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Collecting Handmade Marbles

By Wheeler | May 2, 2008

Some time ago I watched a program on T.V. about how glass marbles are made. This particular manufacturer has been making marbles for over a century. They make them partially by hand and partially by machine.

As with many things that are collectible, handmade usually fetches a better return on investment. Think of the handmade quilts, beds, dressers, etc that are handmade by the Amish every year. They are immediately more expensive to buy outright, and their value does not decline with age. My bed, the moment that I took it off the showroom floor, was worth substantially less than I paid for it.

Handmade marbles are no different. Collectors of marbles search far and wide to find the most unique and most often beautiful handmade or even machine made marbles. It is amazing how these marbles have stood the test of time, many games under their belts and are still striking!

Marbles are a great treasure to find in those random places such as thrift store, antique stores, and garage sales. I’ve taken a second to find a few eBay listings just to give you an idea of the collectible nature of marbles.

lot-13-vintage-glass-marbles-machine-hand-made-1-german lot 13 vintage glass marbles machine hand made 1 german
US $15.50 (5 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Jul-04-2009 8:00:00 PDT
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fulton-parker-handmade-glass-swirl-super-marble-set-4 FULTON PARKER HANDMADE GLASS SWIRL SUPER MARBLE SET/4
US $113.00
End Date: Saturday Jul-04-2009 8:17:06 PDT
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hand-made-connemara-marble-5-decade-rosary-beads Hand made connemara marble 5 decade rosary beads
US $24.99 (0 Bid)
End Date: Saturday Jul-04-2009 9:34:23 PDT
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three-old-german-handmade-swirl-marbles-1890-1910 Three old German handmade swirl marbles 1890-1910
US $12.60 (3 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Jul-04-2009 9:45:00 PDT
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old-7-8-german-handmade-mica-snowflake-marble-1890-1910 Old 7/8"German handmade Mica Snowflake marble 1890-1910
US $11.00 (2 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Jul-04-2009 9:50:00 PDT
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old-9-16-german-handmade-type-1-lutz-swirl-marble- Old 9/16" German handmade Type 1 Lutz Swirl marble
US $31.56 (6 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Jul-04-2009 9:55:00 PDT
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36-antique-blue-red-swirl-glass-handmade-marbles-lot 36 ANTIQUE BLUE RED SWIRL GLASS HANDMADE MARBLES LOT
US $6.99 (1 Bid)
End Date: Saturday Jul-04-2009 9:59:15 PDT
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egyptian-handmade-alabaster-marble-candle-stand-holder- Egyptian Handmade Alabaster Marble Candle Stand holder
US $6.99
End Date: Saturday Jul-04-2009 10:14:26 PDT
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cone-handmade-egyptian-alabaster-marble-candle-holder- Cone Handmade Egyptian Alabaster Marble Candle Holder
US $13.00
End Date: Saturday Jul-04-2009 10:23:31 PDT
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-9-antique-hand-made-marbles-from-germany 9 antique hand made marbles from germany
US $53.50 (11 Bids)
End Date: Saturday Jul-04-2009 11:50:00 PDT
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Topics: Collectible Pricing, Collecting, collectibles, vintage stuff |

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