While going through my treasures as I’m downsizing, twice this week I have run across two items that have/had the potential to be worth upward of tens of thousands of dollars each.
The first is a wall hanging I bought 40 years ago. This one:
Based on the info on the reverse side, I was under the impression that Jean-Claude Gaugy had created the piece. Turns out his wife did. Which is fine, but if he had created it, it would have been worth tens of thousands of dollars. Mrs. Gaugy’s other artwork (created similarly to this piece) is going for $500 on ebay. That’s still a chunk of change, but nothing like I was supposing it could be.
STEIFF TEDDY BEAR?
The second is a teddy bear which my Aunt Tod (Evelyn) gave me. It’s obviously ancient, and she told me it was a Steiff (although the signature button in the ear is long gone if that protocol was instituted during the time it was made; knowing how pernsickety she was, she may have removed it, considering it unsightly). But there are knock-off bears, too, and she could have been taken in by a scammer 100 years ago. Bears were manufactured back then to resemble Steiff bears. So, as I’m waiting to see if this bear can be authenticated by the Steiff Musuem (I have an email in to them now with pictures of the bear).If they can authenticate it, it’s worth a lot of money. Accoring to wikipedia, some of the oldest vintage Steiff bears have sold at auction for more than $120,000…
Yeah, that’s a lot.
Mine needs a careful (professional!!!) cleaning, but otherwise it only lacks one eye. In all other ways, it looks quite pristine. I have high hopes for it.
UPDATE, Monday January 13th: Haven’t heard back from the Steiff museum, so reached out to the Sotheby’s auction site to have their experts give me a free estimate of its value. I’ll keep you in the loop of anything at all noteworthy comes of it…
GARAGE SALE PROTOCOL
I’m using various rooms in my home as staging areas so that, as I go through the remaining boxes that have been in storage in the garage and shed, I can segregate the Trek/Kelley stuff from the animal stuff, from the vintage dinnerware stuff, etc. This way I can have “themed” garage sales and advertise directly to the people most likely to want to attend and get stuff. I think that will be more logical, thoughtful, and lucrative than just putting it all out and hoping the right people happen to come by at some point.
AND I can swap out stuff in the garage that way, too. If something sits there for too long and receives zero interest, I’ll deem those items “thrift store donations” and take trips to thrift stores to open up room for other items more likely to move.
So, for example, during the Trek/Kelley auction, I can put vintage treasures out like this:
(I have several copies of this issue, naturally!)
Star Trek Music Box/Jewelry Box (music doesn’t play)
Various Action Figures, Mugs, Glasses etc (most in original boxes)
Fun small Star Trek items
Kelley Cowboy Christmas Ornaments
The above is just a minuscule sampling of what will be available during the Star Trek garage sale. I have vintage posters, lobby cards from De’s westerns, Trek books (hard and softbound, two copies of STAR TREK LIVES!) and comic books (some signed by De) and just waaaayyyy too much to list here. In fact, I haven’t even gone completely through it yet to see what all is available. I’m running into many treasures (including one winner’s ribbon signed by De) that I didn’t even remember having. It’s truly a cornucopia of items…
I even have a few of his clothing items left.
In the current/next garage sale, people will see some repeats (if they stop by again) but a lot is new:
Blue willow pattern china set
Japanese china six place tea set
Vintage 1946 Homer Georgian dinnerware set (complete)
My beloved six person Coleman Camping Tent, 10’x10′ canopy and mosquito net for canopy
ALL going for $125 or more, worth $300+ at Amazon when on sale!
Two bedside tower cabinets (headboard also available for an additional $30)
misc Christmas items
Wooden Be Kind Block, plus several framed animal pictures (only one shown here)
As I say, LOTSA GOOD STUFF!!!
