Pawn Stars

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Quote: Ibeatyouraces

Quote: HotBlonde

See, look how handsome he is!!~

Would you say that if he worked at Burger King?

Take Lindsey Vonn and Tiger Woods. There is no way in hell she'd be with him if he was Joe Schmo walking down the street.

Chumlee is handsome regardless. When he was bigger I loved his funny personality (although it still KILLS me the way they pick on him). But now that he has lost weight he looks handsome. So now he's got looks AND personality.

Quote: Ibeatyouraces

Would you say that if he worked at Burger King?
.

Exactly. Chum is many things and handsome
ain't one of them. Being seen thru the prism
of being on TV and having money makes
him appear differently to some women.

I was watching episodes on Hulu but they are limited to only providing 5 shows max at a time to watch so I've begun watching full episodes directly through the History.com website. Lots more stuff there. I just saw the episode where ChumLee looks for Bob Dylan. I've basically blown away my last couple of afternoons watching this stuff! #unproductiveafternoons #screwwork #whoneedsanincomewhenyouhavechumlee

So, as a side question I was wondering if some of you could help me out.

My dad has been collecting things for years. I just got off the phone with him asking if there was anything he'd want to try and sell on the show. He said he wouldn't want to go on the show and also out of all the stuff he has (and I'm talking tens of thousands of stuff) there wasn't anything he would want to part with right now. After telling him I wouldn't mind going on the show instead of him and pressing him to think if there was anything at all that would be unique to the show that I could bring on and sell he did think of one item he has. I'm not going to mention it here (at least not yet) but I was wondering how could I find out how much it is worth to see if it's even something the show would consider? Are there websites I can go on (other than eBay) to get some sort of idea, or an actual expert's price range quote?

Thanks in advance.

Quote: HotBlonde

I'm not going to mention it here (at least not yet) but I was wondering how could I find out how much it is worth to see if it's even something the show would consider? Are there websites I can go on (other than eBay) to get some sort of idea, or an actual expert's price range quote?

It depends on the kind of item, naturally. Since you won't say what it is, I would start by searching out collectors' groups for that kind of item. If there is a manufacturer involved, look that up, too. They may not ahve any info on site, but you can contact them and ask about it. If it's the kind of thing you'd find in a museum, like art or ancient artifacts, look up museums as well.

If it's fine art, collectables or sculpture, you can check Christie's; they list auction prices for hundreds of thousands of things for free.

If it's handmade, you can check Etsy for pricing on most craft items.

Ebay does have a way for you to view closed items by category so you can see what things actually sold for, but it can be difficult to get it to spit that info out.

Otherwise, I just google whatever it is and usually the whole first page is full of people trying to sell one.

It's a photograph directly from the negative (so, it's not a scanned print of an original print) of a former US President,
and the pic was taken by a historical photography company, which has its stamp on the picture.

Which president was it? I'd rather have a picture of Lincoln than Clinton. My guy says whatever you have won't get you on the show.

Quote: CrystalMath

Which president was it? I'd rather have a picture of Lincoln than Clinton. My guy says whatever you have won't get you on the show.

I don't want to say which one but it's a substantial one.

My understanding is that many of the customers are actually customers of the "experts" and that the experts have already seen the items and recommended them to the producers.

Quote: DRich

My understanding is that many of the customers are actually customers of the "experts" and that the experts have already seen the items and recommended them to the producers.

There are 10's of thousands of people trying
to get on the show. You're chances are not just
slim, they're almost non existent. Many of the
'customers' who have items are really local
LV actors. Much of what you see comes from
local shops or shops of the 'experts', and goes
back to them when it's over. It's a TV show,
just about everything you see is faked. How do
I know this? I read, it's amazing what you can
find.

Storage Wars? All fake. The treasures they find
in the lockers come from the very experts they
take them to for a value. People who have done
lockers for a living say in all their years they
never found one thing of any real value, yet on
the shows they find something every 10min.

Are you sayin' Lizard Lick Towing is fake? Jesus

I suppose everyone who sees that show thinks about some rare item thay might have, or thinks what rare item they might have.

The rarest item I have is a 60s-70s-era edition of Olaf Stapledon's (and I'm sure I have the name wrong) of "Last and First Men" and "The Star makers," I think. What makes it remarkable is that it is a very high quality paperback. The pages are of high grade paper and are treated to last for a long, long time. I can attest that they still look almost brand new, after 40+ years. They're also sewn to the spine, rather than glued.

Alas, it's an obscure tome by an obscure author dating from the 1930s or so. It's likely not worth much.

I think my 34C boned combination corset and bustiere is worth more. But I'd never part with it ;)

Quote: treetopbuddy

Are you sayin' Lizard Lick Towing is fake? Jesus

and south beach tow. Now my evening is ruined.

Like last weeks show. A guy takes in a $750,000 guitar that
was owned by Jimi Hendrix? Sure he did. It was set up
nonsense and of course it didn't sell. Something like that
would go in a Sotheby's auction. The whole show is like
that now, preposterous.

