By TINA SUTHERLAND and CHARLIE BAILEY

Dear What's It Worth,

This cookie jar has a chip in the back of the lid, but otherwise it's really pretty. What's it worth?

Answer:

You have a hand-painted piece made by the Ransburg Co. They are best known for decorated stoneware and metalware. These often were found in matching sets. In fact, Ransburg was one of the first to sell household items as "sets" and they are still fun to collect that way. Your cookie jar is painted in the Asters pattern and if perfect could get $75, but the chip lowers that value some.

Dear What's It Worth,

I've had this Little Orphan Annie cup forever. It says Beetleware on the bottom and it's 3 inches high. Will it make me rich?

Answer:

Well, you could only have had this cup since 1935. That's when this Ovaltine premium came out. They sponsored her radio show and put out lots of goodies like this. This mug came in a ceramic version too. Both types are valued at about $50. That may not turn you into Daddy Warbucks, but it'll buy a lot of Ovaltine.

Dear What's It Worth,

This was in my mom's house as long as I can remember. It's a Roseville vase, #903, 12 inches high. Is it junk or a jewel?

Answer:

Well, we thought this was going to be an easy one. Roseville pottery is clearly marked with these nice numbers and it was easy to find out that you have a Fuchsia vase made in 1939. What got tricky was the value. We found examples selling from $450 up to $1,200! That's quite a range and frankly we can't figure it out either. But even chipped pieces have been selling for $250 so it's safe to say you have a jewel.

Dear What's It Worth,

This Kootie game says it was made by the "Kootie Game Company" here in Seattle. It's all there and never been played.

Answer:

Don't you just love the whole idea of this? I picture some enterprising young Seattleites putting their heads together and planning to make their fortune with Kootie. Well, somebody got rich off of "Cootie" ( in fact it was Schaper and then Hasbro/Bradley) but paper versions of the game came out the 1920s under other names. Hard to say when this was put out, but it wasn't destined to make the Kootie Game Company a household word. Expect it to bring $12-$15 and be glad you didn't buy their stock.