Frequently asked questions

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Marks

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How to Use the Marks Database

The concept behind searching the marks database is a simple one. It assumes that you are looking at a mark on an item and want to know more about it. The database does not assume that you know anything about the item – what it is made out of, where it was made, when it was made, or who might have made it. That is what the Marks Database should help you discover.

Let take a piece from WorthopediaTM and see how this works.

For example: Let’s say you find this beautiful vase at an estate sale.

You flip them over and you find the following mark on the bottom:

If you want to learn more about that mark, you would simply enter into the marks database what you see:

If you had typed in TWO SWORDS CROSSED, the mark you were looking for would have been the second one in the series of 31 marks that the engine returned.

If you had typed in TWO CROSSED SWORDS DOT, the mark would have been the first of three marks returned. So adding a little detail like the dot can significantly reduce the number of marks that are returned and help narrow down the list.

Warning: However, you need to be careful not to be too detailed, as that can overwhelm the search functionality and produce an empty return when the mark is really in the database. See below for an example like that.

In this case, TWO CROSSED SWORDS WITH A DOT BETWEEN THE BLADES was entered. While this is an accurate description it is too wordy to produce good search results and the engine spits back that it did not find anything.

TIP: If you search and get an empty return, try simplifying your search and see if the mark you are looking for is there.

Now that you have found the Mark, you can click on it to find out more information.

Now that you have found the Mark and more information about it, you can do several things:

  1. You can ADD TO FAVORITES and this mark will be stored for your easy access in the future.
  2. You can also click the Gold Box and be taken to WorthPoint WorthopediaTM and see items from that manufacturer that have already sold.

  3. You can search the Digital Library for publications on this maker or piece.

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Do you have full time customer support?

Yes, the ways to reach us are via e-mail at support@worthpoint.com, or by phone/fax, at these numbers: Office: 877-481-5750. Fax: 614-923-4251

Our office hours are 9am - 6pm ET, Monday - Friday.

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Do you have business consultation with a certified instructor (worthologist ) ?

Yes, you can contact us for a business consultation at https://www.worthpoint.com/askWorthologist/index

However, Ask a Worthologist is a limited evaluation of an item to develop an opinion of estimated value from photographs, descriptions and other information provided by the member. It does not include a physical examination of the item(s).

This limited evaluation is intended to supply the member with an estimated value range of the item(s) in the secondary market(s) most often used to buy or sell antiques, art, rugs, silver, collectibles, decorative arts and residential contents. The markets considered are whichever market is most appropriate for each item being evaluated.

This limited evaluation is not a precise measurement, nor a guess, but rather a relative estimate of value of the degree of similarity between the item and comparable property, relative to the market conditions at the time the comparable item was sold.

The Ask a Worthologist evaluation does not guarantee a selling price for the items evaluated. The item may ultimately sell for more or less than the value provided. By using the Ask a Worthologist Service you expressly waive any right to make any claims against WorthPoint or the Worthologist with respect to the ultimate validity of the Worthologist's estimate of value.

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What is a WorthPoint valuation?

Ask a Worthologist™ is available to anyone who desires an unbiased, expert opinion of a collectible or antique. You need not be a WorthPoint™ subscriber to use the service. Based on details and photos you provide (see form below), a WorthPoint™ Worthologist will return a detailed evaluation of your item which includes an estimated range of its fair market value. The cost per evaluation is just $29.99. Ask a Worthologist was evaluated in a blind study - August 26th 2010 in The Wall Street Journal- and it was the only service of its kind that evaluated all items accurately.

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Do you have newsletter updated every week/month and can I receive it without paying for a plan?

Yes, you can subscribe to the WorthPoint Insider, our free weekly email newsletter with the latest in antiques, art & collectibles. Just go to http://www.worthpoint.com/about and register for the newsletter.

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If I cancel now, will I be pro-rated?

When you cancel your subscription, it will be still valid by the end of the respective month. That means that you will pay the whole month, but you will also be able to use the subscription until the end of that month.

