Star Wars Movie Viewer Shines with Collectors by Anne McCollam on Creators.com

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Star Wars Movie Viewer Shines with Collectors

Q: In 1977, when I was 8 years old, I was given a Star Wars movie viewer for Christmas. Made by Kenner, the movie is titled "May the Force Be with You." It still works and is in excellent condition.

Does my viewer have any value?

A: Vintage Star Wars toys are extremely collectible. Kenner Products was founded in Cincinnati in 1947.The company made a plethora of toys, including Play-Doh, and owned the rights to produce Star Wars items from 1977 to 1985. There were five cassettes made for your viewer, each one lasting about one minute in viewing time.

The value of your movie viewer would probably be $45 to $50.

Q: The enclosed mark is on the bottom of my very old platter. Could you please identify the meaning of the numbers and letters?

A: This is a British Registry mark. From the top, "IV" indicates your platter is ceramic, the "T" is the year it was registered (1867), "2" represents the day of the month, "1" is the parcel number and "B" stands for October. Of course, "RD" means registered.

Q: I have an oak dining table that has been in our family's cottage for years. My great-grandparents bought the table in the early 1900s when they bought the cottage, so I know it is very old. Still in good condition, the round table is 54 inches in diameter and has a pedestal base with plain scrolled feet. There is a branded mark on the column with the words "Als Ik Kan."

Anything you can tell me about my table will be greatly appreciated.

A: You have a Mission Oak table made around 1910 by Gustav Stickley in his craftsman workshop, which was located in Eastwood, N.Y.

"Als Ik Kan" are the Flemish words for "The Best of My Ability," which was Stickley's motto.

Similar Stickley dining tables are seen selling at auction in the $4,000 to $6,000 range.

Q: I have a bisque female doll that lies flat on her tummy. Her hair is sandy blonde, she is wearing a white dress trimmed in gold and her feet are in the air. Approximately 6 inches by 3 inches, she is marked "HG" with a sun, which are all in a circle.

Can you tell me her age, her maker and her value?

A: Heubach Bros. made your doll in Thuringia, Germany. She is a piano baby designed in the late Victorian Era to be placed on a piano to hold down a piano scarf.

Your piano baby was made around 1900 and would probably be worth $100 to $150.

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.