Lucite Lamp Shines Brightly in Terms of Value

Q: I purchased this lamp almost 25 years ago. I would like to know who the artist is that made it. I tried to research; however, I was unsuccessful. The signature on the lamp appears to be “Frigber.” It’s a very tall Lucite lamp. A: Lucite is a versatile material used today in interiors just […]

“Holy Grail” iPhone Sets Sale Record

There’s a new record price for an iPhone selling at auction. An original iPhone 4GB from 2007 sold for $190,372 at the LCG Auctions 2023 Summer Premier auction, smashing the old record of $63,000 for an 8GB model sold by the same auction house earlier this year. Both iPhone models were released on June 29, […]

700 Gold Coins Harvested from Kentucky Cornfield

Who says it doesn’t pay to be a farmer? Called the Great Kentucky Hoard, more than 700 Civil-era gold coins were discovered in a Kentucky cornfield in June. The buried coins have now been cleaned and certified by the Numismatic Guaranty Company (NGC) as genuine $1, $10 and $20 gold coins minted before and during […]

Although a Royal, Vintage Typewriter Not Worth a King’s Ransom

Q: We recently came across this old typewriter while cleaning out my parents’ home after my father died. He was a bit of a packrat. Can you tell me anything about the typewriter, including its value? A: As you know by the name of the typewriter, you have a Royal Companion, a popular portable typewriter […]

Family Finds Rare Ming Dynasty Cloisonné Box in Attic

Most of us have dreamed about finding a museum-quality antique in the attic. For a family in the United Kingdom, the dream came true. Descendants of Edward Copleston Radcliffe, whose long and eventful military career included service in both World Wars and was a notable antique collector, discovered a Chinese cloisonné box in the family […]

Alan Alda’s “M*A*S*H” Boots and Dog Tags March Off to Auction

When Alan Alda reported to the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital in the summer of 1972 he received two items from wardrobe that became the only “M*A*S*H” memorabilia he kept from the smash TV series that ended its run in 1983. Alda, then 36, received a pair of scuffed-up combat boots, inside which someone had […]

Airmail Envelopes

Q:  These are pictures of envelopes that my mother received in 1941. Are they of any value? A:  The Post Office Department began scheduled airmail service between New York and Washington, D.C., on May 15, 1918 — an important date in commercial aviation. Airmail as a separate class of domestic mail officially ended on May […]

Frazetta Fantasy Art Sets Record

Frank Frazetta’s name may as well be synonymous with fantasy art. Frazetta (1928-2010) became a professional artist at a young age, with his first comic, a collaboration with another artist, published in 1944 when he was just 15. In the 1960s, he got his first commission for the kind of work he is best known […]

A Great Yard Sale Find Turns Out to be a Wellington Chest

Q: I recently came across this piece of furniture at a yard sale and found it fascinating. So, I bought it without knowing anything about it, other than I like it. Can you tell me what I have? Thank you. A: This side-lock dresser, also known as a Wellington Chest by more seasoned antique collectors […]

July 2023 Prices

ADVERTISING Barber pole, painted, red, white & blue stripes, blue finial, half column, hollow, wood, 49 x 5 1/2 x 3 1/2 in., $75 Mannequin, bust, woman, short light brown wig, red top, molded ruffle & bow neckline, hard rubber, marked, La Moreaux, 1940s, 16 1/2 x 17 x 6 1/2 in., $155 Poster, “Imprimerie […]