Q: I inherited a Raggedy Andy cookie jar marked "Twin Winton" years ago. My 74-year-old sister remembers it from our childhood. Is it an antique? Value?
- Marlene, Vian, Okla.
A: Mercedes DiRenzo Bolduc knows her cookie jars. During the heyday of collectible jars in the 1990s, her Chicago shop was cookie jar central, worldwide. Today the shop, www.jazze junque.com, also sells vintage and antique kitchen collectibles.
Twin Winton in California was founded in the 1930s by Don and Ross Winton, who were twins. The company expanded to cookie jars in 1951.
Winton's Raggedy Ann and Andy jars date from the early '60s. That makes family lore on this jar suspect - and that happens often.
In the early '90s, Don Winton and his son used old molds to make limited-edition jars, but the project was short-lived. Retail value on the original Andy in pristine condition with no dings, checks or cracks, etc., is $95.
People are also reading…
"Annie might be $125," said Bolduc, because she's more popular. Sorry, men.
FYI: "The Complete Cookie Jar Book: 5th Edition" by Mike Schneider (Schiffer, $29.95) is a thorough guide - and a bargain, to boot!
Q: How do I find an appraiser or an auction house that specializes in what I have: a bunch of first-edition John Grisham books to sell.
- Trish, Deerfield Beach, Fla.
Q: We inherited collections of Jim Beam decanters. The Indian dancers were issued only in Arizona. How do we sell, and do we sell them full or empty?
- Diane, Goodyear
A: Many readers ask about how to sell. I'm here to tell you that anyone can be a smart seller simply by following basic steps. We've covered the M.O. before, but based on the number of queries received, it bears repeating.
First, know what you have. The first reader has contemporary literature, so I suggest a look at major used booksellers to find the going retail rate. Key www.abebooks.com, www.biblio.com and www.bookfinder.com for those Grisham titles. Compare their prices with completed sales on eBay. After a scan, you'll know what you have.
If the books were author signed, I'd suggest auction for the collection. A house with books and manuscripts sales might turn the aggregate down, but you never know. It's worth a try.
The reader adds, "I'm not sure eBay is the best way to go." Depending on how the digging goes, it may be.
Remember the first rule of selling - know what you have? Well, the liquor decanters are not Beam, but Ezra Brooks decanters from the 1970s. Fortunately for our reader, some in the Brooks line, particularly the Indian dancer series, outsell Beam decanters.
Because complete Indian series are desirable, certainly in Arizona, a local auction may take the dancers. On the other hand, putting individual bottles before a worldwide pool of motivated collectors has advantages. Individual Kachinas from the series have sold on eBay for $20 to $51.88.
As for full vs. empty, the liquor has not improved in the bottle and is not good for the decanter in the long run. Add legal issues involved, and you're smart to empty those decanters.