Sitting Cat Sulphide

This sulphide is a German made sitting cat measuring 1 15/16".

Transition Marbles circa Early 1900s

Transitions are slag marbles, which were gathered by hand and then formed by machine. So they're combination machine and handmade. The transitions pictured are from the collection of Danton Burroughs.

Bear Sulphide circa Late 1800s

This handmade German marble was the first sulphide I ever bought; it measures 2".

Pee Wee Swirls

Hand-made in Germany in the late 1800s, these small pretty pee wees measure 1/2" or less.

Cat with Sulphide

This one's for Pomi.

Popeye Marbles by Akro Agate

Popeye corkscrews are a three-color or four-color special that contain a unique color spiral.

Contemporary by Davis Marbles

The Davis family of Pennsboro, West Virginia has been making handmade marbles for many years. This early marble is signed by Jim Davis.

To see the superior quality of Davis Marbles, visit their website by CLICKING HERE.

Akro Agate Lemonades and Limeades

"Ades" are a speclialized type of corkscrew with a fluorescent milky white base, opaque white, and a spiral of color.

Tornado Swirl

Semi-translucent, with a black spiral core and one pink band, this small 5/8" beauty is hard to define. However, it was definitely handmade in Germany in the late 1800s.

Rainbow by Mark Matthews Glass

Rainbows, gum balls, animal prints, ribbon swirls, geometric, air trap & filigrana. . . Mark Matthews at his finest!!!!!

To visit Mark's website and see his amazing work CLICK HERE.

Maslach Art Glass

Ribbons and Lace.....Steven Maslach produced his first handmade marbles in 1978.

People often ask me what marbles like these are worth. Of course I always tell them that worth and value are different terms. Regarding worth, if I had my choice between these marbles . . . and say . . . my first born, I'd have to think about it for a while. Ah heck, I've thought long enough . . . sorry Jim, I'm keeping the marbles. ;) To understand my appreciation for Steven's work, visit his website by CLICKING HERE.

Vitro Confetti Marble

An experimental marble, just over one hundred of these 5/8" marbles were made.

Marble Associations:

Here is a continually updated list of Marble Associations. If you would like me to add your group, then send me an email at marbleforum@gmail.com

Name: International Association of Marble Collectors
Contact Name: Dani & Ernie Kirk
Email: zaboo222@comcast.net
Website: http://www.iamc.us/

Name: Amana Marble Meet
Location: Amana, IA
Website: http://www.amanamarble.com/

Name: Marble Collectors Society of America
Address: P.O. Box 222, Trumbull, CT 0661

Name: West Virginia Marble Collectors Club
Address: c/o Ruby Sellers 817 Hardy Hill Rd, Saint Marys WV 26170
Contact Name: Ruby Sellers
Website: http://www.westvirginiamarblecollectorsclub.com/

Name: Texas Marble Collectors
Address: P O Box 875 Pflugerville, TX 78691
Contact: 512-751-2945
Website: http://www.texasmarblecollectors.com/
Email: Cdc2@flash.net

Name: Midwest Marble Club
Address: 320 Jewel Lane Plymouth , MN 55447
Contact: 612-247-3860
Email: mhegstrom@bwig.net

Name: Indiana Marble Club
Address: 915 W Superior St Kokomo IN, 46901
Contact Name: Beth & Greg Morris 765-457-2477
Contact Email: dixieh7961@aol.com
Website: http://www.indianasmarbleclub.com/

Name: Badger Marble Club
Address:P O Box 194 Waunakee, WI 53597
Contact Name: Bill Bass 608-723-6138
Contact Email: ibmarbles@pcii.net
Website: http://www.badgermarbleclub.com/

Buckeye Marble Collectors Club
Address: P O Box 6 Franklin, OH 45005
Contact Name: Brian Estepp 614-863-5350
Contact Email: bemarbles@aol.com
Website: http://www.buckeyemarble.com/

Akro Agate Collectors Club
Address: 10 Bailey Street Clarksburg, WV 26301
Contact: 304-624-4523

Blue Ridge Marble Club
Address: 2401 Brookmont Court Richmond, VA 23233
Contact: 804-754-8371
Email: rdowdy-cp@mindspring.com

Great Plains Marble Club
Address: 508 South St Glenwood, IA 51534
Contact: 402-572-7512
Email: rkatsl@cox.net

Kansas City Marble Club
Address: 5637 Noland Road Shawnee, KS 66216
Contact: 816-365-8602
Email: craig@buymarbles.com

Oklahoma Marble Collectors
Address: 16328 South Peoria Bixby, OK 74004
Contact: 918-322-9221

West Virginia Marble Club
Address: Rt 3, Box 91 Washington, WV 26181
Contact: 304-428-4234
Email: marbleannie@juno.c0m

Peppermint Swirls

Handmade in Germany in the late 1800s. As pretty as peppermint candy.

Banded Opaque

The bands turned into splotches, which makes this marble at 1 11/16 inches unique.

Caged Solid Core Swirl circa Late 1800s

Measuring 1 3/4 inches with many colors, this is a fine example.

Green Gooseberry

A very rare marble. It measures 3/4 of an inch.

Akro Agate Imperials

A favorite of mine, these were made in the 1930s and 40s.

Swirl by Harry and Kathleen Boyer

This big beautiful marble measures 3 inches in diameter.

Marble Books: Identification & Price Guides

***NOTE: You are currently viewing just one of the postings about books here are Marble Forum. To view all marble book postings click on the "books" or "marble books" tag at the bottom of this posting.

A good marble identification and pricing guide is invaluable. I've owned several over the years, and recommend the following guides which can be purchased at a variety of locations:

Title: Marble Mania
Author: Stanley A. Block
Publisher: Shiffer Publishing
Note: Available from Marble Collectors Society Of America, P.O. Box 222, Trumbull, CT 06611.

