Q:Should I save the little ceramic figures in Red Rose teabag boxes? I understand they are collectible.

A:Most people can't resist saving the tiny figures packed with the teabags. They are made by Wade Ceramics Ltd. of England. The figures, known as Wade Whimsies, were made from 1953 to 1959 to sell to the public. After that they were just given away as premiums for tea. From 1971 to 1984, Wade again sold whimsies to the public, but since 2005 the figures have been used solely as premiums. Whimsies were packed with Red Rose teabags in Canada beginning in 1967. In the 1980s, they were finally given away in the United States. Whimsies were made in sets. In 2005, the set was a pet shop; in 1998, a set of endangered species; and in 1993, a circus. This year you will find calendar figures. Dealers at some antique shows offer a selection of whimsies for prices ranging from $2 to $20 each. A few early rarities sell for more.