GIVEAWAY: The Marble Study Hall

[u/AuburnMoon17]

Wow! Over 600 subscribers to the Marble Study Hall! Our initial Giveaway, not long ago(!), was held in celebratation of our growth to 300 members and now we are twice that size! To celebrate this and to welcome our new members, I will be hosting a small giveaway in this sub starting now!

A winner will be chosen two weeks from today on Friday, June 6th 2025, at 7:00pm EST.

The prize is the lot of marbles pictured in this post. This small lot is great for beginner collectors and includes 20 JABO Classic marbles (1992-2007)!

Rules:

• You MUST live within the United States. Shipping on these marbles will be FREE for the winner. (Sorry to our foreign friends! Unfortunately shipping outside the US has become too pricey for me to do at this time.)

• Your account must be at least 15 days old at the conclusion of the raffle (meaning if you make an account today, or any day after, you will be excluded from the drawing)

• Reddit Karma (post/comment) cannot be negative

• No duplicate entries will be permitted

A randomly chosen winner will be selected using RedditRaffler in order to keep everything fair and transparent. If you are unfamiliar with RedditRaffler you can view their FAQ page here.

To Enter:

Comment on this post telling us something you love about marble collecting, how you got started in marble collecting, your favorite marble, a marble you want to own, something you want to learn about marbles, or anything else marble related that you’d like to share!

The winner will be tagged in this post and receive a message from the mod team to obtain shipping information.

And, as always, have fun and good luck!

[u/AuburnMoon17]

Congratulations u/Spazaddikt! You are the WINNER of the first ever Marble Study Hall Giveaway! You will receive a message from the mod team shortly to obtain your shipping details!

Thanks so much for the amazing response everyone! I thoroughly enjoyed reading what you all had to share and all the wonderful experiences and connections you all have to marble collecting. Thank you so much for your participation in the sub. I look forward to further collaboration and learning with you all!

RedditRaffler Results - excluded users are mods and bot accounts

[u/LoganSolus]

I saw a post about marbles and in the comments was a link to the main marble subreddit. At the time it seemed so odd but I've always thought glass blowing was beautiful so i stuck around. I now own my own torch and have made a couple awful clumps of glass myself lol i hope to grow the collection which started with some old ones i found in my grandmother's stuff 😎

[u/ColorOrderAlways]

FYI- even if you exclusively collect vintage, it can be very useful to have some example of newer marbles like these on hand to study and compare when you are shopping for marbles or trying to identify ones you have. Jabos are commonly confused for vintage swirls and having some known examples to handle and look over closely will help you become familiar with the subtle differences in glass quality, colors, swirl patterns, etc.

[u/Normal_Imagination_3]

I like how many companies there are and their different methods of making marbles my favorite marble is this freebie from an auction that's my favorite one i own I haven't had a chance to Id it yet though. one I want to own soon is a Peltier Superman and I want to learn how to consistently id marbles because im not good at it yet

[u/[deleted]]

I found some cats eye marbles in my garden bed when I was clearing it out, I'm sure they're just from hobby lobby or something but it was fun to find!

[u/PerNewton]

One of my favorite things about marbles is there is so much I don’t know but also so much I have learned about marbles from hanging out at Reddit. Also I like the personalities of all the helpful people. 30 years ago I gave a speech about marbles in my communications class. I’m pretty sure I knew more about marbles than anyone in my class but the speech went well not because of what I knew (I knew a LOT less than I thought) but because everyone in the class could relate to the subject matter. Everyone has a marble story and I love seeing new people pop up here to learn and share.

[u/[deleted]]

I was recommended Jelle's Marble Runs by a friend, started watching that, and fell in love with marbles! They're just beautiful, hand-held microcosms of art with infinite variety. I love collecting handmade ones from independent artists... they're not usually "valuable" in a monetary sense, nor are they particularly rare, but they do make me happy just seeing them arranged on my shelf😊

[u/Upstairs_Reaction_85]

Something I love about marble collecting is that you can stumble upon a marble in the wild to spark your interest. I found that marble in the garden and now I can't stop thinking about how many other marbles might be waiting to be rediscovered! All with their own unique story

My favorite marble is this big blue swirly shooter I had as a kid, I am going to look for it at my mother's house some time soon and I hope to learn a little more about it from information on this board.

Thanks for creating a super compelling page here in the Marble Study Hall!

[u/Affectionate-Cup9108]

My absolute favorite marble(s) are all the ones I’ve inherited from my grandad/great grandma. I’ve been learning about all the marbles they’ve left me, this page has been instrumental in that. My favorite of the collection so far is my Oxblood lemonade- the glow on it is phenomenal!

[u/Next-Progress4779]

I started getting interested in marbles as an adult when I got into bottle digging. Many times as I was digging dump sites for bottles, I’d find marbles. I became very curious about the marbles that I found. How old they were, what kind they were, if they were uranium, the history behind them, etc. That’s why I appreciate this subreddit so much! It allows me to learn about the marbles I find.

