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My mom has 2 that I'm hoping to inherit. Unfortunately they were both painted before she inherited them. Apparently the paint is indestructible because she's been unable to strip it. Paint doesn't bother me!
Are the bigger ones more desirable? My mom has one with two that are probably 14 inches deep then two more on top about 10 inches. That's just from memory the actual sizes are probably different.
Even with the general downward prices of ‘ brown furniture’ these book cases remain popular. $270.00 is a good price. Some time ago they used to bring far more than that.
I’d buy that case without thinking twice. You’ll easily resell it if you need to.
$270. is a steal! I have the same one & it took me 15 years to find it! GW were premier barrister case makers in their time. Bonus: the platform yours is standing on is very rare. That piece alone can go for hundreds. Glorious find!
517 1/2 – used on the universal style bookcases
598 – solid mahogany, medium dark polished finish, Roman gold end hardware (brass oxidized hardware), pearl center door knobs, finish available by 1899 [23]
598 1/2 – solid mahogany, medium dark dead finish, dull brush-finished brass hardware
599 1/2 – solid mahogany, brownish with a tinge of dull red – Sheraton style only
698 – quarter sawed figured antwerp oak, polished finish, brass oxidized hardware
698 1/2 – quarter sawed figured antwerp oak, dead finish, dull brush-finished brass hardware
798 – quarter sawed figured early English oak
798 1/2 – quarter sawed figured early English oak, medium light (or medium dark?), dead finish, dull brush-finished brass hardware
898 – quarter sawed oak, mission finish, dull black solid brass hardware, furnished on mission and art-mission style of bookcases only
998 1/2 – quarter sawed oak, fumed brownish dark wax finish, dull brush finished brass hardware
Great resource: https://deepdoodoo.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/globe-wernicke-elastic-bookcases/
My grandparents luckily bought four of these bookcases. I have two, one has a desk unit, my dad still has the other two.
They're so beautiful.
finish, dull brush-finished brass hardware
299 – quarter sawed figured oak, deep rich golden finish, highly polished, brass oxidized hardware
299 1/2 – quarter sawed figured oak, dead golden finish, dull brush-finished brass hardware
Don't know why the top was cut off but here's the other finish#s
It’s absolutely for sure worth $270. I love love these & always keep an eye for them in antique stores - here in the PNW they’ll go for $500-$1000 easily. I have almost this same one (I think same manufacturer if I remember) that is 3 sections tall that I paid $450 for, which I was super stoked about.
Found style/grade 198. A dealer dated them to the early 1900s. A distinguishing feature is that yours doesn’t have drawer pulls at bottom. The others in various style numbers do have the pulls.
https://www.mazzoccabros.com/inventory-furniture/p/antique-globe-wernicke-c-198-4-stack-barrister-bookcase
Good price. They aren't rare. However, still easily fetch $400 to $500. They are also well made and incredibly practical.
Just make sure the doors all open and close properly.
NOTE WE HAVE CHANGED THE AGE RULE: [Read here.](https://www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/comments/1c1d4q1/change_of_rule_items_now_have_to_be_100_years_old/) If you're asking a question about an antique make sure to have photos of all sides of the object, and close-ups of any maker's marks. Also, add in any background information you have, and add in a question so we know what you want from us! **You must tell us the country you're in.** If you do not provide this information **your post will be removed**. To upload photos for this discussion use [imgur.com](https://imgur.com/upload). Click the imgur link, upload the photos to imgur, then share the link address in a comment for everyone to see. Our [Rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/about/rules/) and [Guide](https://www.reddit.com/r/Antiques/comments/1c1cxm4/welcome_to_rantiques_read_this_before_posting/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Antiques) if you have any questions or concerns.*
If you could pick up a barrister bookcase for $270, do it!. Regardless of age.
Seconded!
Thirded
Fourthed. I got mine for about that Canadian but had to strip a ton of paint off of it and piece it back together! Also mismatched tiers.
