Art Points the Way

Charles Courtney Curran - In Our Gallery


I have to admit it is hard to stay positive when everyone seems to be saying that the sky is falling every day, but the truth is the truth. Christie's just had a record sale and even created three world records for an artist in these uncertain times. Christie’s total gross sales were $325 million dollars. This may seem like chump change when the government is giving away trillions of dollars, but it is still a huge amount in my little corner of the world. It shows that quality items will continue to do well even in depressed times. Hold fast to those true treasures that you have been fortune enough to buy.

I haven't been concentrating on individual items recently because I felt this is a time to encourage my readers that they aren't in this by themselves and that the future will reward those who stay the course. As we read about auctions like the one above, it only affirms my opinion that rare paintings and other unusual antiques and collectibles will fare favorably regardless of other market conditions. I have consigned a painting to Christie's January Sale and I have every hope it will bring ten times its cost. This will make the wait well worth while and also serve to stimulate me into greater action in my pursuit of success. In the most recent sale at Christie's there was art work that was representative of artist with low auction records that sold in the millions so it does not appear to be a shrinking market but one that is expanding every year. The same can be said about all quality Antiques and Collectibles. If the number of items available is small and the buyer numbers are large, you can bet the prices are going up. Yesterday, I received a very interesting call from a lady asking if I could help her sell a collection of automobile hood ornaments. At first it didn't interest me much but as she began to describe the collection my interest was peeked. These weren't your regular hood ornaments but ones that represent the wonderful art movement in cars back in the 1930s and 1940s. They are all mounted as works of art. If you would like to see images of these items go to www.northstargallery.com. I think you will be amazed. I truly believe that she has some items of significant value but it will take research to find this collection’s true value. My days are never dull because presented a new day of treasure hunting. I never know where next call may lead me on this adventure.

If there are certain items that you would like to learn more about, please send me your list and I will try to include them in future blogs.
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Get Out That Silver Polish

Have you seen that the price of Gold and Silver are declining? For those of us in the Antique & Collectible business, this decline will make it possible for us to make money buying Gold and Silver items again.

For a long while, the market was adding no value for the rarity or beauty of a piece, only weighing the value of its base metal. But now, these wonderful items, that have lasted the test of time, will once again make sense for us to buy. I’m thinking tea sets, compotes, vases and even silverware at prices that are sensible enough for us to make a fair profit.

Gold jewelry may get to the point where the dealer doesn't just weigh a piece and quote you the base metal price. I think the metal will always have a value and be a component of the actual value of the item, but other factors will become important. The spread between the offer and bid will again be wider.

A friend of mine came by the house today and showed me some items her elderly aunt took to a company who advertised an event at a local hotel to buy jewelry. She attended with her aunt to oversee this offer. to buy. I’ve been aware of these, what I would call scams, for over year. My friend was smart enough to prevent her aunt from selling these fine pieces for next to nothing, and when I looked at them and she told me what they offered, I don’t believe they even offered the price of the gold. I’d recommend staying away from these types of events.

As prices decline for gold and silver, people will have fewer and fewer places to dispose of their fine jewelry. You see, these so called “merchants” will no longer be able to simply weigh for the gold and silver content and offer you very little. And what do they do with the gold and silver once they “buy” it from you? They melt it down for the metal and then they’ve made their money.

I remember the good old day when I bought a sterling tea pot for a few hundred dollars. No, the silver content wasn’t worth that, but it was produced by a famous silversmith from the late 1700’s. I knew this was a special piece the moment my eyes landed on it. Believe it or not, I called all over the world before finally selling it in Australia for several thousand dollars.

It will be fun again to do our research and look for items that can return us 10 or 20 times our investment. Still, I don't think this change will affect silver plate or gold plate much, and these items should probably be avoided except in rare cases.

I just can't resist mentioning that earlier this year I strongly recommended my readers sell their gold and silver. At the time, the price of silver was around $16. I was a little early, because it did go briefly to $20 before coming right back down. At the time I made that recommendation, I had people e-mailing me hate mail, threatening my life and questioning my intelligence for making that recommendation in writing and sending it to the news services. But, of course, these were the people in the business of selling gold and silver to the public.

