Customer Reviews

Kovels' Antiques & Collectibles Price List 2001 33rd Edition

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I have to say, I actually get a better feel for prices just by going on ebay and searching through completed and current items. That will tell you what people are really paying for things today. The problem I had with this guide is that it hardly ever had the item I was looking up. It had similar items but in many cases, the specifics really matter if you want a real price. I also don't know who pays some of the prices listed in there. It is an interesting check though if you're able to hit on something you're actually interested in finding in there

If you're an avid garage sale goer, this is a good piece of reference to keep in your car before you spend too much for an item that really may not be worth as much as you are hoping.

The "Antiques Roadshow" mentality has everyone thinking that they have treasures when they really have just a bunch of very old junk. On the flip-side, some things you might just think are junk could really be treasures after all.

Readers should keep in mind that this is a price guide, not a price rule. In other words, an item is only worth what people are willing to pay for it. An item may be listed as having a value of $400 (for example), but you may be hard-pressed to find a buyer (even on an on-line auction) who is willing to pay more than $50.

Kovel's is a pretty awesome guide as long as you keep that in mind. A price guide is also no replacement for real-world experience, training and study. Memorizing the contents of this book will not make you a candidate to be an appraiser for Christie's or Sotheby's... but if you are an amateur collector or have been collecting for years, it's a great reference to have at your fingertips.

This was one of the first books I bought when I started collecting and flea marketing. Turned out to be a great investment, one that I update with every new edition by the Kovels.