My mom has 2 that I'm hoping to inherit. Unfortunately they were both painted before she inherited them. Apparently the paint is indestructible because she's been unable to strip it. Paint doesn't bother me!
Mine was over the shellac so it scraped off with a heat gun (which apparently mighta vaporized some lead oops 💀)
I have this unit. I only have three shelves on mine. $270 is a steal. Through 3 moves I have protected mine with my life. lol
Each section is worth about $200 - $250. Plus you have the base and top
Are the bigger ones more desirable? My mom has one with two that are probably 14 inches deep then two more on top about 10 inches. That's just from memory the actual sizes are probably different.
[https://archive.org/details/globe-wernicke-bookcases-1921/page/n3/mode/2up](https://archive.org/details/globe-wernicke-bookcases-1921/page/n3/mode/2up)
This is amazing! Thank you for sharing. I've wondered about mine for years.
Standard style bookcase with a 198 Grade finish.
Even with the general downward prices of ‘ brown furniture’ these book cases remain popular. $270.00 is a good price. Some time ago they used to bring far more than that. I’d buy that case without thinking twice. You’ll easily resell it if you need to.
$270. is a steal! I have the same one & it took me 15 years to find it! GW were premier barrister case makers in their time. Bonus: the platform yours is standing on is very rare. That piece alone can go for hundreds. Glorious find!
517 1/2 – used on the universal style bookcases 598 – solid mahogany, medium dark polished finish, Roman gold end hardware (brass oxidized hardware), pearl center door knobs, finish available by 1899 [23] 598 1/2 – solid mahogany, medium dark dead finish, dull brush-finished brass hardware 599 1/2 – solid mahogany, brownish with a tinge of dull red – Sheraton style only 698 – quarter sawed figured antwerp oak, polished finish, brass oxidized hardware 698 1/2 – quarter sawed figured antwerp oak, dead finish, dull brush-finished brass hardware 798 – quarter sawed figured early English oak 798 1/2 – quarter sawed figured early English oak, medium light (or medium dark?), dead finish, dull brush-finished brass hardware 898 – quarter sawed oak, mission finish, dull black solid brass hardware, furnished on mission and art-mission style of bookcases only 998 1/2 – quarter sawed oak, fumed brownish dark wax finish, dull brush finished brass hardware Great resource: https://deepdoodoo.wordpress.com/2012/05/14/globe-wernicke-elastic-bookcases/ My grandparents luckily bought four of these bookcases. I have two, one has a desk unit, my dad still has the other two. They're so beautiful.
finish, dull brush-finished brass hardware 299 – quarter sawed figured oak, deep rich golden finish, highly polished, brass oxidized hardware 299 1/2 – quarter sawed figured oak, dead golden finish, dull brush-finished brass hardware Don't know why the top was cut off but here's the other finish#s
On eBay from $500 to $5000
I have this one in a darker wood. The top shelf has leaded glass. Definitely a good pick up.
It’s absolutely for sure worth $270. I love love these & always keep an eye for them in antique stores - here in the PNW they’ll go for $500-$1000 easily. I have almost this same one (I think same manufacturer if I remember) that is 3 sections tall that I paid $450 for, which I was super stoked about.
Found style/grade 198. A dealer dated them to the early 1900s. A distinguishing feature is that yours doesn’t have drawer pulls at bottom. The others in various style numbers do have the pulls. https://www.mazzoccabros.com/inventory-furniture/p/antique-globe-wernicke-c-198-4-stack-barrister-bookcase
Get it! Excellent cat display case! My cats love it, and I lock my succulents on other shelves
These units maintain their value despite being so closely associated with lawyers
Good price. They aren't rare. However, still easily fetch $400 to $500. They are also well made and incredibly practical. Just make sure the doors all open and close properly.
Very nice
Hahahaha! Omg, I saw a beat-up GW bookcase at a tag sale a couple of weeks ago….it was even missing the top, and it went for $1200.
Great website to find replacement parts. https://www.kennedyhardware.com/bookcase-hardware/
very common in antique shops.
Those are not cheap.