INTRODUCTION
 

Please note that these prices are only a guide.  These bobbins have been offered for sale in the past year at approximately the prices quoted.  The whole thing re antique prices is about; bone or wood, by a named maker or not, rarity and quality or condition.  In my opinion, you just have to see them or trust your dealer.

There is no doubt that there is a clear price difference between bone and wood bobbins.  Where there are two prices for the "same " bobbin you can be sure that the dearest is a bone bobbin.

Damaged bobbins are also less valuable.  A chip appears to knock 30% (aprox) off the price of a bone bobbin.

Bobbins in pretty poor condition, e.g. well worn inlays fallen out, inscription worn, beads from the shaft fallen off.  Wire broken etc.  All these are worth very little.

Bobbins by makers that can be identified are worth more than the equivalent by an un named maker.

Very popular or rare bobbins have a greatly increased value (i.e. hanging bobbins)

Sets increase the value of a single bobbin.  i.e. a set of four Methodist ministers..

All prices are in US dollars
 

THE BOBBINS A GENERAL GUIDE

These are general rule of thumb guides.

BONE

• Bone Inscribed                                                                    Very good condition  $125
•                                                                                                     Good condition $110
•                                                                                                  Medium Condition $75
•                                                                                        Below Average condition $60
•                                                                                                        Poor condition $45
• Bone Mother and Babes                                                                                $75-$125
• Bone with various pewter inlays                                                                               $40
• Bone with wire/bead bindings                                                                    $40 upwards
• Bone stained                                                                                                          $40
• Bone plain                                                                                                              $16
• Bone ornamental Turned                                                                                        $15
• Bone with known makers can be considerably more Say                                       $160

Wood (Good condition)

• Inscribed                                                                                                               $16
• Plain                                                                                                                        $5
• Ornamentally turned                                                                                                $16
• Bitted                                                                                                                    $40
• Beds Flys                                                                                                              $13
• Leopards/tigers                                                                                                      $13
• South Bucks                                                                                                            $6
• Jingles S Bucks                                                                                                      $40
• Honitons                                                                                                                 $16
• Downtons                                                                                                               $16
• Continentals                                                                                                            $16
• Honitons with inscriptions and or designs                                                              $155

