I have an RPPC listed. Westfield, Indiana. A parade with high-wheel bicycles and a horse and buggy.
Tonight I had an email from a lady who is from the Westfield Historical Society. She confirmed that it is, indeed, Westfield and wanted to know if I know from whose estate the card came. Which I do.
Long story short. My late husband was Trustee of the estate. The lady died in 1985. One box of stuff never made it to the heirs. He tried and tried to locate them but couldn't.
This box has been hanging around for ages. Why? Well, because I just knew sometime, somewhere, someone would want it.
In the box are 1935 and 1936 yearbooks from Westfield High, also a copy of a manuscript, signed by the author, detailing some event that took place there in probably 1905.
Which just shows to go ya, eventually, no matter what it is, it'll show up on eBay!
Okay, now for my question... How would you deal with the issue of how much when the historical society lady replies to the email I just sent her?
posted on April 29, 2004 08:23:47 PM new
Since your original investment is $0, just about anything would be a profit. But you also want to factor in the time and effort spent trying to locate the heir and the storage for the last 19 years. This is a tough one and I really couldn't begin to suggest a dollar amount. I suspect that if I were in your situation, the lady's attitude and sincerity would play a part in any price I might come up with.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
posted on April 29, 2004 08:24:35 PM new
What is RPPC?
Agree with dad, Let them do some bidding unless the offer is one you wouldn't want to pass up
But there is another possibility, you get your name attached to the items permanently for all to see by donating them to the Historical Society with that stipulation...
Might be something to consider...
AIN'T LIFE GRAND...
It's too bad that their blindness can't see they are killing more soldiers than President Bush ever has... Protest Loud and Proud! Your fellow taliban and insurgents are rejoicing at the support...
I did know the lady from Westfield, she was very nice. A registered nurse. Her husband worked for CalTrans, he was a highway engineer.
Dad, The Historical Society lady did put in a bid on the postcard. The other things aren't listed. My guess is she will want them and I think the Westfield Historical Society is where they should be.
Sparkz, yes, he did spend a lot of time trying to locate the granddaughter, to no avail. I moved that darn box from San Luis Obispo to Santa Cruz and back to San Luis Obispo. I wonder how much that cost me? Just kidding, it's not a huge box, just a little old Taylor California Cellars wine carton.
Twelvepole, I hadn't even thought about my name being at the Historical Society. That would be kinda nice, don't you think? My last name is the same as the county where Westfield is located. Oh, an RPPC is a real photo postcard.
posted on April 29, 2004 08:47:50 PM new
Lucy - is the "how much" for all the items in the box or just the RPPC? I wouldn't end the auction early but welcome her to bid...RPPC's can bring nice prices! It looks like you have it priced fairly and dated correctly ( the stamp box was used between 1924-1942). Many of my cards go to Historical Societies and they bid just like everyone else - I have never had one ask for special favors in fact.
Oops..see you answered my question before I posted it. I don't know about the other stuff ... the manuscript sounds very interesting!
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Sig files are too much trouble!
http://stores.ebay.com/Moody-Mommys-Marvelous-Postcards
[ edited by neglus on Apr 29, 2004 08:52 PM ]
posted on April 29, 2004 08:48:27 PM new
Lucy..You're right. They do belong there. If you can make enough off the post card for a bottle of 2 buck chuck, a donation of the rest as Twelve suggests would be a very nice gesture. Also, don't overlook the potential tax advantage for a donation.
A $75.00 solid state device will always blow first to protect a 25 cent fuse ~ Murphy's Law
Did the lady say whether she knew any of the heirs or not? Perhaps she wants to get the items back to them.
Like sparkz says, it's difficult to put a price on something like this. I've donated a few items to local museums in different towns that I've lived in when I've purchased them from estates and my parents are planning to do the same with some of their historical things. Let us know what you decide to do.
This is the website for the Westfield Historical Society.
Neglus, the how much is for all the stuff in the box. Gosh - Esther's daughter's baby book is in there. She did bid on the RPPC. Thanks for letting me know I got it right! A postcard expert I am definitely not.
Sparkz, yes, I'll just make a donation unless she offers to pay me for the other stuff. I suspect the HS yearbooks and the manuscript will be what she wants the most.
Kiara, Thanks for the link. I haven't heard back from her. It will be interesting to see if she recognizes the names. There weren't many heirs, just the daughter and a granddaughter whose 1985 address was in Utah. I gave her birth dates of my lady, Esther, and her husband, Mark. Both were born in Hamilton County.
posted on April 29, 2004 09:03:42 PM new
Lucy: This past year we inherited a bunch of stuff from my husband's uncle, who was student body vice pres. and bigwig at a private Calif. university in the 1930s. We've donated his 4 years of diaries, which are loaded with great historical info, to the university library (the archivist needed them badly for a centennial exhibit). Also in the effects were perhaps 25 university football game programs, very colorful covers in art deco style. I gave the archivist 4 of the nicest ones and invited him to bid on any more that I put up on Ebay. He got one or two, and the rest went to collectors of that school's memorabilia. My husband's cousin, who gave us all that "junk" she didn't want, will, on our request, be listed as the donor of the things we gave the school.
In your case, if there are family members who want, say, the manuscript, I'd give it to them for the cost of shipping. Ditto if the yearbooks have personal messages in them. Otherwise, I'd sell the yearbooks on Ebay. I've sold yearbooks that went for between $8 and $25.
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[ edited by Roadsmith on Apr 29, 2004 09:04 PM ]
posted on April 29, 2004 09:11:37 PM new
Yes, Adele, I agree, if there are family members who want, say, the yearbooks or the daughter's baby book, I'd just send it to them for shipping cost.
Nothing comes up on Amazon re the author of the manuscript. I'll check some of the links in the eBay Book Big Red Post.
As far as putting the yearbooks on eBay, well, if you put in a search for Westfield, Indiana, the only auction that comes up (active and completed) is my postcard! Hmmmm.... Not a real popular place.
posted on April 29, 2004 09:15:30 PM new
When my mother passed away she saved almost everything. We donated all of it. Vintge Clothes to the Duluth Minn theater players, year books to the small town I am from to their Museum and some other items. It feels good to know that we donated to a good cause. We also had sheet music with Judy Garland on the cover and donated that also to the Grand Rapids Minnesota Judy Garland Room in their Historical Society. If you need the money then I would sell them but if not why not just donate them. You can also take that donation off your income tax.
posted on April 29, 2004 09:34:12 PM new
Hi Libra,
I don't need the money. I'm just so pleased someone finally surfaced who would like to have these things.
My original question was how would you guys respond when the Historical Society wants to know what I want for the stuff.
A couple of years ago my Mom sold my Dad's eons old (early '20s) Boy Scout hat on eBay. It ended up in a Boy Scout museum in the midwest. Tell you what, that thing was a PITA to pack!
Oh, an RPPC is a real photo postcard.