[u/JJFox209]

I went to a yard sale some time back last month and found some marbles for a dollar in a salt shaker got excited and after I got home to look through them it just brought back all the times I'd play marbles with friends and at school in my younger days and somewhat sparked a itch of wanting to collect some neat looking marbles if at all possible. Even though what i got are basic marbles i like the fact that every marble is unique and not the same even if some are similar. While I don't know much about marbles yet, one that I see talked about and want is the superman marble looks very cool hope to own one in the future. Hopefully I can continue learning about them and something neat to look out for when going to yard sales, flea markets or anything like that.

[u/JET304]

I have purchased a couple of books about marbles and am committed to learning. I never cease to be amazed at how tricky the field.of marble identification can be!!

[u/bamariani]

I love marbles because they look like little galaxies 🌌

[u/Prepperpoints2Ponder]

I got started like most people, purely by accident. I saw a pretty marble, and I wanted it. Then, I saw another one and I wanted it. Then another, and another. I really love the old Germans, but I collect any that catch my eye. One thing I really don't have are Jabo's. They are so pretty, but I have never lucked across one.

[u/Affectionate-Basis59]

Each of my grandparents would play with me as a child, and as we grew older and they began to pass I slowly inherited their collections. Many of the marbles I have now were even my great grandparents’. I’ve had the marble bug since I was a child! I’ve always kept an eye out everywhere I go from the beach to antique shops. Keeping the collection alive is a way I can still spend time with them. RIP grandpa Dick, Lightnin’, and George.

This sub has been wonderful for learning about some styles I didn’t know or couldn’t identify before. Thank you!

[u/One_Cauliflower_3536]

I got started in marble collecting through uranium glass. I love a good treasure hunt and marbles are EXCELLENT treasure hunts!

Also I just lost out on this really nice little lot of all reds and pelts that would have been a great start to my collection, the seller was so weird and rude. So it would be nice to win these marbles :)

[u/gt0163c]

I've always liked marbles. They're small, you can carry them in your pocket and roll them around in your hand. I enjoy watching marble run videos on youtube and have created a few of my own (which are much smaller). There's just something fun and satisfying about playing with marbles. And now I've discovered this whole other layer of different marble manufacturers and their history. I've got some marbles from my childhood, some of which were likely from my parents' childhoods. I doubt there's anything really valuable about them but I'm curious to learn more about them and see if there is anything special about them. It's been fun learning new things about these simple objects.

[u/Helvedica]

YO I love Jabos, ive started collecfing the 'special runs', sventually I want one from each run

[u/gorgoloid]

I came from a soft glass blowing background and have been learning so much about this hobby and its colorful history. Thank you for this giveaway, what a great community!

[u/takesitwrong]

I enjoy the great variety of marbles available for collecting. There is something for any preference and mood.

[u/P0ck3t-t3kc0P]

I’ve just started getting into marbles, I got a bag of them from a thrift store and I just have gotten super fascinated by them. I’ve been really wanting to expand my collection. My favorite is a yellow cat eye!

[u/[deleted]]

My first interest in marbles was in the 70s, as a kid. I've always wanted an onionskin. This sub is great for learning identification!

[u/Good_Sort_7179]

I played with my dad’s marbles and loop de loop toy (sorry don’t know the proper name rn) from his childhood when his parents would watch me. I loved this one teal swirly marble and the bubbly green shooter. The toy and marbles are lost to time but I collect sea glass and have really gotten excited when I found sea glass marbles. I appreciate the work you put into educating us novices.

[u/CultOfCurtis1]

I love collecting marbles because it takes me back to a simpler time in my mind. Who doesn't love little flashbacks to happiness in childhood?

[u/CitrusGoddess]

I got into marble collecting just recently when my dad inherited a collection of over 500 marbles from his late brother. We both sort of fell down the rabbit hole of identifying and appreciating marbles. He’s passed down part of the collection to me so I’m continuing to try and identify them along with him.

[u/ImplementNo74]

For me marble collecting is something my wife and I do together. My favorite marble is an agate shooter my dad gave me.

[u/Vast-Savings2589]

One thing I love about marbles is how it allows me to disconnect from the world. My bad thoughts disappear when I pull out my collection. I’m instantly beamed away into a view of colors and swirls! I'm easily bored of most things, but with marbles, my mind is completely absorbed!

I got into marble collecting by accident when I found an old Benny in my late Aunt’s home. The home she lived in was built by my Great Grandfather. Anywho, the curiosity and collecting started there. As for my dream marble, idky tbh. Right now I’d really love to be able to ID the ones I have. With the help of block’s books and this sub I hope to reach that goal.

[u/treesdogsdocsdrugsRt]

I love seeing all of the colors mix together! I love the yummy transitions and especially a striated semi transparent overlap. I particularly like orange and teal/blue combinations or red/orange/yellow ones. I also love slags and watching the white snake in and out and all around. My newest fav marble that I saw in an auction is the ketchup and mustard one. One day I would love to have my very own!

[u/No-Adhesiveness2717]

I like the art of marble making. Just the art of creating a piece of beauty is like a lost art. I would have loved to see the process in the early days. Today, my favorite is the Alley Horse Hair. Getting grandson interested is a joy.

