In today's What's it Worth? we answer readers' questions about a 19th century government document and a sporting book from 1932. Each has value as an object and each may have added value because of the autographs they carry. Let's go fishing - and maybe to the president's office.

Thomas Edison was America's premier inventor of new technologies.

Christmas still is the most collected of all the holidays and people look for everything from ornaments to art. Santa Claus images are especially popular and some of the most valuable appear on postcards. Among the highest-priced are Santas whose robes are colors other than red -- like blue, green or even black.

Sometimes, things don't have to be complete to have value. That is, parts that go with other parts can be worth something. In today's What's it Worth?, we answer a reader's question about their part to a World War I German military helmet.

In today's What's it Worth? we deal with two nice items. Well, one could be considered somewhat naughty but is historical and from the World War I.

In the antique and collectibles world, trends come and go like the changing of the seasons. During the current economic slump, many categories of once "hot" items have seen values chill like the coming of the first hard freeze.

Birds that flap their wings, move their beaks and sing, but can't fly. Airplanes that can taxi and turn, but don't take to the air.

Here is a riddle: what's not money, but looks like money, acts like money and is valuable? The answer, for hundreds of years, is "trade tokens."

We are in the middle of the Labor Day Weekend, and workers and politicians come to the fore in today's What's it Worth? We'll answer a reader's question about their worker's organization-related hand fan.

The modern Olympic Games began in 1896, with athletes from 14 nations competing in Athens, Greece. In addition to producing champions, the Olympics -- Summer and Winter -- have always generated a steady stream of collectibles. For instance, the Greek government issued a set of commemorative postage stamps for those first games. In today's What's it Worth? we answer a reader's question about a printed program from a now-obscure 20th century pre-Olympics event. We'll also be heading over to the world of tobacciana to look at a terrific advertising sign.

In fashion, trends come and go. Some last for quite a long time -- neckties for men and the little back dress. Others fade quickly -- remember Nehru jackets and big hair?

In the antiques and collectibles world, buyers and sellers alike sometimes encounter hard-to-identify items. We'll examine a prime example in today's edition of What's it Worth? And, a reader asks about her natural history print which is fairly easy to identify and somewhat complicated to authenticate as an original.

It wasn't that many years ago an evening's home entertainment would consist of singing songs around the piano. In our house, Mom played, we all sang. She played better than we sang. The tunes were on sheet music that was mostly Grandmother's (she sang, too) and featured standards like Darktown Strutter's Ball, and Over There. In today's What's it Worth? we examine another family's sheet music collection and look at a glass pitcher with a special function.

The Civil War was starting to heat up 150 years ago. It took a few months for the conflict to escalate. After Confederate forces captured Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor in April 1861, hostilities were at a minimum until the first Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) in July. Until then, many people thought the war might last a few months. They were quite wrong, of course.

The Civil War was starting to heat up 150 years ago. It took a few months for the conflict to escalate. After Confederate forces captured Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor in April 1861, hostilities were at a minimum until the first Battle of Bull Run (Manassas) in July. Until then, many people thought the war might last a few months. They were quite wrong, of course.

Security has been a basic human concern since the dawn of time. We try to protect ourselves and our families and protect what we have. We use means from safe deposit boxes to hiding things under mattresses. And, we use safes.

Maxfield Parrish was never a starving artist. Even while he was still in art school, the man who would go on to become America's most enduring illustrator was making money at his chosen trade.

Some What's It Worth? readers write to ask questions about items in their collections. More often, our correspondents don't have a collector of any kind -- just a single object.

Readers inquire about the background and value of two quite different items in today's What's it Worth? One comes from Japan and is designed more for looks than function. The other comes from the heart of America and is designed for listening. Let's explore the exotic world of Oriental Satsuma and Fairy Phonographs.

From a fancy baby toy to what today are "boy's toys," readers ask What's it Worth about items made of silver, leather, plastic and brass. Come along as we investigate an infant's teething ring and two things which once made your shotgun work.

Today's What's it Worth answers a reader's question concerning one of America's most interesting manufacturers. Interesting, that is, if pinup girls, cowboy movie stars and arcade games are your thing.

All you have to do is look around to see that spring is just about here. The grass is starting to green, forsythia is blooming in sheltered areas and America's national pastime -- baseball -- is about to start in earnest.

Readers of What's it Worth have asked questions about some intriguing old items this time around. Both are American, both utilitarian and each will find value in the marketplace today. Let's go back to an era when people pickled in stoneware crocks and used a pocket knife to whittle.

Q. In this edition of What's it Worth we deal we two items that are strictly Washington. One reader asks about the work of a famous eastern Washington documentary photographer. Another collector wants to know the value of a small item that was used in every county of the state during the mid-20th century. Come along along we go back to the days when the Tri-Cities hadn't yet become the Tri-Cities and everyone paid some of their taxes with a special token.

