Take a look at flatware - some helpful tips.

Flatware is not all the same, and some can putprofit in your pocket. Yard sales and auctions often have a box or tray of flatware in the offering, and many buyers ignore flatware unless it is sterling. Stainless steel and silver plate can sell well on okay, and if you observe a few rules, you can get a nice return on your investment.
Certain brand names will aways sell well, and condition is the key. Search okay past sales to see what has consistent current value. When you see these brand names in a boxlot, examine them closely. In silver plate, you will likely see more Rogers pieces than anything else. Wear on plated pieces is usually seen on the back, and worn pieces are worth little - pieces that have bends, nicks, and wear are all to be avoided. Silver plated flatware should be fairly clean, shiny, and free of corrosion. Tarnish can be cleaned up, but be aware that tarnish can mask some of these other faults.
Stainless flatware made in the USA is quite salable, and just a few pieces in very good condition can be worth listing on okay. Oneida is my favorite, and Ecko has some sale potential, too. Sometimes you can find pieces that were unused, as some of these patterns were mail-order premiums, put aside decades ago in hopes of building a full set. There are two key places to look at in stainless flatware: 1. In the middle of the back, where brand names and other markings usually are - any soiling here indicates use. 2. Between the tines of forks, close to the body of the piece- even through years of storage and drawer wear, unused pieces will usually remain clean and bright here.
Improper shipping and storage can devalue flatware so thateven unused flatware can get many small nicks and scratches and lower theirvalue. Remember this when you mail flatware to buyers. Nest similar pieces and wrap them tightly in clean paper or plastic, so they will not rub against each other. Individual and odd pieces need their own layer of paper or plastic.
Patterns can sometimes be determined by online search through okay and other web sources, and I've been lucky enough to find unknown patterns rather quickly, thanks to the sellers photos. Old magazines often have ads for flatware, and you couldget togethera collection of those for reference. Listing unknown patterns can be iffy, but if you want to try this, take a good clear photo of the pattern, and use Gallery to get your items seen. Lastly, be on the lookout for child-sized flatware, long ice tea spoons, and serving pieces, which can all bring premium prices.