Artful Ephemera
By Jennifer Berman
Ephemera, also known as memorabilia or simply “vintage,” are defined as items that were originally meant to be discarded after a brief time, but have become collectable because they have historical or cultural significance. They range from handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces to mass-produced objects, and are generally categorized by their subject matter. Some examples may include: postcards, Valentines, posters, election swag, game boards, baseball cards, documents, books, seed packets, magazines, comic books, photographs, invitations, advertising, and LPs.
The formula for appraising collectibles is scarcity divided by condition. Condition is king, unless an item is extremely rare or had a notable owner. The problem with most twentieth-century ephemera is, there are a lot of copies out there. A good place to start is the Ephemera Society of America’s website. It’s also a good way to connect with dealers and collectors. Sites like Etsy or eBay make it much easier to see what is out there and determine a relative value, but the list price is never the sale price.
Probate might require a professional appraisal when an estate has collections of fine art, antiques, furniture, or high end collections. That appraiser will be looking for objects that fit their very specific criteria, objects they know can be sold or auctioned. Often folk, decorative, souvenirs, oddities, and ephemera will fall beneath an appraiser’s radar. Yet with most estates there will be at least one trove of mementos in some drawer or a collection on a shelf. Don’t be so quick to discard them, they are usually objects near and dear to their owner, and they might possibly have value.
Before 1963, most people didn’t really care about our “paper past.” After the assassination of JFK, people started seeing everyday objects as possible collectibles, thus driving down their scarcity. Because these items were so plentiful, it took the expertise of a professional to tell the rare from the ordinary. Any old Disney, in particular, is worth checking up on, as are publications such as National Geographic, Look, Life, or The Saturday Evening Post. Sheet music and travel maps are sometimes valuable because they can be repurposed by creative young collectors.
The real value will lay in personal memories. Before you throw anything away, see if there is someone in the family who may be interested. Get a memory box to fill for family and friends. Then the rest can be repurposed into craft supplies, or reach out to people who sell things on the internet. If you are a collector, do your estate a favor and create an inventory. Write it down, even if it’s only a handwritten list. A better idea is to take pictures and create a file so your executor(s) will know what your collection is about. Collectors of high-end items usually do this, but it is something everyone should consider.