(Photo: MvB)
In the first part of this four-part series on adventures and profit in Seattle’s junk trade, we prepared readers on how to approach estate, yard and garage sales. Now, we are going to give you some prime tips on what to buy, and how much to pay for it. First off, clues on what kind of art and books you can find and later resell for big gains.
Art
This is an area where you can score big. In Seattle, almost any painted image of Mount Rainer will sell. The earlier the date, the better.
Also, look out for small paintings, even cigarette-package-sized. They are usually overlooked and usually have low prices. If you find nearly any small painting, oil on board or canvas, with a pleasing subject manner, buy it, particularly if it’s less than $25.
If a painting is signed, look up the artist’s name on your phone. Type in the first and last name and the word “artist.” Many artists, even great ones, have common names so you want to narrow it down. If professional estate sales people see that the artist’s name is listed, the price goes up. Knock it back down by asking for a lower price. I usually start at half what they are asking for a listed artist. Lots of artists had long careers and sold work in galleries. That doesn’t mean they are Rembrandt. If a large painting is more than $50, come back on Sunday or walk away.
Painting by Jack Brusca. $2. Compare to this one.
Look for mid-century art: large abstract prints (bigger than 18″ by 18″) or paintings from the 1950s through the 1970s. Look for women artists. Keep in mind, many women artists changed their names after marrying and are listed under a married name, even though they often sold paintings under their maiden-name signature.
Families often sell old portraits of long forgotten relatives. If they are on canvas, buy low. There is actually a strong market for portraits. I’ve sold such portraits to bars, restaurants and even individuals. Great artists worked in the field of portraiture. Again, keep prices low: below $40.
Before you buy any print, use your magnifying glass. If you look at any image with dots, it means it’s a reproduction. Walk away.
Avoid old etchings of European towns. They look great, but are hard to sell. On the other hand, old etchings of San Francisco, New York, or Seattle are collectible. If you think an image is fantastic, get the lowest price you can: less than $10 is optimal.
Price points: Loose prints, $5 to $7. Framed prints, $7 to $10. If you can find any period painting, pre-1985, that is oil-on-canvas or board for less than $25, buy it. If you are paying more than $50 to $60 dollars for any work of art, it better be signed by a well-listed artist.
Books
Every house has books. There is money in them, and you can sell them yourself online. Be particular about the books you buy: It’s easy to pick up a lot of nice-looking old books only to find out 9,000 people are selling the exact titles on Amazon for a nickel each.
Look for old cookbooks. Best bets are pre-1950 cookbooks, particularly those with old cake and dessert recipes (the guys who started Top Pot found their donut recipe in a 1930s-era cookbook). If you find old cookbooks that feature cocktail recipes, buy them.
Look for authors that have solid reputations and dedicated followers, but whose books are out of print. Ross Macdonald is viewed as a modern master of detective fiction; other mystery writers consider his work on a par with Chandler and Hammett. Most of his books are out of print. Ditto Earl Stanley Gardner, the creator of Perry Mason.
Old books, pre-1900, with illustrations are valuable. Make sure the illustrations are not photomechanically reproduced. Use your 10x loop to see if the image is made up of dots. If it is, walk away. If there are no dots, buy it.
Always check the flyleaf of every book you can. Sometimes you see a signed copy, which adds value. Books with a narrow field of subject matter, such as books on art or birds, usually had small print runs. Check titles on your smart phone to see availability and prices.
Price points: Don’t buy hardbacks above $3 or paperbacks above 50 cents.
In our next installment, we’ll give you the lowdown on furniture, clothes, frames and posters.
