August, 1 9 13 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



IX 



Readers of American Homes and Gardens who are interested in old furniture, silver, prints, 

 brass, miniatures, medals, paintings, textiles, glass, in fact in any field appealing to the collector are 

 invited to address any enquiries on such matters to the Editor of the "Collectors' Department," and 

 such letters of enquiry will receive careful attention. Correspondents should enclose stamps for reply 

 Foreign correspondents may enclose the stamps of their respective countries. 



F. R. : Embroidered crepe shawls of fair 

 size, such as you describe, can be pur- 

 chased for $25. If you will let us know 

 if your teapot and cream pitcher have 

 any maker's mark, we can then deter- 

 mine the ware. 



J. B. J. : As the work of American and 

 English steel engravers was very ex- 

 tended and excellent in quality, it would 

 be difficult to send you in the limits of 

 a letter a list of the foremost workers 

 of this sort. Archer B. Durand was one 

 of the most noted of American en- 

 gravers (1825-1850). His most famous 

 engraving, "Ariadne," after Vanderlyn's 

 painting, is considered the finest Amer- 

 ican engraving. T. A. Dean (1850) was 

 one of the best known English engravers. 

 We suggest that you refer to the various 

 excellent volumes on the subject of Prints 

 and Print Collecting, any of which we 

 can supply on receipt of published prices. 



W. K. : Referring to your chairs we 

 would say they are of the following 

 periods and values : 



1: Late mahogany (1840-1850), value, 

 ST to S10 ; 2 : Sheraton about 1T90, value 

 armchair, about $150, plain chair about $100 

 to $125 ; 3 : Dutch marquetry, value $25 or 

 less; 4: Slat back (first part of eighteenth 

 centuryj, value, $7 to $10; 5: American 

 early nineteenth century, value, about $15. 

 The table is probably Duncan Phyfe make, 

 about 1830. Value, $75 to $100. We re- 

 gret that the description and photograph 

 of the lamp, box and bottles is not ade- 

 quate enough to permit us to give an 

 opinion or value on same. 



E. S. F. : In reply to your letter of June 

 3d, we beg to state that the description 

 of the first coin to which you refer 

 (that dated either 1737, 1757 or 1787) is 

 not sufficient to positively identify the coin. 

 If copper it would have no value what- 

 soever, if silver it might have. The sec- 

 ond coin is one of Ferdinand the Seventh. 

 1825, coin of George the Fourth, has no 

 premium, and if silver, would be worth 

 its face value only. The one-cent pieces 



dated 1810 to 1856 would be worth about 

 five cents each unless in particularly fine 

 condition, in which case the cent-piece of 

 1810 would be worth $1. The Canadian 

 dime, dated 1858, if in fine condition, 

 would be worth 10 cents, or in Canada 

 in any condition its face value only. The 

 fourteenth coin is a poor copy of the 

 Fugio (United States) cent. If it were 

 in fine condition it would be worth about 

 $1.25. The value of a coin does not de- 

 pend upon its antiquity, as silver coin 

 of certain Roman Empires in absolutely 

 fine condition and of unquestionable au- 

 thenticity can be had from 50 cents to 

 $1 apiece. Perfect condition in a coin 

 enhances its condition proportionately. 

 Poor coins of any sort have almost no 

 market value. 



O. W. M. : Regarding your Carey platter 

 we would say that it was an English 

 pottery of about 1800 but not valuable, 

 the design being stamped or printed, not 

 painted. It is worth about $5. The 

 Brissot engraving you speak about sells 

 for £2 in England but there is no demand 

 for it here. It would probably bring about 

 $3 or $4 in America. 



T. P.: In reply to your query we would 

 say that your collection is undoubtedly 

 of much interest but would very much 

 like to have the photographs of the vari- 

 ous articles you mention as we can then 

 determine more accurately the age and 

 values. 



M. G. M.: In regard to your tray we 

 would say that we find no mention of E. 

 V. Houghwout & Company, New York, 

 on record as a maker of silver or of silver 

 plate. We therefore, assume that he was 

 a dealer or rather a dealer's company and 

 the tray was made for him by a silver- 

 smith, as was often done. 



E. W. H.: The following is the list you 

 requested of some of the most valuable 

 printed books in the world : Gutenburg 

 Bible, the first printed book, $50,000. 

 Psalter of 1457, first book printed with 



Ifou could 

 dip I1\is 

 house in ' 

 vraier 



Unprotected walls of stucco, concrete or brick absorb 

 much water, becoming damp, unsanitary and disfigured. 

 But they can be water-proofed and beautified by an 

 application of 



1 



APPLIED WITH A BRUSH 



A liquid cement coating which becomes an inseparable part of 

 tSe wall, sealing all pores and filling hair-cracks. Hard as flint. 

 Dampproof, weather-resisting. Gives uniform, artistic color. 

 Furnished in a variety of tones. 



It will pay you to learn about Trus-Con Water-proofing Pro- 

 ducts. Write for full information, telling us your needs. 



THE TRUS-CON LABORATORIES 



119 Trus-Con Building Detroit, Mich 



rA 



The Stephenson System of 

 Underground Refuse Disposal 



Keeps the garbage out of sigV in the ground 

 away from the dogs, cats arid typhoid fly. 

 "Thousands in Use." 



gSfeggS ? Underground 

 Garbage and Refuse Receivers 



A Fireproof and Sanitary Disposal of Ashes, 

 Refuse and Oily Waste. 



Our Underground Earth Closet 



means freedom from contaminated 



water supply. 

 Sold Direct. Send for Circular. 



In Use Nine Years. It Pays to Look Us Up. 



C. H. STEPHENSON, Mfr 



21 Farrar Street, Lynn, Mass. 



/ 



McCRAY REFRIGERATORS 



Active and cold air circulation — Sanitary linings. 



Send for Catalogue 



McCRAY REFRIGERATOR COMPANY 



587 Lake St., Kendallville. Ind. 



If 



FLOOR VARNISH 



7r?t^7mberHarnSs 



= Comfort and Privacy = 



I The Burlington Venetian Blind § 



= will shade your porch and enable you to make your = 



= porch a haven of rest and comfort on sizzling hot days. = 



3 With the Burlington Venetian Blind you will get = 



= the advantages of open air. and at the same time you = 



= will be secluded from the gaze of passers-by. It is = 



== easy to adjust the Burlington Venetian Blind to any s 



3 angle. The top can be opened for light and ventila- | 



= tion and the lower part closed to keep out the sun. = 



= Make your porch a cool place for entertaining or = 



= reading, and a pleasant place where the children can = 



3 play — by using Burlington Venetian Blinds. 



= Write for illustrated booklet — if de- 

 picts and describes various styles 



1 BURLINGTON VENETIAN BUND COMPANY I 



= 339 Lake Street, Burlington, Vt. 