CURRENT AVERAGE OFFERINGS
 

• A Bucks Horn bobbin (warped).                                                                            .$10
• 'A Christmas Box' (Bone).                                                                                    $125
• A kiss.                                                                                                                   .$10
• A selection of rare wood Malmesbury bobbins (sticks).                                    each  $6
• 'A small token of friendship.                                                                                  $125
• AD. Except this trifel 1830(Bone).                                                                        $125
• Adam                                                                                                                     $16
• Adelade                                                                                                                  $35
• Albert                                                                                                                     $16
• Alfred                                                                                                                     $35
• Alfred                                                                                                                     $15
• Alice Ann Panter aged 11 years                                                                            $125
• Amelia Kent                                                                                                           $35
• Ameyah Partridge                                                                                                   $65
• Amos                                                                                                                     $35
• An unusual bone bobbin with staggered lettering 'Elizabeth'.                                     $35
• Anah                                                                                                                      $35
• Anie Carrington Dodington                                                                                      $65
• Ann                                                                                                                        $16
• Ann                                                                                                                        $35
• Ann                                                                                                                        $35
• Ann Britten (chip)                                                                                                   $16
• Ann Cook (chip)                                                                                                     $40
• Ann Peabody                                                                                                          $32
• Arm                                                                                                                        $35
• At my loves absence I grieve (rim missing).                                                            $100
• Aunt Ann                                                                                                                $40
• Aunt Eliza                                                                                                               $35
• Aunt Emma                                                                                                             $35
• Aunt Lucy                                                                                                               $35
• Barnabas                                                                                                                $35
• Be true (rim missing).                                                                                              $52
• Be true.                                                                                                                  $52
• Be wise.                                                                                                                 $52
• Bedfordshire Flys                                                                                                    $16
• Bel                                                                                                                         $16
• Benjamin (chip)                                                                                                       $32
• Betsey                                                                                                                    $35
• Betsy                                                                                                                      $16
• Bitted                                                                                                                     $16
• Bitted Wood Bucks bobbin.                                                                                    $20
• Bless David                                                                                                            $65
• Bless Joseph                                                                                                           $65
• 'Bless my Brother' (Bone).                                                                                      $65
• 'Bless my John' (Bone).                                                                                           $65
• Bone bobbins with beaded shanks.                                                                each $162
• Brass or Pewter Bound                                                                                           $16
• Brass or Pewter Bound                                                                                        $16 ?
• Brass or Pewter Bound with coloured bands or dots.                                         $5?$32
• Brass or Pewter Bound.                                                                                          $16
• Bucks                                                                                                                       $6
• C 19th Bucks Wood plum pudding bobbins.                                                           $20
• C 19th Wood Bucks bobbin with a beaded shank.                                                  $16
• C 19th  Wood Bucks lantern bobbin with wood ball ? hand carved.                       $162
• C 19th/20th brass bobbins.                                                                                     $65
• C 19th /20th Wood jingle.                                                                                       $16
• Caroline                                                                                                                  $16
• Caroline (chip)                                                                                                        $35
• Catherine                                                                                                                $35
• Charlee                                                                                                                   $35
• Charles Cain                                                                                                           $40
• Charles David Meehan 1864                                                                                 $110
• Charles Lieforda at Tillery.                                                                                    $125
• Charles Roberts the lad I love (heart symbol).                                                        $125
• Charlot                                                                                                                   $16
• chunky Maltese (Wood).                                                                                        $16
• Continental                                                                                                             $16
• Dan                                                                                                                        $13
• Daniel                                                                                                                     $35
• Daniel Bushby                                                                                                         $40
• David                                                                                                                     $35
• Dear Edward                                                                                                          $65
• Dear Elenor                                                                                                            $65
• Dear Eliza                                                                                                               $65
• Dear Fanny (chip)                                                                                                   $40
• Dear Father                                                                                                            $35
• Dear Father                                                                                                            $65
• Dear George                                                                                                           $65
• Dear Henry                                                                                                             $40
• Dear Jane                                                                                                               $35
• Dear Jonas                                                                                                             $35
• Dear Joseph                                                                                                           $65
• Dear Lydia                                                                                                             $16
• Dear Mother                                                                                                           $35
• Dear Nancy                                                                                                            $45
• Dear Samuel                                                                                                           $65
• 'Dear Susan'(Bone).                                                                                                $65
• Decorated Bedfordshire fly (B.B.).                                                                          $32
• Decorated with coloured bands and dots.                                                        $20?$16
• Dick                                                                                                                         $6
• Diner                                                                                                                      $13
• Don't forget me.                                                                                                      $16