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How do I know which day of the month I'll be billed?

The day in which we issue the invoice is the day of the month in which you have finished your trial seven lookups of seven days of trial and is the day when your credit card is billed. For instance if you made your subscription on the 5th of February 2012 and you used up your first seven lookups until February 6th and you agreed to have your credit card billed, we will issue the monthly invoice on the 6th of March, on the 6th of April and so on.

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Can I set my subscription to be terminated at the end of the trial/month?

The subscription can be ended at the end of the free trial by not checking the "I agree to being charged my chosen subscription rate at the end of my 7 lookups free trial, unless I choose to cancel before this trial period ends." check box. To cancel the subscription Just go to Manage my account => Manage plan subscription and either uncheck the books checkbox or go to Manage my account => Manage plans subscription => Deactivate subscription. If you don't succeed contact us at support@worthpoint.com.

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I'm a WorthPoint member, but I was unaware of the coupon offer when I signed up for Marks. Can I still redeem the coupon?

At various times we offer special deals. These deals have a limited time to enroll in them. We cannot extend a coupon once it is expired.

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Does the coupon discount work for one month only, or is it applied every month indefinitely?

It depends on your coupon. Generally speaking, unless otherwise stated a coupon is good for one year.

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How do I cancel my subscription?

To cancel your books subscription just go to Manage my account => Manage plan subscription and either uncheck the books checkbox or go to Manage my account => Manage plans subscription => Deactivate subscription. If you don't succeed contact us at support@worthpoint.com.

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You say that my subscription has been terminated; why then am I still able to sign in?

Indeed, you are still able to login and you have access to the articles or the newsletter but you can't make any searches. To be able to make searches you need to reactivate your account.

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How many books can I view with the library subscription?

If you have the books subscription you have unlimited access to the books.

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How can I change the type of my subscription (e.g. from ceramics to metals, etc.)

In order to change your plan you need to go to Manage my account => Manage plan subscription => click Change plan.

You will get to the plan selection page and you will be able to choose what suits your needs best.

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Can I pay via paypal? Why not?

At this time, we do not accept PayPal. However, we are considering the addition of this payment option.

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I've forgotten my username; how can I retrieve it?

The first step in retrieving your username is to check the email address that you have provided since it has all the necessary information to retrieve your username. If you can't find the information contact us at support@worthpoint.com.

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What is a makers’ mark?

A markers’ mark or trademark is any word, symbol, phrase, design, group of letters or numbers adopted and used by a company to identify its products and distinguish them from products provided by others.

The primary purpose of a makers’ mark is to prevent consumers from becoming confused about the source or origin of a product. Makers’ marks help consumers answer the question “Who makes this product?”

The makers’ marks are particularly helpful to collectors when a company was in business for only a brief period or there are known periods in which a particular makers’ mark was used. This allows an estimate age of the piece from the makers’ mark. In addition to a makers’ mark, some companies dated their pieces with the year of manufacture. This was not done for the collector but for the interest of the company (dating the products helped the company monitor the life of their pieces). In addition to makers’ marks and date marks there can be number or words/names. These sometimes represent a pattern number or a particular craftsman/artist.

Makers’ marks are often difficult to see and it can taek quite a bit of research to find the. WorthPoint’s database of Makers’ Marks is designed to help collectors and dealers to more easily find the significance of the makers’ mark.

Makers’ marks are most often applied to the bottom of a piece by one of several different manners. They can be embossed, etched, engraved, impressed, incised, painted, struck, or by use a paper label. While a collector will quickly learn some common makers’ marks there are simply millions of them out there and it would be impossible to know them all.

WorthPoint’s Markers’ Mark database is intended to be a clear and practical way to find and identify marks on metals (silver, gold, pewter, etc.), ceramics (china, pottery, art pottery, etc.), glass (depression, carnival, etc.) and other items with marks such as dolls, barrel proofs on guns, etc.

Below are samples of Markers’ Marks from the WorthPoint database:

  1. Glass marks

  2. Metals marks

  3. Ceramics marks

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How many makers’ marks are in the data base?