I stuck to my guns and continued to write about selling silver anyway. You know, I haven’t heard from any of those people again. And now, all their customers who bought at that time have lost a great deal of their investment while the fat cats have already cashed their checks and danced into the sunset. It isn’t over yet. I predict silver be $6-$8 soon enough, and gold will be back to $600 an ounce. Then it will be time for us to load up on it.

*******

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31 Club's Expanded Marketplace Opens

American Born Artist, William Horton lived and worked primarily in Paris. Friend of Claude Monet and Edgar Degas, Horton's high auction price is $104,500 in 1991. This landscape offered through 31 Club Marketplace for $25,000

One of the goals of the 31 Club, was to present one of the largest selections of high quality Antiques, Collectibles and Fine Art, attracting both Collectors and Dealers. We’ve begun this journey today with the opening of our New Marketplace.
This marketplace is open for the public to consign their pieces with us, and to 31 Club Members, who are out there looking for valuable and prized items.

No longer will you have to wait months for Auction Houses to post their schedules or list your better items among hundreds of inferior pieces hoping someone will spot yours.

We aim to become the first place where dealers can find the pieces their customers are looking for, while still being able to turn a handsome profit, as well as the place collectors can find a below the market price on highly collectible items and valuable paintings. New items will start appearing today.

Never a Buyer's Premium and the Most Reasonable Selling Fees in the Industry.

31 Club members pay only 10% for pieces ranging between $0-$5,000, 7.5% for pieces ranging between $5,000-$25,000, and 5% for pieces $25,000 and over. Non-member selling commissions are 20% for pieces ranging between $0-$5,000, 15% for pieces ranging between $5,000-$25,000, and 10% for pieces $25,000 and over. No Buyers Premium!

I hope this will be great news for you. With the large increase in traffic our site is receiving, all items listed should have excellent exposure. By listing through us, you’ll find the lowest cost to you of anywhere in the industry, allowing you to retain more of your money.

To have your items listed, you need only send pictures, a description, details of its condition and your asking price. If you’d like help pricing it, just ask.
If you have any questions about the marketplace please email us, and we will get you the answers to you quickly.

We will continue to expand our learning resources in the Members Only Section so our members can keep ahead of the trend. All eyes are on the 31 Club, so now is the time for our members to profit as we become the industry trendsetters.

Your input is highly valued and we want to hear from you. If you have ideas or comments, let us hear from you! Send me an e-mail at info@31corp.com
If you haven’t joined our exciting and trendsetting club, what’s keeping you from joining? It’s the best deal around.

Here’s an Example of How the 31 Club Membership can Benefit You.

Yesterday, I bid on an advertised painting at an auction house. However, I wasn’t bidding for myself. A 31 Club member spotted the painting, and its estimate was only a few hundred dollars. Because she was new to the business and wasn’t certain she’d found a treasure, she called me and went through our Associates Program. I took a look at the offering and did some research. It was indeed a good offering. Partnering with 31 Club, I handled the bidding. I bid up to $5,000, a good offering based on research. However, the bidding ran up to $14,900 plus buyer’s premium.

31 Members Make Money Spotting Good Buys Without Ever Having to Invest a Cent.

While we didn’t win this piece, I can assure you, when we keep working this way, everyone will come out a winner. And here’s how. Let’s say I had the winning bid at $5,000. 31 Club would pay for the item, then we’d handle the sale of it. If we were successful selling it at, say, $10,000 the club member would have made $1,750 just for having spotted it and called us. No investment on the member’s part, except for the phone call. I think you’d have to agree that is a pretty good benefit to being a member, maybe even great.

We’ll soon be celebrating our first year anniversary, and I am truly grateful to all who have helped keep us growing. Thanks a million.

Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your antique & collectible treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles.

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How to Pay for Your Travel with Antiques, Collectibles & Paintings

I traveled to Baltimore yesterday so my wife, Vickie, could attend a business conference, and Joshua and I could visit with my other son, Lawson. In past years, I went out to look for treasures as she participated in the scheduled events and classes. This year started out different, however.