• E. Hancock 1870                                                                                                  $16
• Edmund (chip)                                                                                                        $35
• Edmund Kley                                                                                                          $65
• Edward                                                                                                                  $35
• Edward                                                                                                                  $35
• Elenor                                                                                                                     $35
• Eli                                                                                                                           $35
• Eliza                                                                                                                       $16
• Eliza                                                                                                                       $35
• Eliza Dunharn (B.B.)                                                                                               $35
• Eliza Tatman 1870                                                                                                $110
• Elizabeth                                                                                                                 $35
• Elizabeth Garner died April 2I age  43                                                                  $110
• Elizabeth Henson aged 48  1886                                                                           $110
• Elizabeth Nix Bicester 1843 (replacement head).                                                   $162
• Elizabeth Saunders                                                                                                $162
• Elizabeth Simms 1838                                                                                           $110
• Elizabeth Stareeton                                                                                                 $65
• Elizabeth White                                                                                                       $95
• Ellen                                                                                                                       $16
• Ellen                                                                                                                       $35
• Emily Edith Rudd                                                                                                    $65
• Emma.                                                                                                                    $35
• Emmar Ashwell 1868                                                                                              $95
• Emmela (nick)                                                                                                         $35
• Esther                                                                                                                     $35
• Fanny                                                                                                                     $35
• Fare the well (Bone).                                                                                            $110
• Fear God (Bone).                                                                                                 $125
• 'Fear the Lord thy God'.                                                                                          $95
• 'Fear the Lord'.                                                                                                     $110
• Forget me not (spliced).                                                                                        $110
• Francis                                                                                                                   $35
• Frank                                                                                                                     $35
• Fred                                                                                                                       $16
• Frederick (chip)                                                                                                      $32
• George                                                                                                                   $16
• George                                                                                                                   $35
• George Caves Nichol. Born Feb 25 1846 (chip in rim).                                           $95
• George Cherry 1868                                                                                             $162
• George Hasby 1841                                                                                               $95
• George Street                                                                                                         $65
• George Summerine                                                                                                 $13
• George Thorne my dear lover (B.B.).                                                                    $125
• George Wagstaff (chip in rim). Love heart spangle.                                                  $95
• Gertrude Osborn                                                                                                    $65
• Hannah                                                                                                                   $16
• Hannah                                                                                                                   $35
• Hannah.                                                                                                                $162
• Harriot                                                                                                                    $16
• Harriot                                                                                                                    $35
• Harry                                                                                                                      $16
• Hellen                                                                                                                     $35
• Henrietta Mayes (chip)                                                                                            $65
• Henry                                                                                                                     $16
• Henry                                                                                                                     $35
• Henry Cross aged 2I 1858(chip in rim).                                                                 $162
• Hester Coorer  $65
• Hiraem                                                                                                                   $16
• Honiton ? J.H. 1812 Twigs, triangles and geometric designs.                                  $155
• Honiton ? JW. 1807 Walls, geometric designs, aqua fortis staining.                         $155
• Honiton? F.M., E.M.C., leaves, diamonds, flowers.                                               $135
• Honiton. 1807 Walls, sprigs, diamonds (part faint).                                                $135
• Honitons and Downtons                                                                                          $11
• I long to wed the lad I love (chip in rim).                                                                $125
• 'I love Jesus' (Bobbin Brown decorated Bed fly).                                                   $125
• 'I love my love because I no my love lovs me'.                                                       $125
• I love Samuel.                                                                                                         $13
• I love the boys.                                                                                                       $16
• I love thee still.                                                                                                        $16
• I love to see my dare (chip in rim).                                                                           $95
• I love you my dear is it true.                                                                                    $16
• I love you my dear that is true 1841 (nick in rim).                                                     $16
• I will forever love the giver (rim missing).                                                               $125
• I wish to wed (chip in rim).                                                                                      $95
• I.P.                                                                                                                         $20
• If I love the boys (faint in parts).                                                                            $162
• in Spangle) by Christie & David Springett pl                                                            $62
• Interesting old brass, copper and pewter bobbins.                                           each $65
• Isaac                                                                                                                      $35
• Isabella Ingram (chip)                                                                                              $11
• Israel                                                                                                                        $6
• It's all very fine but no lodge hear for you my lad' (Compton)                                 $125
• Jack                                                                                                                       $35
• 'Jack ? a ? live` (See'Lace and Bobbins by Huetson pl71).                                       125
• Jack (B.B. Pewter tiger, chip)                                                                                 $35
• Jacob                                                                                                                     $32
• James                                                                                                                     $35
• James Morton 1832                                                                                              $125
• Jane                                                                                                                        $35
• Jane 1855 (B.B.).                                                                                                   $95
• Jane Barrie                                                                                                             $35
• Jane Dines                                                                                                              $65
• Jane Dines                                                                                                              $65