There are more than 45000 makers marks and hallmarks in the database -- more than 15,000 in Metals, 15,000 in Ceramics, 5,000 in Glass and 10,000 others in guns, dolls, etc. WorthPoint adds about 3,000-4,000 makers’ marks a month to the database. By the end of 2012, there will be more than 75,000 marks.

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What information does WorthPoint provide for each of the makers’ marks in the database?

When you open a makers’ mark from a search results page, there are several standard fields of information that are presents.

Let’s look at an example for a better understanding:

On the left side of the page you have a bigger preview of your image. On the right side you find the standard fields and the information (if known)

  1. Category - in this case a mark from Ceramics
  2. Full Company name - Stevenson & Hancock
  3. Company location - the company was founded in Derby, England.
  4. Company dates - period when the company worked (from 1859 to 1935)
  5. Successor company - don't have in this case (the company was not sold)
  6. Dates of use - period when this particular mark was used (from 1861 to 1935)
  7. Description - short written representation of the image (helps the search function)
  8. Material - in this case, Porcelain Bisque is the material of the piece on which this mark was found
  9. Application - not known for this item(many of them are impressed, engraved, struck, printed, etched etc.)
  10. Color - not available
  11. Notes - includes any important information known about this particular mark
  12. Keywords - helps the user to find a searched mark more easily

Category, Full Company Name, Company Location, Dates of Use and Material are underlined fields - this means the user can click on each one to generate automatically more results with the same maker, location etc.

For example click on Dates of Use:

The results are all marks used in the period searched (1861 – 1935).

If the user wants to learn more he can even take the name of the company and do a search in the Library.

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What are the categories of makers’ marks?

There are two ways two see the categories of makers' marks.The first is in the directory.Simply, click on the directory and you will see the categories in which there is at least one makers mark.

If you are logged-in, you can see all the categories of makers marks by simply going to the Marks Advanced Search .

Just click on Category dropdown and these results are all the marks categories.

From here, the user can select any of the categories and do search. The result will include all the marks from the selected category.

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Do you have a mobile app/Facebook page/Forum?

At this time, we do not have a mobile app or Facebook integration for makers marks. However, we are developing an optical recognition app that we plan to launch later in 2012.

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Are you constantly updating marks database?

Yes. WorthPoint is committed to expanding the makers mark database on a monthly basis.Currently more than 30,000 makers marks are scheduled to be entered into the database.By the end of 2012, the database of makes marks that currently has over 45,000 makers marks will have over 75,000.

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Can I sell things on marksandlibrary.com?

No. However, you can check out WorthPoint.com that should help you identify a number of sales options including WP classified ads, GoAntiques, and various partners that do sell objects.

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What is the date range of the marks on the site?

Marksandlibrary.com has marks dated from 1300 to present.

You can conduct a search by year if that is how you want.From the Advanced Search, there is a Date Range slider in which you can put the years you want to search.

Move the right slide of the date range to the year 1301 and click on the Search button to get your results.

The one result you received It is a metal mark used in 1300.

For more details click on the image to open the entire information.

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How do I use the Advanced Search effectively?

Advanced Search tries to find makers' marks with all the fields you have completed. If the search doesn't return any result try to remove one or more of the fields upon which you are searching.

This is how the Marks Advanced Search window looks

As an example I have selected one of the categories (Ceramics), one location (USA), and also date range is starting in 1970, ending in 2012.

After pressing Search button the result should include all the marks from Ceramics category, made in USA between the years 1970 and 2012.

The search returned 120 marks (each one is having the USA as location, Ceramics as category and the dates 1970 - 2012 as date range).

There are 12 results displayed on 10 pages. The user can select how many marks are appearing on a page - a drop down box allows the user to choose 12, 24, 50 or 100 makers' marks per page.

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What is a hallmark?

