It’s always amazing to read all the interesting reader questions we get each month—and we do our best to read and respond to them all. Sculptures, unused sporting event tickets and vintage Halloween items are just a few of the treasures we’ve had the pleasure of researching.
Q. I have a signed Loredano Rosin sculpture “Seated Girl” in mint condition. Any idea of today’s value?
A. This famous piece of art has had quite a few remakes over the years. Although signed and in very good condition, your sculpture will likely only bring $200-$300 in a fair market value. The value may increase if you have the signature authenticated to make sure it is not replication or forgery.
I suggest contacting Brian Kathenes of National Appraisal Consultants to assist (brian@nacvalue.com). Brian is a CAPP (Certified Appraiser of Personal Property) member of the International Society of Appraisers.
Q. I have an envelope sent from the USNA in Annapolis, MD, with postmark date 1920. Inside the envelope was a letter inviting a friend to the 1920 Army-Navy football game at the Polo Grounds with one unused ticket. I’ve had this ticket for probably 35 years and often wondered if it has any value?
A. Navy ended up victorious over Army in 1920 by the score of 7-0. The game wasn’t a particularly memorable one, so I do not think this alters the fair market value of your item. Vintage newspapers and programs for Army vs. Navy games, depending on condition, range from $20-$500.
However, unless you find someone who is interested specifically in this type of collector piece for its connection with the Navy or the sport affiliation, unused tickets and ticket stubs range from $1-$100. One option: you may wish to contact the Navy to see if there’s interest in your possession (pao@usna.edu). Most of the time we see an item like this to be far more valuable personally with the story and about how you acquired it.
Q. Going through my grandfather’s storage shed I came across an old Beatles Halloween costume with the name Ben Cooper copyright 1965. I was wondering if these old plastic costumes in the box have any value today?
A. My favorite holiday of all! I’m a collector of older Halloween paraphernalia, and I end up being extremely finicky as to which items I will add to my arsenal of décor. The boxed costumes of the 1950s to the mid-1980s are in really high demand depending on condition. I recently purchased a Batman costume on eBay for $25 in excellent condition. Depending on which of the Fab Four you have, your Beatles costume could be valued between $100-$400, with John Lennon being the most valuable.
Keep the questions coming, as we enjoy the research, analysis, and ultimately finding the answers.
That’s all for this month. Wait until the next issue to see what treasures we have in store for you. Happy hunting!
— Do you have an appraisal question?
Email us at editor@arcadianews.com.
We look forward to hearing from you.