Two Stamps One Cup.....and Saucer Worcester and "Wright, Kay, & Co. Detroit"

by Mary
(Los Angeles, CA. USA)

I don't have an eBay store but I have recently started posting items for sale on eBay. Over the past year, I have been helping a friend acquire some jewelry which he would then sell at various public venues.

I began noticing certain items would be prominent in one area more than another as I made my way through Thrift Stores, Yard Sales, and Estate Sales around Southern California.

I was able to make some good buys that were easily turned for a small profit. But then I started finding things that I didn't really want to sell. Now, my apartment is full of stuff and it's time to clean up and make someone very happy to find such unique items for a great deal.

The only problem with many of these items, I have no idea what they are.

I've learned a lot over the past year, but I've been struggling with finding what I believe to be a 1913 Royal Worcester Coffee Cup and Saucer Set.

What's throwing me off is, in addition to the Worcester stamp, there is a second stamp for "Wright, Kay, & Co. Detroit".

The majority of what I've found turns out to be Limoges and Kay Co pieces. I'm not sure if I'm just really good at finding things that no one cares about and, as such, no one has posted about, or if I've found something so rare and unique that once I post it on eBay, my picture will be the one that will confirm someone else's search for the pieces to complete their set that would then be worth a fortune.

I'm not looking to retire on one piece and always try to price things fairly and offer opportunities to purchase items at a lower price, but if I have no clue what the actual value is or even how to accurately describe it, I'd rather not post it.

After all, most people aren't really buying the item, they're buying the story which they get to tell to everyone who sees what they bought.

Mary

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Hi Mary

Thanks for an interesting and well written post - very reflective...

I love the way you say "people aren't really buying the item, they're buying the story which they get to tell to everyone who sees what they bought."

I think there's a lot in that.

Now, I think there's a really simple explanation for the double backstamp. My guess is "Wright, Kay, & Co. Detroit" were an important china/glass/jewelry retailer in the city and as such bought enough volume from Royal Worcester to justify a special stamp application.

(I just had a quick sneak Google search on them and my hunch was right!!).

Best regards

Peter