1. Most kerosene lanterns on ebay are listed under Collectibles-Railroadiana & Trains or Collectibles-Lamps, Lighting. It is too bad so many non-railroad lanterns get listed under Railroadiana. I suspect this is either because the seller doesn't know any better (i.e. "My Traffic Gard has a red globe so it must be a railroad lantern") or the perception is that a railroad lantern will go for more money.
2. Don't confuse a selling price on ebay with lantern rarity. A rare lantern can be comparatively cheap, while a relatively common lantern, especially railroad lanterns, can be more expensive. It all depends on demand.
3. As with most collectibles, condition is a key factor in lantern value. A basket case that needs a lot of restoration "should" cost less, while a lantern which shows little use or a well-restored lantern "should" go for more.
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