Antique Trader Salt And Pepper Shaker Price Guide
Mark F. Moran
Krause Publications

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Mark F. Moran’s - Antique Trader ® Salt And Pepper Shaker Price Guide is a handy reference, and just plain interesting read for collectors or those who have even a passing interest in novelty salt and pepper shakers.

Moran’s - Antique Trader Salt And Pepper Shaker Price Guide show cases some 1,000 of the writer’s 3,000 set collection, and with millions if not billions of sets in existence cannot possibly show every set available. It is not intended to do so. Moran’s multicolored, wide-ranging reference work DOES list some 1,000+ salt & pepper shakers, offered as shakers by appearance as well as shakers by producer.

I especially like that listings include a color photo for positive identification, as well as an explanation, some history, and collector pricing.

While I do not collect salt and pepper shakers I do collect depression era glassware and recognize many of the manufacture names including American Bisque, Fenton Art Glass Co., Goebel, A.H. Heisey & Co., Rosemeade, Shawnee, Westmoreland Glass Co. and others.

Of particular value for neophyte collectors is the fakes and reproductions chapter written by noted authority Mark Chervenka. I know reproductions are being offered in the field of depression glass and am saddened to learn that the same deception is being perpetrated for collectors of these novelty bits of our collective history.

Not all and sundry on earth collects the things of course, on the other hand, I suppose few have not at least seen some of the wide array of shakers which have been manufactured, lovingly collected and perhaps are sitting in joyous display, or have been boxed up and now can be found in a jumble shop.

Collecting salt and pepper shakers is said to be a hobby with something for everyone. Many families collect as a group with family get togethers completed with names drawn and shaker sets given or traded.

In our family one beloved auntie loved the things and a visit to her house was always an adventure to see what new shakers she had acquired.

The not so very to dedicated serious collector soon learns there is a whole new vocabulary to learn if shaker collecting is something enjoyed. Sets include nodder shakers having one or both of the shakers nodding in a base, carriers, holders and carts holding the shakers, figural or character shakers, i.e., those appearing as people, animals objects, or animals. go-togethers, hangers those having a hook for hanging from the base, huggers with one partially wrap around the other in a hug, kissers shakers sit on the table, have lips touching or lips to cheek, may be people or critters, may have magnets to hold them together, nesters, stackers, sets consist of two different but related objects with a common theme ie mitt and glove, tall boys all over 6 inches tall and a couple of sets are over 10 inches tall or long-boys, all one piece shakers with the salt coming from the front end of the animal and the pepper coming from the other.

Moran offers specificity regarding a great many, not all of course, unfeasible to accomplish in a single volume, types of descriptive terminology and shaker sets existing including some identifying details, manufacturers, years when first appearing, as well as suggested pricing guides and the like for those who have perhaps acquired a few sets and may want to try to augment, sell or other wise learn approximate value of their sets.

Moran’s Salt and Pepper shaker guide includes an agreeably detailed table of contents, collector resources contact information, is divided into shakers identified by type and manufacturer and features 1000 color photos of some of the writer’s collection of novelty shakers.

There have likely been millions if not billions of shakers created and collected during the last 100+ years. Locating a particular shaker or set in any reference work is always exciting, not finding one is not surprising given the mammoth volume of shakers to be had.

I adored my auntie, found her shakers fascinating, but limit my own collecting to depression glass dishware, and leave the actual shakers for others. I do enjoy reading collectible books, including this attention-grabbing, well developed work by Mark Moran, on the subject.

Happy to recommend Mark F. Moran’s - Antique Trader Salt And Pepper Shaker Price Guide.