Collectibles--General (Modern)/thimble collection

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Expert: - 11/7/2011


Question
I recently inherited a collection of thimbles collected by my mother in her travels all over the US.All the lower 48 states..There is over 1,000 thimbles made of all kinds of material..How do I go about getting them appraised..I live in Indianapolis..thanks

Answer
Hello Tim,  Thank you for your question.  You would need to find a reputable antique dealer in your area. Or you can check out the on line website eBay.  They have several different categories of thimbles.  You could look at the thimbles that are listed and get an idea of the value of the thimbles you have.  They have several different categories such as sterling silver, gold and porcelain to name a few.  I hope this helps.

Wynneth

Collectibles--General (Modern)

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Wynneth Mullins

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I am a digitabulist - a thimble collector. I have been collecting thimbles since 1976 and have my own newsletter called Thimble Guild. I started a local thimble collectors group, Thimbles Are Us, in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area in 1985. I was Second Vice-President of Thimble Collectors International from 1988 - 1992. I have been a guest speaker on thimbles at local collectors groups, womens groups and churches. I am knowledgable about sterling and gold thimbles made in the US as well as England, Germany, France, Russia, Norway and a few other countries. I am familiar with manufacturer`s marks and codes, assay marks and date marks and other unique marks meaningful to any thimble collector. I am knowledgeable of porcelain, china, brass, pewter, bronze, aluminum, plastic, silver plated, coin and base metal thimble marks. Some questions I might be asked...what makes a thimble valuable (scarce maker, desirable pattern, commemorative, etc.)...where can I find more information on thimbles... are there collectors groups out there...is there a newsletter for collectors...what books are available on the subject? I am very happy to share my knowledge with anyone but will not make appraisals. To do that, you must be able to look at the thimble in person. I have a friend that has a saying, A knowledgable collector is a wise collector. She is a wise collector. In 1992, at the TCI Convention in San Diego, CA, I was given the highest honor in the thimble collecting community. It is called the Myrtle Lundquist Award. It reads, Lundquist Award - Compassion - Caring - Sharing - Awarded to Wynneth Mullins 1992. This award gives me a lot to live up to!

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