Q: I found this in an antiques store a few years ago. I'm guessing it's a Victorian calling card holder. It's 7 inches high. There are two owls on a curved branch above the tray and a butterfly on a bush below it. Although you can't see it in the picture, there is a bar of music with "Should Owl'd Acquaintance Be Forgot" written beneath it on the tray. The accompanying mark is stamped on the bottom. The silver plating is gone. Can you tell me who made this and what it is worth? Would it devalue it if I have it re-plated?

 

A: Derby Silver Co. of Derby (Birmingham), Conn., used this mark. The company was founded in 1873 and was one of the companies that formed International Silver Co. in 1898. It became part of Meriden Silver Plate Co. in 1933. Henry Berry was granted a patent for the design of your "card receiver" on Feb. 28, 1882, and assigned the patent to the Derby Silver Co. A calling card tray similar to yours, in excellent condition, auctioned for $750 five years ago. But silver plate is selling for less now; with worn plating, yours would sell for a few hundred dollars. It will probably cost you more to re-plate than you will gain in resale value.

derby silver co calling card stand

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 responses to “Derby Card Stand”

  1. jeansd says:

    What do I do. Sell fast, hoard it,or just throw it away. Please let me know what you think.

  2. vintner184 says:

    I have 94 Bossons portrait sculpture wall figurines that are in excellent condition–mostly new in boxes–that I wish to sell. This collection includes many categories: Maritime; pirates and bad guys; literature main characters; heroes; famous people from history; pets, etc. The family member/collector passed away in 2004, and we are just now getting around to selling his beautiful works of art. If you are interested in some of these or all of them, please call 619-460-6551. Ask for “Q.”

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