bumblebee

I picked this 5/8" up yesterday. Some of the photos are higher contrast than it is in hand. It's white with a clear amber/brown base. Any ideas?

Akro Agate Bar Comb Patriot Patch

I think you nailed a new name. Akro Bar Comb

I'm thinking it needs to become a client of The Hair Club for Marbles.

Snapped this pic today from a collector who collects boxes. He said the bags contain the colored clay foils. Maybe a refill kit for game boards?

Most seem to have the semi-round rough pontil about 1/4" wide, but a couple are more obscured and less rough.

My 45 pack showed up today. Very pleased with a few killer nines. I actually requested "nines" so I think it helped me. They offset the ~15 or so too ugly to handle ones. The cobalt "guinea" was much prettier than their usual clear-based ones. For me these are the next best thing to those expensive old transitionals I'll likely never find, so I'm pleased on all accounts.

No luck here, but I did bring my box of "sellers" to my in-law's yard sale. I put a sign that said one free vintage marble with every item purchased. Within a couple of hours the yardsalers cleaned me out paying $0.25 each. Selling them and listening to older folks talk about playing marbles as children was almost as fun as finding some myself. I like to think I spread the fever a bit, especially for the man who bought $15 worth of my oldest ones for his grandson.

Yes about 30 minutes away. There are more than 700 lakes in the park, 131 of which have names. It's finally warm here but it did rain on the way back so you must always be prepared. Stays light until almost 10pm right now which helps make up for long grey winter.

I see it! Neat modernist tribute to Warhol's canned tomato soups. I hiked two miles in Glacier Park to gorgeous Avalanche Lake last weekend. It was grizzly country but tons of hikers so the bears steered clear. Glacial runoff water is as bone-chillingly cold as you'd expect.

It could be a new spa treatment. "Our exclusive handmade old world marbles from Bulgaria will massage your muscles and stimulate blood flow while the rough pontils gently exfoliate your skin."

Apparently a little birdie whispered into the seller's ear that he'd likely get more buyers if he offered smaller lots. I couldn't resist so I'm buying more and hoping I score some nicer ones: http://www.ebay.com/itm/122506985563

I agree. That's why I was saying I'd easily pay $5 each for the nicer nines. They are sort of my way of having the old transitionals I cannot afford. Even if new, the nicer Bulgarians are right up there with the nicest Vacor Atmospheres and will hold that position for future collectors in my opinion.

Maybe they have some sort of bulk shipping options like China does (you can get stuff shipped for almost nothing from China) ? But that many marbles one would imagine costing at least $150 to ship by boat.

Looks like they decide to go big lot under $1 each with free shipping. Wonder who'll bite?: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-1500-piece-Handmade-glass-marbles-1-inch-Ground-pontil-Wholesale-Clearing-/122502916144?hash=item1c85be2830:g:UJQAAOSw-K9ZHaqi

Got mine today. From left to right: Orange Creamsicle, The "As-Made Special", Azure #9, Japanese Pinch Pontil Tribute, Clear-based Guinea, Beer-based Guinea. If I were allowed to cherry-pick their giant bag I might pay $5 each for the best ones I found, but otherwise I'm happy with the price and quantity.

You're welcome. Looks like you got a "Guinea" and a "tornado core". Mine should be coming any day now!

Nice. A white slag. I like me some pure white slags.

I can safely say I don't have a 90lb marble, nor do I have a car to trade for one. https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/bar/6074478994.html

That's a nice lot. I recall seeing a couple of Bulgarian lots that also had clearies and ones with a lot of real looking playwear. Bulgarian Mystery Marbles indeed.

Me too. Origins aside, some of the ones with strong "nines" look very nice. I believe most of those were sold at higher prices early on, but who knows...

FYI, apparently the market for Bulgarians has collapsed. This seller in Bulgaria is selling six for $7.99 with free shipping. I'm guessing you won't get the exact ones pictured but hard to complain at those prices: http://stores.ebay.com/HAPPY-DEALS-MARKET/Sporting-Goods-/_i.html?_nkw=marbles&submit=Search&_sasi=1&_sacat=888&_sid=1187667380

Thanks these are some keepers but not my "brag box" ones since these are in reach of kids' hands. Among them, a genuine marble "blood alley", a lutz belonging to a former mayor of a MT town, 7/8" pelt bought from Al from Oregon years ago, and dozens of other stories. Sometimes I forget just how much my personal history memory of each marble adds to its value in my eyes.

under the circlestances I thought it was marbelous, at least for an amateur shooter like myself.

My solitaire board taken with a Samsung Gear 360 video camera. It does 360-degree videos as well but that would be better suited to a larger collection contained in a couple of tall cases where you could carry the camera between