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by Rosemary Lee Potter
Special to Tropical Breeze

Well, if you have some objects to sell, it’s a very good question. Where should I sell what may be highly desirable items? The answer is actually varied and greatly depends on just what that object is. Obviously, there may only be a few special venues for certain things. A complete set of very rare antique china in pristine condition would go to market in a far different place with a much different sales strategy than a collection of diverse “smalls,” a mix of tiny items such as miniature china cups from Japan, a very small china doll, a tiny plastic harmonica or doll-house-sized brass spittoon.

The antique china collection might head for an auction house in New York such as Sotheby’s, while the wooden tray of smalls might sell on an open-air table at a local flea market, for $.50 a piece, or three for $1.00, your choice.

Thus, if folks want to find out what things they buy, find, or inherit, are worth, with an eye to trying to sell them, there is a list of first suggestions gathered by veteran antique and collectibles vendors which may help prepare the way for successful sales. It includes examination, background study, care in handling and storing, and locating the venue.

1. The Exam: Just what is this thing? Many folks try for a quick turn-over or rush out to sell at once, without a clue as what they have or what it’s worth. Wiser sellers make it a practice to take a deep breath, examine the article/s closely, get another opinion from a friend not a potential buyer, or check an outside source. I remember I once bought a pretty Victorian paper of glass-headed pins for $.25 at a house estate sale. Although I knew from sewing collectibles books that here was a desirable antique item, I wasn’t sure of value. The quick seller obviously knew nothing about the item, considering the price on it. I was sure it was worth more than $.25. I later sold it to a sewing item collector for $25, in a quick sale while browsing in a shop, by that time knowing it was worth about $40. Look at my profit! So slow down and first find out.

2. Background Study: This takes a little time or a lot of time, depending on the item and the seller’s patience. One can just go look at other similar or identical items at antique shops, shows, stalls, and driveways. However, if bothering to do background checks to find out value and perhaps reestimate price, go to the library and look for the item or a similar one in collectible specialty books. There are many. Go online simply by typing in the name of the object. See what appears and what it is and what it’s selling price. One might check eBay, but if online anyway, do a straight type-in — say, Wedgwood pottery. One may be amazed or appalled at what is learned. Either way, the object going up for sale’s better described, appreciated, made more attractive and marketable.

3. Care in Handling and Storage: I recently met someone who is helping a relative store away a huge doll collection in a regular storage unit. The dolls were collected over a half century and, from the descriptions, are expensive, fragile and quite unusual. He said he and his sister were wrapping each one in white tissue and putting it in its own well-marked box. The dolls will remain in storage until the owner, an elderly relative, is moved to a new home or wills them to some other family member. Since I have various dolls and in various stages of wear and condition, I asked if the wrapping tissue is acid free.

He wasn’t sure and was surprised at the idea that the paper wrappings, much less the boxes containing the dolls, might deteriorate, if not acid free. Browning, leeching, or other damage may occur to doll clothing, hair, or body composition.

So check out what’s best care for the collectible item under consideration for sale. In no case, clean or repair the item, no matter what the condition, without first checking with an expert on that kind of object. Don’t know an expert? Check online. Call an antique store for a suggestion. Objects have lost thousands of dollars in value by just doing what makes them seem to look good — again! I always hate to hear the appraisers on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow say the words, ”If you hadn’t (cleaned, replaced, repaired, repainted, etc.)” …it would be far worth (usually a lot more!)

4. Locate the Venue: So just where to sell it? A reader recently asked just that question. I reminded her of many venues — one of which might just appeal to her taste, time, and spirit of adventure! There’s eBay and other online consignment shops, as well as yard, garage, driveway, tag or estate sales. There are antique shops which also buy and resell and private ads in local newspapers as well as community papers. The seller must decide if it is really a one object — really special sale, one time only, a past-time where friends regularly clear clutter, a clean-out estate event, a public auction with consignment. What appeals?

One wise protection thrown in: Take great photos or make a CD of the object/s, if advertising. Do not carry sale items about with you or in your car. Prevents theft. Gives you time to made a serious and proper sale. Never meet buyers in your home. The library is a good place as is the lobby of your bank.

Now to flea markets — huge, regular, tiny, once a month. Some vendors say they make money because there is little overhead. Some say they do not. It’s “all in what you’ve got!” Some start with their own stuff, gradually obtaining more sale items at weekend yard sales. One goes to house estate sales, buying the whole sale — all its items — for a good- riddance price quickly pleasing to the estate seller,way profitable to this buyer, at once reselling the items at the flea.

He’s not alone. I’ve met many others who do this. Don’t worry. There’s room for all if this style collecting adventure appeals.

One recent weekend, near Greenville, TN I spotted a small flea market — with a large opening sign. Talk about variety! A Mr. Wilson was selling wonderful soap hand-made by his wife. He was also selling an antique gas-powered milking machine for $300, which he had bought at another sale a day or two earlier. Then there was Joyce, a quilter and crafter who makes quilts and pillows to order via nomajoy@embarqmail.com I could also have bought a tree-climbing harness for trimming tall Tennessee trees — only $25!

Still another couple shared that they’d been interviewed at an “Antiques Roadshow” in North Carolina because they had a horse-drawn fire-extinguisher. Variety there? From him I bought an instant combo collectible for $20 which he’d just hand-crafted from a badge, a silver 1881 coin, and cord from Venetian blinds — a yo-yo, no less!

So in deciding where and how to sell, do expect a collecting adventure!