The Appraiser's Archive: Our Most Memorable Auction Moment
- Danny Triplett
- Jul 10
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 25
In today's edition of The Appraiser's Archive, we have an exciting opportunity for professional service providers – keep reading to find out how you could win a $50 Visa gift card! We also take a trip down memory lane to one of CEO Danny Triplett's most memorable brokerage services, spotlight some funky recent auctions, and discuss how professionals can make the right choice when searching for a personal property appraiser for their clients' valuables.
PERSONAL PROPERTY SPOTLIGHT
One of our most memorable auction moments began when a client asked our CEO Danny Triplett to look at a large legal size envelope they had tucked away in one of their dresser drawers. What she had was an archive of Norman Rockwell’s working methods that would later lead to some of his famous paintings. Triplett helped land the items at a Sotheby's Fine Books and Manuscripts Auction.
Back in the 1960’s and 70’s, our client’s father was the VP and Merchandising Manager of Top Value Stamp Enterprises and also a collector of Rockwell’s work. Her father had commissioned Rockwell to do a series of illustrations for the covers of Top Value’s trading stamp catalogues. The collaboration between the two men was a close one. Rockwell would explain what he thought would work for some of the catalogue cover images, and our client’s father, the executive, would then correspond back with Rockwell and offer his suggestions.
Clothing and other merchandise from the current Top Value catalogues were used by Rockwell in the depictions he drew for the catalogue covers. Those items were mailed to Rockwell, who hired models to fashion them for his drawings. Photographs, pencil sketches, and letters went back and forth between the two men before the final image would be finalized.
In addition to the four drawings that Triplett brokered for the client at Sotheby’s in New York City, the archive also included eleven autographed letters and nine typed letters to our client’s father, all signed "Norman" or "N.” There was also a small collection of photographs, including one posed scene with models, photos of Rockwell at work on the paintings in his studio, photographic negatives, Top Value catalogues with Rockwell covers, and 2 Rockwell monographs inscribed to our client’s father.
Do you or a client have a valuable item you want to sell but don't know where to start?
UNLOCKING VALUE: INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
While combing through news about the world of personal property, we recently stumbled upon some funky auctions of lost and stolen goods.
Wilsons Auctions, based in the UK and Ireland, just wrapped up an Unreserved Government Auction. With no reserve prices, bidders could snag luxury items obtained by various government entities seized from perhaps less-than-savory sources. In addition to luxury fashion and vehicles, solid gold bars and Rolexes were up for grabs!
Down under, Sydney Airport hosted a lost property auction, showcasing a much more varied and somewhat bizarre set of lots. With categories spanning from "Tech & Gaming" to "Beauty, Alcohol, Home," the auction revealed the less traditional items people from around the world travel with… and apparently lose track of. A bottle of Malibu rum, a violin, a time capsule, engagement rings, and gobs more – just perusing the various lots is an entertaining pastime of its own.
And finally, here in the US, our country’s only lost baggage retailer hosted its own in-person auction in Alabama. At Unclaimed Baggage’s Fourth of July event, bidders could try their luck on individual items or take the exciting risk of bidding on unopened luggage and revealing the mystery contents afterwards. Buyers could also opt for a themed “Mega Mystery Bundle” of 100+ items. Complete with sweet treats and a luggage-painting station, the event seemed to be a true celebration of the fun and fascinating world of personal property!
THE PROFESSIONAL'S CORNER
When do you need a personal property appraisal for your client, and how can you make sure you’re choosing the right appraiser?
Clients often come to us in the role of an estate executor, professional guardian, or power of attorney requesting a personal property appraisal before they’re legally allowed to sell items from the estate or for the individual. Courts often require a written appraisal showing how much the item is worth in order to ensure a fair and equitable sale.
An appraisal by an unbiased appraiser helps appointed agents avoid complex and potentially unethical situations where a third-party (sometimes even a family member) attempts to buy the item for unscrupulously low dollar amounts. When this happens, heirs or the ward can lose out on potential monetary value they’re entitled to.
Certified personal property appraisers are unbiased in their valuations, providing accurate and timely fair market values for personal property, neither deflating or inflating values in the interest of any given party. Ethical appraisers that are compliant with the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) must not provide a valuation that is pre-determined based on the needs of the client, nor may they charge a fee dependent on the results of their valuation.
If you’re in need of an unbiased and accurate personal property appraisal on behalf of a client, it’s always in your best interest to ensure that your appraiser is USPAP-compliant. Contact the USPAP-compliant, certified personal property appraisers at Valuables Appraisal Service to learn more about how we can help!
VAS NEWS
We have an exciting opportunity for the professional service providers who subscribe to our newsletter! As Valuables Appraisal Service expands our business, we’re trying to improve how we support professionals with personal property services. If you work in estate planning, wealth management, professional guardianship, or an adjacent industry and are based in the United States, we’d love your input.
We put together a short survey to learn more about when and how personal property services are most helpful in your work, and eligible survey takers will be entered into a drawing for a $50 Visa gift card!
The survey will take 5-7 minutes to complete, and you can take it by clicking the button below. We appreciate your consideration!
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