Marbles have been found in the ashes of Pompeii and the tombs of ancient Egypt. The earliest marbles were made of stones, which were polished smooth by flowing water. The Industrial Revolution brought glass marbles into mass production in 1915, and the design of the machine worked so well that it remains the same today.
July exhibitors, Marty and Melinda Overstreet have been collecting marbles for more than 20 years. Melinda got Marty interested when she found a marble collection in her grandparent’s home. Now, they each have their own collections, which includes German handmade marbles from the late 1880s and machine-made marbles from the early 20th century. They even have marbles containing uranium that glow in the dark.
Mibsters (marble players or collectors) know that vintage marbles are VERY collectible. The most desired marbles are handmade, but size, manufacturer, condition and design also play an important factor in a collection.
The next time you play Chinese Checkers or Hungry, Hungry Hippos and hold that cold, round marble, remember that you have the weight of history in your hands, however slight it may be.
