http://www.kovels.com/issues/newsflash/1_167/index.html en-us Copyright 2008 Kovels. All rights Reserved. Kovels Customer Service webmaster@iproduction.com Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:19:46 GMT Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:19:46 GMT IPS - www.iproduction.com Q: I have this 13-inch toy tram truck that my folks brought me from the World's Fair in Chicago back in 1933. I doubt it would be in collector's condition because I pushed this a million miles and have worn out the tires, and the paint is in a poor state. Can you give me an estimate of what it is worth? Login for more. http://www.kovels.com/issues/newsflash/1_167/collectors_concerns/3623-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Q: My mother bought this plate in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1961. Taped to the back is a piece of paper with my mother's handwriting which says, "Made for a lawn tea party given by O.H.P Belmont at Marble House, Newport, RI, in 1910." It has a lion and banner mark with the words "John Maddock & Sons, England" on the back. The plate is 6 inches wide. Is it valuable? Login for answer. http://www.kovels.com/issues/newsflash/1_167/mystery_marks/3624-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS A 1931 garden statue estimated at $12,000 to $18,000 auctioned for an unexpected $118,000 this week. The 4-foot-tall bronze statue with a green patina was in the garden when a lucky man bought a home and its contents about 40 years ago. The owner was offered $3,000 for the statue a few years ago but kept it until last week's auction. The statue was made in Paris by Egyptian sculptor Mahmoud Mokhtar (1891-1934). Cleveland Auction Co. of Cleveland, Ohio, sold the piece, which set an auction record for the artist's bronzes. http://www.kovels.com/issues/newsflash/1_167/news_news_news/3627-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS Russell Pritchard III, who gained TV fame on the Antiques Roadshow with the appraisal of a valuable sword that the "owner" claimed to use to cut watermelons, is in the news again. He used the TV publicity to enhance his reputation, then cheated his clients while appraising or selling their antiques. He was serving a 4-to-8-year sentence in prison when he had to appear in court in October in a new case. Following a plea bargain, he was sentenced to 4 to 8 more years for yet more crimes, the extra years to be served concurrently with his earlier sentence. But the plea bargain means he also has to repay over $65,000 to his latest victims. http://www.kovels.com/issues/newsflash/1_167/news_news_news/3639-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS A record crowd attended the Halloween sale at Stevens Auction Co. in Aberdeen, Miss. The vampire kit we mentioned last week sold for $8,800. John Stevens told us the auction business is doing well again. http://www.kovels.com/issues/newsflash/1_167/news_news_news/3640-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS When you quit smoking, keep your tobacciana collectibles. Tobacco stands without the top parts are good plant stands. Cigarette cases are popular as small purses that will hold a credit card, driver's license and a little money. Tobacco tins and boxes are interesting storage containers, and the box labels and cigar bands work well for decoupage projects. Best of all, ashtrays can be used to hold short stemmed flowers or kept in the bedroom to hold earrings and rings overnight. http://www.kovels.com/issues/newsflash/1_167/tips_care_repair/3641-1.html?CMP=OTC-RSS