Beanie Babies still worth cuddlin’
THIS OLD THING
Q. These are a few of the Beanie Babies my parents gathered for my sister and me. There’s Maple, Spangle, Princess, Peace, Glory and Mystic. They’ve been up in the old attic and we thought we might sell some if they have any value. They all have their original tags in the plastic casing and they average about 22 centimetres long (8.5 inches). We had a lot of fun stopping in different stores looking for the ‘hard to find’ bears at least 15 years back. What are our prospects? — Anne, Vancouver A. Beanie Babies were made from the early 1990s through to 2009, and became a rage in Canada, the U.S. and Europe. Some of the beanies you’ve selected here have reportedly high values, particularly the purple “Princess” bear, created to raise funds for the Princess Diana Memorial Fund. You will find Princess listed on eBay for upwards of $300,000; however, current research indicates no Princess has actually sold for anything like this vast amount. Rarer versions of this and other bears (featuring spelling errors on tags or other mistakes) may increase value, but in general I’d say count on your collection to add up to something like a few hundred dollars in total. Q. This sword with Knights of Sherwood Forest on the blade has been in our family for at least 80 years. It was given to us 60 years ago to cut our wedding cake. We are not sure where it came from or if there was any cost involved. It is 91 centimetres long (36 inches) with KSF on the hilt of the scabbard. We would be interested to learn of any history or if there is any value to it. — Bernadette, Cambridge A. Your ceremonial sword was presented to members of the organization Knights of Sherwood Forest, an American fraternity that existed from 1879 to 1923. There were various makers of these swords, including W.A. Raymold of New York, and Pettibone Mfg. Co of Cincinnati, Ohio. Slight differences in the handles occur, but all are very similar and include the knight’s helmet pommel atop the handle and the owner’s name engraved on the blade. These were not extremely expensive when made but the quality is impressive. It’s worth about $175. Q. This vase belonged to my grandparents in Chicago. I believe it could have been purchased there in the 1940s or ’50s. My grandmother kept peacock feathers in it and after family dinners we would remove the feathers and have a serviette-tossing contest! The green mark on the base appears to be ‘B & Co., France.’ It is 34 centimetres high (13 inches). There are no defects. Could you possibly offer any information about this lovely piece? — Karen, Manotick A. This grand ArtDeco vase is wellsuited to the great city of Chicago. It is definitely hand-painted, although I cannot say if it was decorated in a factory, a decor shop, or perhaps by an independent artist. Look for small artist’s initials hidden among the foliage and golden fountain. The porcelain blank was produced by L. Bernardaud & Co. of Limoges and Paris sometime around 1925. The blue, black, ochre and gold are vibrant and attractive, creating an immediate statement and perfectly suited to peacock feathers. Possibly one-of-akind, its value today is $250.