Value Guide

[claudia]

Nicki, when will the third edition of the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Value Guide be available?

I really like the second edition: 1973-2006. Thanks!

[nicki]

Hi Claudia,
Welcome to the forum, I'm so glad you are enjoying the 2nd Edition of the Value Guide.

The 3rd Edition of the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Value Guide is scheduled to be released in time for the July 2009 Ornament Premier.

Earlier plans called for it to be published in 2008, but the publisher, Bangzoom decided to wait until 2009. I did speak with Bangzoom just yesterday and they confirmed that they are committed to the 2009 3rd edition.

My Secondary Market Presentation at the Oct 07 Collector Club Conventions included discussions of what changes Collectors would like in the 3rd edition. The OVERWHELMING response was a request for a pictorial "Ornaments by Series" section.

Collectors spoke, and I listened... As Editor of the Value Guide I will do everything within my power to make that happen!

For anyone interested a 2nd edition value guide, we do have it available with regular binding and (just a few) Spiral Bound Copies. Here's the link: www.hookedonhallmark.com/search.asp?keyword=value+guide&search=GO Happy Collecting, Nicki

[claudia]

Thanks Nicki for the quick reply. I'm looking forward to the Third Edition of the Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Value Guide in 2009. It's good news that the series ornaments will have their own section.

[claudia]

The 2nd Edition has in it's Easter/ Spring Ornaments section a 1998 Victorian Cross by Duane Unruh that says "He is Risen". I own this ornament and the box says 1997. Is this a misprint on the box? Thanks!

[Rhonda]

claudia said:

The 2nd Edition has in it's Easter/ Spring Ornaments section a 1998 Victorian Cross by Duane Unruh that says "He is Risen". I own this ornament and the box says 1997. Is this a misprint on the box? Thanks!

Hi Claudia
There was a Victorian Cross ornament in both the 1997 and 1998 Easter/Spring ornament lines. The 1998 cross, has "He Is Risen" on the cross.
I'm not able to check the box at the moment, but I can tell you that in general dates on boxes can refer to copyright years or production years and are not always the same as the year that the item was sold. (It's the same with years molded onto ornaments or Merry Miniatures.)
On our site and in value guides the ornament year is based on the year that the item was offered for sale.

Hope that helps

[nicki]

Our supply of SPIRAL BOUND value guides is very low....down to just a few.

We do still have a good supply of the regular binding guides, but WILL NOT be able to offer any Spiral Bound copies until the 3rd Edition of the Guide becomes available in July 2009 (more than a year from now).

So....if you would like a Spiral Bound copy of the 2nd edition of the Hallmark Value Guide click here and order it soon!

[ftp]http://www.hookedonhallmark.com/search.asp?keyword=value+guide&search=GO[/ftp]

[curt1108]

hi nicki,
i have a question for you. how are the prices of the hallmark ornaments set for their value? how did you determine what you have down as the ornaments value?
and how are the koc colorways values determined?

thank you in advance for your response

[nicki]

May 29, 2008 16:04:46 GMT -5 curt1108 said:

hi nicki,
i have a question for you. how are the prices of the hallmark ornaments set for their value? how did you determine what you have down as the ornaments value?
and how are the koc colorways values determined?

thank you in advance for your response

\

Hi Curt,
Good question and not a simple answer...
Values for the Value Guide is certainly a tough undertaking.

First...remember Hallmark Value Guide Prices are INSURED VALUES, values that would assure your ability to replace your collection quickly & easily if you experienced a loss. And it is designed to be a GUIDE that will reveal higher valued ornaments from those with lower values.

As for how prices/values are determined...I can only speak for the Hallmark Value Guide by Bang Zoom Publishing, as that is the only one in which I've been involved. Having made that clear...here we go...

1. The first step we take with the pricing process is a computer generated averaging of all the website prices found for that particular item. That price is then compared to the most recent value guide price and averaged again. We do believe all Hallmark ornaments are collectible and therefore none are ever valued below their original box price.

2. Proof books are created and sent to each member of the team of Hallmark Expert Contributors that I (as Editor) have assembled. We each review our book, correct any errors we find and change any pricing that we feel needs to be adjusted.

3. The publisher then collects all the proof books. They make corrections that are noted and again average any pricing changes from the team members.

4. A final proof book then comes to me. As Editor, I make any final corrections or adjustments.

5. Before going to print, a sample of the book goes to Hallmark for final approval. The 2005 and 2006 Hallmark Value Guides by Bang Zoom Publishing are the only two Hallmark Value Guides that Hallmark has ever Licensed. Thus, all content is reviewed and approved by Hallmark Cards, Inc.

As for the KOC (Keepsake Ornament Collectors Club) Colorway prices specifically. Colorway values are weighed heavily on production numbers and demand. For example, the low production of many of the Convention Door Prizes makes for high demand, low availability, and high prices. That is one reason we included estimated production #'s on many of the lower production colorways in the 2006 Edition.

Hope this explains the process.
I assure you it involves countless hours of work by several knowledgeable Hallmark Ornament enthusiasts. Our goal is to create a Value Guide that all Hallmark Ornament Collectors will find helpful and informative. Nicki