Hallmark cookie jars are one of the easiest and most inexpensive ways to begin a cookie jar collection. Their cute designs have endeared them to collectors worldwide. Even the quirky versions, such as Maxine and Floyd, have their share of cookie jar collectors.
Collect Hallmark Cookie Jars
Over the years, Hallmark has made many cookie jars that feature everything from Maxine and Floyd to their signature Christmas themes. Favorites over the years have included:
- Peanuts Snoopy jar
- Mickey & Minnie jar
- Snowman & Snowflake jar
- Sweet Tooth Treats jars
- Clyde cookie jars
- Mittens cookie jars
The Hallmark cookie jars can be found at any Hallmark store, especially during the holiday season, though the vintage jars may be harder to locate.
Places to Find Hallmark Jars
Common places to find Hallmark cookie jars include:
- Flea markets
- Garage sales
- Antique stores
- eBay
- Ubid
Obviously, online auctions will provide you with a wide variety of Hallmark cookie jars both in price and style. This is one of the reasons that the Hallmark jars are inexpensive - the market is currently flooded with these jars. Most jars can be found for under $20, though some of the older Peanuts jars may command as much as $40.
Since the Peanuts jars are going up in price, it may be a good idea to start collecting them now. The Mickey and Minnie jars are also becoming scarcer than the other jars currently on the market. Who knows, perhaps the jar you purchase at a great price help pay for your child's college education!
A Cookie Jar Education
While it is unlikely that you'll spend more than $20 to buy your first piece of Hallmark pottery, you should still learn as much as you can about the hobby before you spend any money. A great place to find out more about collecting cookie jars is your local library. Collector price guides and hobby books help you learn to identify jars, as well as educating you about how values are determined on pottery items. Books to help you in this endeavor include:
- Collector's Encyclopedia of Cookie Jars by Fred and Joyce Roerig
- Clyde Cookie Jar Friends Collection by Hallmark
- The Wonderful World of Cookie Jars by Mark and Ellen Supnick
- Carmen Cookie Jar Friends Collection by Hallmark
- Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Value Guide by Hallmark (includes cookie jars)
Fellow Collectors
One of the best ways to make new friends, and learn who has the cookie jar that you are coveting, is to join a cookie jar club. Clubs can be either national or local, depending upon interest in your area. If there aren't any local clubs, or you just would like to learn more about the larger clubs, check out these cookie jar collector sites:
You may also find fellow collectors on your favorite Internet provider sites, such as AOL, Earthlink and many others. Check out your IP's home page to see if there are any cookie jar collector newsletter or chats already waiting for new members like you!
Conclusion
Collecting Hallmark cookie jars can be a rewarding and enjoyable hobby both for kids and adults alike. The cute cartoon characters, from Peanuts to Maxine, appeal to a variety of individuals. Collecting Hallmark jars is also an inexpensive hobby, and the jars are easy to find in many places selling both new and used pottery items. Fellow enthusiasts may also decide to join fellow collectors online or in a local club to exchange information as well as favorite cookies and jars!
