Having just listed this gorgeous Sandra Kuck Collector Plate, entitled Angel of Sunshine, on my website this week - it sent me on a trail of researching and reading about all the different Collectors Plates, how they started, the different collecting history contiguous to certain manufacturers and as a result the discovery of the strength of the “Secondary Market” surrounding this collecting world today.

Secondary Market simply refers to the market following the initial phase when the Collectors Plates were originally being sold primarily in sets or numbered limited editions to customers. The secondary market today is where many collectors are trying to locate those originally purchased plates from particular sets or limited editions to fill in their own collection or start a collection. It is truly a thriving market!

The Glass Menagerie reports some history of the beginning of the collector plate trend, “The first recorded Limited Edition collector plate came from the Bing and Grondahl factory of Denmark in 1895. Titled “Behind The Frozen Window”, it was the first known commemorative plate to be limited in production with date and title information fired on the plate itself and was followed by a second plate the following year as the first Annual Bing and Grondahl Christmas plate titled “Jule Aften 1896.” An annual plate was produced each year thereafter and still is today under the Royal Copenhagen name.”

Royal Copenhagen Jules Aften 1971

We offer three of the lovely Bing and Grondahl Christmas plates under the Royal Copenhagen name,  including the Jule Aften 1968, the Jule Aften 1971 and the Jule Aften 1978.

You can check this web-page out! It shows all the other Royal Copenhagen Christmas Collector Plates from 1908-2008!

Collector Plates to commemorate events and historical occasions are also popular. Remember all the collectibles available around 1976 to memorialize and celebrate our nation’s 200th birthday? Fenton Art Glass Company created a series of beautiful milk glass collector plates with different embossed scenes surrounding America’s history. We offer three of these special historical collectible plates depicting Patrick Henry, George Washington, and the Liberty Bell.

Another pretty plate that has brought it’s share of attention and is sought after in the secondary market today is the Royal Copenhagen’s Hans Andersen Little Mermaid Collector Plate, 1972. Hans Andersen, who moved to Copenhagen at the age of fourteen to continue his battle over hardships and adversity, eventually became educated and a famed novelist of Fairy Tales and Stories, written between 1835 and 1872. His third volume of tales, published in 1837, contained ‘The Little Mermaid.’ Among Andersen’s other best known tales are ‘Little Ugly Duckling,’ ‘The Tinderbox,’ ‘Little Claus and Big Claus,’ ‘Princess and the Pea,’ ‘The Snow Queen,’ The Nightingale,’ and ‘The Steadfast Tin Soldier.’

Tell us about your collection! Or your experience in collecting and how you got started.

Helping people find that special collector plate they’ve been searching for is really rewarding. We hope you take the time to browse Grandma’s Treasures Online to see all the special collector plates we offer.

Also, I located The Glass Menagerie as one of the largest selections with an inventory of over 2500 retired collector plates!

And, you are welcome to post your wish list here for our readers. Who knows? You may connect with the very person who holds your collectible treasure!