• Jane Lucy Nickles                                                                                                   $65
• Jesse                                                                                                                      $35
• Jim (heart symbol)                                                                                                   $20
• Jingles (Bucks)                                                                                                $13-$16
• Job                                                                                                                           $6
• Joel                                                                                                                        $35
• Joel Chambers                                                                                                        $65
• John                                                                                                                       $35
• John                                                                                                                       $15
• John Bunyan (Bone).                                                                                               $65
• John Emitt (chip)                                                                                                     $65
• John York                                                                                                              $65
• Joice                                                                                                                       $15
• Jonas                                                                                                                      $35
• Jonathan                                                                                                                 $35
• Joseph                                                                                                            $13?$11
• Joseph Brown 1864 (B.B.).                                                                                  $125
• Joseph is not for me know it.                                                                                 $110
• Joseph Perser                                                                                                         $35
• Josiah                                                                                                                     $35
• Josiah Joyce died 1871                                                                                         $110
• Judy                                                                                                                       $35
• Kesy                                                                                                                      $32
• King David                                                                                                             $65
• 'King William the M.                                                                                             $110
• Kiss me                                                                                                                  $20
• 'Kiss me in the dark'(B.B.).                                                                                   $125
• Kiss me.                                                                                                               $162
• Kitty                                                                                                                       $16
• Kitty                                                                                                                       $35
• Kiziah                                                                                                                     $35
• Laughing lovers to merry merry (Compton).                                                           $125
• Leopards and Tigers                                                                                               $13
• Leopards and Tigers                                                                                          $16 $6
• Leopards and Tigers.                                                                                         $20 $6
• Levi                                                                                                                 $16 $35
• Levi (chip)                                                                                                              $32
• Levina                                                                                                                    $16
• 'Long live the Queen'.                                                                                            $110
• Lottie                                                                                                                      $16
• Lottie                                                                                                                      $35
• Louisa Brooks                                                                                                        $13
• Love don't be cruel (B.B.).                                                                                    $125
• Love for ever.                                                                                                       $110
• Love God (Bone).                                                                                                $125
• Love God.                                                                                                            $125
• Love is love.                                                                                                         $125
• Love is sharp to feel the smart.                                                                              $110
• Love Jesus (Bone).                                                                                                 $75
• Love me dearly (BB).                                                                                           $110
• Love me forever (B.B.).                                                                                        $110
• Love me love.                                                                                                         $75
• Love me my dear (B.B.).                                                                                      $110
• Love me now and forever (heart symbol).                                                              $110
• Love me or leave me alone.                                                                                   $110
• Love me truly.                                                                                                       $110
• Love me.                                                                                                              $162
• Love Mercy (Bone).                                                                                             $125
• Love true.                                                                                                             $162
• 'Lovely Nancy' (Kitty Fisher Spangle).                                                                    $55
• Luc                                                                                                                         $32
• Lucey                                                                                                                     $35
• Lucy                                                                                                                     $110
• Lucy                                                                                                                       $35
• Lydia                                                                                                              $32?$35
• Lydia Lee (B.B.) (nick)                                                                                           $65
• M.T. Nethership                                                                                                     $35
• Malmsbury bobbins                                                                                                  $6
• Maltese                                                                                                                    $5
• Maner                                                                                                                    $13
• Mannasseh                                                                                                             $35
• Maria                                                                                                                     $35
• Mark                                                                                                                      $16
•  'Mark, Luke, Jonah'(Bone).                                                                                   $65
• Marry me                                                                                                               $16
• Marry me quick.                                                                                                   $110
• Marry me.                                                                                                            $110
• Martha                                                                                                              $6?$35
• Mary                                                                                                                      $16
• Mary                                                                                                                      $35
• 'Mary' (Spliced).                                                                                                     $35
• Mary Bithrey                                                                                                          $35
• Mary Butler                                                                                                            $65
• Mary Maris (B.B.)                                                                                                  $65
• Maryann (nick)                                                                                                       $35
• Maryann Ingram                                                                                                     $65
• Matilda                                                                                                                   $35
• Mercy.                                                                                                              $3.$10
• Meria                                                                                                                    1 $6
• Meria Allen                                                                                                             $32
• Miadeline (chip)                                                                                                      $35
