No one went home a new millionaire after participating in the recent “What’s It Worth?” antiques appraisal program at the Hammond Public Library.
Facilitated by Whiting antique gallery owner Valerie Macko, the event attarcted 20 people toting items from mother-of-pearl opera glasses to a Van Gough reproduction and postcards from the San Francisco World’s Fair of 1941, with much in between.
“There are many of these in circulation,” Macko said, as a visitor laid out a pouch of buffalo-head nickels. “They aren’t rare, unless they have defects, such as a three-legged buffalo.”
Suzanne Turnes of Hammond bought in a collection of plates, books and dolls, one which was dressed in burlap.
More Top Picks Rowing Machine
“This looks like human hair on the head, it’s possibly an Indian doll, or one made in Mexico from the 1940s,” Macko said of the burlap-clad item. “It’s very unusual and worth about $100.”
Many old books also were assessed during the free appraisal gathering in the HPL.
The appraiser discussed five criteria to list an old book as rare/valuable: “Excellent condition, gold leaf edges, signed by the author, leather-bound, and/or first edition,” she said.
Penny Remlinger of Whiting found out that her eye for value is good.
Remlinger brought a white ceramic server that she purchased at a garage sale for 30 cents. Macko placed its vale at about $30. “I guess that was a good buy,” Remlinger said, with a laugh.
Tom Hicks of Hammond came to the show with a large box he purchased at an estate sale for $50. Inside were costume jewelry, sheet music, flags and other items.
Halfway through his appraisal, he looked at the prices he had jotted down, as Macko evaluated his possessions. “I’m about even right now,” he said. “But I’m optimistic about the other half of the box.”
Dora Martin of Hammond was returning library books when she became aware of the appraisal show, and decided to take a peek in the meeting room.
“There was such a cool variety of things on the table,” she said. “And I love the stories that go along with them.”
HPL reference librarian Mary Schoon was instrumental in bringing Macko to the library.
“People were asking me all the time about having an antiques appraisal show, so I thought, ‘Why not?’,” Schoon said. “We’ve had an excellent turnout today. Maybe we’ll do it again.”
Macko said she comes across many people who feel their objects are one-of-a-kind or unique in many other ways.
“I hate to disappoint them, but I do have to tell the truth,” she added.
For more information on Hammond Public Library programs, call (219) 931-5100.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter.