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.

Akro Agate Vaseline Glass Marbles

Vaseline glass marbles get their color from uranium. They glow under UV light.






This photo was taken using UV lighting.

Marbles by Mike Edmondson

From the land of shadow and magic.

Note: I will soon provide a link to Mike's website.

Angel Fish by David Salazar

I watched David make this beautiful angel fish marble at his studio in Santa Cruz, CA. It is signed and dated 1990.

Like many others on my website, David is an expert. You can see his website by CLICKING HERE.

James Alloway Art Glass

Great glorious glitter ball by Alloway!!!

I love James' work. You will too after visiting his website by CLICKING HERE.

Marbles by Rolf & Genie Wald

Spinners, beach balls and ribbons. The wild wonderful world of Wald marbles!!!

A highly educated artist, Rolf Wald is a trailblazer. To see more of his art at another website, CLICK HERE.

Uninhabited Planet by Josh Simpson

A friend of mine named Rachel bought this marble from Josh Simpson on a cold winter night in Massachusetts in 1989 in the parking lot of a Grateful Dead concert.

Josh is an amazing artist. You can visit his website by CLICKING HERE.

Handmade German Sulphide circa late 1800s

Here's a nice example of a 2 and 1/4" inch sitting rabbit. Notice the air bubble imperfections, which have been trapped since this marble was made.

Antique Handmade German Latticino Swirl

Here's a German, handmade 2 and 3/16" yellow latticino swirl, circa late 1800s.

Antique Handmade German Banded Swirl

Here's a handmade 2 and 5/16" divided ribbon core swirl from Germany, circa late 1800s.

Latticino Swirls by Jody Fine

Handmade, bright, beautiful, living color a la J. Fine Glass.

If you're at this web site, then I don't need to tell you how skilled Jody is. To visit his website, CLICK HERE.

Antique Banded Opaques

A group of German antique handmade banded opaques.

Melon Balls - Antique Handmade Opaques

These are handmade German opaques and semi-opaques also known as melon balls.

Indian Swirls

Indian swirls are black based swirls with different colored bands. Maglight indians have a dark transparent base.

Early Machine Mades

These are a few early Christensen machine made marbles from the 1930's and 40's.

Contemporary Marble Maker Websites

Here is a list of contemporary marble maker websites !!!

Please help me grow this list. Marble makers with their own websites should contact me with URL info at the following email address: marbleforum@gmail.com.

Anakin - CLICK HERE
Ben Burton - CLICK HERE
Brett Young - CLICK HERE
Carl Fisher - CLICK HERE
Christopher Roscoe- CLICK HERE
Chuck Pound - CLICK HERE
Davis Marbles - CLICK HERE
Eugene Rain - CLICK HERE
Fred Rossi Design - CLICK HERE
Gateson Recko - CLICK HERE
George Pavliscak - CLICK HERE
Harry and Wendy Bessett - CLICK HERE
Harvey Carlton - CLICK HERE
James Lundberg - CLICK HERE
Jody Fine - CLICK HERE
Josh Sable - CLICK HERE
Josh Simpson - CLICK HERE
Kevin Nail - CLICK HERE
Larry Zengel - CLICK HERE
Mike Warren - CLICK HERE
Nathan Miers - CLICK HERE
Paul and Aimee Katherman - CLICK HERE
R. Jason Howard - CLICK HERE

Richard Hollingshead II - CLICK HERE

Steven Maslach - CLICK HERE

Travis Weber - CLICK HERE

Akro Agate Corkscrew circa 1940s

This 5/8" Akro is one of my favorite corkscrews. It's orange, clear and translucent white, and black. I really wanted it to be a Popeye, but while investigating, I was told orange and black Popeyes don't exist. However, if they did, this would be one.