• Michael Blundell                                                                                                     $16
• Minnie                                                                                                                    $16
• Miss Y Tysoe                                                                                                         $13
• My dear Mother (Bobbin Brown).                                                                        $125
• My love (chip).                                                                                                     $125
• Nancy                                                                                                                    $13
• Nathaniel                                                                                                                $35
• Ned (chip)                                                                                                              $13
• No lodge here'.                                                                                                     $110
• Oliver                                                                                                                     $16
• Ornamentally turned various                                                                                    $16
• Phebe                                                                                                                     $35
• Philip                                                                                                                      $35
• Philip (chip)                                                                                                            $15
• Priscilla (chip)                                                                                                         $35
• Priscilla Mills died January 1886                                                                            $110
• 'Queen for ever' (faint) ? See p18 'Success to the Lace Pillow' Springetts.              $162
•  Queen Victoria'.                                                                                                   $162
• Rebecca                                                                                                                 $13
• Remember thy creator in the youth'.                                                                       $110
• Repentence is nidefil'.                                                                                            $110
• Reuben                                                                                                                   $35
• Richard                                                                                                                   $35
• Robea Smith 1870                                                                                                $162
• Robert                                                                                                                    $16
• Robert                                                                                                                    $35
• Robert Willson died February 11 1865                                                                   $62
• Ruth                                                                                                                       $35
• Ruth Lucy Roberts                                                                                                  $40
• S.C.                                                                                                                       $13
• S.J.                                                                                                                         $15
• Saley                                                                                                                      $35
• Sally                                                                                                                       $35
• Saly                                                                                                                  $6?$35
• Sambo                                                                                                                    $16
• Samuel                                                                                                                   $35
• Samuel Driver (chip)                                                                                               $13
• Samul                                                                                                                     $16
• Sarah                                                                                                                      $35
• Sarah                                                                                                                      $15
• Sarah Bailey                                                                                                           $65
• Silas (chip)                                                                                                              $35
• Sophy                                                                                                                     $32
• Stained.                                                                                                             $5?$16
• Stephen                                                                                                                  $16
• Suky (chip)                                                                                                               $6
• Susa                                                                                                                       $16
• Susan                                                                                                                     $16
• Susannah                                                                                                                $35
• Sweet William 1861                                                                                              $110
• Sweet William.                                                                                                        $65
• Sylvia                                                                                                                     $16
• The gift is small but love is all.                                                                                $110
• Thomas                                                                                                           $20?$35
• Thomas Darley (chip)                                                                                              $35
• Thomas John Drage                                                                                                $40
• Thomas Spencer                                                                                                     $65
• 'Those that love me I will love'.                                                                              $110
• Those that seek me early shall find me (Compton).                                                 $125
• Thou God seest me (Bobbin Brown).                                                                    $125
• 'Thou God Seest me'(B.B.).                                                                                  $125
• 'Time is short' (Bobbin Brown).                                                                             $125
• Tinselled Mother and Babe with tinselled babe (Bone).                                          $125
• Tobey                                                                                                                     $15
• Tome Dood' p 138, The Romance of the Lace Pillow. Thomas Wright.                  $110
• True love (chip in rim).                                                                                          $162
• Turned                                                                                                                      $5
• Turned Ebony bobbins (unspangled).                                                                 each $8
• Turned.                                                                                                                   $16
• two fine loose bone rings.                                                                                      $162
• Various bone mother and babes.                                                                      $11 $13
• Victoria                                                                                                                  $16
• Victoria                                                                                                                  $13
• W. Worsley hung 1868 (Bobbin Brown). (Bone)                                                   $385
• Walter                                                                                                                    $16
• Amey                                                                                                                     $16
• When this you see remember me.                                                                          $162
• When wil you fix the wedding day (Compton).                                                       $125
• 'Who was Christ' (B.B.).                                                                                       $125
• Will                                                                                                                        $35
• William                                                                                                                   $35
• William Boswell died April 16 1846(chip).                                                            $110
• William Carrington                                                                                                  $65
• William Holden                                                                                                     $110
• William Lewis                                                                                                         $65
• William Russel 1862                                                                                             $125
• William Thomas Page                                                                                              $40
• William Worsley Hung 1868 (Bone).                                                                     $385
• William. Furniss                                                                                                      $40
• Williarn Thomas Dewo                                                                                            $65
• With love Elizeys.                                                                                                    $95
• Wood lantern bobbin beautifully carved with tin wood balls.                                   $125

A dealer that I can recommend (and I will be pleased to list recommendations from list members of other antique bobbin dealers) is