What's the best auction house for consigning political items? Mostly Presidential type material: cabinets, cdv's, etc.. Is there any one that does better than the others? Thanks.

Heritage seems to do pretty well with this type of material Paul. Best bet might be to try the B/S/T section of this board first.

Hey Paul

Mastro's has some pretty neat presidential memorabilia, but hardly any cards. In the last 19th Century Only had a nice Lone Jack Chester Arthur SGC10. I was the underbidder and it went for $225. That may have been a little high, but you just dont see alot of cards like that on auction sites. More baseball then anything. I always browse when auctions start hoping to see something.

Heritage has some of the skeletal remains of the old 'Political Gallery' guys from Indiana years ago, so that's the tie there, I think...........Mastronet also has a great deal of political items. If it's pins, go with Hakes. I'd agree with Brent (who collects presidential stuff too) that there's a lot of collectors here on the board, so try BST since it's fee free..............

Paul,

I would suggest (for stuff that's NOT too high end) to consign to the Live auction that is part of the Harrisburg Political And Historical Memorabilia Show, which takes place once a year (late June) in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. I attended this years show & auction. Huge crowd for the auction !!! There were about 80 lots and the consigners fee was 15 percent. I know people who consigned with them and were very pleased. Most of the lots were less than $200.


Here's more info from the 2008 recent one:

Harrisburg Political And Historical Memorabilia Show
Published June 22nd, 2008

The annual Harrisburg and Political Memorabilia Extravaganza Show will be held at the Four Points Sheraton Hotel, 800 East Park Drive (exit 48 - Union Deposit Road off of Interstate 83, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Friday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday, June 28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Attend the show and help celebrate the 35th anniversary of the convention.

The event will feature a wide variety of Americana and Historical items for sale or trade. Included will be political memorabilia, from George Washington to George Washington Bush as well as the current candidates, Governor, United States Senate, local and national ephemera will also be offered. Also, patriotic items (Civil War, World War I and II, Vietnam era, etc.), “small” collectibles including antique advertising, pinbacks, comic character items, Disneyana, sports related (not cards), items of popular culture and much more will be offered.

Admission to the show is $5. Free appraisals are offered with an option to auction items at the convention for a small fee. For additional information contact Robert Coup at (717) 656-7855, or e-mail at polbandwan@aol.com.

Thanks boys. I'll use the BST for some stuff and check out Heritage.

on what the material is. I like Hake's for older collectibles, pins, paper, figures - but NOT serious antiquities. At Hake's you can sell or consign and the last time I did it went quite well for me. Mastro good for esoteric things one wants to sell out of "market" to closet buyers. There are a few strictly political houses as well although I don't follow them much anymore other than an occasional mis-placed item found in a unsolicited catalog that makes it to my house. Also people out there like Rex Stark willing to buy your stuff outright. No experience consigning to Heritage but they are HUGE.
Tom - Political Gallery just had 2 employees so a skeleton would be ONE person(?) - is Tom Slater now with Heritage? I put him in the same seller's frame as James Maxwell.

Cowan's Auctions offer mainly early Americana including a nice selection of political - definitely worth checking out:

www.cowanauctions.com

Wes would not be happy I didn't mention him. Mr. Cowan is an appraiser on the Antiques Road Show. Nice guy who has been doing it quite a long time. Couple my best Dags and black/indian photographic items have come from him..... More of a western and americanna guy - I think he has a political "specialty" auction each year or so. Not sure if he would get the best price - depends what "it" is