THE KOVELS | Antiques and collecting Fans will dish out cash for items with log cabins

A log cabin was a modest home that was used as a symbol in many political campaigns. Six U.S. presidents were born in log cabins.
In the campaign of 1840, a newspaperman wrote that William Henry Harrison was only fit to sit by his log cabin with a barrel of cider. The insult became his campaign slogan. Voters liked the idea of a president from humble beginnings, and Harrison was elected.
Abraham Lincoln and Andrew Jackson also campaigned and won the presidency using the symbol of a log cabin.
The log cabin remained a strong symbol even after the Civil War.
About 1875, the Central Glass Co. of Wheeling, W.Va., manufactured pressed glass serving dishes in the shapes of log cabins. A covered bowl, butter dish, compote, creamer, marmalade jar, water pitcher and rectangular sauce dish were made.
Most of them were clear glass. A few rarities were made of amber, blue or Vaseline glass.
Each piece had stubby, log-shaped feet and tree-trunk parts.
The pattern has attracted many collectors.
A blue log-cabin-covered jar sold recently for more than $1,000.
Q. Through an estate, I recently acquired a copy of an April 15, 1865, edition of the New York Herald. It's devoted to the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It is preserved in a plastic envelope. An appraiser told me it would be a good idea to have it professionally framed under glass. What is it worth?
A. The value of an original April 1865 newspaper covering Lincoln's assassination depends on its condition. Prices can reach hundreds and even thousands of dollars for complete newspapers in excellent condition. Collectors want a complete newspaper, not just the front page. Don't frame your newspaper. Keep it preserved in an archival case and away from light. The New York Herald is one of the prized Lincoln newspapers. The others are The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Washington Chronicle. Most original April 15 Heralds had eight pages. One of the morning editions had only four. Original Heralds did not have Lincoln's picture on the front page. Later reprints have a picture. The reprints, made a short time after the originals, usually have four pages. They are not valuable.
Q. Several years ago, I bought a plastic-and-vinyl Ronald Reagan doll. It's 17 inches tall. The doll is wearing a suit and tie, and is still in its original box. A tag around the wrist reads "Horsman." What is the doll worth today?
A. The E.I. Horsman Co. has been a New York doll manufacturer and distributor since about 1878. The company's limited-edition Ronald Reagan doll was sold in 1987, near the end of the president's second term. Some dolls came dressed in a tuxedo. Today a Reagan doll, in its original box, sells for about $100.
Q. My tile pictures a silhouette of a woman holding a parasol. It was made by the Franklin Tile Co. Where did the company work?
A. The Franklin Tile Co. opened in Lansdale, Pa., in 1927. The firm made glazed ceramic tiles until the early 1950s, when it merged with the American Encaustic Tile Co. From 1959-95, the company's name was American Olean Tile Co. In December 1995, it became part of Dal-Tile International. The factory closed in 1998.
Q. When were crazy quilts first made?
A. Crazy quilts have many irregularly shaped patches. They were first made in America during the 1860s and became the rage in the 1880s. A typical quilt was made using many types of cloth in a variety of shapes and colors. The pieces were stitched together. Many quilts were decorated with added stitched or painted flowers, dates or border designs on each patch. Some quilts were made from men's ties, campaign ribbons or even cloth cigar-box bands. A good quilt could take as long as 1,500 hours to make. Crazy quilts were out of style by the 1920s. Examples are selling from $300 to $1,000, depending on workmanship and condition. Many of the silk patches have deteriorated and torn.
Q. I have a collection of close to 2,500 cigarette lighters of all styles, ages and makes. On top of that, I have many ashtrays and cigar boxes. I've been collecting for decades, and I want to sell everything. But I want to sell all at once, not piecemeal. What's the best thing to do?
A. Your massive collection should be seen by a reputable auctioneer who can advertise it widely and, at the same time, contact well-known collectors of smoking paraphernalia. You'll pay the auctioneer a fee, but you're likely to realize more income this way than you would if you sold your whole collection to a dealer. With an auction, you can also set minimum bids so that any given item cannot sell below a price you set. The auctioneer can help you decide on minimum bids. Ask other collectors of lighters if they know about auctioneers who specialize in lighters and smoking paraphernalia.
Tip
Never use metal polish to clean ormolu or gilded metal parts. Polish will remove the top layer of color. Use ammonia.
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