Post #498194 by Sabu The Coconut Boy on Wed, Dec 9, 2009 6:17 PM

Sorry folks,

This is definitely due to the fact that it's a Fire King mug of some rarity and not the Federal Glass version. Fire King collectors are as meticulous and crazy as we Tiki Mug collectors. The jadeite and milk glass coffee mugs are some of the more collectible pieces because a lot of restaurants and other locations got their logos put on these mugs and some of them are really obscure and rare.

As an eBay seller, I've learned to pick up Fire King mugs on sight because they're usually cheap at garage sales and you may find one of the uncommon ones that sells for $100 or more. The collectors know which ones are valuable by the transferware pattern, shape of the handle, the style of Fire King logo, and stock number on the underside.

I have just enough knowledge to be dangerous, so don't quote me, but I've noticed that the "D"-shaped handle seems to make some difference. Note the handle on the mug in question:

As opposed to the square handles on these mugs which were made by Federal Glass:

The Federal Glass ones are the ones I see all the time on eBay and I think they're pretty common. The Fire King one is clearly marked Fire King on the bottom:

It could be that these Fire King mugs are more common than the people think, but aren't hitting the collector's radar because they don't get listed as "Fire King". If that's the case, and you have one of these mugs, by all means list it on eBay and take advantage of this fact. But I have a feeling the Fire King mugs are less common than the Federal Glass ones, and that's what caused the high price.