mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on August 31, 2006 04:08:14 PM new
I just got back from a estate sale and among my purchases today was a 18th century dresser. I got it home and was reinstalling the drawers when I noticed the top drawer had a false bottom that is about 1/2 inch deep. To my supprise it was full of goodies. Coins, civil war confederate money, a matched set of his and hers wedding rings,a jackpot of philatelic collectibles with some very nice civil war art covers (that's a used envelope to non stamp collectors)and POW letters. The newest item in the drawer looks to be from the early 1900's. One item in the find was the bellow pictured pin. I can't really make out what the makers mark reads on the pin portion. Any idea's? I have zero, zilch, nada and zip experience in the antique jewelry department. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Makers name, approximate age, what do you call it, a pin, broach? Like I said, clueless about jewelry. It took a while but I think I got a prety good pic of the name on the pin. I just can't make out exactly what it sais, even under magnification.
The covers I have looked at so far and have done initial identification and plating on the stamps I'm puting a initial estimate of over $45,000 in auction value (no not ebay auction). I doubt I'll sell any of them since I'm a 19th century stamp and cover collector. It is a lifetime jackpot for me. So anything else is just icing on the cake.
 1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
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max40
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posted on August 31, 2006 05:13:14 PM new
Czechoslovakia
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mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on August 31, 2006 05:19:30 PM new
Yep, it sure does look like that. The letters were so choppy I just couldn't make it out. Thanks max. Guess this one goes in the back to auction pile.
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
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bcpostcards
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posted on August 31, 2006 05:33:29 PM new
mike, the pin says CZECHOSLOVAKIA.
Very nice score on getting an old chest WITH an untouched cache. I love these kinds of situations and am hoping you took a pic of the intact hoard before diving into it. If so, would you post a pic of it to give the rest of us some "encouragement" (I think there's a better word for what I'm thinking, but it's not coming to me right now).
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pmelcher
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posted on August 31, 2006 07:37:30 PM new
inspiration?
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blueyes29
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posted on August 31, 2006 08:03:19 PM new
I'm pea-green with envy...CONGRATS on the terrific find!
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pixiamom
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posted on August 31, 2006 10:13:36 PM new
I've had wonderful dreams like this- so disappointed when I woke up! Congrats! How lucky the stamps and covers were to be found by a collector!
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aintrichyet
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posted on September 1, 2006 01:01:06 AM new
wow ... mikes4x4andluckyduck
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glassgrl
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posted on September 1, 2006 09:29:53 AM new
mike we want to see pictures of all the stuff
! Heck it doesn't have to be close ups - just enough that we can live vicariously! 
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cherishedclutter
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posted on September 1, 2006 01:31:47 PM new
If you list the pin on ebay, call it a brooch. Can you show the back of it? What is the red material - it looks like leather in the pictures.
Maybe I'm off base - but I'm wondering if it isn't a button cover.
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mikes4x4andtruckrepair
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posted on September 1, 2006 03:04:06 PM new
I just got back from the Gettysburg Historical Society a little while ago. I droped off the majority of the lot for them to take a look over. There going to research the people in the letters for me and see if they can dig up any history. I did find out that one group of letters that were mailed from a Private to his mother is burried in the Gettysburg battlefield military cemetary. He was KIA in the battle of Gettysburg. Exciting news for me as it gives me some personal history to add to the letters. If any of them end up being of any historical value I may donate them to the Historical Society so they can be displayed in the museum.
I did take a bunch of pictures of the lot but I took them with my 35mm camera so I'll have to wait until I get the neg's developed.
I didn't take the brooch along since it isn't civil war era. I spent a little more time today cleaning it with a motorized micro polisher. I had cleaned it a little yesterday before I took pictures of it but it's alot cleaner now. The red center looks to be glass to me. It is impervious to a red hot pin, is almost impossible to scratch and is slightly transparent under very bright light. Under a microscope the surface looks like glass as the scratch's in the surface appear to be very ragged edged like you would expect from glass. I am not sure what metal it is made out of. Somehow I doubt it is gold and think it is probably brass since it is not marked. Here's a pic of the reverse I took yesterday.
1 out of 4 people are mentally unbalanced. Take a look at your 3 closest friends. If they seem alright, you're the one! - Kyle Stubbins, CMS
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glassgrl
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posted on September 1, 2006 04:41:06 PM new
when I first saw it I thought "Carnelian"
I'll bet it's gold too.
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otteropp
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posted on September 1, 2006 05:16:32 PM new
WOW! What a haul!
I agree that the pin looks like carnelian. I would take it to a good jeweller.
A lifetime find indeed..Congratulations...it is the stuff that dreams are made of.
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ladyjewels2000
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posted on September 1, 2006 08:07:51 PM new
It's probably from the late teens to early 1920's. Don't count it out as Czech jewelry is collectible.
They are known for their glass so that would be my first guess - Carnelian would be better but it's a bit too red IMO.
Sounds like you had a great find! Good for you.
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irked
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posted on September 1, 2006 10:24:34 PM new
Wow, I would love to find something like that. Most I ever found in my buys was stashed money most being $10.00 in pockets. You hit the jackpot. Congrats. post some pics when you can so we can all drewl.
**************
Well, aren't we a ray of sunshine.
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profe51
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posted on September 2, 2006 05:29:18 AM new
No more polishing....
____________________________________________
Grow your own Dope. Plant a Republican.
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