7. Character Jugs
A Character Jug, or what is often referred to as a Toby or Royal Doulton by collectors, is a mug in the shape of a person or person’s head and shoulders.
Some collectors might get technical and say that the Toby jugs are the ones from the 1800’s and the Royal Doulton are the ones from the 1900’s.
Either category is highly desirable on EBay. If you’re cruising weekend yard sales and see one for under $25, you should buy it, since Royal Doultons can go for two, three or four times that amount.
You can find Royal Doulton Character Jugs on just about any historical figure you can think of. The jugs can be easily overlooked, mistaken for a cheap collectible from a discount store.
If you find an authentic character jug, look for cracks in the porcelain and for repairs that have been made to the paint. Clearly, the fewer cracks, the more valuable the piece is.
Keep in mind that character jugs are fragile and if you are selling one through Ebay, make sure that you package the item well to avoid breakage. The last thing you need to happen is to sell a valuable character jug and have it break on delivery.
Do your research, don’t get too emotional, and get out there and make some money!