Tokenpro Kondo -- A Moment Of Personal Satisfaction

tokenpro

I just got a head start on my (yearly) New Years resolution of downsizing both inventory (number of pieces-wise) and library (auctions, old editions & sideline subjects) -- I just hauled out the first four foot high stack of Bowers & Ruddy and Bowers & Merena catalogs directly into the recycling bin to be picked up in the morning (hidden under newspapers, wrapping & postal cardboard). More to follow.

It feels good.

Unknown

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291fifth

Smart move in just dumping them for recycle. Very few old catalogs have any real market value. They are just heavy, bulky space wasters. I got rid of mine long ago and am glad I did.

ricko

Great idea.... I should do that on a yearly basis.... I just keep adding to my 'piles and boxes'....I am turning into a hoarder ... Cheers, RickO

tokenpro

@Realone said:
Why don't you sell them to Bryce Brown a fellow member who then can sell them to those that collect catalogues?

Short answer -- actual value vs time & shipping.

-- Stacks of auction catalogs offered free every year at two major local shows end up in the recycling pile
-- All the items I am tossing have been offered for free haul away to members at several local clubs
-- All local dealers that I've known for years have been offered anything they need for free -- 95% of them are also in the same situation and offered me theirs
-- Check the results for actual catalog sales on eBay -- mortally anemic wouldn't do that corpse justice
-- The wonderful Newman Portal has alleviated the need for many hard copies
-- The archives from several of the major auction houses have zapped the need for many modern hard copies
-- media mail rates have negated the easy transfer of poundage products (I recall sending back a large library that came along with a collection I bought back in 2002 in Jackson Mississippi for a small fraction of current rates). This precludes sending consignments of everyday material, auctions & books.
-- If I haven't had the need to access this material in the past 5 years it is doubtful that I would need it in the next 5 years for my cataloging and research- even then there are the alternative sources already mentioned.

That said --
-- I am pulling out specific sales that I often use in my field -- Springfield, Clifford, Van Ormer, several with major Hard Times offerings, etc.
-- I did pull a few majors out for the moment - Norweb x4, etc.
-- I have kept the specialty sales and price lists in my field as they do have a (limited) market and were printed in much small #'s. Most are not on the Newman Portal. These will be offered sometime down the line when I no longer need them (Korzick, Cunningham, J&J, Hartzog, Kirtley, Slawsky, Pipher, etc.)
-- I don't know Mr. Brown but according to his price list I have over a hundred grand worth of my own catalogs sitting in storage -- but both he & I know that in most cases of modern (last 50 years) material there is just a tad more supply than there is demand. I would sell my remaining copies for a nominal discount...

One last off the wall -- I always forget just how bad the black & white photography was for even the major companies back in the early '80s!

DCW

I hope you havent thrown out the Ford Collection Catalogs! I've always wanted to own a full set of those on the cheap.

Oldhoopster

I did the same thing during a move a few years ago. Mine wear from the 80s and 90s. I kept the important sales, catalogs with important coins such as an 1804 dollar, and a few other specialized collections. I still feel a little disheartened when I think about it, but moving the coin books was bad enough and my back thanked me.