Beware sellers claiming a weight is genuine when it is not. A handful of unscrupulous sellers are trying to pass of off cheap Chinese weights as Caithness knowing they are not.  Before buying a Caithness paperweight also check that you are not being offered a second. Seconds were sold in the Caithness factory shop and often appear at car boot sales for £2 or so. Many of the paperweights listed on eBay are second quality. Often the seller does not know this but there are a few unscrupulous sellers who deliberately pass off seconds by careful descriptions that are deliberately intended to mislead. I have even seen one seller stating that their seconds are first quality. If the base has the marks CIIG, CGII, C2G  or CG2 then it is a second. If there is no base inscription at all then this also means it is a second as does a small peelable label with the words "Unselected" on it. Whilst these marks do confirm that the weight is Caithness, do not be mislead by being told that it is the Caithness mark! All but a tiny number of very early Caithness paperweights have the words Caithness Scotland inscribed on the base along with the weight name. A Caithness sticker on a weight without any inscription is a second or not Caithness at all.. Also beware of poor quality, low value, Chinese weights being listed as Caithness. Crude design and a rough base are an indication of Chinese weights. The 2nd Edition o the Charlton Guide to Caithness Paperweights is the main source of reference and can be found in many public libraries. This lists issue prices and "values" but take the latter with a large pinch of salt. In the real world Caithness weights seldom fetch more than 60% of the book figure. A few dealers try and sell at ridiculously high prices so do your homework before bidding. The other con that some dealers is charging extra for insurance in the post. Don't pay it becuase a dealer is legally liable regardless of wether you pay. Dealers are also responsible regardless of any claim they can make against the carrier.  Please feel free to ask questions but remember I don't claim to know all the answers!