Quote: EvenBob

In between the Strat and Fremont on LV Blvd, you can't miss
it. I went there for years before it was a show.

Was that because you needed more roulette money? I was under the impression you thought pawnshops are rip offs.

It's antiques road show... except there's no road to travel along and it's not so much 'found items'.

Quote: DRich

My understanding is that many of the customers are actually customers of the "experts" and that the experts have already seen the items and recommended them to the producers.

That makes sense.

I'm not an expert in the field of getting into a TV show, or even know much about it, but if I wanted to get on Pawn Stars, I'd try contacting the producers first.

Quote: Nareed

I'm not an expert in the field of getting into a TV show, or even know much about it, but if I wanted to get on Pawn Stars, I'd try contacting the producers first.

I used to go there to look at rings and watches. There
was none of the hotsy totsy stuff they supposedly buy now.
It's a Vegas pawn shop, people pawn their jewelry and
watches, not a book signed by Thomas Jefferson.
Taking that to a pawn shop would be insane.

Quote: paisiello

That's what I was thinking.

I have the original black and white photo taken for this,( http://www.pinterest.com/pin/97320041920860420/ ) It has small official piece of paper stuck to the back saying from the White House with some details. Front cover of McCall's magazine dated May 1962 featuring First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy with her children. Caroline Kennedy and John F. Kennedy Jr. are seated on Mrs. Kennedy's lap. "Children in the White House from Tyler to Kennedy." Its being held in my friends safe deposit box.



It was given to me by my ex Girl friends grandmother, who's husband was a semi? famous Las Vegas photographer who took photos of important people and stars. She had/has hundreds of original photos of stars like Evils Presley ,Rat pack, Priscilla Presley as a child. No one seemed interested in the storys or photos but me so She let me pick one

Grandma was a personal maid or nanny to the stars or something like that, One thing that stuck out in my head was.... she said, she knew Priscilla as a child and she was a very lonely, sad child

I assume grandma has passed by now, I bet all the grand kids sold them all for penny's on the dollar. I would guess the collection was worth at least 50k some of them had signatures and never been seen photos.

Perhaps I should contact My ex GF and ask if she has them. She knew I thought they were valuable. It's Probably not worth pissing off my Current GF.

Quote: AxelWolf

I have the original black and white photo taken for this,( http://www.pinterest.com/pin/97320041920860420/ ) It has small official piece of paper stuck to the back saying from the White House with some details. .

The print isn't worth much, the orig negative is
where the value is. And because it doesn't
have Kennedy in it, it wouldn't be worth
much either. Prints with the sig of the person
on it have value. Or prints signed by really
famous photographers. You're far better
off keeping it and pretending it has value.

I like to see the look on people's faces when they are told by experts that their priceless collectible is a piece of crap. They shake their head and say, "You're wrong, this is a priceless artifact!" but deep down they know whatever they were holding onto was worth $5 in scrap metal.

Quote: EvenBob

The print isn't worth much, the orig negative is
where the value is. And because it doesn't
have Kennedy in it, it wouldn't be worth
much either. Prints with the sig of the person
on it have value. Or prints signed by really
famous photographers. You're far better
off keeping it and pretending it has value.

I have already had it appraised over 12 years ago two different times, both were in the thousands. Reticently I was told the value on it went up, and I should take it to an action house in new York or something, I have a friend who is knowledgeable concerning auctions and New York he is holding onto it until the next time he travels for his coin collection.

I have been offered 3k cash in a sell it to me now situation. I have also been offered a Breitling watch in trade. I am just going to hold on to it for now.

Quote: AxelWolf

I have already had it appraised over 12 years ago two different times, both were in the thousands.

For an unsigned print? Baloney. Somebody is kidding
somebody here. Unsigned modern prints are a dime
a dozen, even of a presidents family. Unless the
photog is really famous and signed it, it might be
worth a couple hundred, but I doubt it. If you paid
for the appraisal, they always tell you what you want
to hear. I know, I used to do it. If somebody offered
you 3K, take it and run, waving your hands over your
head in joy.

If you want a real appraisal, take it to an antique bookstore.
They always deal in all kinds of paper items, they'll
tell you kind of what it's worth. You have to know how
to talk to them, they don't like doing free appraisals.

I know people that got appraisals on things that were
thousands over the real value and hung on to it for
years, only to find out it was almost worthless. I've
sold hundreds of photographs over the years, and
books. The value in unsigned photos just isn't there.
If its part of the artists portfolio, or is signed by
the people in the photo, or the photog himself, that's
where the value lies. Otherwise all you have is a pic
which is easily faked (I knew a guy that faked tintypes,
now that's hard) and a nice story. Like the guy who
brought John Wayne's saddle onto Pawn Stars. He
had a great story and a receipt from a prop room,
but that proves diddly..