The most accurate definition of a hallmark is the mark stamped, impressed or struck which indicate fineness or karat. Depending on country of origin, hallmarks can also include symbol for place of assay, date of assay ( in the form of a letter or a letter and a number), makers mark, importation or exportation mark if applicable, and tax or duty mark.  In the middle of the 19th century manufacturers of a great selection of goods, marked their goods with signs and symbols, together with a registration mark, giving the day, month and year of manufacture.

As an example, the hallmarks of the French factories while dating their weights follow similar techniques by the St. Louis and Baccarat factories, in that they have letters such as B with the date for Baccarat, and S.L. with and without a date for the St. Louis weights.

In the UK, the hallmarks are made up of several elements including: a mark denoting the type of metal, the maker mark and the year of the marking.

There are now only four British Assay Offices in existence, but there have been more in the past.

Hallmarks are often confused with ‘trademarks’ or ‘maker’s mark’. Hallmarks are not the mark of the manufacturer to distinguish his products from other manufacturers, which is the function of trademarks or makers’ marks.

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Why aren’t all the fields of the makers' mark filled in?

In some cases not all the fields are completed because MARKSANDLIBRARY.COM could not provide the missing info. We are always working to add missing information and to complete every field in the database, but that is not always possible.

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What can I do when I get an item that’s not as described?

If your result is not the one you described you probably have to check the second/third page of search results.

For example if you type in ‘circle hand painted’ and you do a search:

The search function returns 2 pages of results. Let’s say your mark is not on the first one.

Check the second page.

If you are searching, let's say, for the third mark in the first row, the reason for not appearing in the first page of results is simple: there are too many marks matching your description.

You can simply add another search term from your image and do it again.

Let's test it with a 4th word added 'china'.

Now in the search field we have 'circle hand painted china'.

Search.

After having 4 terms in the search field we got just a page with results. The mark that first time appeared on the second page, now you can see it easily, in the third position.

Also you can select the number of displayed results from a page.

Let’s go back to our example and see how it works.

From the bottom of the page, in the right side, select 100 as the number of marks to be displayed on a page.

After you changed the number of displayed marks, search function will automatically reload all the results.

Now you can find your searched mark on the 4th row, third position.

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How do I search the Makers Marks database?

The concept behind searching the makers mark database is a simple one. It assumes that you are looking at a mark on an item and want to know more about it. The database does not assume that you know anything about the item – what it is made out of, where it was made, when it was made, or who might have made it. That is what the Makers Mark Database should help you discover.

Let’s take a piece from WorthPoint’s WorthopediaTM and see how this works.

For example: Let’s say you find this beautiful vase at an estate sale.

You flip it over and you find the following mark on the bottom:

If you want to learn more about that mark, you would simply enter into the Markers Mark database what you see:

If you had typed in TWO SWORDS CROSSED, the mark you were looking for would have been the second one in the series of 31 marks that the engine returned.

If you had typed in TWO CROSSED SWORDS DOT, the mark would have been the first of three marks returned. So adding a little detail like the dot can significantly reduce the number of marks that are returned and help narrow down the list.

Warning: However, you need to be careful not to be too detailed, as that can overwhelm the search functionality and produce an empty return when the mark is really in the database.  See below for an example like that.

In this case, TWO CROSSED SWORDS WITH A DOT BETWEEN THE BLADES was entered. While this is an accurate description it is too wordy to produce good search results and the engine spits back that it did not find anything.

TIP: If you search and get an empty return, try simplifying your search and see if the mark you are looking for is there.

Now that you have found the Mark, you can click on it to find out more information.

Now that you have found the Mark and more information about it, you can do several things:

  1. You can ADD TO FAVORITES and this mark will be stored for your easy access in the future.
  2. You can also click the Gold Box and be taken to WorthPoint WorthopediaTM and see items from that manufacturer that have already sold.


  3. You can search the Digital Library for publications on this maker or piece.

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How much do I have to pay for a membership? What options do I have?

As user first step is to create an account.

You will be asked what Plan you will choose for a professional membership (7 lookups or 7 day trail are for free).

