Melissa Posted March 24, 2023 Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 I have a ton of swirls to go through. Is there anything in particular I should look for as far as what is collectible/valuable and what is not? The majority I am seeing are white based two-color (if white counts as a color). I also have quite a few transparent based swirls which I hear are pretty difficult to ID. I think I'm making progress in IDing patches, ribbons, etc., but swirls I really haven't touch on and still have A LOT to learn. As always, I appreciate any tips/help/advice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted March 24, 2023 Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 More colors, busier patterns, and larger sizes, in general. Eye appeal is a good way to describe it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted March 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 32 minutes ago, Ric said: More colors, busier patterns, and larger sizes, in general. Eye appeal is a good way to describe it. Thank you. I was actually going to ask that. I usually first pick out the ones that seem different than the rest, the ones that have more than two colors, and then the ones that have interesting patterns. Wasn't sure if I wasn't doing it right. These are a lot more complicated than the patches and ribbons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted March 24, 2023 Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 It is a bit subjective. For instance, a smaller marble with three colors and a less busy pattern might be more desirable than a larger marble with two colors and a busier pattern, but maybe not, rarity plays an important role too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted March 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 Lots to learn and, with the gardening season fast approaching, I may have to delay much of my swirl studies to fall. I'm hoping to find time in the spring/summer, but things are already getting busy with chicks and seed starting. Sadly won't be here as frequently. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted March 24, 2023 Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 6 minutes ago, Melissa said: Lots to learn and, with the gardening season fast approaching, I may have to delay much of my swirl studies to fall. I'm hoping to find time in the spring/summer, but things are already getting busy with chicks and seed starting. Sadly won't be here as frequently. I'm getting ready to back off here a lot too. I want to be outside working, traveling and playing when the weather gets nicer. I've got a pretty bad case of "cabin fever" at this point. But it is reassuring to know that marbles will still be around if and when I feel like "playing" with them for a while. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted March 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 2 minutes ago, Ric said: I'm getting ready to back off here a lot too. I want to be outside working, traveling and playing when the weather gets nicer. I've got a pretty bad case of "cabin fever" at this point. But it is reassuring to know that marbles will still be around if and when I feel like "playing" with them for a while. Definitely! I'm an outdoor gal myself. I must say though that this new marble hobby has really occupied my winter which was awesome. I'm normally always struggling to find things to do when it's cold out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted March 24, 2023 Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 18 minutes ago, Melissa said: Definitely! I'm an outdoor gal myself. I must say though that this new marble hobby has really occupied my winter which was awesome. I'm normally always struggling to find things to do when it's cold out. I'm lucky that I have marbles everywhere and many I have not seen in years, maybe decades. So I can find "new" ones about anytime I care to look for them. lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikie_T Posted March 24, 2023 Report Share Posted March 24, 2023 Swirls and flames are my favorites! The busier the better! Contrasting colors (especially red/yellow...Yummy) 👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted March 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 Are any solid colored swirls collectible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted March 25, 2023 Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 40 minutes ago, Melissa said: Are any solid colored swirls collectible? Some single colored marbles are, hand-gathered CAC Pastels or World's Best Moons, German Opaques, some Master Cloudys or Akro Flinties, maybe. As for other types, I like the Vitro Tomatoes or others with exceptional patterns. A lot of it just depends on what you like. Typical game marbles have little if any collectible value though, so I wouldn't expect to get any money out of them, which means you could just keep them in a jar, play with them, donate them or do crafts with them, because it's not going to "cost" you anything to keep them either. 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted March 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 I did a search here and these photos came up for cac pastels. Are these generally the colors and surface pattern I’m looking for? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted March 25, 2023 Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 Yes, but you should understand these are very rare marbles. You might look through several thousand opaques and never find one. And be aware that there are single and double seamed examples and some are hand-gathered. There is a good link here to a page from Pete's old Land of Marbles that Steph found on the WayBack Machine for a little more info. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marbles_on_Mind Posted March 25, 2023 Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 2 hours ago, Melissa said: Are any solid colored swirls collectible? I have some like these. Not sure what they are. I figured modern. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted March 25, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 15 minutes ago, Ric said: Yes, but you should understand these are very rare marbles. You might look through several thousand opaques and never find one. And be aware that there are single and double seamed examples and some are hand-gathered. There is a good link here to a page from Pete's old Land of Marbles that Steph found on the WayBack Machine for a little more info. Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted March 25, 2023 Report Share Posted March 25, 2023 11 minutes ago, Marbles_on_Mind said: I have some like these. Not sure what they are. I figured modern. Almost all of the West Virginia Swirl companies made game marbles. The patterns often resemble the patterns on the other non-game marbles they made, and they are not usually worth the effort to sort. Don't seize up - go through them and look for anything special, then throw them in the garden. They'll make weeding a bit more interesting. 🙂 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted March 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 These are the only ones I thought could possibly be cac but probably not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted March 26, 2023 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2023 Do these all look like common game pieces/jabo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted April 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2023 Could I possibly see pictures of collectible swirl patterns? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted April 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2023 I’m attempting to sort for the first time by eye appeal. Am I doing it right? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carowill Posted April 2, 2023 Report Share Posted April 2, 2023 10 minutes ago, Melissa said: I’m attempting to sort for the first time by eye appeal. Am I doing it right? Yes! But remember, “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” If you like it, that’s all that matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa Posted April 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2023 31 minutes ago, Carowill said: Yes! But remember, “beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.” If you like it, that’s all that matters. Thank you!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted July 21, 2023 Report Share Posted July 21, 2023 Despite this type of mib not being very valuable, there still some of my favorite ones. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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