I present for your Viewing Pleasure

One Thousand and One Banjos, by Akira Tsumura

…think of this book as a “Picking Mans Bible”…

Here’s why I think that this is the coolest Banjo Book in the world:

Because it represent one mans passion for a very specific category of antiques. This book represents the most exhaustive pictorial representation of mostly 4 string banjos the world of banjo playing fools has ever seen. There is simply no other book like it on the subject.

I also like that I was surprised by it, that I was taken into its world of varnish, strings and resonators so quickly and easily. I didn’t know that I liked banjos, that they were so beautiful, that they were so colorful, until I looked at this book.

Here’s another thing I like about One Thousand and One Banjos – It’s a rare book. I like rare books, especially when rare is new. This is precisely the kind of book that you should be on the look out for when you shop estate sales, flea markets and thrift stores…Because this book, only 13 years old is worth as much as $2,100.00.

Akira Tsumura only printed 2500 of these books

It has 3,000 Photographs on 904 Pages

It is said, and I don’t know how true this is, that the production cost of this book exceeded the revenue from its sales. This underlines for me the mad collector zeal that this book was put together with. Because I am spellbound by its sheer beauty, I kind of have to take the next leap to state that Akira must also have been under the spell of not only the sound that a banjo makes, but also the incredible craftsmanship of so many old time banjo makers.

…We are so very pleased to have a copy of One Thousand and One Banjos for sale…

I invite all banjo players to leave your comments, especially to clear up any mistakes I may have inadvertly made in the writing of this post, as well as to have fun and educate our Fine Estate Sales readership…

…In Other Estate Sales News …

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This man had dreams…of playing guitar, and did so for many years, but mostly for his family…

(Gale German playing his Martin 000-42 Guitar circa early 1940′s)

In the late thirties and forties throughout the middle of this great country there were many bands, and of course the musicians that played in these bands. And they traveled from small town to small town, and the more popular of them made it into the big cities. Saw dust floors and boozy dreamy nights, and entertainment for the workers staying out perhaps a bit to late, to listen and dance to the music.

One of these musicians was named Gale German. I know you never heard of him. He never became famous, but your mom or dad may have at one time danced to the music of the band he played in, especially if your parents liked Western Swing, because that is the kind of music that Gale German played.

He was 18 years old, and I speculate that he was one of those kinds of musicians who had a good ear, who was reaching for the best sound that a guitar could make, because he wanted the best instrument that money could buy – The one with the recognized best sound – he wanted a Martin 000-42 Guitar. But he could not afford its price all at once, so he asked his father for some help, and the cool thing about this is, that he must have had a father who believed in him, because his father did help him buy this guitar.

Gale German Played Guitar…

…Auction Estimate $50,000.00 – $70,000.00…

Look at the front of this guitar and what you see is the face of magic, the mar of picking and strumming, the patina of effort. The way he must have loved every minute of playing – the way he treated this guitar was that it was an instrument of music – something that produced melody and smiles and movement. It was only precious in this respect, it was never meant to be an art object. This is the kind of guitar that has in the words of Kerry Keane, “Mojo…The magic that a prior musician has imparted into it…”

…and though Gale German loved this guitar…he also fell in love and married a wonderful woman, and the two of them raised a family…

So Gale German put away thoughts of cow town beer halls, and honky-tonks, and settled down to raise his family. Every once in a while he would pull out his old Martin Guitar and play some tune or other; raising in those moments the resonance of past times, when as a young man he flirted with the world of music and tapped his toe to the time of their old songs.

And the story of this Guitar and the man who played it, might have ended there – untold, if not for the intelligence of his wife…

Even at eighty Mrs. German knew how to navigate the internet, knew how to find things, or people who could help her understand how to find out what things like Martin Guitars are worth. Not every one gets as lucky as Mrs. German. She found Kerry Keane of Christie’s Auction house. Imagine that…she located one of the few people in the industry who not only understood what the guitar was, but also how to properly contextualize its place in the world of guitars.

He just happens to be a world class expert in how to appraise the value of musical instruments, and he works on the side of the consignor. So he is like the best kind of advocate, one who has a passion for the “Thing” not just its “Value.”

Because Mrs. German had the good instinct to seek out advice from only the best experts, her husbands Old Martin Guitar will get its “Props” on October 13, 2009 when it goes up for auction at Christie’s for an estimated value of $50,000.00 – $70,000.00.

