Are printed antique price guides still accurate for valuing items?

Price guides are useful starting points, but they have limits. The prices are often compiled from past sales or dealer asking prices, may be a year or more old by the time you read them, and rarely account for your item's exact condition, region, or demand right now. Some categories have changed a great deal in value over time.

Use a guide to identify what you have, learn the maker, pattern, or period, and get a rough sense of whether it is a common or notable piece. Then check recent sold results for comparable items, which reflect what buyers actually paid.

Remember that the price printed for an item is not what a dealer will pay you. Dealers need room to resell, and auction results vary. For anything that seems significant, a qualified appraiser or experienced auctioneer can give you a more reliable opinion based on current market conditions.