I have been using the resources and publications of Ralph and Terry Kovel for all of my years in the antique business. Most serious collectors have at least one reference book or price guide on the shelf that they have compiled. This week, I was saddened to learn of the death of Ralph Kovel at age 88. Ralph and wife Terry changed the antique collecting world, starting in 1953 with their first book, Dictionary of Marks — Pottery and Porcelain.

Answer to last week’s What is it? Dr. Doty knew this heavy metal device was a lock for a Model T Ford. Called an “anti-theft signal,” it clamped around the tire of a wooden, spoked wheel. It would “signal” if the car was being stolen by making a racket as it was being driven away! This year is the 100th anniversary of the Model T. ● The Kovels have produced a yearly price guide since 1968. Read the introduction before using the guide to be sure you understand how to interpret the values listed.

Their biggest impact on our hobby came in 1968 with the publication of Kovels’ Antiques & Collectibles Price List. This amazing compilation of antiques and collectibles values is published each year. It has become the bible for many dealers and collectors.

If you own a price guide, I recommend you take the time to read about how to use the guide. In the front of every issue, it states in bold type, “Read This Before You Use This Book — It Will Help.” Because I know you’re unlikely to take the time, what it says is the prices reported in the guide are from the general antiques market. They’re actual asking prices of pieces for sale. Kovels’ staff compiles a list of antique values from auctions, shows, shops and flea markets. They are specific prices, on a given day, for that one item. Collected from all around the nation, regional variations can influence some of the values given. Kovels’ is meant to be used only as a guideline.

It has been my experience that many dealers and collectors use the guide to prove a value for an item that they own. This can be hazardous, however. The guide only has a single line to list information about the item and its condition. That’s not enough to base a firm price for another item similar to it.

For example, under the heading “Carnival Glass,” one item is described as Butterfly & Berry, Sugar, Cover, Blue ………. $275. What does that really tell us? “Butterfly & Berry” is the design name for the item; “Sugar” means that it is a sugar bowl; “Cover” means that it has a lid; and “Blue” means that the glass has a blue tint. Nothing is given about condition. From reading the front of the guide, Kovels’ says that all items are in perfect condition unless otherwise stated. So if you have a carnival glass sugar bowl in blue but the lid is missing, you do not own a $275 item. Don’t make the mistake of believing your imperfect sugar bowl is as valuable as the one listed. This might seem like an unneeded warning, but I find that this mistake happens all the time in our hobby.

So I say thanks to Ralph Kovel for influencing the antique collecting world for so many years. He will be missed.

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