Acquiring Ephemera For Your Collection

[Ray Kirchmeyer]

I was interested in knowing how collectors go about acquiring old ephemera for your collection. Myself I visit a local monthly flea market (been doing it for years). A lot of things there are way overpriced but I have gotten to know a few of the vendors very well. I am always able to buy their paper in bulk for very little and usually come home with at least 6 boxes full. Most of it is from the midwest (Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri). Some of the better items (in my opinion) I have found were a letter signed by President Harry Truman, a collection of letters written home from a GI in Europe as he advanced on Germany during WWII, and a high school yearbook that was from my mother's high school the year she graduated. One of my most unusual places I acquired some old paper was when I was working on a construction remodel project about 10 years ago on a 19th century building. When I knocked a hole in an interior wall I found an old book containing shipping bills from vendors detailing sales to the general store that once occupied the building; date-1883-1884. I have tried estate sales without much luck. It seems like most paper is either kept by the heirs or discarded thinking it is worthless. And Ebay auctions generally go for much more money then I want to spend. I would be curious to know where others find there treasures.

[Jerry Tarver]

Susan Mac Gregor said:

It would be great if some of us in the same state could do some kind of paper swaps I have been collecting ephemera and selling it for about 11 years, I have so many boxes of stuff. Susan in California

[Jerry Tarver]

I would welcome any medium to advertise my willingness to buy or swap for material relating to rhetoric, oratory, elocution, recitation (programs, cards, school catalogues, manuscripts). I have been buying on eBay and from shops, but I thought sure there would be some ephemera publication where you could list wants. Any information would be most welcome. Thanks. {sorry for the empty post earlier}

[DPopTart]

I've written about this very thing at CQ in Save The Ephemera, Save The World. Maybe. I think sorting through paper is "too boring" for a lot of people & so it doesn't make it to estate sales, thrift stores, rummage sales etc. Other than vintage sheet music, anyway (that's a pretty good staple here in the Midwest -- along with local cookbooks). While real dealers (who know that they are doing) know that old paper is rare are often smart enough to put a price on it and wait it out rather than ditch it, appraisers etc. (including the big names I've spoken with) almost always say "old paper" has no value -- unless it has historical significance. And I don't think we should discount that more often than not, ephemera found is most often from people, companies etc. that are (now at least) unknown and therefore requires major research -- which non-nerds aren't willing to do. So even if the paper could be valuable -- even historical significance -- most people never make the time to find out. So, again, I return to people aren't interested enough in old paper.

[DPopTart]

I think I'm the original orange Oscar, so if you're green we'll be able to tell us apart lol

Not to detract from TEN (I love it here!), but in the CQ community you can meet other collectors, arrange swaps/trades, and if you mark things for sale, they'll show up in the marketplace too. Especially fabulous if your garbage can contains more than paper collectibles, like mine does ;)

Coffeetinker said:

I am reading the article in CQ (another site I never knew of)! I love it, you feel like Oscar!!!! Me too!!!!!

[Nancy]

Susan Mac Gregor

I live in Oregon close to the border of Calif. do you live in southern or the northern Calif???
I have 100's of boxes of paper I could maybe trade.