What It's Worth
Weekly articles written by Jeffrey P. Hess about the value of collectibles and other rarities. The articles are published weekly on the Tampa Bay Times.
An Old Master Painting Uncovered In Tampa
Before we delve into the details of the auction, let’s explain some typical accepted auction terms.
Chinese-Made Does Not Mean Inferior
A few weeks back, we proudly
wrote about an impressive
collection of exquisite guitars
sourced from the estate of a devoted
guitar collector. He was not a guitar
player, so his meticulous collection was in exceptional condition. We managed to surpass the estate’s initial offers from guitar dealers by double!
The Watercolors Of A Notorious Conman
Murph the Surf was a man of mystery who lived just two hours from us. A skilled championship surfer, he was known for his cool
demeanor, flashy shades, fast cars and laidback surfer lifestyle. He was good looking with a confident smile and a great physique, and always
had a stunning woman by his side in
pics from paparazzi.
Factors That Influence The Value Of Japanese Prints
Ninety percent of Japanese woodblock prints are worth very little.
The Variety And Collectibility Of Zippo Lighters
During the early 1900s, a young boy, George Grant Blaisdell, had a strong dislike for school. He dropped out in fifth grade and was sent to military school by his father, where he only lasted for two years.
The Ups And Downs Of Ancient To Modern Coins
Evaluation of gold coins can be a slippery slope, as indicated by a coin we sold last month for a customer, and a coin we recently took in for
an upcoming sale.
Unmentionables Of Great Value
The three most popular What’s It Worth column subjects are about my son (endearing), when we lose money (endearing but depressing) and stories from “back in the day.”
Today, I’ll recount a circa-1990 story that I remember with crisp details and a few vague areas as well.
Commemorative Coins
Stone Mountain Silver commemorative coins were minted to honor Confederate leaders, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, to raise funds for the construction of a monument.
Masonic Jewels & Collectibles
The Masons and many offshoots have been in the U.S. for over 300 years. The amount of good they do in society and the community is
immeasurable. Once called a secret society, almost every man of means had to be involved in his local Masonic chapter. Masonic collectibles, like many collectibles, are a little soft price-wise these days, but still occasionally things walk in
that are extraordinary.
Buying Expensive Fine Art & Antiques!
• Tampa Bay’s leader since 1985 • We buy entire households or that one expensive piece of art. We are
