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Porcelain Canister Set Spices Up the Kitchen
Q: This photo contains an old porcelain canister set from Germany. The set was given to my mother-in-law by a friend who immigrated to the United States. We think the unmarked set is at least 80 years old, and each piece is in excellent condition.
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Earthenware Set Serves as a Treasured Family Heirloom
Q: This is a photo of a chocolate pot with a matching dinner plate and small plate that has been in our family since the late 1700s. Marked on the bottom of each piece are the words, "Baker and Co. — Persian Rose." According to our …Read more.
1908 Wedding Gift is a Valued Heirloom
Q: I am enclosing a photo of a hand-painted porcelain vase that my parents received for their wedding in 1908. On one side is a night scene, while a female and a male lion are on the other side. Standing about 10 inches tall, the dragon handles and …Read more.
Mythical Water Deities Serve as Inspiration for Dragonware
Q: I have enclosed a photo of my inherited teapot. It is part of a set that includes a creamer, sugar bowl with lid, six cups and saucers. Each piece is decorated with a black dragon against a background that shades from white to black; the designs …Read more.
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Black Americana Bank Stores a Profitable Lump of ChangeQ: Enclosed is a photo of an antique cast iron "Mammy" bank. It stands over 5 inches tall and has the original paint. Other than a little wear and a few chips on the finish, it is in good condition. Money is inserted in a horizontal opening on her back, and there is a screw in middle of her apron sash. I would like to know if my bank is considered a collectible and if it has any monetary value. A: You have a nice example of a collectible Black Americana still bank. Black Americana is an area of collecting that has wide appeal, especially to African-Americans. Your bank also has a crossover value; it would be of interest to both collectors of toy banks and Black Americana. Made by Hubley in Lancaster, Pa., from 1914 to 1946, your bank would probably be worth $225 to $300. Q: My wife has a set of dishes purchased from the Jewel Tea Co. The pattern is "Autumn Leaf," and I have enclosed the mark that is on the bottom of each dish. The set was purchased around 1948 — most pieces were sold for $5 to $10. Is this set of any value? A: Hall China Co. made their "Autumn Leaf" pattern dishes from the 1930s to the 1970s. Using the design as a decal pattern, the dishes were sold by the Jewel Tea Co. as premiums for buying their products. There were several other companies that used the "Autumn Leaf" decal; often they were not marked. As a rule, Hall's dishes were marked, making them easy to identify. Most "Autumn Leaf" dishes, which were created by Hall, are in the range of $10 to $20 each. Q: I have a collection of children's books by Thornton W. Burgess. The set includes eight hardbound copies of the "Mother West Wind" series. They were gifts to my husband when he was 4 years old in 1940, and they are still in excellent condition. The copyrights range from 1910 to 1918. Green with blue lettering, the books were published by Little Brown with colored illustrations by Harrison Cady. Can you tell me if they are valuable in any way other than sentimental? A: Thornton W. Burgess books continue to be collectible. His "Mother West Wind" series of books are listed in the "Collectors Guide to Children's Books, 1850 to 1950" — by Diane McClure Jones and Rosemary Jones — at $45 each.
Address your questions to Anne McCollam, P.O. Box 247, Notre Dame, IN 46556. Items of a general interest will be answered in this column. Due to the volume of inquiries, she cannot answer individual letters. To find out more about Anne McCollam and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS SYNDICATE INC. 
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