Where can I find large collections of oddities/weird antiques?
I'm not familiar with "Oddities" so I apologise if my answer overlaps.I have to assume you are in the USA. If so this would be a good place to start:The Morbid Anatomy Library and Museum in Brooklyn, New Yorkhttp://morbidanatomy.blogspot.co...They would have advice about other collections in your neck of the woods. There are collections of the macabre in most large cities including but not limited to:Sydney http://sydney.edu.au/museums/col...Berlin http://www.me-berlin.com/die-wun...Amsterdam http://www.amsterdamtattoomuseum...Paris http://www.atlasobscura.com/plac...
Besides antique books, I collect pipes. I have over 100 and am having trouble finding a site where I can look them up as the antique shop rarely has any idea, I know what I paid but where can I find what it's actually worth?
There are a few ways to keep track of the current value of a collection. One is to check completed listings on eBay. You do this by using the advanced search tool. Those listings go back about 6 months, so they're very current.Another way is to register for Live Auctioneers (liveauctioneers.com). Registration is free and gives you access to sold listings. Keyword search is very easy. I would focus on sold items in the past 3–5 years for accuracy.There is also an estate auction site called EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE where you can search sold items.There's a paid database called WorthPoint | Antiques, Art and Collectibles that contains sold listings, mostly but not entirely from eBay, going back about 10–15 years. I used it a lot when I was first in the vintage business, but now I'm fairly confident about pricing and am thinking of ending my subscription.Finally, you can search for or start a Facebook group for collectors and dealers, either of pipes specifically or for tobacciana generally.Any pricing or advice you get on your collction should be taken with a grain of salt. You can probably ignore the highest and lowest sale prices for any given item. And having collected 100 pipes, you should consider yourself as much an expert as anyone.
What is one of the easiest ways to sell antique books from an estate?
There is no easy way unless the books are special - mostly rare and collectable or specialized so that a handful of people only will be quite serious about looking at them. Overall it’s not easy to sell books and even harder to put a correct valuation on them. You can look at selling sites on the web but if you don’t have a basic knowledge you can be sadly misinformed by the folks on those sites. In a lot of ways the best way to do it is to ask around and find a reputable dealer. That will bring you less than selling the books by yourself, but will be a heck of a lot cheaper and a heck of a lot less time and energy. Always keep in mind that MOST old books don’t have much value.
What are some good ways to start a collection?
Step 1: Find an on-line community dedicated to whatever you’re interest in collecting. Introduce yourself as new to the hobby, and ask for advice.Step 2: You will be recommended a lot of books from these communities, buy them and study them. Make sure to replace them with newer, more accurate editions as time goes by.Step 3: Visit museums that have examples of the object you collect. If possible, schedule ‘white glove’ appointments to handle the objects in question. Nothing beats handling the real deal to get a good idea of what you should be looking for.Step 4: Visit local and online estate sales, auction houses, and retailers to get an impression of prices and market dynamics for your area of interest.Step 5: Estate sales, thrift shops, and small/online auctioneers will be your best bet to pick up good examples of the more affordable examples of your chosen collectable.Step 6: Sell and auction early pieces of your collection to finance the acquisition of better pieces.
Where can I sell antique ivory without documentation, or where do I get the needed documentation?
The first answer has correct details, although much of the laws worldwide relate to the importing or exporting of ivory. Often the age and CITES documentation are irrelevant, there are many places where it’s illegal for any ivory to cross borders.It’s also nearly impossible to sell any ivory online. Particularly through the most well known sites. There was a complete ban a couple of years ago although it has been loosened somewhat now, and you can sell bone and some ivory under the right circumstances.However there are plenty of ways to legally sell ivory domestically. You will have to check your country, but in Australia at least there is no problem selling it locally as long as it’s already in the country. (It needs to date prior to 1975, but you don’t necessarily need proper documentation. An antique trader can give their expert opinion that it is an old piece, which is considered enough proof.). So antique shops and auction rooms can sell ivory legally, and regularly do. They just can’t post it out of the country. The police are able to confiscate any ivory offered for sale, although this very rarely happens. It’s then up to the owner to provide proof that it is an old piece, otherwise it will be destroyed. As stated though, the proof doesn’t have to be official CITES papers, it can be an expert opinion.You really shouldn’t have any problem trying to sell them. Contact local auction rooms or antique dealers and ask if they can help. You may not get top dollar but if you really want to sell them it’s the best way.None of this is qualified legal advice, only my understanding of it! Every country has different interpretations, but I think you will find it quite easy to sell.
What are some ideas to sell off estate antiques to get full value?
About five years ago, my father passed away. My brother and I helped my mother sell off the things she didn’t keep. It took us over a year, but my father was an active collector with a big house and two additional buildings in which to store things.As you go through this, some major considerations will be:How quickly do you want to sell of these items? Which is more important, fast disposal or getting top dollar?How many things are truly valuable on the open market, and how many are merely sentimental?How many things are just junk or clutter that just need to be disposed of?Are there a few things that family members would want that would make people unhappy if they were sold to strangers?Keeping these things in mind, here is how I would go about selling off the items:If there is a large collection of antiques, jewelry, collectibles, art, sports memorabilia, firearms, etc., think about consigning it to a reputable auction house. You’ll have to pay seller’s fees based on the selling prices of the items, and other fees, but you will do a very minimal amount of work as compared to selling the items off one at a time yourself. Talk with two auction houses so you have a choice and some competition. Most honest auctions will give you fair estimates of the value of your items. They are compensated on the highest selling price.If you have a handful of very valuable items, consider an independent appraisal before selling.Check eBay to see the current selling prices for common items like home electronics and appliances. (Consider only what items actually sold for. Asking prices don’t mean anything.)Use a garage sale as a last resort. Garage sales are a lot of work and items sell for below thrift store prices.Donate items to Goodwill or another charity for the maximum allowable deduction.
Do you collect antiques? I personally love antique kitchen gadgets.?
personally i love antique kitchen gadgets have started a collections of them
Brass Fighting Rooster Set-- Antique?
Check out eBay as a starting point. Then I would Google "brass fighting rooster museum" and see what turns up. Good luck! (2) Large Brass Cock Fighting Roosters These are two large realistic brass fighting roosters. 8.5" tall x 9" long - $30 Estate Sale Find! PAIR OF ITALIAN BRASS FIGHTING COCKS/ROOSTERS stamped Made in Italy on the inside wing. This stunning figurine sculptures stand @ 10" high with an 8" wingspan. The bodies appear to be solid brass with the six wing pieces and legs separate and soldered into place. The wings are thin and light feeling and may be a plated metal. The brass color is consistent and looks almost like gold plating! The piece has wonderful details down to the tongue in the rooster's mouth! The figurines were thought to be from Italy right after the WWII. They are in very good to excellent vintage condition. There is some polish residue under the wings and both roosters have one or two tips on the wings that are flat right at the end. I can't tell if they broke off or were designed that way...very minor! - $30