February is Black History Month and today's What's it Worth? looks at two related items. The month marks national recognition of the achievements of blacks and goes back much further than most people would think.

Modern. We tend to think of modern as very "now," very up-to-the minute. The dictionary defines the word as "Of or relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past."

Let's start the New Year with an antiques road trip, a journey that will take us to visit very different artists in balmy Mexico and the frozen northlands of Alaska. In today's What's it Worth? we answer readers' questions about both sterling silver and reindeer hide art.

At the turn of the 20th century, collecting postcards became a favored hobby of Americans. The craze lasted until about the time of World War I. What made postcards popular with the public was the ease of mailing and delivery -- many places had more than one deliver a day -- and the inexpensive nature of the cards themselves and the postage. Until the mid-20th century, postcards only cost 1 cent to mail.

People have collected autographs for centuries. Signatures of leaders, movie stars, athletes and celebrities of all stripes can have value. Some bring more collector interest - and more money - than others.

An unusual musical instrument and realistic dollhouse furniture are the subjects of readers' questions in today's What's it Worth? One was found, almost by accident, in an attic. The other is a family treasure handed down from a grandmother to granddaughter.

The election looms. Across our region, many readers have already mailed ballots. Change may be in the air. And so, it seems, it has always been.

Readers ask about a pair of items from "across the pond" in today's installment of What's It Worth? Both started life in England and managed to work their way to the U.S. over the course of more than two centuries. Come along as we explore the background of an historical Staffordshire Potteries platter and a very, very old clock.

Today, two readers ask about their toy: a doll which would interest collectors of what's called "Black Americana" -- as well as doll collectors and the cutest little Teddy Bear. Which turns out to be quite the special piece. Come along as we travel to Germany and Japan with What's it Worth?

Q. I have had this glass and metal perfume bottle for a number of years. The glass portion in the middle is bright red and divided into two sections. The metal caps on either end are plain and there are no marks. There's no damage and the condition of everything is great. What can you tell me about it and is it of value? -- Jessica in Hermiston

Today, What's it Worth? goes back about 40 years for one reader's item.

It's often said, "good things come in small packages." The opposite can also be true, with big, really big, packages hiding good things.

We are celebrating an anniversary here at What's It Worth? Today's column is number 200, dating back to January 2003. So, Happy Anniversary to us and to you, the readers.

Everyone has to have somewhere to sit down. And everyone needs some place we can set our stuff down.

In 1960, musician Rolf Harris had a huge hit with Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport. The flip side of that record was a little ditty called Nick Teen & Al K. Hall.

For decades, baseball cards were considered interesting and colorful but not particularly valuable. They were collected mostly by young boys.

Abraham Lincoln often is cited as America's most important president. He led the nation through a time of Civil War and was the first chief executive assassinated while in office. In today's What's It Worth? we explore a reader's Lincoln memorabilia and try to piece together its mystery purpose.

The Master's Golf Tournament took place in Georgia last week. Which means it's mid-Spring in the South. Which certainly means it will soon be Spring here in the Northwest.

Collecting commemorative pins has become a popular hobby. It's starting to rival coins and stamps, long the top of any collectibles list.

Q. My grandmother has a collection of 60 or 70 spoons like these. Some are marked "Sterling" and some are not marked at all. Are they of interest to collectors? -- Bea in Pasco

Q. I have several lamps which have been in my family for decades, but I don't know how old they are or which relative initially acquired them.

Q. We have a old phonograph and a record that we have had in our family since about 1925. Many years ago, my grandmother received this Victrola from a beau. Included in the record collection is O Sole Mio by Enrico Caruso.

Q. I got this Crouch & Fitzgerald brand trunk from my father, who was an antiques dealer. He always told me it was rare. I've read they were top quality trunk makers of their day -- up there with Louis Vuitton in the early 20th century. It is either solid leather or leather-covered, with no wood visible. It is 33 inches long, all of the hardware including hinges is in great shape. What can you tell me? -- Ryan in Graham.

Q. I have a Sessions mantel clock that came from my grandparents' home in Portland many years ago. It is a wind-up that chimes a single note on the hour, half-hour and quarter-hours. Eight inches wide and 10 inches tall, the front is glass and the wood case is in good shape. The minute hand is broken in half but I have both pieces and it looks like the hand can easily be repaired or replaced. It hasn't been used in many years and probably needs a good cleaning but it used to keep very good time. What can you tell me about the value of this clock? -- Mike in Pasco

For thousands of years, the route from Point A to Point B has been available on maps.

Mood rings and go-go boots. Granny glasses and sea monkeys.