Now you'll tell me I'm full of it and blah blah blah.
You'll see what it's worth when you try and sell it.
The truth always comes out eventually.

Quote: EvenBob

For an unsigned print? Baloney. Somebody is kidding
somebody here. Unsigned modern prints are a dime
a dozen, even of a presidents family. Unless the
photog is really famous and signed it, it might be
worth a couple hundred, but I doubt it. If you paid
for the appraisal, they always tell you what you want
to hear. I know, I used to do it. If somebody offered
you 3K, take it and run, waving your hands over your
head in joy.

If you want a real appraisal, take it to an antique bookstore.
They always deal in all kinds of paper items, they'll
tell you kind of what it's worth. You have to know how
to talk to them, they don't like doing free appraisals.

I know people that got appraisals on things that were
thousands over the real value and hung on to it for
years, only to find out it was almost worthless. I've
sold hundreds of photographs over the years, and
books. The value in unsigned photos just isn't there.
If its part of the artists portfolio, or is signed by
the people in the photo, or the photog himself, that's
where the value lies. Otherwise all you have is a pic
which is easily faked (I knew a guy that faked tintypes,
now that's hard) and a nice story. Like the guy who
brought John Wayne's saddle onto Pawn Stars. He
had a great story and a receipt from a prop room,
but that proves diddly..

Now you'll tell me I'm full of it and blah blah blah.
You'll see what it's worth when you try and sell it.
The truth always comes out eventually.

I was told, the fact it had a note from the White House and it was the original for the cover used on that magazine and the photographer who shot the picture made it more valuable then a normal original photo

Yes but once the truth comes out and you are found wrong like many other occasions you just run, hide and disappear. Everyone yaps but no one will put there money where their mouth is.

Quote: AxelWolf

I was told, the fact it had a note from the White House and it was the original for the cover used on that magazine and the photographer who shot the picture made it more valuable then a normal original photo.

Thousands more valuable? Unless the note is on WH stationary
and is in the first ladies hand writing, it doesn't mean squat.
It could have been written by anybody. Even WH stationary
is counterfeited.

You don't understand where the value comes from in an item.
A picture all by itself is meaningless, unless its real old and one
of a kind. This is neither. A pic of Frank Sinatra is almost worthless.
A signed pic can be worth hundreds. A signed pic with a hand
written note by him on the back can be worth thousands. If
your pic had Kennedy in it and was signed by him, thousands.
It doesn't and it isn't.

Quote: AxelWolf

I have also been offered a Breitling watch in trade. I am just going to hold on to it for now.

What model? I just love the vintage Breitlings; new ones don't do much for me though.

Quote: zippyboy

What model? I just love the vintage Breitlings; new ones don't do much for me though.

Axel,

I collect various things, and never really dealt in them, but I'm gonna disagree with EB about that picture. With the provenance of the WH letter (you don't say who wrote it but I would guess most likely Letitia Baldridge - her personal secretary- or someone like that), the publication proof, and the mystique of the Kennedys; the photo is retro art as an original positive, if you can get a statement from the grandmother in her handwriting as to where it came from and when, it's even more valuable. I think you're right estimating in the thousands. It tells a huge story, looking at their collective beauty and innocence, sitting in the WH itself, and knowing now what we do about JFK's personal life and the assassination, as well as JFK Jr's death. It's not illogical in that day and age to think the First Lady reserved the right to choose the photo used and what you have was the approval of that one from among several, mailed back to the photographer, or maybe a thank-you if she liked it. You might consider getting a large sheet of acid-free paper and folding it around the picture at a minimum, and you probably don't want to store it in a plastic bag unless it's airless, possibly with a silicon packet to absorb the least moisture. A good framer can tell you; it would cost you 100-200 to frame it properly.

Both your photograph and HB's might be worth inquiring with Christie's online. Get a good, well-lit photo of it, noting any foxing, creasing, bent corners, curling. Include any information, especially supporting documents, about photographer, time and place, development process, etc. Christie's claims they will provide an auction appraisal (an expected price range) on worthwhile items for free.

Quote: beachbumbabs

Axel,

I collect various things, and never really dealt in them, but I'm gonna disagree with EB about that picture. With the provenance of the WH letter (you don't say who wrote it but I would guess most likely Letitia Baldridge .

It's a letter from her on WH stationary? That's where the
value is, not in the pic. I didn't know it was a letter from
her, I thought it was an obscure note. Unsigned notes
are next to worthless.

Quote: EvenBob

It's a letter from her on WH stationary? That's where the
value is, not in the pic. I didn't know it was a letter from
her, I thought it was an obscure note. Unsigned notes
are nex

I don't know what it is either, Bob, Axel wasn't very specific. But I would agree - the WH paper brings the value, depends on what it is.

I really do marvel at all the information available on this site. There are people here who know a little something about just about everything out there!

Really am impressed. Great job Wiz, this really is enough to make a man proud. I hope you are, I would be!