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ebay and souvenir spoons

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Author	Topic: ebay and souvenir spoons
vathek Posts: 966 Registered: Jun 99	posted 12-06-2002 12:08 PM While this is a collecting field I have no great interest in, while browsing silver on ebay I notice that sterling souvenir spoons seem to go for a fraction of what they used to be considered worth, even those with nice enamel work, and wonder if other silver collecters have noticed any affect on their area of silver collecting interest? IP: Logged
Brent Posts: 1507 Registered: May 99	posted 12-06-2002 01:39 PM A great topic! As for souvenir spoons, the prices realized on eBay do tend to be a lot lower than what most dealers ask. Perhaps the dealers are still living in the pre-eBay days, pricewise. That said, I think that eBay really does separate the sheep from the goats. Rare items seem to do quite well, while more abundant types often fail to sell, even at bargain basement prices. I can't begin to figure out what makes one spoon worth $50-100 and another less than $10, but there IS a distinction. I often follow the coin silver listings on eBay, and must say that the creation of the Coin Silver category has probably had quite an effect on prices. With roughly 400-600 Coin Silver listings at any one time, it is not difficult for a dedicated collector to view everything listed on a ongoing basis. When a rare or important item comes up, everyone sees it and the competition is fierce. Plain fiddle coin teaspoons, with nothing special about them, rarely sell for more than a few dollars, reflecting the glut in the marketplace. Well, there's my two cents. I'm sure others will have plenty to say. Brent IP: Logged
DaleNelson unregistered	posted 12-08-2002 11:38 PM What I have noticed is a shift in the spoons that bring money. On eBay it seems that the truly obscure, hand made, one of a kind items are in demand. While the more mass produced fancy ones tend not to draw much interest. On eBay we have done well with spoons hand engraved with steel mills in Gary IN, National Cash Register factory, churches in very small towns, and Ferris wheels. One of a church in IA was finally won by the denomination headquarters; it was the only pictoral record of that particular parish. High schools tend to do well. In years past I would have put these in my $10.00 stack and highlighted the figural ones. With eBay you can reach the hometown memoribilia collectors, who probably never realized there were spoons in their area. IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 12-09-2002 12:15 AM Was astonished to see eBay #926267388, admittedly a nice spoon, close at $1,824 (!!!). 2 pictures from the listing follow. From browsing eBay silver listings, I've noticed the following types of souvenir spoons seem to fare quite well ($100-500 apiece). Probably there are other categories, but this is what comes to me off the top of my head. Certain hotels Certain Gorham early 1890s cast souvenirs (Lakewood pinecone, "Old Abe", Washington Irving home, etc.) Gorham figural shell/fish/crab--not intended to be souvenirs, but many had location names engraved/etched in bowl Gorham round bowls Unusual Continental souvenirs-specifically, postage stamp, portrait, casino/roulette, and Egyptian designs Enamel ships Certain Christmas designs Unusual female figures-divers, cowgirls, etc. Durgin's Mary Baker Eddy spoon Old, figural Hawaii spoons IP: Logged
vathek Posts: 966 Registered: Jun 99	posted 12-09-2002 08:34 AM It is something of a surprise to realize how many spoons were made (especially coin silver). Forks apparently wore out more frequently. I would say the next most common item is the cream jug? with sugar bowls being harder to find. I wonder why. I should add perhaps sugar tongs are the next most common item? [This message has been edited by vathek (edited 12-09-2002).] IP: Logged

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