It was a task being ready for the early morning taxi. We allowed plenty of time to arrive early and get through security at O’Hare – that is, of course, if the taxi showed up. Six calls later to the taxi company, each time being told the driver is five minutes away was not the way to start the day. We finally called another company, but by this time it was 9:30. It was not likely we’d make our 10:30 flight. But, the second taxi company made good on their word, and as we were pulling out of the driveway, wouldn’t you know it -- the other taxi appeared. We all smiled and waved goodbye to him as we burned rubber on the way out.

Rushing out of the taxi to check our bags, we were told the plane had already closed its doors, so we spent three hours hanging around the airport before we caught the next flight. Vickie missed the day’s sessions, but we did have a wonderful meal with my older son and his wife once we arrived. I do hope to treasure hunt tomorrow, but I am wondering what could happen next.

When you are visiting another part of the country on a trip, be sure to
look for items that are out of place there. For example, if you are on the East Coast, look for West Coast paintings. By doing this, your chances improve for finding a treasure. Remember, I found the painting by Kentucky artist Harvey Joiner on the East Coast. The market for this painting was in Kentucky. That’s when $240 turned into $3700. That isn’t so bad for a country boy.

On several past trips to Baltimore, I found items that fattened my
wallet quite well. I once purchased a painting from an antique store for $500 that was later sold for $2500. And the store shipped it to me in Chicago. I’ve also found pottery such as Rookwood and Roseville priced to my liking on these trips. I used to have a rule that no matter where I traveled, I could pay for the trip plus turn a fair profit for myself by selling the things I bought on the trip. As your knowledge increases, you should be able to do this, too.

PS : I hope to hear from a lot of you on Monday on the AuctionWally BlogTalkRadio Show at 8PM Eastern Time.

Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and put a turbo charge on your treasure hunting skills. Get FREE Mentoring. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to make high profits and continue to grow your money buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Take a look at our Gallery of Fine Art Paintings by Listed Artists, here.

Daryle Lambert: Run Across Any Stamp Collections? What a Gift They Can Be.

Inverted Jenny, a 1918 US Stamp,known for its error, is Valued at $525,000 at famousstamps.org

Forget about the baseball cards, I wish that I had my stamp collection back. The stamps that were given to me as a young child might have been the fortune that got away.

When I was about twelve years old, my father walked out to his car one morning and was astonished to find an older man asleep in the back seat. My father woke him and asked if he needed help. In broken English, the man told him he was hungry. My family took him in, and Mr. Michael stayed with us for several weeks. We began to form a lasting bond with him. It seemed that he was of Greek origin and from a well to do family. However, he had run out of money and needed to reconnect with his family. After a few weeks, my father set him up in a hotel and tended to some of his other needs.

Mr. Michael soon pulled himself together and shared gifts with my family, some of which were several fabulous rifles that had silver and gold inlay. On today’s market, I’m sure they would bring over $25,000 apiece. He eventually left our town, but each Christmas, he sent enough frozen lobster and shrimp to feed an army, and this was a very special treat us. We were an average family at that time, and shrimp and lobster definitely wasn’t on our usual menu.

But, the best gift of all was a collection of Greek Stamp he gave to me. Every few months I received another delivery of the most beautiful stamps I’d ever imagined from Mr. Micheal. He also encouraged me to start collecting American Stamps, and I did. I wish that I knew what happened to this collection over the years.
The reason this comes to mind is that a friend asked if I could help her with her fathers stamp collection. As I started to do some research, my eyes popped out of my head because I recognized some of the stamps as being the same that were in my collection. In today’s market, their value had risen into the thousands.
At an auction house here in Chicago I saw a stamp collection auctioned that took several months to complete. One book sold for over $10,000. I wonder what was in that book.

I suggest that you watch the sales you attend for stamp collections. If my memory serves me well, most of my collection was from the early !900's thru the 1940's. I still run across collections regularly, and I can assure you if I think that they a worthy I will be picking them up. Be sure to check that the stamps aren't glued down on the pages but are connected by hinges. Every stamp that you find might not be a treasure, but it will only take one. And if you buy them cheaply enough, I assure you that you will be well rewarded.

