You've seen the shows on television. You've watched the
auctions online. You've read the stories in the newspaper.
There always seems to be someone somewhere with an old dish
they've found in the corner of their attic that they were
just about to throw away or donate to a thrift shop when
someone advised them to have an expert take a look at it,
or to put it up for auction online, or to place it
somewhere for whatever you can get as long as it pays for
your advertisement. And lo and behold! What they thought
was fodder for the trash can or Goodwill turns out to be
the rarest piece of glassware this side of the Atlantic,
and they've not only paid for their advertising ? they've
got no more financial worries for the remainder of their
lives!
Hearing such a story, I can guarantees it was not Depression
Glass. While money can be made, given it was mass produced
by many companies for a number of years and can still be
bought and sold in many locations, it may be another couple
of hundred years before a single piece can put you on easy
street!
But the very fact that professional dealers exist is an
indication that money can be made in the buying and selling
of Depression Glass. And knowing the value of each piece in
your collection can have other purposes.
There are times when knowing what your pieces are worth
serves a practical purpose. Suppose your agent needs to
know for loss-coverage purposes. Or maybe you've decided to
get out of the Depression glass hobby and need to know an
intelligent amount to place on your Depression glass pieces
before you put them on the market. Or someone wanting to
purchase a piece may approach you, and you need to know
what amount to accept. Conversely, you may also be
interested in acquiring a piece and need to have some idea
of an amount that won't sound ridiculous. These are all
valid reasons to know what your Depression glassware will
bring on the current market. And that's the rub ? the
current market.
The current market is relative to several things, which make
price-guide books just that ? guides. The best books can
only give us ballpark figures because so many other things
affect what we can or can't get for a piece of Depression
glass. Where in the country -- or the world -- you're
located, the supply and demand for whatever piece or pieces
you're buying or selling, and, of course, the rarity and
condition of the glassware you're interested in ? all these
factor in to determine current market conditions.
Another thing to always remember is this bottom line:
Anything ? whatever it may be ? is worth whatever you are
willing to give for it or to sell it for. It all boils down
to how badly you want that Blue Ritz Royal Lace piece ? or
how badly you want to get rid of it.
So go ahead and get your hands on the most current
guidebook. Study up on what people are giving and getting
for pieces you're interested in. Talk to an expert, if you
can. Afterward, use that information as a tool and a
guideline, only. And then go purchase or sell that
Depression glass piece and get your feet wet in the
marketplace.
There's no greater teacher than experience!
Until next time,
Murray Hughes
http://www.DepressionGlassSecrets.com
http://www.depressionglasssecrets.com/DPweb-articles/selling-depression-glass.htm
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