Posted on: Saturday, May 15, 2004
ISLAND TREASURES
Wyland plate up a bit in value; Ike cufflinks worth a pittance
By Brenda Reichel
— J. Lutzker, Makiki A. Your plate is part of a series manufactured by the Hamilton Porcelain Co. for the artist. It is one of eight in the Great Mammals of the Sea plate collection series. These were limited to 14 firing days. Your plate is hand-numbered in gold. The plate depicts two dolphins and a small fish. The edge of the plate has applied gold leaf in a wave pattern. The plate originally sold for $40 and is now worth anywhere from $55 to $65.
A complete set is worth $500 to $600.
Q. I have a pair of gold-plated "IKE" cufflinks that have been in my family since Dwight D. Eisenhower ran for president in 1952. They are in mint condition. I have long wondered if these have some value as Eisenhower memorabilia.
— J. Mays, Kailua-Kona
A. There are number of Eisenhower items available on the Internet and from antique/estate vendors, especially those that handle political memorabilia. The "IKE" cufflinks, along with the "IKE" pin with clutch back, were very popular.
These items are made of base metal and plated with gold or rhodium.
Depending on the condition, the value of the cufflinks varies from $1.99 to $25. If you keep them for another 50 years, the value may go up more. Q. I have a nine-volume set, "The Works of Alexandre Dumas," published by Peter Fenelon Collier in 1893. I purchased it at a garage sale in 1972 in Pittsburgh, and have hauled them around ever since. They are bound in blue/green-leather, with gilding on the cover, some staining and rubbing, slightly shopworn. I would like to get rid of them, but would hate to see them on "Antiques Roadshow" the month after I donate them or sell them on eBay. — Doug Nordman
A. There are several Web sites for rare and out-of-print books. Peter Fenelon Collier (1846-1909) was an American book and magazine publisher and the pioneer of the subscription-book industry. I found a listing for the nine-volume complete set published by Collier in 1893 at $600 on www.tressel .com, a used-book site. Another site, www.usedbookcentral.com, did not have a complete set.
The nine-volume set was published with a green and/or blue leather cover and gilt lettering. Your shopworn set may be worth $300 to $400. Brenda Reichel is the owner of Carats & Karats Fine Jewelry. She is a graduate gemologist and a member of the International Society of Appraisers, National Association of Jewelry Appraisers & Accredited Gemologists Association. Brenda is the host of Gemnews, a radio program on KWAI 1080AM, every Saturday from 6 to 7 p.m. Have a family treasure and wondering what it's worth? Send your questions, along with a picture of the item, to Brenda at Carats & Karats, 1254 S. King St., Honolulu, HI 96814 or flawless@lava.net.
Q. When my wife and I vacationed in southern California, I found a plate (pictured) by local artist Wyland, titled "Children of the Sea." It is plate No. 0911B, dated 1991, by the Hamilton Collection. What is the plate's current value? It measures approximately nine inches across.