Here’s a complete picture of the Martin Guitar…that Gale German played…

This guitar needed to be tuned up, needed to be refreshed, needed some simple repairs…Which Mr. Keane saw to in such a fashion, that the guitar can still be said to be “Still original in all of its parts.”

And here is one of my favorite parts to this story. When the work was done on the guitar, Gale German’s son flew in to see the guitar, and there at Christie’s, Kerry played a song for the son called, “Deep River Blues.”

Here’s a version of Deep River Blues by Hall and Oates

Here are some other musical instrument Antiques Roadshow Appraisals conducted by Kerry Keane.

It all started with an advertisement that Greg Martin Auctions placed calling for people to bring their vintage and antique firearms to an appraisal clinic. Kind of like an Antiques Roadshow, but only this appraisal clinic was for the valuation of firearms.

Sometimes magic happens at events like these, sometimes the incredible occurs, sometimes people find out they have a true treasure.

I spoke with Greg Martin by phone the other day, and he was genuinely excited to tell me this story. He said, and I will paraphrase here, that he recently conducted an appraisal clinic in New York, and that they had made a wonderful discovery of a cased pair of Civil War era US Navy Colt revolvers.

At this event it seems that an elderly lady, carrying a bag showed up. In the absolutely ordinary bag was a wooden case, and in the case were the pair of matched Colt Model 1851 Navy revolvers.

Things like this don’t happen all the time…not even for Greg Martin…

…here is a picture of these Rare Firearms…

Did I forget to mention how much he estimated they would sell for at auction…

$150,000.00 to $250,000.00

It’s a simple fact that if she had taken these to any dealer, she would receive much less than what ever these revolvers eventually sell for at Greg Martins auction. Maybe even way, way, way less…

Here are some tips about selling your firearms:

1. Find out what the law says about the type of firearm you have.
2. Always seek the consul of someone who is an expert in Antique Firearms like Greg Martin, or someone like me who specializes in getting the highest value for your collectibles as a broker.

This Auction is Happening Today…

I will post the auction results tomorrow…

Martin Codina
Founder Fine Estate Liquidation
and Estate Sales

What: Anna Pottery Doll Head.

Sold By: Crocker Farm, Inc.

Item Description: A salt-glazed stoneware doll’s head with a painted surface, incised “Anna Pottery / 1885.” One of two Anna Pottery doll’s heads known.

Sale Price: $5,980.00

My Notes: To anybody in the know about antiques and collectibles Anna Pottery of Illinois is a big deal; pieces by this pottery company are well regarded, desirable, and valuable. But would you have passed this up at a local estate sale? Would you have thought…”Nice, but look at the condition…”

Alert: Sometimes condition is not as important as rarity.

Research Resource: Prices for Antiques.Com

Trifari Jelly Belly Poodle

What: Trifari Jelly Belly.

Sold By: Skinners

Item Description: Trifari Jelly Belly Poodle Brooch, with Lucite & Rhinestone and Black Enamel Accents.

Sale Price: $889.00

My Notes: Okay, so maybe $889.00 doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but what if you found this Trifari Jelly Belly in a bag of costume jewelry at an estate sale? Not bad…! And I know that this is possible because I have found these gems in the most unlikely places.

Alert: A lot of these have a gold wash over sterling; make sure that more than 90% of the gold wash is intact. With Trifari Jelly Belly’s condition is a very important aspect in determining value.

Research Resource: Prices for Antiques.Com

Prisoner of War Art

What: A Prisoner-of-War Valuables Box.

Sold By: Northeast Auctions

Item Description: A Prisoner-of-War chip carved and inlaid valuables box, made by an American Revolutionary War prisioner at Mill Prison, Plymouth, dated September 4th, 1777.

Sale Price: $11,600.00

My Notes: If you see something like this at an estate sale Think “Provenance,” Think, “What is the back story of this piece…?” If you can purchase such an item for a reasonable price, then your research efforts may pay off, and if you later discover that “It’s just and interesting box” then you won’t be out of your money. A box like this, even if it was made some time ago by a “Folk  Art” craftsman, will always sell well.

Alert: Selling something like this Prisoner of War Valuables box will require a proper auction house to attain its highest sales price. Take lots of pictures and send them along with as much background information as you can to at least 3 auction houses.

Research Resource: Prices for Antiques.Com

Good Luck Out There, and Happy Hunting.

Martin Codina
Founder and CEO
Fine Estate Sales

Details

Alphonse Mucha Postcard $12,650

Details:

$30,000.00 Freewheelin Bob Dylan Record

Read here carefully

The Do it Yourself Estate Sales Guide