Title: Big Book of Marbles (Third Edition)
Author: Everett Grist
Publisher: Collector Books

Title: Collecting Antique Marbles (Fourth Edition)
Author: Paul Baumann
Publisher: Krause Publications, Wisconsin

Title: American Machine-Made Marbles
Author: Dean Six, Susie Metzler and Michael Johnson
Publisher: Shiffer Publishing

Title: Contemporary Marbles and Related Art Glass
Author: Mark P. Block
Publisher: Shiffer Publishing
Note: Available from Marble Collectors Society Of America, P.O. Box 222, Trumbull, CT 06611

Title: Collectible Machine Made Marbles
Author: Larry Castle and Marlow Peterson
Publisher: Utah Marble Connection, Inc.
Note: Out of print

Title: Collecting Early Machine-made Marbles (Christensen)
Author: Robert S. Block
Publisher: Shiffer Publishing
Note: Available from the Marble Collectors Society Of America

Title:  Collecting Marbles  A Beginner's Guide
Author: Richard Maxwell
Publisher: Marble Keeper Publishing
Website:

Marble Books: History, Collecting & Games

***NOTE: You are currently viewing just one of the postings about books here are Marble Forum. To view all marble book postings click on the "books" or "marble books" tag at the bottom of this posting.

I'm a big fan of all things marbles, including books. So I own a few and highly recommend the following:

Title: Greenberg's Guide to Marbles
Author: Mark E. Randall and Dennis Webb
Publisher: Greenberg Publishing Company, Inc
Note: Out of print

Title: Marbles as Historical Artifacts
Author: Mark E. Randall
Publisher: Marble Collectors Society Of America, P.O. Box 222, Trumbull, CT 06611

Title: Aggies, Immies, Shooters and Swirls
Author: Marilyn Barrett
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Note: Out of print

Title: The Great American Marble Book
Author: Fred Ferretti
Publisher: Workman Publishing Company
Note: Out of print

Title: Marbles 101 Ways to Play
Author: Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson
Publisher: William Morrow and Company
Note: Out of print

Title: Marbles - The Pocket Book of Marble Collecting, History and Games
Author: House of Marbles, Devon England
Publisher: Outline Press (Book Publishers) Limited

Title: Knuckles Down
Author: Kathy Runyan
Publisher: Right Brain Publishing
Note: Now in it's 7th printing.

Title: Marbles - A Players Guide
Author: Shar Levine & Vickie Scudamore
Publisher: Sterling Publishing Company
Note: Out of print

Title: JABO a Classic
Author: Sturtz and Johnson
Publisher: Hojack Publishing, Inc
Comment: A very personal and "happy introduction to the wonderful world of JABO marbles".
To Order: JABO BOOK P O Box 532, Alexandria Bay, NY 13607 $50 + $5. (also on ebay)

Tile: Collecting Marbles: A Beginner's Guide
Author: Richard Maxwell
Publisher: Marble Keeper Publishing
Note: Book available from Publisher at www.marblekeeper.com

Title: Marble Ballot Boxes
Author: Scott Rice McBride
Note: Book is available from the author: email Greatmascott@aol.com 

Uninhabited Planet Marble #2 by Josh Simpson

Hereafter is a piece written by long-time marble maker Josh Simpson. It was published in the Southern California Marble Collectors Society Bulletin #4, dated February 24, 1986.

Holding one of my planets in your hand, you must imagine what it was like for Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise to break after light years of travel into orbit around a warm, lush world teeming with life. There are limitless possibilities on each planet, some have spectacular landscapes and incredibly colored terrain and atmosphere. Most "M" type worlds (those with warm climates and oxygen rich air) do have rudimentary forms of life, but it is diffficult in most cases to be able to ascertain whether or not there is intelligent life.

Looking down at the world in your hand you can usually see swirling clouds and whole global weather systems. Often there are mountain ranges and huge oceans visible. Intergalactic geological specialists can sometimes determine what minerals of exploitable quantity exist just by the surface color of the planet!

Every once in a great while you may come upon a world that clearly bears evidence that it is inhabited by a sentient species...a sure sign is something in orbit, or a construction on the surface that is too regular to have occured naturally. There is no way to ever know with certainty with what purpose these sometimes enormous configurations have been built. Many believe that tall structures on the surface are huge walled cities with millions of inhabitants. Geo-syncronous communications satellites and even intergalactic spaceships can sometimes be observed circling a world.

Note: Josh is a gifted artist. To see what I mean, visit his website by CLICKING HERE.

Standing Lion German Sulphide

This standing lion sulphide made in Germany in the late 1800s measures 2 1/8 inches.

Sulphide Marble with Coin circa Late 1800s

This is a rare example of a handmade German sulphide from the late 1800s. It measures 1 3/4 inches and inside has a coin with the number 10 on it.

Christensen Flames

Made in the 1930s, Christensen flames are some of the most collectible machine made marbles.

Marbles by Jim Cooprider

Jim, one of the earliest torch-work craftsman, makes a contemporary swirl in the corkscrew style.

Moonies by Akro Agate circa 1940s

Made in the 1940's, these opalescent beauties come in blue and white.

Bakelite Marbles

I don't know when these were made, but it was probably the 1930s or 40s. The green one is fluorescent.

Shipwrecked Glass by David and Debbie Rosenfeldt

I went to David's studio in Simi Valley, CA and he let me buy a few of his marbles. You have to see his H2Orb.

CLICK HERE to visit their website.

Bricks by Christensen Agate Company

Christensen bricks sometimes have a nine swirled in them.