Author Topic: ok smarties (Read 796 times)

Dnil · « **on:** December 03, 2003, 08:06:03 PM »

Got a question for you.

I have a bunch of old papers....old military orders, spanish land grants and a bunch of other "semi" historical documents. All original stuff, some from the 1700s.

the question is....can you sell this stuff? It came from a great aunt who has had this stuff for ages.

Sandman · « **Reply #1 on:** December 03, 2003, 08:07:12 PM »

On the 8th day, God created eBay.

RedDg · « **Reply #2 on:** December 03, 2003, 08:10:22 PM »

Antiques Road Show !!

Dnil · « **Reply #3 on:** December 03, 2003, 08:15:05 PM »

well I heard a similiar collection sold to the university of texas for 1.5 mil.....but i really have no clue.

Gadfly · « **Reply #4 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:14:24 PM »

Ebay it, and if you can't get what you think it is worth, donate it and use the value against your taxes.

Sikboy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:18:46 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Gadfly
what you think it is worth,

Therin lies the problem

-Sik

Dnil · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:22:08 PM »

exactly...i dont know what its worth or if it is even worth anything.

just wondering who i would go to so i can find out.

sling322 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:23:20 PM »

Antiques Road Show is the way to go.

Gadfly · « **Reply #8 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:24:25 PM »

I'll give you 5 bucks for it. Is it worth that? Call UTSA or the Ransom Center in Austin, it would be nice to let them look first, anyway.

Sikboy · « **Reply #9 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:26:49 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Dnil
exactly...i dont know what its worth or if it is even worth anything.

just wondering who i would go to so i can find out.

I might know someone who might know someone... I'll ask around, but you might try emailing a Texas History Professor if you can identify a few of the documents.

-Sik

Dnil · « **Reply #10 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:31:00 PM »

actually i need to go through them again and get some identities of the documents first.

Think some president signatures are on some of them.

I'll post more once I really go through them.

Maverick · « **Reply #11 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:37:19 PM »

Your best bet would be to approach a museum that has that type of material on display. They can give you a ballpark figurre and authenticate the documents. If they can't. or won't give you a value then they should be able to point out who to go to for that purpose.

Ebay is a sucker bet and you might end up selling a document for less than a fraction it is worth. Get a serious appraisal by a reputable and qualified source.

midnight Target · « **Reply #12 on:** December 03, 2003, 09:40:22 PM »

Go to an Antique dealer and ask him for an appraisal for insurance purposes. This is usually a little high, but if you wanted an appraisal to sell them he would likely lowball you.

Dnil · « **Reply #13 on:** December 03, 2003, 10:50:42 PM »

so far nothing really jumps out at me from the collection. Couple things signed by martin van buren. spanish land grant for some land in natchez mississippi from 1793. orders for a relative to report to the uss constitution in 1839 or 1841, cant remember.

Lots of his orders actually. a small stapled book from a col. right after the civil war. Most everything is from 1793 to 1865.

Now to find someone to say if its even worth anything.

bigsky · « **Reply #14 on:** December 03, 2003, 11:53:54 PM »

i would say those are worth alot of investigation to determine there worth. dont rush a sale, you will probably loose. i would seek several sources about them. just because their professor somebody or an so called expert skinner doesnt mean you should trust them. dont let them "borrow" it for research. collectables are kinda strange in respect to what is worth the big bucks and what isnt. for example, civil war stuff, confederate stuff is worth ten times more than what the same union piece is worth. but antiques roadshow would be a good start.