how to find out what a marble is worth

[cairlinne]

Once you've got a marble identified, what's the best way to find out
how much it might be worth, if you don't necessarily want to get it
formally appraised? I've got a bunch of marbles and I'm wondering
about their value, but I don't necessarily want to sell them and I
sure don't have enough money to pay for an appraisal on all of the
marbles I own! I'd like to figure out whether I have any marbles
are worth the cost of appraising, but I'm not sure where to start
for rough ideas. I've been watching eBay, of course, but not all of
the descriptions are reliable, and the ending prices are all over the map.
So that hasn't worked out as well as I'd hoped.

There are no books at the library or local bookstores about marbles, and I
am not sure I want to order a book online until I have some better idea
about its contents.

Advice &/or recommendations appreciated.

thanks, Caroline

[triker]

I would think the best way is to post them right here! These members are more Knowledgeable (Is that a word?) on price then the books will ever be!
IMHO
Bruce

[Nadine]

I agree that here is the best place to start. If you had the time to get to a marble show, that would be my second choice, but advice here is fast and free! Now let's see what you've got!

[schmoozer]

Cairlinne,

FYI - You are just up the road from one of the best mibologists around, Galen, our moderator!! (As honest as the day is long...IMHO.)

Can't wait to see what you have!

Oh yeah, welcome to the insanity!!

[sjstokes75]

I've got a couple books that list approximate values for marbles:

Marbles: Identification & Price Guide (Robert Block) and
Everett Grist's Big Book of Marbles

I'd be interested in knowing whether some of you more experienced people think those books are way off the mark or not....

Susan

[RR1961]

Both of those books are USEFUL !
But there are some very misleading I.D.s

Just one example in Block's 3rd edition. Page 112...plate #289
isn't an Acme Realer........# 294 isn't a Tri-Color. I leave it at that.

But the PRICE GUIDES are just OUT of DATE . However...you can get
a fairly good idea on which marbles are TOP SHELF and HARD TO FIND.

But.......ya can never have too many marble books (IMHO).
But BOARD info and feedback can save you alot of frustration.
It "SEEMS" like ya kinda have to go through the "Book Phases"
as a NEWBIE........and then get lucky and find the BOARDS !!!

Ya just gotta get good pics of your marbles and post'em here !!!
You'll get the help ya need........!!!!

RAR..............(IMHO) "In My Honest/Humble Opinion"

[MC Marbles]

I try & remember... a marble's value it truly only worth what someone
is willing to pay for it.
What I may think is a treasure, someone else may say it is junk.
Books are good as Rick said... to see which are harder to find
or sought after.
After that it is all emotions...of the buyer as well as seller.
In selling you must do proper identification & then see what
the market will pay.
In buying... If you like it, Want it, if the price is worth it to YOU...
& YOU enjoy it, Buy it.
It is all up to you, yours is the only opinion that matters in your collection.
Hope this helps / & Makes sense.

[lstmmrbls]

Finding similar marbles on Ebay and seeing what they sold for is one of the best ways. most common marbles are not worth anywhere near what most price guides value them. The prices of all but the most valuable and rare marbles eb and flow quite a bit. Akro corks seem to be at a low right now. People would hardly even look at them at the OC show. I guess what I am trying to say is the value of a marble and what one might sell it for can be far apart at different times and even places. That is why Ebay is one of the best price guides available. One of the most accurate published price guides IMHO is Marbles Illustrated by Block because it has actual prices they sold for. none of the books are real great for pricing IMHO Peace,Galen

[Unregistered]

how do i attach a picture?

[Unregistered]

How much are old Cat Eye marbles typically worth? I have a bunch of one, two, and three colored ones (like clear with different colors of leafy looking strips in the middle), but my camera won't take a very good picture.

[lstmmrbls]

Pics are really needed but the type descibed, a few cents each usually. Peace,Galen

[Unregistered]

How do you post pictures? I tried copy and paste and that didnt work, and I dont see a "attach picture" button

[Dutch]

How do you post pictures? I tried copy and paste and that didnt work, and I dont see a "attach picture" button

It's this link (above your text):

[lstmmrbls]

You may need to register. Peace,Galen

[kcthomas44]

It asks to enter the pictures url. I do not have the pictures on the internet???