What It's Worth
Weekly articles written by Jeffrey P. Hess about the value of collectibles and other rarities. The articles are published weekly on the Tampa Bay Times.
The Watercolors Of A Notorious Conman
Murph the Surf was a man of mystery who lived just two hours from us. A skilled championship surfer, he was known for his cool
demeanor, flashy shades, fast cars and laidback surfer lifestyle. He was good looking with a confident smile and a great physique, and always
had a stunning woman by his side in
pics from paparazzi.
Factors That Influence The Value Of Japanese Prints
Ninety percent of Japanese woodblock prints are worth very little.
The Variety And Collectibility Of Zippo Lighters
During the early 1900s, a young boy, George Grant Blaisdell, had a strong dislike for school. He dropped out in fifth grade and was sent to military school by his father, where he only lasted for two years.
The Ups And Downs Of Ancient To Modern Coins
Evaluation of gold coins can be a slippery slope, as indicated by a coin we sold last month for a customer, and a coin we recently took in for
an upcoming sale.
Unmentionables Of Great Value
The three most popular What’s It Worth column subjects are about my son (endearing), when we lose money (endearing but depressing) and stories from “back in the day.”
Today, I’ll recount a circa-1990 story that I remember with crisp details and a few vague areas as well.
Commemorative Coins
Stone Mountain Silver commemorative coins were minted to honor Confederate leaders, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, to raise funds for the construction of a monument.
Masonic Jewels & Collectibles
The Masons and many offshoots have been in the U.S. for over 300 years. The amount of good they do in society and the community is
immeasurable. Once called a secret society, almost every man of means had to be involved in his local Masonic chapter. Masonic collectibles, like many collectibles, are a little soft price-wise these days, but still occasionally things walk in
that are extraordinary.
Buying Expensive Fine Art & Antiques!
• Tampa Bay’s leader since 1985 • We buy entire households or that one expensive piece of art. We are
Highly Valued African American Artists
We will be featuring an unpretentious painting by Willie Earl Robinson in our worldwide auction
next month. We purchased it for $600. We’ve estimated it at a modest $700 to $1,000.
To Your Tattered Oz Books Go: With Philip Jose Farmer
My first job writing was at 19 years old for the mighty Bartonville News. Our town in central Illinois had
