Railway plate... any idea on value?

Question

I recently recieved a plate that was given to me grandfather when he was a superintendent on the railway. It was given to him by a man who found it. The plate is dated 1831 and has the New York Central Lines seal on the back. It is 9 inches across. It is white and has a intricate pattern that goes around the plate. At the very top of the plate there is a very old design of a train and under the train is the date 1831. The plate is in very good condition. I was wondering if anyone had any idea on the value or where I can go to find the value. Thanks alot.

Answer 1

I could take a brand new plate with a picture of a train that says 1831 underneath and doctor it to make it look old. I'm not saying yours isn't old, I'm just saying that the picture on it doesn't necessarily mean that's when it was manufactured. It's most likely a plate commemorating something from the year 1831.

The best way to date china is by knowing the maker, which may be found on the back of the plate, and having access to records of what that company made, and when. I'm guessing it to be from the first half of the last century and was commissioned by New York Central. It is probably not worth a great deal, and would be of greater interest to a collector of railroad memoribilia than to a collector of antique china.

Start your research with the name of the company that made the plate.

Answer 2

Also, were there trains running in 1831? It sounds a bit early for there to be a regular train service as the early locomotives were still in development - but that's a whole new subject to be researched. Start off with Stevenson's Rocket etc.