Collecting
By LARRY COX

Q: I have an Elvis Presley record that I think is valuable. It is 1936-A-37, a yellow labeled RCA release, entitled "Elvis Sings the Wonderland of Christmas." - Phil, Garden City, S.C.

A: Your album was issued in October of 1971 and is fairly common. I found several copies available on eBay for less than $10 each.

Q: I have a bayonet that I would like to find out more about. It is identified with the letters "SA" on the blade near the grip, a flaming bomb and 1906 on the opposite side. Can you help me? - Ed, Choctaw, Okla.

A: John Spangler is secretary of the Society of American Bayonet Collectors, and he might be able to help you find out more about your bayonet. His contact information is P.O. Box 711282, Salt Lake City, UT 84171; jmholm@whidbey. com; www.amerbayo.org. Ron Reide is a dealer and owner of Bayonet Trader. He might also be helpful. His

address is 845 South River Road, Naperville, IL 60540.

Q: I have an alabaster hanging fixture and would like to determine its age and approximate value. - Irene C.

A: Although you

stated in your letter

that you were enclosing a picture of your fixture, there was none. Since I am more or less in the dark, let me recommend that you contact a lighting expert, Rick Charpie, 9602 West 156th St., Overland Park, KS 66221. Jerry and Massha Ritch are professional appraisers who specialize in vintage fixtures. Their contact information is J&M Antiques, 6407 Transit Road, East Amherst, NY 14051; Jerry.Ritch@bms.com; www.eastamherstantiques.com; and 716-636-5874.

Q: My brother-in-law has a copy of Mark Twain's "Roughing" that is supposedly autographed. How would we go about discovering if this is an authentic autograph? - Henrietta, Albuquerque, N.M.

A: One of the better dealers is Bauman's Rare Books, 535 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10022; www.baumanrarebooks. com; 212-751-0011. It frequently offers autographed first editions of Mark Twain, and a representative might be able to advise you.

Write to Larry Cox in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475, or send e-mail to antiquequestions@ aol.com. Due to the large volume of mail he receives, Mr. Cox is unable to personally answer all reader questions. Do not send any materials requiring return mail.

(c) 2007 King Features Synd., Inc.