MARKSANDLIBRARY.COM offers the possibility to choose from four types of plans.

1st is Library for 14.99$/month - gives you full access just to the Books

2nd Silver plan for 9.99$/month - gives you access to one category of marks: Ceramics or Metals or Glass & Others

3rd Gold plan for 12.99$/month - gives you access to two categories: Ceramics & Metals or Ceramics, Glass & Others or Metals, Glass & Others.

4th Platinum plan for 14.99$/month - gives you access to all categories of marks: Ceramics, Metals, Glass & Others.

The user can add access to library on any plan selected for only 9.99$/month (and save $5.00).

Ceramics includes Pottery and Porcelain marks.

Metals include Silver, Gold and Pewter marks.

Glass & Others include Glass, Books, Paper & Magazines, Ethnic Folk & Native American Art, Entertainment, Fine Art, Firearms & Accessories, Furniture and Furnishings, Militaria & Weapons, Natural History, Textiles Clothing & Accessories, Toys Dolls Games & Puzzles, Transportation and Vehicles marks.

To see all the marks from one category you can go to the Marks Advanced Search and choose, for example, Ceramics category.

After selecting the category press Search button.

You can see as a result all the marks from Ceramics category (1336 pages with marks).

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How to use the Library

The goal of the WorthPoint Digital LibraryTM is to assist collectors in their research on their collections.

On the homepage www.MarksandLibrary.com there are three tabs. Click on the "Search Library" tab. When you choose your search term, put in the most relevant term(s) you are looking for. The Library searches and returns results based upon relevancy of matches based on the following order: Title, Table of Contents, Book Description, Text of Book.

Let's try an example:
Let's say that you are looking for general information on Lionel Trains. Just type "lionel toy trains" in the search box and the following results will come up:

The first result is a book dedicated entirely to Lionel Trains and the second one is a more general title about toy trains.

Since we found our book about this topic, we will go ahead and access the book. The book reader will open in a new browser window.

Toolbar

This book reader has a toolbar on the upper side with the following buttons:

  • Buy - this button will redirect you to the publisher's sale website.
  • Create Bookmark - this button will allow you to create a bookmark in the book at a location you wish. You enable this feature by clicking the button, and after you are done, you disable it by clicking the same button again. The bookmarks can be found in the left navigation panel, above the Table of Contents.
  • Create note - this button allows you to create notes on a certain page.
  • Thumbnail view - this button allows you to view multiple consecutive pages of the same book in the same browser window.
  • Zoom in/out
  • Two pages view
  • Grab mode - this mode allows you to grab the page and move it upwards or downwards.
  • Fit page - horizontally/vertically
  • Previous/Next

Left navigation panel

The left navigation panel has a thumbnail with the cover of the book, and the navigation tools:
Notes - where you can find the notes that you make in the book;
Bookmarks - all the bookmarks in that book are in there.
Search - this function allows you a refined search in that certain book. You can search across the whole book, or a chapter, or even a certain page.
The table of contents.

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How do I search for something in a book or across the entire Library?

To search for something across the entire Library just select the "search Library" tab and type the term that you are looking for in the homepage.

On the homepage www.MarksandLibrary.com there are three tabs. Click on the "Search Library" tab. When you choose your search term, put in the most relevant term(s) you are looking for. The Library searches and returns results based upon relevancy of matches based on the following order: Title, Table of Contents, Book Description, Text of Book.

Let's try an example:

Let's say that you are looking for general information on Lionel Trains.

Just type "lionel toy trains" in the search box and the following results will come up:

The first result is a book dedicated entirely to Lionel Trains and the second one is a more general title about toy trains.

Since we found our book about this topic, we will go ahead and access the book. The book reader will open in a new browser window.

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How do I create bookmarks in a book?

In order to create bookmarks just use the button Create Bookmark on the upper toolbar. This button will allow you to create a bookmark in the book at a location you wish. You enable this feature by clicking the button, and after you are done, you disable it by clicking the same button again. The bookmarks can be found in the left navigation panel, above the Table of Contents.

