david Chamberlain

I generally consign the name Moonie to either Akro or Christensen Agate as well. There is the type of Moonie that is called a Flintie. The Flinties come in red, yellow, green and blue. Akro named the red one a Fire Opal. Maybe these latter types are a different opalescense than the strict Moonies(I don't know). David

Aside from the odds that I suggested I suspect that this marble should be honored as a bonafide handmade as well and a clear exhibition of your mother's innate marble discretion. The fact that she saved it says it all! Besides its pedigree the marble has serious sentimentality. It appears you got a goodun! I retain my mother's Lucky Marble.....David

Red and Orange and White Blue and Green and White Black and Yellow and White These are the more uncommon and tending towards Hybrid. Also within some of these color combinations and the ones previous stipulated there can be variations in intensity of a certain color giving the color combination a more uncommon bent. Popeyes can in extremes be very subjective. David

And that light colored area clearly is the shape of a previous price sticker. David

Probably should add that the odds on having a single marble being a Melon Ball and turning up like this are astronomical additionally compounded exponentially by the smaller percentage of this color produced. David

May your B-Day have a sparkly roundness to it! David

They sure didn't spare the mica! David

Well I've used up my auxiliary power firing my jets to get into orbit around this marble again and in the meantime referenced Paul Baumann's 4th Edition. Paul's not noted for exaggeration in determining values and he does know his antique handmades. For a 15/16" Melon Ball in green which is a color that turns up only around 17% of the time you'd be talking somewhere in the vicinity of $225, all other things being equal (condition foremost). David

If you're taking my lead with that suggestion of $75 I wouldn't put a great deal of hope in it. That was a full retail value consideration as opposed to a lucky casual purchase at a show or via an auction. Mostly collectors would only be interested in one(1) of these and maybe they would pay upwards of $65 but in quantity it would likely be a marble dealer and paying close to high retail wouldn't make much sense. These are off the cuff ruminations but you might like to consider them. David

Assuming the color is as intense as it appears on the screen this would lend a stronger possibility towards it being newer. What were the circumstances under which you cam by this marble? Any hints there? David

Does the core have a lobed effect? If so I'm thinking a really odd but older example not new work. David

The marbles are looking vintage. Not strictly Akro. I think Al from Oregon has provided you with a good take on these. I might peg them a little higher.....maybe $75 each. I suppose we could begin to ID the individual marbles. How far do you want to go with this? David

Does look planetoid! I must admit that I was stymied by "blishish lines" and totally went out of orbit as I was circling the marble. Maybe if you provided a photo of the bisque dolls I could be more helpful.....David

The previous taping hurts unfortunately having messed with the company name and the box looks a little weak around the edges. In good condition this earlier box would be in the $45 to $90 range so adjust accordingly. David

That pink glass one with the green aventurine would that possibly be one I sent your way Rich. Actually I thought I laid on you one of those smaller ones w/pink glass and green & blue with mica chunks in the swirling. There were also pink glass ones with blue swirl and mica chunks plus metallic but both of these were from the Friendship Run. I think I recognize a few others there as well but I'd be pleased if they'd only made it to the 'Best' gun case! David Edit: I think the Aces that were in pink glass were 3/4".

This is sniffing glass with a coefficient of imagination. That might be a bit overblown description to accord that marble a Guinea status. Jabo came closer in earlier Runs and even then only partially so. David

I'd say that pretty much encapsulates John's illustrious history with his marbles but I'd still prefer to refer to them as precise little gems. Also if you're checking in I'm always receptive to another mailing; maybe after the Holidays.....David

Nope! But the last group of something like 16 that I got from John had perfect seams and no mottled colors. I was rooming right across from John when he first showed up at Amana with his marbles and there is a world of difference between what he had then and what he's turning out now. They weren't bad then; it's just that he's refined his product and taken to signing everything. I suppose it is about time that I finally got to scanning some of my 35mm prints! David

Looks like plain ol' 1 1/2"+ fillers in the middle.....LOL.....David

Sounds pretty straight forward to me. David

If you're still checking in here regarding these two marbles I'm pretty sure they're torch made and machine roller rounded. Look like some of John McCormick's early work. He provides an incised and fired gold painted Shamrock logo on all his marbles now. This though looks a little sloppier than his usual precision marble-making. David

I'm going to have to start sniffing some of these marbles; give 'em the Old Spice test. Cold Cream Jars have been used since time immemorial. I know what cold cream smells like too as I've used it many times removing make-up after theater productions. Clearly we have discovered a whole new way in which to ID marbles! David

I would imagine it's about as neutral a medium that you could choose and readily available in addition to enhancing the vibrancy of the color choices. Gotta be a lot of cold cream jars lying around! David

Hopefully all looking alike because they're all so great! I know what you mean. I have some troubles between the Legacy and the Rainbow Runs but others I've maybe handled enough to know immediately; still there will be ones amongst them that leave me at a loss. Guess the Run name was just too obvious for me to catch it.....duh! David

Hey Duffy, These I would assume are from the run which has been purported to be the Last Investor Run. Does the run have a name? Looks a little bit from your photo like the Friendship Run. David