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 Replies: 14 / Views: 2,128 |
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
I keep getting these auction catalogs in the mail. Very nice plates, glossy paper, nice production, but after the auction would you ever even look at them again? Is there anything that is worth having that can't be better looked up on the internet? I hesitate just tossing them as they look really expensive to make, but I'm going to have to buy a new bookcase if I keep them all.  |
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5029 Posts |
There are many people that collect them. Do you have the prices realized lists as well?
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CCF Advertiser
 United States
1533 Posts |
No, I get the catalogs before the auctions. All the prices realized are available on the auctioneer's website. For that matter, all the pictures and descriptions are too, so I barely open them. If I had to actually pay for them, they would be like $25 each.
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Rest in Peace
United States
17900 Posts |
Well worth saving, especially those that present superior collections of particular series or sets.
Print off the prices realized and keep them in the back of each catalogue. Even though they may be available now, they may not be available forever, and even if they were, having the hardcopy with them adds value and desirability.
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Pillar of the Community
 United States
5676 Posts |
The prices realized are available on their website, but not as a printable list, just as separate listings with photos. I get these catalogs, too, and I suspect I'll end up tossing them despite how nice they look. I can't see they have much value since they are distributed for free.
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Bedrock of the Community
Australia
21788 Posts |
They are not normally worth much, except if they are of some historical significance.
Try to take them to a coin dealer and normally, he won't be interested.
It is a shame to throw them out, but I have done that on occasion, because they just take up space.
I have even given them away free, just to save throwing them out.
Generally speaking, old auction catalogs that contain a wide range of numismatic material have little or no value in the marketplace. Make sure that you buy this sort of catalog cheaply, if you are interested in them.
Some auction catalogs for ancient coins are a little different. To be valuable, the information in them has to be fairly specific.
I have for example, a copy the auction catalog of Roman gold coins that were sold by the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art; many rare and interesting coins are illustrated, and provide a useful pictorial reference. Nevertheless, the prices realized are irrelevant in today's market.
The Dumbarton Oaks auction Catalog for Byzantine coins is quite well known among ancient coin collectors, and a copy of this catalog I assume would command high auction prices in it's own right.
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Moderator
United States
34428 Posts |
I pitch those auction catalogs as soon as I'm done looking through them, although I do note that I have purchased one also. As Sel explained above, it is particularly useful as as reference for a very narrow area of numismatics (medieval bracteates).
"If you climb a good tree, you get a push."
-----Ghanaian proverb
"The danger we all now face is distinguishing between what is authentic and what is performed."
-----King Adz
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1314 Posts |
After removing any mailing address, I pass them around. Waiting rooms, barber shops and the like. Many are high quality photographs, and you never know when it may spark or jump start someone's interest.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1839 Posts |
You might be able to donate them to your local library. It would be nice to think that perhaps someone might get the coin bug from stumbling upon one during a browse of their local library.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
937 Posts |
how do you get one from heritage?
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CCF Master Historian of USA Commemoratives
United States
12296 Posts |
I have a collection of auction catalogs that feature an important collection of my primary area of focus - US commemorative coinage. (I'm in sync here with moxking who offered such a suggestion.) I have referred to them often as I've learned about my area of interest.
I enjoy being able to page through the catalogues and review some of the greatest classic commemorative collections that have ever been assembled. I find that going through a paper catalogue to examine a collection is easier than reviewing the same collection via the web (if it's even available on the web!). Some of the catalogues I have are from auction houses that are no longer active and thus do not have an online presence with their past catalogs archived; the paper copies are my only way to enjoy these collections.
I find my assemblage of catalogues to be a worthwhile and enjoyable extension to my coins.
If you decide you don't want to keep the catalogues you have accumulated, I suggest the following:
1. Take them to a meeting of a local coin club and make them available to club members. I have done that with some of the catalogues I no longer wanted and quite a few went home with a new owner.
2. Follow Chute72's suggestion and try to drop them off at locations where people need to wait and therefore look for something to read. Consider senior living facilities also. I've found that former collectors can often be found in such places and that the residents enjoy looking through the catalogs.
3. As noted by Tbone, your local library might be an option. Mine won't accept them because they are not part of their pre-approved county-wide acquisition plan, but your local libraries might be more flexible.
4. As a last resort, recycle them vs. throwing them in the garbage. At least that way they will "live" to see another day!
Collecting history one coin or medal at a time! (c) commems. All rights reserved.
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1963 Posts |
I would never throw them out. If you really don't want them, give them away at least.
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
Tryna, you either buy them for $25 ea or if you spend enough with Heritage they send you the catalogs for free.
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CCF Advertiser
United States
1533 Posts |
Quote:
The prices realized are available on their website, but not as a printable list, just as separate listings with photos. ... This is actually incorrect, but I just realized it today. Click on any lot that is closed. The record will show a Printable Auction Results to the right, a blue button. Click on that button and it will take you to a text file with all the prices realized. I agree, if I am going to keep any of these, I should print out this file and tuck it into the book. |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
5676 Posts |
Thanks--that's great to know! Maybe I'll print the prices realized and hang on to my catalogs a little longer now....
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Replies: 14 / Views: 2,128 |
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Posted 12/29/2016 3:00 pm
