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Page 16 The Antique Shoppe June, 2019
counter the cashier said it was missing a zero in the price
KAYE’S COLLECTOR CORNER and was $3,000 but that day was $1,500 with half off.
I had $900 on me and my father had his credit card
By Mike Kaye but at the time it seemed like a big risk for a book that
originally sold for twelve cents. Long story short, the
book is now worth more than a house. Suffice to say, I
didn’t buy it and just seeing an image of it online is a
Thimbles? reminder for me to buy something when I see it if my

intuition tells me it is a wise thing to do.
Thimbles, who would’ve thought? In the eyes of a Other lesser “kick myself” scenarios are when I
child these items are mere “tiny cups”, in the eyes saw a fresh supply of Goodwill items put out and
of a seamstress they’re safeguards to not “prick” a a tackle box I picked up. I second guessed and put
finger, and to others they are collectible? back only to see a person waiting to grab it from
I typically collect Pop Culture items such as my hands. It was ten dollars and I watched as the Colorful vintage watermelon
comic books and baseball cards so this category person that just got it from me opened it to see it worth $2
is stretching a bit for me but I thought I’d shed was loaded with vintage fishing lures. I can go on
some light on my findings and bring your attention with a few other mistakes I was a day late and dollar short on - but then I’d be
to these items since I came across more of these while going off task at the topic at hand which is thimbles.
rummaging then the actual collectibles I was looking for. As I was saying, I came across a nice display of thimbles in this random
While vacationing, I was visiting some SHOWN: Top Left-The Thrift shop. It looked like the closest thing that could hold any value in a store
consignment shops to pass time. I came across infamous squirrel that filled with VHS tapes and boxes of outdated camcorder wires and flip phones.
some thimbles for sale. I usually have luck caught my attention I began looking at each of the thimbles with no clue what collectors look for in
in thrift stores over consignment shops worth $1-3. these things. The ones that caught my attention were the odd shaped ones like
since it seems to me that consignment Left- Unmarked clown a clown or a squirrel as well as the colorful ones like the watermelon and Las
inventory is mainly collectors who thimble potentially worth Vegas. I chuckled at the idea of someone wearing a squirrel on their finger as
are a little too attached to their $5+ depending on the they sew and poke the squirrel.
auction.
merchandise, making it harder Below-assorted The collector in me instantly thought that a thimble such as Las Vegas is
to find treasures but perfect if collection of thimbles more of a novelty and probably common, as opposed to an odd shaped or
you’re looking for an antique/ offered at a dollar a unusual one. They were a dollar each but I took a pass. I then went home on a
decorative item and don’t mind piece at a consign- mission to learn more.
paying for it. Thrift on the ment shop. Some As it turns out, my instinct on the “novelty” type thimbles was correct, they
valued at a few
contrary is actual junk mixed dollars a piece, are a hard sell. To my surprise the most expensive were not oddly shaped ones
with the possibility of finding others less than $1. but more importantly based on the age, artist and what they were made of. It
something valuable among started to make sense there’d be famous artists of
the piles, which is why I’m these things, along with the common sense idea that
discussing this month’s topic one made of gold or silver has top pricing based on
in a field I would’ve never the value of the scrap metal weight alone.
thought to look into. Recent thimble sales of the most valuable include a
The reason I didn’t buy the James Swann made of gold, pearl and turquoise circa
thimbles is because I had no clue what the 1905 valued at $450+, a rare Aksel Holmsen Norway
resale value is for them along with the fact it didn’t sterling silver enameled also worth $450+, a Meissen
“tickle my fancy”. Buying these would mean taking a porcelain harlequin thimble worth $250+, a grapevine
blind risk on an investment, then spending countless gold thimble by Simon Brothers worth $240+, a Peter
hours to flip them for profit, eventually realizing that Swingler from 1981 featuring Bullfinches made of
some I couldn’t give away, while others that may sterling worth $175+, a Bone China, hand painted
be more desirable, would have to carry the task of Royal Worcester of a Blue Bird signed worth $150, a
recovering the bulk of my investment. With that said, I hand painted dwarf made of pewter labeled #5 valued
left the store without purchasing a collection of them. at $70, a cone Eagle by Swarovski valued around $60,
I did, however, have the semi-urgency of wanting a collection of various Franklin Mint thimbles
to go home to begin researching what I may or may which typically sell as a related themed
not have just let slip through my fingers. It’s always group and merely a few dollars a piece and
undaunting when you leave something behind only finally a lovely squirrel that I found at the
to learn later that you were too cheap and should’ve Thrift shop which is worth a whopping $2.
bought the darn thing. I can remember this happening Seagull thimble with Considering I can buy it for a dollar would
on several occasions, unfortunately. unusual shape valued be a profit of 100% which is a great feat in
$3-5
The time I let something go, which has the investment world but is it really worth
now haunted me for over 30 years is when I the time to flip a buck profit if it takes
attended a comic book store’s 50% off sale. you a half hour drive to go back to get it,
Everyone piled outside the store anticipating a half hour to photograph and list it and
the door to open for the sale to start. Collectors a half hour to pack, ship and drive to the
flooded in to buy any and all available books Post Office?
that were half off the sticker price. As people I think I’ll take a pass on thimbles
started pouring into the store like sand from an for now, unless of course, I rip my
hourglass I blindly went to see what was on the jeans near the butt crevice while doing
less crowded wall. I remember like yesterday the Samba and find myself needing a
seeing a copy of Amazing Fantasy 15, the first needle and thread to patch it up.
appearance of Spiderman. The sticker price was
$300. I picked it up and looked at it’s condition. Do you have stuff to sell? Pre-1980s sports cards, sealed wax boxes, comic books with original pricing of 10
Novelty Las Vegas thimble It was easily very fine and perhaps close to near cent and 12 cent, vintage toys from the 50s-80s, anything that you would like to turn to cash? You can email
me with details at: kpeople@hotmail.com or call/text me at 561-628-4369. Thanks! Sincerely, Collector K
sold in gift shops $1 mint. I attempted to buy it but when I got to the