into the peculiarity of a people or age the Coin holds a fundamental role: Numismatic has always reflected the political, economical, artistic and social trends of the time in which it developed.

If you are interested in collecting coins:

• Buy a coin collecting book. Familiarize yourself with basic coin collecting before making any purchases. This can help you avoid costly beginner’s mistakes.
• Collecting from circulation is always a good place to start. There is no risk (if you decided you don’t want them you can always just spend them).
• Join your local coin club and learn from more experienced collectors.

How to handle coins:

• Never touch a coin anywhere but the edge. Fingerprints can reduce an uncirculated or proof coin’s grade significantly. When handling another collector’s coins, be sure to only touch the edge, regardless of grade.
• Avoid handling coins in front of your mouth. Small particles of moisture will eventually cause spots.
• When putting down a coin outside of a holder, only place it on a clean, soft surface. A velvet pad is best. Never drag a coin across any surface.
• When handling valuable coins, wearing clean white gloves and a surgical mask is suggested.
• Store coins at a constant, moderate temperature and low moisture. A variety of coin holders are available for purchase at coin shops and online.

Cleaning coins:

• DON’T! In most cases, cleaning a coin can reduce its value by half or more. Collectors prefer coins in their original state.
• Even wiping with a soft cloth will cause small scratches.
• If you do want to clean your coin: soak in olive oil or soapy water for a few days, thoroughly rinse with tap water, and allow to air dry.

Where to acquire coins:

• Coin shops - Knowledgeable shop owners can be a great resource.
• Coin shows - Usually have a great selection and competitive pricing.
• Mail order - Be sure to read over the return policy before making any mail order purchases.
• Internet - Again, be sure return policy is reasonable and watch out for scams.
• Auctions - Often the rarest and most expensive coins are only available at auctions. However, due to the exciting nature of auctions, people often bid too high and pay too much for items. Before attending an auction, visit some local shops and look online so you have a good idea of the actual worth of the coins you are interested in.
• Other Collectors
• Flea Markets, bazaars, etc. - Inflated prices and deceptive vendors can be common in these situations.
• Antique Malls! - Appalachian Antique Mall always has a selection of coins and proof sets for sale.

All information in this post is from www.mycoincollecting.com. It is a great resource for beginners.

Vintage Fiestaware

Fiestaware was first produced in 1936 by the Homer Laughlin Pottery Company. It was a drastic deviation from traditional china which was much more expensive and usually only available in a full set. Fiestaware allowed the housewife to mix and match the bright colors as she pleased. She could also add to her set a few pieces at a time and replace a single piece if broken.

Red Fiesta Mixing Bowls

Originally, there were 5 colors of Fiestaware: red, cobalt blue, light green, yellow, and ivory.

Red Fiestaware was produced from 1936 until 1943. Because the red glaze contained uranium oxide, the US Goverment confiscated Homer Laughlin's supply during WWII for use in the atomic bomb project. Red Fiestaware didn't return until 1959.

Fiestaware's designer, Fredrick Rhead, also designed the Harlequin and Riviera pottery lines.

In 1986, Homer Laughlin returned Fiestaware to the market. These new pieces are slightly stronger than the vintage pieces due to an updated clay formula.

Harlequin

It can be hard to tell some vintage and modern pieces apart. Here are some tips:

• Fiestaware with an ink stamp of “FIESTA” in all uppercase is always post-1986. Fiestaware with an ink stamp of “fiesta” in all lowercase is always vintage. (This is only true for ink stamps and not the indented marks.)
• The pieces with indented backstamps can be trickier. Anytime you see a capital "H" it is ALWAYS post-86. However, the absence of an "H" does not guarantee that is is vintage.
• Anytime you see "lead free" on the bottom it is always a post-86 piece. 



Post-1986

• ook at the bottom of a piece, vintage Fiestaware often has three tiny marks on the bottom from the firing process. New Fiestaware does not. 
• Any pieces with numbers or letters stamped on the bottom are vintage. These stamps were used for quality control purposes and are not present on any post-86 pieces.

Pre-1986

We found this very cool video of the Homer Laughlin factory from the 1930's. Take a look! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DiUK0m-aGM

For the chronology of colors visit http://www.hlchina.com/fiestacolors.htm.

For a complete Fiestaware price guide visit www.happyheidi.com/antiques/Fiesta-Price-Guide.html

Romance in the Antique Mall

This past Saturday we had a couple get engaged in the store! Apparently the Antique Mall is her favorite place to shop and every time they drive through Boone she makes her boyfriend stop so she can shop. Saturday they were shopping downstairs in a retro kitchen booth, he said “Hey, take a look at this.” and handed her a jadeite refrigerator dish. Inside was a diamond ring with a price tag tied to it that said “Will you marry me?” She said “Yes!” He even had a camera with him so we could take a couple of pictures of the happy couple in the booth. She was extremely surprised and absolutely thrilled!

Vintage Pyrex

Butterprint

There is such a variety of vintage Pyrex colors and patterns that nearly anybody can find one (or several) to fall in love with. Most of our store employees have at least one pattern they collect.

Our manager collects the turquoise on white Butterprint, commonly mislabeled Amish pattern. It matches her white and turquoise kitchen perfectly.

One of our other employees is madly in love with the Pink Daisy as well as the ever-elusive pink stripe pattern. (images borrowed from collectorsquest.com)

Pink Daisy

Pyrex was inspired in 1915 by the wife of a Corning Glass Works scientist. She was frustrated by unreliable baking dishes and knowing the strength of railroad signal lanterns, begged her husband to create something that she could use in the kitchen with that durability. Two years later, Pyrex Glassware was on the shelves of department stores nationwide.


If you are interested in starting a collection of your own here are a few tips: NEVER put your vintage Pyrex in the dishwasher. Most was made before dishwashers were a common household appliance and they are not dishwasher safe. Repeated sessions in the dishwasher will result in a faded, streaky color. Also, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can be very useful when removing baked on residue. You can get some great deals at yard sales and thrift stores on pieces with old baked on brown spots. Then, with a little scrubbing they are as good as new! However, do not use the magic eraser on the patterned part of your piece, pink Pyrex, or any pieces that are extremely old.

Visit www.pyrexlove.com for all sorts of interesting Pyrex information as well as a comprehensive guide of vintage Pyrex patterns.

We always have a huge selection of vintage Pyrex pieces. Come take a look and start your own collection!