Went to an auction today and picked up a few things.....

[Chad L. Magee]

Well, I decided to take a break from grading Chem exams today and went to a local estate auction.  While most of it was glassware (not my bag), there were a few good antiques mixed in occationally.  I ended up buying a box of old childrens books that looked interesting (did not look through them until they were up for bid).  Three of them might actually be worth something:

1.) A very old version of The Night Before Christmas (around 1900 or before) that has some black and white illustrations.  The all color cover (with Santa) has come off of the backing, but is there and seems to be complete.

2.) A Katchenjammer Kids coloring book from 1917 with most of the pages colored. It was interesting to see their "modern cars, planes and other things" as we see them as antiques now.

3.) A almost complete Peck's Big Boy and His Chums comic book (very large size, in color) from 1908.  It is missing the first few pages and part of a corner on the cover.  According to what I have found on the internet, only five copies of this book exist in libraries worldwide.

The funny thing about this is that I first was not interested in the box as I thought it was full of old sheet music and wallpaper catalogs.  Just goes to show that you never know what you might find at a sale......

[A383Wing]

no Charger parts, huh?? 

[Chad L. Magee]

no Charger parts, huh?? 

No, not this time.  I can always wish....

[chargerman67]

Cool stuff Chad. I love auctions. And getting a hold of things that old is always incredible. Post up some pics of that old comic book if you get a chance. Do you know if its worth any money yet?

[RD]

cool chad!  i bought 6 old vinyl records (some columbia, some victor - precursor to RCA) today at a fall festival.  cruised through an antique store.  good shape and still in their sleeves.  may throw them on the bag to see what they can bring me.  some gene autry, roy rogers, and frank sinatra.

[Chad L. Magee]

cool chad!  i bought 6 old vinyl records (some columbia, some victor - precursor to RCA) today at a fall festival.  cruised through an antique store.  good shape and still in their sleeves.  may throw them on the bag to see what they can bring me.  some gene autry, roy rogers, and frank sinatra.

RD-  You should check online about the records that you bought to see if there are any rare ones.  I know that there is a listing of certain ones people are looking for and if you have one of those, it may payoff well to contact them.  Craigslist the ones that you can't sell on ebay... 

There was a mint 1929 (last year made) Victrola record player at the auction yesterday.  The condition of the wood and hinges made it look like a reproduction, but it was an original one.  A friend wanted to buy it but was only going up to $125 on it (yeah, I laughed too, as most of these bring $300-400).  The bidding started at $250 and quickly went to $700.  This auction had a lot of nice vintage furniture that just did not sell well because of low attendance.

On a side note for those who are not into antiquing, I did pickup a 6 gallon Shop-vac for $1 for my lab (helps in pick up broken glass)....

[Chad L. Magee]

Cool stuff Chad. I love auctions. And getting a hold of things that old is always incredible. Post up some pics of that old comic book if you get a chance. Do you know if its worth any money yet?

It is too large to fit my scanner and I have a fairly large scanner.  I am going to take some photos of it later today to post.  Still don't know what any of them is possibly worth.  I did find a comic dealer who had a later Peck's comic book and he wanted $350 for it, but I don't think that one is as rare as the one that I got (mine is in worse shape though and condition does play a part in determining worth).  It is really strange to come across comics this old (WWI and before) around here as most of that stuff just did not last during the great depression and through the ages afterward.  These must have been treasured items from the old lady's mother or grandmother.....
     At the last local auction a month ago, I picked up a small box of comic books for $20 that contained seven 1945 editions (Pyroman, Sheena of the Jungle, Super Magician Comics, Nancy and Sluggo, and three others) as well as a few newer ones in the 1960s.  I am not a comic book collector by any means (funny because I collect almost everything else a nerd would collect), but felt I should buy the box after seeing a "Buy US War Bonds" on one of the covers (Pyroman) with a price of 12 cents.  Too bad none of them was Superman #1....

[RD]

i wouldnt scan the comic book. the intense light will affect the color of the comic.. take a photo without the flash on.

i forgot to mention there was a 1938 Lincoln tool cabinet in there for sale.  Needed total restoration and they added some newer outlets to it.  The guy wanted 2K for it!!! I was like... no.  $200 yes, $2000, he is smoking crack.  American Pickers wouldnt have bought it for that. I should have took pictures, but it had a tool cabinet on the left and right side (right side was shelving, left was to hold tools vertically with spring clips),  middle had drawers and a work table, with a peg board backing and the lincoln header going across the top.  All in metal.