Posted on 03/01/2011 8:55:33 PM PST by Tuscaloosa Goldfinch
This past weekend my husband asked me to find out the value of some sports memorabilia that he would like to sell. So I went online and looked on Ebay, and while they have some things listed there, they are not exactly what we have. Today I took them to a local museum and showed the items to the curator, and he said two of the things in particular are valuable, but he could not give me a price. So I need to know if someone can suggest a sports memorabilia appraiser? Thanks!
A description and location might help. For example, a boxing expert might not help you, while you might have a baseball expert two blocks from your home.
Cal Ripken’s Baseball Glove - $10,000 ... Jim Brown’s #44 Cleveland Brown’s Jersey - $20,000 ... Wilt Chambelain’s Jock Strap - PRICELESS ...
I might be able to help you; I appraise collectibles. Just sold some sports memorabilia for a client...who knows...may have been some similar things!
Sometime around the turn of the century, Alabama and Auburn apparently got into a squabble so big they stopped playing each other for decades, until the 1940's. We have an end zone ticket from the first game they planed against each other after all that time.
The other item is a wartime program from a game played at the Pensacola Naval Air station. It is illustrated by someone (can't remember his name at the moment,) who is really collectible.
Great - I described them in my post above.
Really need to know the illustrator & date on the program...we’ve sold several similar to that.
go to heritageauctions.com.
I dealt with them several months ago and they were great. They were professional and did exactly what the said they’d do. Contact them, send them a picture and a description of what you have and they’ll send you a quote as to what they’d sell it for. If you want them to sell it, they will.
I had a letter from Robert Oppenheimer to my Father and it fetched $2400. They do sports as well.
You need to call Chumley in Vegas
http://www.prideofthetide.com/programs1945.htm
It was 1945, and November 24, it's down toward the bottom of the page.
I may try to take some pictures of them and mail them too you tomorrow.
Thanks, Hildy!
:-) Poor Chumley. Somebody has got to be writing his lines.
Nope he can’t read
LOL!
First, you could always find the antiques roadshow :-)
Second, there are associations and you can contact them for recommendations.
Third, never - never tell the appraiser you are considering selling. Next thing you know you have lower prices and they, or a shill, are making you a ‘fair market’ offer. If you have no clue as to price, contact an insurance firm and request a valuation for insurance purposes only. You wish to keep the goods and insure them for a fair value in case of damage or theft or fire, etc. You’ll at least know, then, the ballpark of value so you do not get ripped off.
You can also go to a trade show. Like for baseball stuff or whatever. Look around. You’ll probably find identical items. When it comes to some things, though, just because it looks that same does not make it so. Therefore, a lot of homework is needed.
Without doing a bunch of research, I can tell you that the wartime programs that we've sold in the past with patriotic themes, are in the $100 range. Keep us informed on how they do...I will be curious.
Actually, this is one of the things I LOVE about my job...I get to see some of the greatest things that people have saved/collected. It's like opening a time capsule!
Just for the record, I have never (and would never) do this. It is unethical.
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