He’s had the collection for decades, and was a little curious about what it all might be worth.

So Larry Barnes loaded up the books of baseball cards, along with the autographed baseballs enclosed in acrylic boxes and took them in.

The Great American Treasure Hunt was in Talladega this week, offering anyone and everyone with possible “treasures” lying around the chance to see what they might be worth.

After meeting with John Lain with The Great Treasure Hunt during the company’s stop in Talladega this week, Barnes decided it wasn’t time to let go of the collection, but was glad he stopped in.

“I just wondered what it might be worth,” Barnes said.

He’s had some of the baseball cards since his uncle started collecting them, probably in the 1950s or so, he said.

So were Betty Culver and Alvie Bailey, who made the trip from Sylacauga to see what their collectibles might be worth.

Culver only brought in a large Hull vase, but Bailey had a couple of tubs of things for the treasure hunters to look over.

There was a six string guitar and case, but with a few damages, the instrument turned out not to be too promising.

Bailey also had some dolls, which turned out to be not really old enough, some china and an honest to goodness handle operated “fly killer” to have checked out.

Coated with a generous layer of rust, the sprayer was determined not to have huge value.

“We just thought it would be fun to come,” Culver said.

Representatives from the Kernersville, N.C. based company travel all over the United States to find treasures, and then hold auctions in their hone state for the goods they collect.

“We’re probably the second largest company that does this,” Lain said.

One of the distinctions of The Great Treasure Hunt is that the company offers cash for the items it buys.

“Some companies use checks and sometimes people have problems with those,” he said.

Most markets for collectibles are a little soft right now, as many would expect due to current economics in the United States, Lain said.

But gold-especially 24 carat- and other metals are better than some items, he said.

The company offered free appraisals all week and today is their last day in town. Hours today (Saturday) are from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. in a meeting room at The Holiday Inn Express Hotel and Suites in Talladega. A few of the “finds” company representatives have lucked into in recent years include Elvis Pressley’s shotgun, a hat worn by John Wayne in a movie and the company bought Ty Cobb’s entire estate.

This week hasn’t turned up such finds in Talladega, but Lain and the Treasure Hunt staff are still looking.

“You just never know what might turn up,” Lain said.