July 2008 Alerts On Confusing Collectibles

Fiesta pottery is still being made in many colors. Another company is decorating plain Fiesta wares and selling sets of the dishes. Do not be confused. Some original Fiesta had a few decal designs added-like Disney characters-but they were only on a few shapes, not on full sets.

Four fake wall pockets marked “McCoy” have been spotted at sales, according to McCoy Lovers’ NMXpress, a monthly newsletter for McCoy collectors. Two of the fakes are reproductions of real McCoys: the green mailbox, which has been reproduced in “a slew of horrific pastel colors,” and the lily bud. Original lily bud pockets were not marked. The other two fakes, although marked “McCoy,” are a reproduction of Roseville’s Iris pocket and a clock-faced, barrel-shaped pocket of unknown origin.

Here’s another warning about fake padlocks from the Journal of Lock Collecting: Central Railroad of New Jersey locks embossed “CRR of NJ” are showing up in antique shops in Georgia and South Carolina. And a steel padlock with a fake brass Seventh Cavalry insignia (General George Custer’s cavalry) sold online for $115. You can buy the insignia online for $2.