Berliner Kindl Beer Coaster Appraisal
Category: Advertising Ephemera
Description
This is a circular beer coaster advertising Berliner Kindl beer. The coaster is made of a thick, absorbent cardboard material, typical for beverage coasters. Its diameter appears to be approximately 3.5 to 4 inches. The color scheme is primarily yellow for the background with a central illustration featuring a cartoon character peeking over the rim of a grey beer stein. The character has bright orange hair. A green circular border surrounds the illustration. Dark blue text is printed around the circumference of the coaster, reading "frisch und würzig - nach Urberliner Art" along the top curve and "BERLINER KINDL" prominently along the bottom curve. The edges are rounded but show some slight scuffing and minor signs of use. There is no visible significant damage like tears or creases, indicating it has been relatively well-preserved or not heavily used. The printing is clear and legible. The style of the illustration suggests a mid-20th-century origin, likely correlating with the branding of Berliner Kindl during that period. The quality of the printing and the density of the cardboard are standard for the type of promotional item.
Appraisal Report
Based on my examination of the provided image of this Berliner Kindl beer coaster, I assess its condition as generally good. The coaster exhibits typical signs of light use with minimal edge scuffing, but no apparent tears, creases, or significant staining. The printing remains clear and legible, which is crucial for advertising ephemera value. The style of the imagery strongly suggests a mid-20th-century, likely post-WWII, vintage. These promotional coasters are relatively common items, falling into the category of advertising ephemera. While there is interest among collectors of German brewery memorabilia, their individual monetary value is typically modest unless linked to a particularly rare design, limited production run, or provenance. Current market conditions for such items on platforms like eBay or at ephemera shows show similar coasters trading in the low single digits to perhaps a few dollars each. The design featuring the cartoon character is appealing but not exceptionally rare. My assessment of value is based on visual inspection only. Definitive authentication regarding the exact year of production would ideally require in-person examination to assess paper type, printing methods, and potentially compare to known examples with established dating. Provenance documents, if available, would significantly enhance certainty and potentially value, especially if linking it to a specific brewery event or historical context not evident from the coaster itself. However, for a common item like this, such detailed verification is generally not pursued unless part of a larger collection.
Appraisal Value
$1-5