10 Best Types of Items to Sell at Auction
Collectors and others can buy things from an infinity of sources, but you’ve got only so many ways to sell an item. Sometimes the do-it-yourself approach is best, sometimes an estate sale is best, sometimes an auction (live or online) is best, and sometimes a combination is best. What’s best for you depends mainly on what item(s) you plan to sell.
Below are the 10 kinds of items that, in our professional experience, most consistently sell for the highest value at auction. Do you have any in your collection or estate?
1. Paintings by listed artists. Rare paintings turn up in thrift shops and homes surprisingly often. A 19th Century painting by Giovanni Batista Torriglia worth $20,000 was dropped off at a Goodwill store in Virginia in 2013. A painting by early 20th century landscape artist John Fery was found at a San Diego St. Vincent DePaul store, and later sold for $25,000. Many older New England homes have paintings that have been on the wall for decades, and sometimes for centuries. (Perhaps the owners have lived with the paintings for so long they may pay little attention to them.) Paintings are one of the first items we check when we are called upon to handle an estate. From a Leominster home a painting of an English hunting scene brought over $5,000. Once we found an Edmund Adler painting in an Amherst estate that brought nearly $10,000.
For more info, see our page on How Valuable Is Your Antique Painting? Easy Ways to Tell If You Should Sell Your Painting at Auction.
We work throughout Central Mass, Greater Boston, New England, and beyond. To get the maximum return for your item, collection, or estate contents at auction, please call Central Mass Auctions at 508-612-6111, or email us.
2. Antique and classic automobiles and motorcycles, and related memorabilia. Factors that influence the value include the quality/make, condition, presence of original parts, and whether it’s a sports car. Motorcycles also are very popular with collectors. Old Harley Davidson, Indian, Triumph and other motorcycles have their devotees. Memorabilia and advertising signs associated with cars and motorcycles can also command strong prices. Signs advertising everything from the cars and motorcycles themselves to parts, tires, gasoline and oil are popular with bidders. Other collectible items include old gas pumps, vintage license plates and antique hood ornaments.
3. Important historical memorabilia. That category can include political and presidential memorabilia, items from historical events in sports and entertainment, war memorabilia (e.g. WWII or Civil War), World’s Fair memorabilia, circus memorabilia, and items associated with other notable events from our country’s past and from throughout the world.
4. Gold coins, jewelry, silver coins, flatware and hollow ware. The value of gold needs no explanation. U.S. dollar coins, half dollars, quarters, and dimes from 1964 and before are made of 90% silver. Along with their silver value, silver coins may have numismatic value, though many elements factor into the price.
5. Advertising signs, posters, and displays. Advertising signs, posters, and displays appeal to collectors, dealers, interior designers, and people who just want something interesting to hang on their wall. Neon and other electric signs are also desirable.
19th Century folk art optometrist store display
Early 20th Century tin Hood Tires advertising sign
6. Baseball and other sports memorabilia, especially from the 1960s and earlier. Cards like a Michael Jordan 1986-87 Fleer rookie card or a 1979 Wayne Gretzky can command high values. But cards from the 1960s and earlier are scarcer, because many got thrown out or weren’t taken care of properly. Items predating World War II often fetch the most at auction. Baseball cards aren’t the only type of baseball memorabilia collectors want. Old display pieces like advertising signs, posters, programs, pennants, stadium seats, and equipment are always in demand. Of course, golf, football, basketball, hockey, boxing and racing all have avid fans and collectors.
7. Toys from the 1960s and earlier, comic books, and other collectibles.
8. Arts-and-crafts and art deco design furnishings. The styles are very different, with arts-and-crafts furniture known for its solid oak and straight lines, and deco design known for geometric designs and a streamlined look. Both are sought-after by collectors and still turn up often when we look at the contents of estates.
9. Mid-20th Century Scandinavian and other modern-design art and furnishings. As you look through your mid-century art, lamps, or other pieces, look for any with a futuristic design. Those have high appeal to collectors. Also, as with all antiques and collectibles, look to see who designed and produced it.
10. Early Chinese antiques and other Asian antiques. With wealthy Chinese collectors buying antiques and collectibles, and with prices heating up on artwork and antiques created in other Asian countries, it’s a seller’s market. That is why early Chinese and other Asian antiques often do well at auction. Japanese and other Asian antiques are also sought-after. Old Japanese woodblock prints and other artwork, wooden furniture by well-known artisans, Samurai swords, and military items from World War II are all valuable collectibles. Pop-culture collectibles and tin toys continue to sell well.
