If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Ross George Speedball pen personal tools ~ boy, do I have questions!
My apologies if this post is out of bounds, but I am new to this group
and landed here because... well, I have to start somewhere. I am truely looking for advice, not trying to sell anything here and now, although that is the end goal as I will get to. I think this has the potential for an interesting discussion in the end. I am helping a friend with the estate of her grandfather/mother. It is the estate of Ross George ~ the inventor of the Speedball line of calligraphy and professional signmaking pens as well as author of numerous texts for the art of calligraphy and designer of numerous text styles. This estate is relatively modest but not meager and it appears complete and mostly untouched since the death of Mr. George's widow back in the 1980's. Itt has been boxed in storage and at this point is completely disorganized Some of what has been uncovered includes his personal pen 'toolbox' for the sale and marketing of his line and is the kit that he carried all over the world to teach the techniques and sell the pens. The toolbox is a thin 3x3 ft. box which contains virtually every style of Speedball nib (attached to individual dip pens) he and the company ever developed prior to the family selling the operation to Hunt Pen Co. a couple decades ago and numbers some 250 dip pens along with several dozen boxes of Speedball nibs of various styles... so far! It has literally sat untouched in the basement of his Seattle, WA home since his death. Also present are many examples of the artist proof mock-ups for his textbooks created by his own hand. There is likely more to be found, but the granddaughter is only beginning to sort thru everything as I write this. In a best-case scenario, the family naturally would like to see the collection stay reasonably intact for historical reasons if practical, but also have interest in converting it into padding for their meager retirement nest-egg. We have discussed ebay, but do not really know if that is the optimum way to deal with it. They have no idea of how to go about marketing it or what aspects would be important to a prospective purchaser, much less a value to put on such a unique item. And frankly, neither do I except in the most general sense. I collect a type of advertising floater pencil (made by Secretary Pen Co back in the 1940-50's), but that is as far as my expertise goes in the hobby. I realize that in this computer age, Speedball pens have a certain "buggy whip obsolescence" cachet to most people, but there is obviously still a market among a devoted following. If such an situation landed in your lap, how would you handle it? What would be important to prospective clients? Is contacting high- end pen dealers on ebay the place to start or are there better options? Any guidance would be appreciated. |
Ads |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Ross George Speedball pen personal tools ~ boy, do I have questions!
On Dec 7, 8:39*am, moreisbetter wrote:
If such an situation landed in your lap, how would you handle it? What would be important to prospective clients? *Is contacting high- end pen dealers on ebay the place to start or are there better options? *Any guidance would be appreciated. This topic comes up fairly regularly over at www.fountainpennetwork.com You'll want to peruse the Writing Instruments sub- forum, there are several knowledgeable dealers who do deal with this sort of thing routinely. Don't be put off by the name, there is a good sized contingent of tech and dip pen users that post regularly. By registering as a member, you'll gain a host of additional resources including the ability to use the "Search" function. There are some modest posting requirements before you can avail yourself of the sales portion of the board, but you can certainly start your research and begin connecting with the experts and dealers right away! Hope to see you there! |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Ross George Speedball pen personal tools ~ boy, do I have questions!
I can't offer any expertise, but it seems a shame to trickle the collection
away on fleabay. Have you tried contacting any museums with graphic art collections, or some of the better auction houses? This link might give you some food for thought: http://americanart.si.edu/research/tools/art/worth/ If no one mentioned there is directly interested, they might be able to suggest someone appropriate. Brian -- |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Questions: eBay Buyer/Bidder Tools? | Nick Knight | Coins | 2 | November 8th 08 04:05 AM |
looking for Speedball and Hunt nibs | Charles Ackerman | Pens & Pencils | 2 | January 5th 07 07:41 PM |
HUMMEL-like figure Small boy BIG boot GEORGE IMPORTS | Ebayer | General | 0 | August 1st 05 11:54 PM |
Boy George | Shinny By The Bay | Autographs | 0 | September 22nd 04 11:30 PM |
My first seeburg 100 C and boy, do I have questions. | Bernie | Juke Boxes | 5 | July 28th 03 04:22 AM |