My father has participated in both kinds of collecting. The De Orbe Novo Collection was a significant assembly of important material related to the New World, obtained through dealers and auctions. Millions of dollars were spent, and it sold for the same. His current project focuses on the Hudson Valley. He grew up there, and is a history buff. This collection is broader, containing art, books, manuscripts and ephemera. For the latter three, the ceiling of his spending on any one item has been about $1,000. And, the reason I bring it up, the way he's acquiring material these days isn't the way he built De Orbe Novo.
Collecting a specific town, - let's take Rondout, New York, as an example - can be difficult. Material related to Rondout is not prolific. In five years, my father's amassed about 50 items. How did he obtain these items? Did he search the various listing sites, day after day after day hoping for a new match? Maybe a little bit. Maybe, until he came up with the idea for MatchMaker. It does what I just described, for you. It searches your keywords everyday against listing sites, eBay and traditional auctions, and when a new item appears, you're notified. Personally I can't think of a better and more efficient way to collect obscure material.
If anyone reading this collects a niche subject, I'd recommend giving MatchMaker a shot for a month. It will enhance your ability to collect. It will allow you to acquire material faster, and from more sources than are practical for a single person to search themselves on a daily basis. This service isn't free, but I rest my case for its value.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Ellis Smith Prints unsigned. 20” by 16”.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: United typothetae of America presidents. Pictures of 37 UTA presidents 46th annual convention United typothetae of America Cincinnati 1932.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec signed Paper Impressionism Art Prints. MayMilton 9 1/2” by 13” Reine de Joie 9 1/2” by 13”.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Aberle’ Ballet editions. 108th triumph, American season spring and summer 1944.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Puss ‘n Boots. 1994 Charles Perrult All four are signed by Andreas Deja
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Specimen book of type faces. Job composition department, Philadelphia gazette publishing company .
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: An exhibit of printed books, Bridwell library.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court By Mark Twain 1889.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 1963 Philadelphia Eagles official program.
High Bids Win Rare Books, Catalogs, Magazines and Machine Manuals December 24 to January 9
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: 8 - Esquire the magazine for men 1954.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: The American printer, July 1910.
High Bids Win, Dec. 24 – Jan. 9: Leaves of grass 1855 by Walt Whitman.
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: William Shakespeare. The Poems and Sonnets of William Shakespeare, 1960. 7,210 USD
Sotheby’s: Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol, First Edition, 1843. 17,500 USD
Sotheby’s: William Golding. Lord of the Flies, First Edition, 1954. 5,400 USD
Sotheby's Fine Books, Manuscripts & More Available for Immediate Purchase
Sotheby’s: Lewis Carroll. Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There, Inscribed First Edition, 1872. 25,000 USD
Sotheby’s: J.R.R. Tolkien. The Hobbit, First Edition, 1937. 12,000 USD
Sotheby’s: John Milton. Paradise Lost, 1759. 5,400 USD