To this day I still wonder what happened to Mr. Michael. One day he was just gone, as if he never was. I continued to ask my father about him, but there was never an answer. It was if he had disappeared off the face of the earth. I pray he is in Heaven.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account to last a lifetime, buying and selling antiques, fine art, and collectibles. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Visit our Website, here.


Today's Links:

http://www.famousstamps.org/

American Philatelic Society
http://www.stamps.org/

Auction Site Dedicated to Stamps:
http://www.stamps.org/

Treasure Under the Table in Yellow Ware

Yellow Ware Mocha Loving Cup, circa 1840. Photo from Martyn Edgell Antiques.

There's a new ending to Friday's Blog about our adventure to the estate sale. I’ve always told you to dig into every corner and look into every cabinet. Well, I took my own advice.

After packing up my purchase of Books and Depression Glass I decided to take one more look around just to make certain I didn’t pass anything up. Sure enough, just when it looked as if there wasn’t anything else for me to buy, I spotted two Yellow Ware bowls on the floor. I picked them up, realizing they might well be treasure at the price of $3. In all these people rushing around, the two yellow ware bowls went unnoticed by most. I snatched them up and handed those bowls to the attendant. As you get out more and more, you’ll see that the knowledge you’ve gained will come into play and pay great dividends if you are patient.

When I got home, I went right to my trusty Kovel's Price Guide. I estimate they are worth from $200 to $400 each. How’s that for a $3 purchase. Estimate that rate of return. I looked further into the Kovel’s Price Guide, I found that most Yellow Ware pieces will bring $200 or more. A pepper shaker, mold or flask could reward you with over $1,000.

The secret of compounding seems to have worked quit well at this house sale. In Friday’s Blog, I said our investment of $287 could bring as much as $2,000. With this new information on the Yellow Ware, I’ll have to raise the estimate to $2,400, possibly more.

Now, think with me here for a minute. $287 turned into $2,400. If I am able to just double the $2,400 with new purchases, I will have enhanced my bank account considerably, and could have $4,800 after deducting my cost for buying. Am I crazy, or is this simply amazing?

These simple things, when added together, can make you a believer in what we are teaching. Not getting rich quick, just getting rich. That’s our motto. Keep your Honesty, Integrity and Spiritual Purity and still receive all the blessings that God intends for you to have. I can’t think of a better way to live.

I encourage you to always do more research once you've read a Blog. For example, you might be asking yourself, "What exactly is Yellow Ware?" If you began researching it right after you finished reading the Blog, the time you spend researching is active time, and it will etch certain facts and pictures into your mind that you will be able to draw upon when you're out in the field.

Remember, if you spend a little time everyday studying and researching, this time of active study builds up information in your mind layer upon layer. I'll lead you and show you how to make money. But the activity of researching is what will build lasting knowledge. So, do a search on "Yellow Ware". Try googling it. Search it in Yahoo, or whatever you like to use. I'll start you out by telling you that Yellow Ware is a type of stonewear, and it's called Yellow Ware not because of a glaze color used, but because of the color of clay used to make it. See what else you can discover today.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members. Turbo charge your treasure hunting. Learn Inside the Industry Secrets. Learn to build a bank account that last a lifetime with your profits. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE with your membership. The book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

See the fine paintings we have listed in our gallery like the Texas Bluebonnet painting by William A. Slaughter. Works from Robert Woods, William Horton, Tom Darro and more. Our Hannah Barlow decorated Doulton Lambeth Vase is superb. Take a look here.

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Daryle Lambert Blog: Networking with 31 Club – The 50 Gallon Red Wing Crock Find

Several months ago, I wrote about the person that wanted to find a 50 gallon Red Wing Crock for her parents. Well, one of our members found one and contacted me with this great news. If you are just following our Blog and haven’t become a member of the 31 Club yet, I encourage you to join and use the resources being offered by the Club to your advantage. Networking with us can produce great results.

