Schmidt's Beer Coaster 'Na Zdrowie!' Appraisal
Category: Advertising Memorabilia
Description
This is a vintage Schmidt's Beer Coaster, crafted from absorbent paperboard, circular in shape, approximately 3.5 inches in diameter. The primary color is a beige or light tan background, with artwork and text printed in red, black, and white. The central illustration depicts a cheerful man in traditional Polish folk attire: a black hat with a red feather, a white shirt, a black vest with embroidered-like details, a red bow tie, red and white striped pants, and black boots. He is holding a frothy mug of beer in his right hand and gesturing with his left. Above him is the text "Na Zdrowie!" in red, which is Polish for "To your health!" or "Cheers!". Around the bottom edge of the coaster, in a curved arc of black, is a white circle with a red star inside, flanked by the letters "S" and "R" inside a circle of vertical lines, representing the Schmidt's logo. Encircling the outer edge of the coaster is the text "WHEN OLD FRIENDS MEET DRINK Schmidt's BEER", with "Schmidt's BEER" in red and the rest in black. The edges show some minor wear consistent with age and handling, but the overall condition appears good with the printing still clear and vibrant. There are no apparent tears, stains, or significant damage visible. The construction is typical for early to mid-20th century cardboard drink coasters, designed to be disposable but often collected as advertising ephemera. The style of the illustration suggests an age likely from the mid-20th century, perhaps 1940s or 1950s, given the design aesthetics and the popularity of brewing companies issuing 이런 types of promotional items. The quality of the printing is decent, with clear lines and solid color application, typical of mass-produced items of this era. There are no visible manufacturer's marks beyond the Schmidt's logo.
Appraisal Report
Based on my visual examination of the provided image, this Schmidt's Beer Coaster 'Na Zdrowie!' appears to be a genuine vintage advertising item. The design elements, printing style, and the Schmidt's logo are consistent with promotional materials from the mid-20th century, likely the 1940s or 1950s. Its condition is good to very good for an item of this type and age, showing minor edge wear but no apparent tears, significant stains, or damage that would drastically devalue it. The printing is clear and the colors are well-preserved. Vintage beer coasters like this are collected as advertising ephemera, and items promoting specific breweries like Schmidt's, especially with character illustrations and foreign language greetings, have a degree of market appeal. Demand for such items is steady within the niche collecting community of brewery advertising and beer memorabilia, though they are not exceptionally rare individually. Comparables for similar vintage brewery coasters in good condition typically range from a few dollars to around ten dollars, depending on the brewery, design appeal, and condition. Factors impacting value positively include the clear illustration and the
Appraisal Value
$8 - $12