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Collectibles--General (Modern)/identification Songbirds of the World

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Expert: - 9/7/2011


Question
I have purchased a complete set of 25 Songbirds of the World thimbles.  They are minted by Franklin Mint 1983 and painted by Robin Hill.  Where can I find literature identifying each bird and the number of each thimble in the collection?  Thank you for your help.

Answer
Hello Linda,  Thank you for your question.  I am familiar with this set.  Do you eBay?  In the past, I have seen the documentation certificates up for sale on eBay for the various Franklin Mint Thimble Collections.  I know that people have contacted the Franklin Mint and the FM acts as though they have no idea what you are requesting so it would be pointless to contact them. There is a website that may have information about the thimbles.  The website is out of Australia.  It is: http://thimbleselect.bizland.com/catalogue.htm  This is one of the best websites I have found for information about thimbles. I do hope this helps.

If you would please, contact me direct at thimble_guild@geusnet.com

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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