Vintage Christensen Agate Co. Swirl Marble - - Showy
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:7257440 | Country/Region of Manufacture: United States |
| Type: Machine Made | Style: Swirl |
| Brand: Christensen Agate | Time Period: Pre-1970 |
| UPC: Does not apply |
ChristensenAgate Co. swirl marble -- size: 0.60" (19/32");this marble presents mint in hand, under magnification, a couple of scuffs anda few micro pins show up (grade: strongA-). Unusual style for CAC with a HTF color combo and rich yellow glass withvariegated rust brown ribbons -- not too many of this type of CAC out thereanymore; the marble has its original surface with as-made dimple shrink spots, but no significant cold rolling or other manufacturing anomalies.
Commentson grad...ing and identification of marbles (formachine made and transitionals; I am more forgiving with handmades): For themost part, if I state without qualification the identification of a marble andits manufacturer, you can be sure I know this from experience. From timeto time, I might make an improper identification; there is a lot going on withmarbles. If I have uncertainty as to the determination I am making, I willtell you. Sometimes, I like guessing. As for grading, I've given up pretendingto know what people really think is a near mint marble, and those that aren't. So, I've come to conclude that the only way to rate the condition of a marble is todescribe it accurately. So here is my scale: I look at the marble withthe unaided eye and grade it, then I hit a loop on it...first three power, then25x power or higher. I describe all as-mades and let you decide whatamount you'll tolerate, because very often you have to with some types ofmarbles. Grade: A: Mint, uncirculated. The best thereis. No flaws. There can only be minor as-mades, and only localized lightsurface scuffing. In a word, perfect, and not very common; most circulatedmarbles never get there. Most of the marbles for sale here won't be perfect. A-: In hand perfect, feel is perfect, some minimal scuffing, no scratches or annealing fractures, a few minor tiny pinsnot evident without careful examination (a flea is not visible without carefulinspection, is never deep or rough to the feel; also pin prick). B+: In hand very nice, smoothglass with a few slight rough spots, some scuffing and light scratching, nodeep areas of glass loss; these always have much or most aspects of the marblewithout imperfections -- that is, some views are error free or nearly so. Intruth, many of a collector's prized marbles are in this condition and I oftennotice that many of my B+ marbles rate in the low 9's for those that use anumeric scale. B: Still a nicemarble, but a number of easier to find fleas, some light hits, scuffing, surfacewith some abrasions and wear, no major areas of glass loss, in hand withoutmagnification the marble looks very good. There must be unblemished areas, and not fleas densely distributed throughout. B-: A marble in this category is starting to accumulateproblems, so more of the above B marble, most notably, there is no view of themarble that could be considered the 'public side' of the marble...the one viewthat is free of most imperfections at higher magnification. All types of as-madesare mentioned but those are not included in the grade...partly because sometypes of marbles are prone to these. All B marbles are not used heavilyand will always present nice areas of the marble. C: I will only post these for rare and desirable marbles, and inthose cases, I will tell exactly the horrors the marble contains. Sometimes tohave a representative, we have to accept them as they are. These ofcourse, have many fleas, scuffing, hits, sparkles, moons, fractures, explosions, battle scars and all manner of other possible kinds of damage. ** I will combine shipping if purchasing from multiple auctions ****I will consider shippinginternationally, but please email me before bidding to settle onshipping costs & to review any other important information**
Commentson grad...ing and identification of marbles (formachine made and transitionals; I am more forgiving with handmades): For themost part, if I state without qualification the identification of a marble andits manufacturer, you can be sure I know this from experience. From timeto time, I might make an improper identification; there is a lot going on withmarbles. If I have uncertainty as to the determination I am making, I willtell you. Sometimes, I like guessing. As for grading, I've given up pretendingto know what people really think is a near mint marble, and those that aren't. So, I've come to conclude that the only way to rate the condition of a marble is todescribe it accurately. So here is my scale: I look at the marble withthe unaided eye and grade it, then I hit a loop on it...first three power, then25x power or higher. I describe all as-mades and let you decide whatamount you'll tolerate, because very often you have to with some types ofmarbles. Grade: A: Mint, uncirculated. The best thereis. No flaws. There can only be minor as-mades, and only localized lightsurface scuffing. In a word, perfect, and not very common; most circulatedmarbles never get there. Most of the marbles for sale here won't be perfect. A-: In hand perfect, feel is perfect, some minimal scuffing, no scratches or annealing fractures, a few minor tiny pinsnot evident without careful examination (a flea is not visible without carefulinspection, is never deep or rough to the feel; also pin prick). B+: In hand very nice, smoothglass with a few slight rough spots, some scuffing and light scratching, nodeep areas of glass loss; these always have much or most aspects of the marblewithout imperfections -- that is, some views are error free or nearly so. Intruth, many of a collector's prized marbles are in this condition and I oftennotice that many of my B+ marbles rate in the low 9's for those that use anumeric scale. B: Still a nicemarble, but a number of easier to find fleas, some light hits, scuffing, surfacewith some abrasions and wear, no major areas of glass loss, in hand withoutmagnification the marble looks very good. There must be unblemished areas, and not fleas densely distributed throughout. B-: A marble in this category is starting to accumulateproblems, so more of the above B marble, most notably, there is no view of themarble that could be considered the 'public side' of the marble...the one viewthat is free of most imperfections at higher magnification. All types of as-madesare mentioned but those are not included in the grade...partly because sometypes of marbles are prone to these. All B marbles are not used heavilyand will always present nice areas of the marble. C: I will only post these for rare and desirable marbles, and inthose cases, I will tell exactly the horrors the marble contains. Sometimes tohave a representative, we have to accept them as they are. These ofcourse, have many fleas, scuffing, hits, sparkles, moons, fractures, explosions, battle scars and all manner of other possible kinds of damage. ** I will combine shipping if purchasing from multiple auctions ****I will consider shippinginternationally, but please email me before bidding to settle onshipping costs & to review any other important information**
