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In this pre-holiday edition of What's It Worth we answer readers' questions about collectible items that fit right in with the season.
For years, children all over the world have been gifted with dolls as part of the seasonal festivities. And books have always been popular presents.
Q. Among my mother's "treasures" we found a copy of the book Miracle on 34th Street while cleaning her apartment. It has a red cover, seems to be in pretty good condition and on an inside page it says it was printed in 1947. Is there any value here or collector interest? -- Gwen in Richland
A. There are a few Christmas stories generally considered to be -- pardon the pun -- "evergreen." In print, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and the early 19th century poem The Night Before Christmas are on the list. On film 1946's It's A Wonderful Life and 1947's Miracle on 34th Street come around year after year.
The Miracle story is of a little girl (played in the film by Natalie Wood) who doesn't believe in Santa Claus. She meets and is convinced he's real by a jolly gent named Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn received the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for really being Santa Claus, really!) who has taken a "day job" as a Macy's department store Santa in New York.
While his work as a playwright and screenwriter is well-known, Valentine Davies is barely remembered today. Davies penned the story of Miracle on 34th Street and won the 1947 Oscar for Original Story.
You may have not heard of Davies, but you're probably familiar with some of his other movies. He wrote the screenplay for The Glenn Miller Story, and wrote and directed The Benny Goodman Story.
In an inspired bit of cross-promotion, the Miracle on 34th Street book came out simultaneously with the opening of the movie. Very popular when released, it must have gone through many printings.
Yet, each copy we have seen carries the 1947 publication date. That might make it hard for collectors to identify a true "first edition, first state" copy of the book. Except for the fact that true "first editions" had those very words printed in the book.
Most copies are not particularly valuable or very hard to find. One Internet database of bookstores we searched had more than 200 available from sellers all over the country. Prices ranged from $1 (plus the cost of shipping) to several hundred dollars. Locally, we found one offered for eight dollars. Books that say "first edition" get a premium, between $50 and $75.
This copy has a dust jacket but does not indicate it is a true "first edition." Under $10 would be the value. However, the funny and uplifting story of belief and good works is worth a lot more than that.
Q. My dad gave me this doll when I was born in 1965. It probably was purchased in Cranbrook, British Columbia, and it stayed in its box for many years. I was able to play with it when I was older. The markings are "Regal Made In Canada." She's 12 inches tall and once had shoes, but they've been lost What can you tell me about her? -- Audrey in Richland
A. Not very well-known here south of the border, Regal was one of Canada's leading doll makers, working out of Toronto from the late 1950s until 1984. Regal Toy Company Ltd. made a wide variety of dolls in vinyl and plastic.
This doll is typical of their multiethnic production. In addition to black dolls, the firm made "first nation's people" (what Americans would call Native American or Indian) and Eskimo dolls.
Quite popular with Canadian collectors, Regal dolls have yet to find much of a following in the United States. Their competitor's dolls -- including Earle Pullan and Reliable Toy Company -- also have a wide following in Canada and not so much so elsewhere.
Attractive and somewhat unusual, we have seen examples like this one listed for retail prices ranging between $50 and $200.
w Terry Maurer, a Tri-Cities personal property appraiser and antique dealer, is a member of the Certified Appraisers Guild of America. You may submit your antiques and collectible questions to What's It Worth by e-mail to whatsitworth@ clearwire.net.
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