Join us for an antiques and collectibles appraisal event featuring author and antiques expert Mark F. Moran of Iola, Wisconsin.

Formerly senior editor of Antiques and Collectibles Books for Krause Publications in Iola, Wis., he has also been a contributing editor for Antique Trader magazine. He has served as editor of Antique Review East magazine; as producer of Atlantique City, an antique show held in Atlantic City, N.J.; and as editorial director of F+W Media's Antiques Group. 

Moran was also a guest expert on the PBS program, Antiques Roadshow, for 9 seasons.

To register, please call the library at 414-964-4380 beginning Tuesday, June 4. When registering, please let us know the item you will be bringing. See list of approved items below.

Moran is available to make home visits for people with big things, or fragile things (or a lot of things). House calls are $75 an hour and there is no mileage charge if within 10 miles of the appraisal event site. To arrange, call 715-281-5060 or email moranm1953@gmail.com.

Categories of objects for appraisal may include:

Americana, including autographs and historical documents.
Fine art, including paintings, drawings, prints and statuary.
Furniture (usually smaller pieces are best).
Ceramics, including figural pottery, vases, dishes, kitchenware and stoneware.

Glassware, including marbles and souvenir items.

Vintage photographs, including snapshots, tintypes, ambrotypes and daguerreotypes.

Advertising, including posters, lithographed tin, paper and figural objects.
Folk art, including carvings, quilts, weathervanes, windmill weights and "outsider" art.
Assorted toys, including dolls (bisque, composition and plastic), windups and mechanical banks.

Metalware, including iron, bronze, brass, pot metal, silver, silver plate.

Clocks, including mantel, hanging and figural.
Costume jewelry, including brooches, bracelets, earrings.

Musical Instruments, including string, wind and reed instruments.

Antique and vintage lighting of all kinds.
Books.
Sports Memorabilia.

Excluded items: all weapons, including swords and knives (though folding knives with advertising are accepted); traps (like leg-hold); Nazi memorabilia; coins and paper money; fine jewelry, including precious gems; Beanie Babies.

Questions about objects not covered here can be submitted to Moran in advance to determine if they are appropriate. Suggested categories for advance inquiry include, but are not limited to: Oriental, Native American and other tribal objects (African, Oceanic); ancient artifacts (Egyptian and other early cultures); fossils and minerals; automotive items; nautical and military-related objects; records; antique tools and technological objects (typewriters, cameras, assorted machinery or instruments for scientific measure, like sextants, telescopes, microscopes, etc.). When in doubt, email inquiry can often address this.

Opinions of value are informal, and may not be used for insurance or charitable donations, which require a certified appraisal.