Many locals have real historical treasures tucked away in their attics. It’s always exciting when we locate a piece of memorabilia that is relevant to a Massachusetts historic figure – either a native or someone with strong and recognized ties to our great state.
A piece of Massachusetts history is also exhilarating to local collectors and history enthusiasts. If you’re not quite as excited about the local historical memorabilia as they are, you can profit from your inherited item or your find by selling it at auction.
What might be considered a piece of Massachusetts history?
We’re looking for pieces like books, manuscripts, letters, artwork, weapons, or other history pieces belonging to famous figures.
Examples from the Massachusetts Historical Society include the pen that Abraham Lincoln used to sign the Emancipation Proclamation, the silver urn that Paul Revere created, and even George Washington’s epaulets.
Recent bits of MA historical memorabilia recently sold at auction include Paul Revere’s silver tablespoons, a Normal Rockwell painting, and JFK’s oval office flags.
A piece of memorabilia does not need to come from a national household name to be worth appraising or auctioning. We’d like to see items that belonged to John Phillips, the first mayor of Boston, John Harvard, the first benefactor of Harvard University and its namesake, or Anne Bradstreet, a famous Puritan poet – to name just a few. Even memorabilia belonging to the founders of small Massachusetts towns could be fascinating and valuable to collectors of every stripe.
We have 4 centuries of consequential history and people to choose from. All of it tells a story, and any piece of it can be sought-after and valuable at auction.
How much is Massachusetts historical memorabilia worth?
It would be difficult even to generalize. A pair of Samuel Winslow ice skates could be worth $200, whereas a Norman Rockwell painting could sell for over $6 million dollars. It depends entirely on what you have, whom it belonged to, its role in our state’s history, what condition it is in, and how common the item is.
The easiest way to determine if your memorabilia is worth selling or keeping is to schedule an appraisal with Central Mass Auctions. We’ll be happy to help you uncover the unique story and worth of any piece of Massachusetts history. Call Central Mass Auctions at 508-612-6111, or email us to get started.
