Editorial Policy and Standards

Know Old Stuff is a place to explore old things: what they are, where they came from and what similar pieces have sold for. Our guides are written for curious readers and are meant for general information, education and entertainment. This page gives an overview of the standards and approach behind them.

Our Approach

• We try to make our guides clear, useful and enjoyable for everyday readers, not just specialists.
• We draw on real sale records and reputable references wherever we can.
• Where sources disagree or details are uncertain, we try to say so.
• Our editorial content is independent. No one can pay to be featured, recommended or written about on this site.

Research and Sources

Our research draws on sources such as museum collections, collector societies and clubs, maker and company histories, patent records, auction records and established marks guides. Where it’s helpful, we link to sources so readers can explore further. Information about antiques and collectibles can vary between sources and change over time, so we encourage readers to look at more than one source.

Prices and Values

To give a sense of the market, our guides show examples from real sale records, mainly completed eBay listings, credited to the seller. We try to label whether a figure is a completed sale, an asking price where the seller accepted a lower offer, or a listing that ended unsold.

Prices and values are a rough guide only. What any item is worth depends on many factors, including:

• Condition: damage, repairs, wear, fading and missing parts.
• Authenticity and age: whether a piece is original, a later reissue or a reproduction.
• Maker and marks: who made it and how clearly it is marked or signed.
• Rarity and variations: limited production, unusual colors, sizes or patterns.
• Completeness: sets, pairs, original boxes, papers or packaging.
• Provenance: documented history or notable past ownership.
• Demand and timing: collecting trends rise and fall.
• Where and how it is sold: auction or fixed price, location and currency, fees and how the item is presented.

The sales shown are past results for specific items, and a similar item may sell for more, for less or not at all. Nothing on this site is an appraisal, authentication, a valuation for insurance, estate, tax or legal purposes, a guarantee of value or an offer to buy. For anything important, please consult a qualified appraiser or expert.

Writing and Editing

Our guides are researched, edited and published by our editorial team. Identifying old items takes real digging: marks references, maker histories, museum and collector records and lots of sale listings. That research is at the heart of what we do. Our team uses everyday software to work efficiently, such as tools to gather sale records and to check spelling and facts, and publishing decisions are made by our editors.

Before publishing, our articles are checked with industry tools, including Copyscape for originality and Grammarly for clarity, grammar and AI-writing detection.

Updates and Feedback

We revisit and update our guides from time to time. Readers are welcome to share suggestions through our contact page. We appreciate every note, though any changes are made at our editors’ discretion.

Independence

• We do not publish paid, sponsored or advertorial content.
• We do not sell links, placements, mentions or rankings.
• We do not accept guest posts.
• Items and sellers are featured because they make good examples. We receive no payment from them.
• Know Old Stuff is supported by display advertising. Ads are kept separate from our editorial content, and advertisers have no say in what we write or feature.

Sensitive and Historical Items

Some collectibles reflect the attitudes of the time they were made, and some contain materials, such as ivory, that are restricted today. We cover such items to help readers identify and understand them, not to endorse them. Please check the laws where you live before buying or selling restricted items.

Originality

Our guides are our own work. We don’t copy other publishers’ content, and we credit the sources and examples we use.

General Information Only

All content on Know Old Stuff is provided for general information, educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be relied on as professional advice. While we try to keep our guides accurate and up to date, we make no guarantees about the completeness, accuracy or reliability of any information, prices or values. This page describes our general editorial approach; it is not a contract and does not create any legal obligation, guarantee or warranty. Please see our website disclaimer for more.

Last updated: October 2026