The first step to collecting marbles is educating yourself on the many types of marbles available. There are numerous books and websites to help you along your journey. Another way to learn is going to shows. There are listing around the web and at some collectable stores that will help you find a marble show in your area.
Now the fun begins! Locating and buying marbles for your collection. Garage sales, flea markets and estate auctions are all great ways to find marbles. Once you learn the ropes and know your marbles, you can find those rarer marbles in sales and auctions with relative ease.
Another important way to acquire marbles is from reputable dealers. You can find local dealers and collectors in your area through various websites and local collectable stores in your area.
Knowing what to look for in a marble will help you from making costly mistakes and save you a lot of frustration. Here is a small list of different type’s marbles. If you have ever played marbles as a child, you may remember a few of these:
Cleary- Clear glass marbles in various solid colors.
Indian- A dark blue glass marble with numerous bands or stripes.
Milkies- A translucent white colored marble.
Peewee- A small marble usually less than a half-inch diameter.
Shooter- ½ to ¾ inch in diameter. Used for shooting at other marbles.
Steelie- A steel marble. These were my favorites as a child.
Lutz- Glass marble with bits of goldstone in them. Hand-made.
Chalkies- Usually made from clay. Unglazed.
There are different ways to determine the worth of marbles. First being the type of marble, the rarer it is the more it’s worth .The most sought after marbles are usually the hand-made glass variety. The condition of the marble is also a very important factor when deciphering worth. With anything you collect, there will be differences in grading. One persons mint condition can be another person’s near mint. Any chips scratches or dings can lessen the value of your marble. The size of the marble factors into the value as well. Usually the larger or smaller (peewee) are worth more than the average sized marble. Lastly, look at the appeal of the marble. Clean straight lines and symmetry are important. Bright or clear colors are important as well.
Taking care of your marbles is very important when collecting. A toothbrush and plain water work very well cleaning most marbles. Do not use harsh or abrasive cleaners on them. If you do have a damaged marble, a reputable dealer or collector, who specializes in repair, can restore them. Make sure you want the marble repaired! Keep in mind; some marbles actually lose value if repaired. Learning to identify repairs can help you avoid buying something you thought was worth more.
Storing your marbles in a jar or bag may have been handy when you were a child, but it can cause nicks and scratches that you will want to avoid as a collector. There are also cases and stands made specifically for marble collectors. Check your local hobby shop. Keeping them in individual plastic or sandwich bags before storing can be an affordable way to keep your marbles in good condition.
Marble collecting has becoming more popular over the past several years making it a rewarding hobby for those of us who remember playing as a child, or someone just discovering how fun collecting can be.
