Hi and Question

[Nancy Gallant]

Hi, I'm a newbie ephemera lover and, as such, have a lot to learn! For recreation, I love searching through antique shops and flea markets for material for upcycling and repurposing. Nothing stops me in my tracks, however, like an old magazine, newspaper or pamphlet.

I really should try to sell some of what I've found, as I need to fund my triple-bottom-line startup (a new business with a social and environmental mission). I thought there was a place on this NING for questions about getting an idea of the value of some items, but can't find it. If someone could direct me, I would appreciate it!

FYI, a couple of the items of interest I have include:

A "How to Survive an Atomic Bomb" pamphlet (short version - "duck!!!")

Old Playbills from the late 20s

Vintage Children's Book Illustrations (is this ephemera?)

Old Magazine articles from the Great Depression that reference things about Ponse schemes, mortgage racquets and the like.

1904 Binghamton New York newspapers - from behind a framed mirror - I spotted it through the worm holes in the back piece of wood (cool!).

They are super interesting and I could just share with the local school history department, but I think I need to put my business hat on and consider whether I should try to sell them on ebay or elsewhere.

Thanks for any info!

Nancy
TIme Well Spent
www.twsblog.wordpress.com

[Frank DeFreitas]

I'll take a shot. First, welcome to world of collecting ephemera. Your best bet, IMO, is to try and directly reach the people who would be most interested in your items (as with anything, really). The best way to do that, is to place the items online with descriptions that will allow them to be found by those looking for them through search. You'll have the whole world as your marketplace. I'd be willing to bet that many of the items that you list above has people looking to find them. Eventually.

As an alternative, trying to load them off onto an already-existing retailer is not going to fetch much more than money for breakfast on the way home. I know that if there is something that I want, I'm willing to pay top dollar to make certain that I get it. I'm not alone in that regard. Of course, there's nothing that you have listed above that interests me . . . so I can't help you personally. ;-)

I don't sell anything, just collect. But since you asked and no one responded for 7 days, I thought I'd write anyway. I'm sure someone else that actually sells may have better advice for you. It just takes a little time to get responses flowing sometimes. Someone else may have to help you with their value. Have you tried to find similar items to get an idea?

[Nancy]

Hello Nancy
You can do a search on the internet for most of what you are asking about.
The How to Survive an Atomic Bomb - I have seen priced ad $3.00 to $5.00 -depending on condition.

Old playbills from the 1920's, are these booklets are just a single page. -- Booklets do have real nice covers and the back page always has a nice advertising.

[Nancy]

The price I got for the Theatre program Above was $10.00 it is dated 1914 with 22 pages, size of booklet 6 x 9.
When listing items to sell you never now what price you may get. I started the above item for $3.95.

Vintage Children's Book Illustrations -- I would say is ephemera-- Prices very by- the condition, if there color Illustrations and the age of the book.

Old Magazine articles -- I have seen some being sold on the auction sites- they never seem to bring much.

I try and stay away from newspapers- Then never seem to last long because of the paper they are printed on, unless they are printed before 1880's are if they have a real Good Headline.

[Nancy Gallant]

Thanks, Frank and Nancy,

Great advice. I am going to list a couple of things on ebay and see what happens. As you mention, Nancy, I won't know what they are worth until I list them. That's the cool thing about ebay - consumer interest sets the price.

The vintage illustrations are just precious - definitely frame-able.

The magazine articles, as you mention, Frank, might be of interest depending on the specific topic.

The playbooks are in surprisingly great condition, several coming from the 1920s but clean and sturdy. The ads, color and black and white inside are just so much fun, IMO. For example, there was a type of pantyhose that had special stitching at the ankle to draw the onlookers eye's to the wearers desirably slim ankles! Even in the 1920s, "cankles" were not a good thing, though they didn't have that term for thick ankles (that blend with the calf!).

The newspapers are indeed physically fragile... but what a fun find under the old mirror. Surprisingly, there were plenty of murders reported in these papers... I'll likely share them with the head of the history department at the high school...

I'll report back if anything interesting comes of the illustrations or playbooks. Thank you again for the feedback.