Establishing a value for antiques isn't easy

@JudyEv Searching I have found others sold on eBay in the UK but I had to create an account to look at the price, so I skipped. Two were more round, but the same subject "David Copperfield at the Sun Inn".

@LadyDuck Yes, I have seen round ones too.

That's almost my exact tray! Mine is oblong too and shows David Pickering from Dickens. It was a wedding present to my mother, (so I probably won't sell it) and she was married in 1937. The assessor suggested it was worth $A25.

I thought about going to a dealer but decided against it. Ebay seems as good as anywhere.

@JudyEv From what I understand, antique dealers shop on EBay for items they're interested in.

@kobesbuddy I 'watch' items on Ebay. They are items that I have so I watch to see what price they bring so I'll have some idea of what price to put on mine.

It's an Alfred Meakin plate and that's David Copperfield. It was a wedding present to my parents who married in 1937 so your 'guess' is very accurate. It was valued at $A25. There is a square plate with the same images on Ebay for $A20. Of course, it's really only worth what you can get for it. I may not even sell it. I was more or less trying out the site. They are now valuing a piano accordion but they seem to be taking a while to get back to me.

@JudyEv We're currently in the throes of moving house, which means rationalising and downsizing (!). I have a lot of old photographic and computer stuff (boxes and boxes of floppy disks, would you beleive?!) and I've been using eBay to try to see if there's any value in them (apparently people still do want old, original software). I find it quite useful for putting a value on old stuff. I'd say that $A20 - 25 for your plate is about right, though a little on the high side over here. There's an awful lot of Meakin pottery on eBay here but that's only to be expected because Meakin was very prolific and, being an English manufacturer, there's bound to be more here than in Australia. I notice that most of what's listed is sets rather than individual items. Piano accordions are rather difficult to value and a lot depends on the make, age and condition because repairs and restoration are expensive and often not worthwhile. Really, a buyer would need to handle the instrument and examine it to see whether the bellows were in, at least, a repairable condition.

@owlwings We are also making plans to move soon so I understand rationalising and downsizing. It's interesting that old software has some value. We have a heap of LPs, none of which would be very valuable and what to do with them is another nightmare. We'll take them to a community garage sale then I guess the rest will go to the Op Shop. I've asked the same valuers for a price on the accordion. It has been in its case for some years but the bellows should be okay. However, your comment means I will now go and test it. Good luck with moving. I hope it is as stress-free as possible. I don't think it is ever completely stress-free.

Thanks. At least I know its value now.

@JudyEv You're. That is good to hear.

That's a great attitude. And anything is only worth what someone will pay for it.

@DocAndersen You sound like the ideal friend!

@JudyEv i love selling stuff to friends (tech stuff) because then I can help them to get it working right!

That's a good idea. I'll check to see if we have a local auction place.

@lazydaizee Yes, they would have to charge some sort of commission. I guess you check that out before you sign up.

@JudyEv If they sell the item for you, they will probably charge a commission depending on how much it gets sold for. The last auction I sold something at charged about 24% which sounds a lot but it included VAT and other charges.

@JudyEv Yes. Love it there!!!

They have hundreds of items for sale, that's for sure.

Thanks. Yes, it is pretty.

It's especially useful if you have to put a fixed price on an item.

@JudyEv OOOOOH. Alfred Meakin. No wonder that plate looks familar to me. I think I have Meakin made Audubon plates that my daughter found for me years ago. Those plates are one of my must keep treasures.

It's an Alfred Meakin plate and it's David Copperfield so you were very clever. And you're right about the postage costs. They are really quite prohibitive.

I can always put stuff up for auction I guess.

I used to pay a bit of attention too but know very little about values now.

I may not sell it. I do have a lot of other china so I will go through and try to sort out what I want to keep and what I can donate.

@JudyEv

There always seems to be something that is similar to what you have.

You are right on the button with this. If you don't have a buyer, then the piece has little value.

If you need to put a set price on something, you need to have some idea of an item's value.

As rebelann said, it's only worth what someone is willing to pay. I don't mind only getting a small amount but I don't want to be ripped off. lol

Yes and it's been in the family a long time. I might end up keeping it.

I have an answer. They say about $25. I am now waiting for an evaluation on a piano accordion.

I wouldn't like to feel I'd been ripped off. And of course it's really only worth what you can get for it.