For special occasions the Sandwich works got out dishes to be presented as souvenirs. These show special designing and are exceedingly rare. We illustrate a piece issued for the Prince of Wales’ visit to America. Also a piece known to have been made at Sandwich in simulated English design with words “Gladstone” and “For The Million,” thistle center.

The “Victoria” plate, 7 inch, shows the head of the young Queen—in size like George Washington’s head in the Washington cup plate—with “Victoria” above and with a beautifully stippled lace border of the early period. An exquisite and rare plate.

No mention is made in this volume of the endless President Garfield, railroad trains, puss in boots, and Venus designs whose name is Legion and without whose presence the cabinet of the true collector will not suffer, such pieces looking entirely out of place on the shelves with early Sandwich.

As personalities are painful to the collector I have tried to refrain from them in this volume, trusting that those who have something to add or subtract from my text will do so in a kindly spirit. We as Americans are too prone to make our collections general. We seek quantity rather than quality and the author is a believer in elimination. The following are a few suggestions for the amateur collector:

1. Don’t think you have the best collection until you have seen others.

2. Don’t think that money can buy the best specimens, courtesy and patience can buy better.

3. In collecting old glass he who “hesitates” has lost it to his neighbor.

4. Don’t believe all you hear—investigate.

5. Don’t collect EARLY “WOOLWORTH.”

6. Don’t let envy keep you from enjoying and studying another’s collection.

7. Don’t tell everybody what you are looking for, a rival collector is born every minute.

8. Don’t seek numbers of specimens, seek fine workmanship.

9. Don’t call everything that you cannot classify Canadian, English, or Spanish. Comparison of specimens and time will change your opinion.

10. Don’t quote prices for by so doing the market is ruined for both dealer and collector. The value is according to what you pay and to-morrow you may obtain the same piece for more or less.

11. Don’t keep your glass in a dark cup-board done up in paper. Let others enjoy the fruits of your labor.

12. Considering that everyone’s taste is not alike “an unfair exchange is no robbery.”

13. Don’t say a thing is “very rare” or “very common” remembering that what is rare in Pennsylvania may be common in Massachusetts. Most antiques depend upon locality for their rarity and your opinion may be very local.

14. Don’t subject old glass to very hot or very cold water in washing. Early Sandwich is subject to atmospheric conditions. Sudden changes of heat and cold will cause cracks.

15. Last and not least, don’t “hoard”; give the other collector a chance. By exchange and sale of specimens you will improve your own collection and if you help some one else to get what he wants it will come back to you ten fold in unexpected moments. An old house, old glass and old friends is a combination worth living for.