Souvenir bookmark, marked for Petrified Forest

This object is a metal souvenir bookmark featuring a teardrop or paddle-shaped silhouette with a decorative, shield-shaped enamel medallion at the top terminal. The primary material appears to be a stamped base metal with a polished silver-tone finish that exhibits noticeable surface tarnishing, oxidation, and micro-scratches consistent with age and handling. The inset enamel medallion at the upper handle displays a pictorial landscape scene in tones of red, yellow, and white, enclosed within a beaded metal border. Visible text inside the medallion appears to read 'PETRIFIED FOREST' across the top arc and 'ARIZONA' or a similar locality along the bottom portion, though some lettering is partially obscured due to the resolution and small scale. The lower blade of the bookmark is slotted with an elongated cutout loop designed to slide over book pages. There is no visible maker's mark or hallmark on the reverse side in the visible image. Based on the souvenir theme, materials, and manufacturing style, the piece appears to date to the mid-20th century, likely produced as a tourist memento from a national park or roadside attraction. The identification rests entirely on the visual presence of the decorative pictorial insert and general souvenir bookmark construction, remaining unauthenticated as to its exact manufacturer or production date.

Based on what I can see in the provided image, this object appears to be a mid-20th-century souvenir metal bookmark featuring an enamel pictorial medallion referencing the Petrified Forest. The piece displays a silver-tone finish with noticeable surface tarnishing, micro-scratches, and oxidation consistent with age and handling. I can't verify from a photo whether the base metal is plated brass, steel, or another alloy, and I cannot inspect the reverse for potential maker's marks or hallmarks that might be obscured or absent. Physical inspection would be needed to confirm the exact manufacturing technique and age. Assuming the attribution as a vintage tourist memento is correct, comparable mid-century national park souvenir items of this type typically trade in a modest collector market, generally ranging from $15 to $30 depending on condition and collector demand. Demand for such roadside and park memorabilia is niche, driven largely by theme-specific collectors. If this piece turns out to be a later reproduction, modern replica, or unattributed copy rather than a mid-century original, the value would likely decrease to the $5–$10 range. To establish a more precise evaluation or verify authenticity, one would need physical examination by an expert appraiser, hallmark verification, and assessment of material composition, as visual inspection alone cannot rule out modern replica production.