December 2011 News from Readers

An Illinois subscriber emailed us after reading the News Flash about Idento-Tags in our October issue (page 13). She has an Illinois tag dated 1971, but we said the miniature license plates were giveaways distributed by the Disabled American Veterans from 1945 to 1967. Turns out the DAV mailed the tags with fundraising letters through 1971. So our reader has one from the last year of the program.

A member of the Candy Container Collectors of America called to point out that the Kaleidoscope candy container auctioned by James D. Julia last May sold for $20,700 (not $30,700)—and therefore did not set a record for a candy container sold at auction. Our fingers hit the wrong key when we wrote about the price on page 18 of our October issue. The record price remains the $22,425 paid for a Kaleidoscope container at a 2003 James Julia auction.

“I have an old Donald Duck cookie jar in perfect condition, only 10 produced, very old, valued at $5,000,” a reader told us. She asked us how to sell it. Donald Duck was “born” June 9, 1934, and didn’t become famous for several years. Almost all cookie jars are made in a mold and it would make no economic sense to make only 10 jars. Leeds, American Bisque, California Originals, Chein, Treasure Craft, Schmid, Hoan and other companies have made Donald Duck cookie jars. Her letter did not include a photograph or even a description and size of the jar, so we can’t answer her question. We wonder who gave her the value. Most old cookie jars sell for under $200. Some offered online are only $10. The most expensive Donald Duck cookie jar we have seen sold in 2005 for $1,950. It was made by Evan K. Shaw and Donald is holding a cookie. A similar jar with Donald holding his hat sold in 2010 for $1,392. The cookie jars sold at the 1988 auction of the Andy Warhol collection cost a lot more, but the buyers were also paying to get something that belonged to the famous artist.

Another reader wrote: “I collect vintage documents and old paper items like stagecoach way bills, deeds, etc., but not newspapers. There is a thriving market in semi-historical documents….” Yes, these are good types of collectibles. Documents, letters (especially those that describe historic events or everyday life), labels, deeds, stock certificates, and bits of ephemera like gum wrappers and cigar labels are the focus of collector clubs. Many clubs are listed under the “Directory” tab at Kovels.com. Listings are free, and you can view them for free, too.