Q: I was given a set of three plates. Each is set in a wood frame. Each is marked "Salem China Company." They are decorated with pictures of ladies dressed in 19th-century gowns. I was told that they were scenes from "Godey's Lady's Book."
According to my encyclopedia, Louis Antoine Godey was an authority on women's fashions. Do my plates have any value?
A: Godey lived from 1804 to 1878. He was the American publisher of "Godey's Lady's Book." Scenes from his prints have been widely reproduced over the years. Your plates were made in the mid-20th century by Salem China Co. in Salem, Ohio. The value of each framed plate would probably be about $25 to $35.
Q: My mother has five Dionne quintuplets spoons. Each spoon has a face and a name of one of the quintuplets. How much are they worth?
A: The Dionne quintuplets were born in 1934 on a small farm in rural Ontario, Canada. Myriad souvenirs featuring the sisters were produced. Your set of five spoons would probably be worth about $75 to $85.