CHEROKEE-SUMERLIN TRADE BEADS "THE BEST IN THE WEST"

The journals of the Vitas Bering expedition of 1741 contains the earliest reference to glass beads in Alaska. There were already beads in Alaska when Bering dropped anchor in the Alutian Island chain. Since trade goods went from east to west it is not far fetched to believe that trade goods also went from west to east. Among the trade goods from the east had to be glass trade beads. This information is documented in early and modern history books. The porcilane beads were cheaply purchased by English, French, Dutch, and independant traders. They were traded to our American Indian peoples at very high prices. Most of the first glass beads in North America were the white tile beads, small blue faceted beads,and reddish colored green heart beads. All of which were cheap to buy.

An advanced bead collector once shared with me the value of collectiong contemporary beads. His words are backed up in the book "Beads" by "Janet Coles * Robert Budwig." There are many fine bead collections made up of contemporary and imitation beads. The teal faceted bead and the teal vasaline bead seem to be the favorites among our regular buyers. They are very good good beads for design jewelry makers.

Bodom and Akossu beads have only been available to American buyers for about three years now. They are still not understood by many novice bead collectors. The Bodom and Akossu beads are both very rare beads, ultra rare would be a better word. Only a few sellers have this bead available for eBay buyers. In Africa the more damage to either bead raises it's value accordingly. It is easy to tell one bead from the other. The Bodom bead can be identified by it's black inner core. The Akossu bead can be identified by it's gray inner core. Both beads commond prices from $18 to $600 dollars, depending on size, age, and damage. Unlike the Africans, American buyers want beads that are not damaged. The Bodom and Akossu are both West African tribal/clan names.