EVERYONE IS CRYING FOR ICE CREAM — An ice cream vendor brings joy to any language. Classic toy versions, like this one from French company JML, capture the happy memories of summer days. — Contributed

The third Sunday in July is National Ice Cream Day. Most of us will agree that ice cream is an indispensable part of summer. Who doesn’t recognize the clinking of an ice cream truck?

This ice cream vendor toy, which sold for $1,800 at Bertoia Auctions, has a slightly different, but still recognizable, image. The vendor rides a motorcycle instead of a truck, and the cart is labeled “Glace,” which is French for “ice cream,” leaving no doubt as to where the toy was made. It was produced by Jouet Mecanique Lyon, often abbreviated to JML, in Lyon, France. The company was active from the 1930s to about 1960 and is best known for its wind-up motorcycles.

In some ways, it’s fitting that a toy ice cream seller comes from a French company. While the origins of ice cream can be traced back to the chilled desserts popular in Persia around 550 B.C.E., and possibly even earlier in China, France played a major role in spreading the treat throughout Europe. Legend has it that Marco Polo introduced ice cream to Italy, and Catherine de’ Medici brought it to France when she married the future King Henry II in 1533. By the 18th century, French chefs had adapted the recipe and popularized it in Europe and the newly formed United States. To this day, ice cream made with egg yolks is called “French,” as in “French vanilla.”

Q: Does Avon make their Cape Cod style dishes in colors other than red? I noticed that some of the blue versions for sale on sites like eBay have a number on the bottom. What does that mean?

A: Wheaton Glass made Avon’s “1876 Cape Cod Collection” line of dinnerware using a special formula to create the deep red glass. While most sources list red as the only color, we have seen a few pieces online that appear to have the same pattern, but are cobalt blue. Thirty-seven different items were made in the deep red glass. Samples of each item were first made in clear flint glass and sent to Avon for approval. Several molds were made for each piece. The number on the bottom of the glass may be the mold number. The first Cape Cod pieces, a candlestick and a cruet, were made in 1975. A few new pieces were added each year. The last new pieces, a bread and butter plate, cup and saucer, and pie plate, were made in 1993. The remaining inventory was sold until it was gone in 1995. Avon’s ruby ​​red Cape Cod glass is highly collectible. There are websites where collectors list pieces they are looking for or pieces they are selling.

Q: You had an article about a “Back to the Future” VHS tape that sold for thousands of dollars. What auction houses or other outlets might be interested in buying or selling VHS tapes or LPs?

A: The VHS tape that sold for a record $75,000 was a sealed copy of the original 1985 film from a collection owned by Tom Wilson, who played “Biff” in the film and its sequels. Factors contributing to the high price include the popularity of the film and the actor who previously owned the tape. Desirability, rarity and condition all determine the price. An unopened or sealed copy is more valuable than a used copy. Most VHS tapes sell for less than $10. Vinyl records have become popular again. Many are worth less than a dollar, but coveted albums, including those from the 1960s and 1970s, are worth much more. You can find prices for both VHS tapes and LPs online by searching sites like valueyourmusic.com, which has an archive of auction prices, or discogs.com. Look for “sold” prices on eBay. There are stores that buy and sell old VHS tapes and LPs. They can tell you which ones are worth more than a few dollars. They will give you about half the price they are willing to sell it for.

Q: I have an old three cent stamp. How can I find out its value? I know there are many stamp collectors out there, but I have just one stamp that I need to know more about. I would like to know its true value from a reliable, knowledgeable source. Can you advise me on this?

A: The most important factors in determining the value of a stamp are condition and rarity. It takes an expert to grade a stamp, and you usually need to see the stamp in person, or at least take a clear photo of it, to judge its condition. There are many reputable stamp dealers and publications. The American Philatelic Society (stamps.org) is a good place to start; they can help you find the right sources.

TIP: To prevent tin toys from rusting further, try this: rinse the metal, scrub it, dry it, and then coat it with a thin layer of Vaseline.

CURRENT PRICES

Current prices are from antique fairs, flea markets, sales and auctions throughout the United States. Prices vary in different locations due to local economic conditions.

• Fabric, blanket, Tlingit, button, five bead appliqués, bald eagle, two flowers, two sheaves of wheat, black background, red border, white button closure, felt, two hanging bows, 20 1/2 x 26 inches, $55.

• Advertisement, sign, Mechanical Music Museum, welcome banner, multicolored image, organ with five figures, blue background, red border, 72 x 48 inches, $60.

• Lamp base, porcelain, urn shape, shadow green ground, pink and yellow flowers, leaves, gilt rim, perforated, scrolled handles, square base, 37 inches, pair, $75.

• Lamp, motion, glass cylinder, forest landscape, log cabin, two inner sleeves, heating hood, spelter base, Scene-In-Action Corp, Chicago, 1930s, 10 inch, $120.

• Earthenware, bowl, blackware, geometric carvings, tapered base, signed, Frances Salazar, Santa Clara Pueblo, 4 inches, $190.

• Furniture, candlestick, walnut, serrated top, inlaid game board, turned stand, three legs, carved, England, 19th century, 28 x 21 inches, $220

• Tapestry, Sarouk, center medallion, eight red petals, white field, midnight blue spandrels and border, Persian, 10 feet 1 inch x 8 feet 1 inch, $335.

• Toy, truck, dump truck, Packard, blue, red wheels, hard rubber tires, stickers, pressed steel, starter motor, Keystone, 27 inch, $385.

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