As you can see the upper corner of the page seems to be bent and on the left navigation panel there is the bookmark.

To access this bookmark, simply click it.

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How do I create notes in a book?

To make notes in a certain book, use the button Create note. This button allows you to create notes on a certain page.

You can name the note however you wish and it can be found on the left navigation panel in the "Notes" section.

Another way to make notes on a page is to press the "Set note selection mode" button on the upper toolbar, that will allow you to create a note on a certain snippet of text.

Highlights and notext can be found in the "notes" section on the left navigation panel.

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How do I highlight text in a book?

If you want to highlight text there is the "Highlight text" button in the upper toolbar.

Highlights and notext can be found in the "notes" section on the left navigation panel.

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How many books are in the Library?

WorthPoint Digital LibraryTM currently has 150 titles. For the rest of 2012 we will be adding more than 50 titles a month with the goal of having over 750 titles by the end of the year.

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How do I find a certain topic/author/title?

To find anything, just type the term that you are looking for and click "search".

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How do I buy a hard copy of the book?

In order to buy a certain title (if available) you just need to click the "Buy" button in the book viewer that is shaped like a shopping cart. You will be redirected to the publisher's website where you can make the purchase.

Let's make an example.
Let's say thet you are interseted in the book McCoy Pottery by Mark Moran.
First, we search for the book.

After having found our book, open it.

In the reader, simply click the shopping cart button and you will have a new page open with the publisher's online store.

There you can make your purchase easily.

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How do I download a electronic copy?

At this time, the Library does not allow for the download of an ebook. However, some of our publishing partners do sell ebooks from their site.

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Can I request a certain book to be posted?

Yes, you can. Email us at support@worthpoint.com with the Title, Author and Publisher of hte book. We will do our best to get the book into the library. However, if you request a book to be posted that does not mean we will succeed in getting the copyright holder to giveus permission to post the title.

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I am a book author/publisher, how can i get my book in your Library?

If you are an author or publisher of antique and collectible related books, we will be more than happy to discuss including your work in the WorthPoint Digital LibraryTM. Please email the Library Product Manager, Puiu Chiojdoiu at puiu.chiojdoiu@worthpoint.com.

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What languages are the books in the Library?

At this time, all the books are in English. As WorthPoint expands to other countries we will begin to add books in other languages.

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I think I own the copyright to one of the titles to?

If that is the case, contact us via email at support@worthpoint.com or write to us at WorthPoint Corporation, 3525 Piedmont Road, Suite V-435, Atlanta, GA 30305.

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I found a problem/error on one of the pages. Whom should I contact?

You should write to the publisher if the error is in the book. We do not publish the titles in the Library and any errors, etc. are the responsibility of the individual publishers.

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How do I get access to the books?

When you create your subscription on www.MarksandLibrary.com you can choose between having only the Digital Library or adding it to a Makers’ Mark plan.

If you have a Makers’ Mark account and want to upgrade your account to add the Digital Library, just go to Manage my account => Manage plan subscription => click Change plan. You will get to the plan selection page and you will be able to choose what suits your needs best.

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How do I cancel my books subscription?

To cancel your books subscription just go to Manage my account => Manage plan subscription and either uncheck the books checkbox or go to Manage my account => Manage plans subscription => Deactivate subscription. If you don't succeed contact us at support@worthpoint.com.

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How do I get an invoice for the subscription?

The invoice for the subscription is automatically sent to the email address that you provide in the registration process.

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Can I access the content offline?

This feature is currently not available.

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Can I access the files from a mobile device?

Yes. However, access is through a broswer based on your devise. There currently is not a WorthPoint Digital LibraryTM App for Android/iOs, but one is planned.

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What are the system requirements for this website?

The site does not require any special configurations and should be viewable on any computer or device broswer. The site does not require Adobe FlashTM, though devices that support Flash will have a richer text experience.

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What browsers can I use for your Library?

Our website is optimised for Internet Explorer 8 or greater, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, and Opera.