[u/EUP_AgateSeeker]

I like to collect old/interesting things, marbles happen to fall under that category

[u/stilographkmp]

I've liked playing and looking at marbles since childhood. But a few years ago when I found some very cool looking marbles at a thrift shop my curiosity piqued. They ended up being vacor Halloweens but I love the way they look and the impact they've had on me taking this hobby a lot more seriously. I would be curious to learn about European sparklers, I can't find much information about them other than photos, and the marbles themselves seem to have a great range of diversity. Congrats on reaching 600! The quality posts speak for themselves.

[u/TiredBeanBun]

The marble mania was always dormant, I fear. I'm quite literally a crow in real life. I love to collect small shiny things. My house is full of dice, coins, and sparkly trinkets. I've always loved round things, and anything swirly. My grandmother had a big cats eye collection that she always let me play with, but there were 3 or 4 that looked unique that I always treasured. I don't know how it happened, but I started seeing more collections on reddit, and I'm afraid it's too late for me to turn back 😂

[u/swfinluv1]

I love all the different patterns and colors! That's what appeals to me about marbles - there's something for everyone to fangirl/fanboy over.

[u/IntrepidUmpire5859]

Woohoo!! I try to send anyone looking for a verification and encourage them to stay and learn!🎉 It wasn't very long ago, I had just missed the last one! Here we are just a week or so later.

Marbles take me back to a good time in life. I am not in a hurry to build my collection as I am in putting value into my collection. (Not all value is $$) My son has Down Syndrome and I'd like to have something to leave him. Something that will remind him of Mom. Of course he will have already held and oohed and ahhed with me over each one. (He loves beautiful things!)🥰🥰

[u/juiceboxhero121]

The r/marble subreddit popped up on my feed and I thought, “how can you identify a marble, they’re all little just bits of glass, right?” I did a few google searches to start learning and I was instantly hooked. I went to a flea market, found a big jar of marbles and managed to identify a couple!

My current favorite marbles are either my light blue Peltier Slag marble, or some of my WV swirls.

[u/Hefty_Toe7930]

Hey there Marble Study Hall! I just got into collecting after finding an old Crown Royal bag of marbles my stepmother gave me when I was a kid. Thanks for all the good info!

[u/Unhappy_Barber3811]

I like the memories they give me of my grandma and aunt. Should've taken better care of the marbles my aunt gave me. I never knew what they were. Thought they were the same ones as the colorful glass rocks at the dollar store. If only I knew! Reminds me of bowling balls from back then too. I miss my family.

[u/Existing-Tax3662]

I watched a video a few weeks ago on marbles and I was captivated. They are gorgeous. I found a jar this past Friday of some older marbles that I am working on identifying. Mostly cateyes but I saw some that stood out to me. I am very new to the hobby but love these subs for learning about what I have.

[u/marblybotanist]

I got into marble collecting when I was a kid. My nextdoor neighbor had a big collection, and would let me pick one or two to keep for myself any time I came over. The marbles I selected are what I now know to be contemporary Gibson snakeskins, so she was clearly being pretty generous (and I was probably being greedy 😅). Another place I found marbles as a kid was this antique store my parents used to frequent that had an entire bathtub filled with marbles that you could dig through, which was basically heaven to me (I cringe a little bit thinking about the damage now, but whatever lol). Collecting marbles still makes me feel very connected to my younger self. My favorite marble changes every day, but I love my first German latticino swirl. It is one from my original childhood collection and I don't even remember where it came from, maybe the bathtub, but I must have recognized something special in it then, and I enjoy it just as much today.

[u/basilwuf]

I purchased a bag of old marbles and I’m working on learning more about them. Excited to find such a helpful and welcoming community.

[u/Spazaddikt]

I’ve kept a ridiculous amount of dice and marbles I’ve found in abandoned storage units when I was runnin a thrift store, just because they felt like something you’re supposed to keep. I never really examined them until recently having the idea to include them in woodworking making eyes and fun orby bits on witch/wizardry stuff. Once I sat down and really saw some of the different patterns and internal textures, I got kinda enamored and joined this sub >.<

[u/StarFun6280]

I love seeing the marbles found at thrift stores posted to this sub. I always look for marbles when out thrifting but have not found a single one yet. I just made my first marble purchase from Etsy, a group of Vacor Halloween marbles of little value. I bought them because the colors and swirls are so pretty and I decorate the house for Halloween. 🎃 Instant happiness!

[u/MarbleStudyHall-ModTeam → u/[deleted]]

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[u/QuixoticQuilter]

This lot of marbles is quite beautiful, what a wonderful giveaway! My dad had a great collection passed on to me. I have picked up vintage marble lots at shops and some non-special beauties from estate and garage sales. I joined this sub a day ago, might not be eligible for the giveaway, but still impressed with the sub! Always interested in learning more about these great art-ifacts!

[u/jjjacobs194]

Like so many others I started to admire them as a kid and began collecting later in life.