The Associate Program is offered to 31 Club Members and will enable the member to work in conjunction with the 31 Club to higher end items they come across. When the member finds an item and it is out of their price range, the club will buy it, handle the sale and split the profit between them on a fair arrangement. We make this a win-win situation for all, so call or send me an e-mail for further details and information at info@31corp.com

The Associates Program is extremely valuable if the member is able to locate multiple pieces and the purchase is substantial. This way the company, as well as the member locating the items, can benefit. You may remember the Blog about the sale of several comic books by one of our members. She used this principle with a man who asked her to post several lots of comic books on eBay for him. These comic books brought nearly $13,000. Even after the expense of purchasing and selling these comic books, I figure the man walked away with perhaps $6,000. By working together, almost anything is possible in the these markets, and we are here to help you finish the race you’ve begun.

Personal Mentoring: It is so hard today for a person to get a live body on the other end of the phone, but not so at The 31 Club. I am willing and waiting to help you in identify items, negotiate, guide, give you a pep talk if you’re feeling a little defeated, or any other service that I can provide for you to help you succeed. We can talk over the phone and through e-mails. You’ll find I answer E-mails in a timely manner.

I could go on tooting our horn, but I think that you get the picture. But what the staff and I are offering is only as good as its usage. If you don't take advantage of our service, I can promise that you will not benefit from them. When you do, then your bank account will see the results.

Wish List: Let the world know what you’re looking for! We have a wish list where you can post items that you look for, and it can be found in the Buy/Sell section of the website. If you think it’s too hard to find, let me know, and we’ll post it somewhere else. We’re planning on setting the wish list up in a way that will enable someone to contact you by e-mail, should they have an item you are looking for. Just another way of networking with other dealers and collectors. Make your postings today!

31 Gallery: Show off your Paintings or Collectibles to the world and get them sold. Our Gallery Pages are very popular pages on our site. When you put your item in our Gallery, you’ll have no advertising fees, and we’ll help you secure a buyer.

Don’t just follow the daily Blog. Join with like-minded 31 Club Members and turbo charge your treasure hunting today. My 220 page book, 31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles is FREE! Our book is also available on Amazon.com. If you buy the book on Amazon, then the membership is FREE.

Join the 31 Club and learn how to build personal wealth through the antique, collectible and fine art markets.

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Daryle Lambert: EBAY SERVES SCRAMBLED EGGS

I hate to admit this is my opinion but, it is. Ebay has served us the fluff. Yes, they have taken their plan, confused it, and are expecting us not to know that it is just fluff, all puffed up. In fact, if you take an egg, fluff it up into an omelette, it's still an egg. I call this a "Lambertism": Confusion can't trump the truth."

Now it's evident why Meg Whitman announced her retirement. She knew that the market would explode with criticism over the changes that were coming down the line. Why should she stay and ruin the ten year legacy of being one of the top executives in the whole world when she knew the bubble was about to pop?

No matter how you slice it, Ebay's new changes is an attempt to increase revenues so that the stock will reverse its downward spiral. But I think I have news for them. It ain't going to work, and in my opinion, if these changes stand, this stock might be the best short in the market.

I can now hear the stampede of feet searching for other places to sell their merchandise. In fact, if these changes stand, I predict that there will be several new auction sites that will be opening in the near future. This pie is going to be sliced into thinner and thinner slices, and Ebay will be the loser.

Their competition must be in shock today. They were thinking that they might have to rearrange their own marketing plans, because Ebay would be taking away their advantages. Instead, they find themselves in an excellent position to take more market share from Ebay.

Now, it will be wise to evaluate each week where the best service is for the members of the 31 Club and recommend these companies. Does this mean never telling people to use Ebay? No. But we might tell them to wait until Ebay has a day of no listing fees, or other special offers, because under the present plan, these increases don't provide the best value in the marketplace.

One of the "interesting" changes, is that the seller can no longer respond to a buyer's feedback. Now what is this all about? The seller, under the new plan, can no longer respond to negative feedback given by a buyer. The sellers are just asking for a fair shake and the opportunity to defend themselves against unscrupulous buyers.

Stay tuned. I don't think you have heard the last of this yet. It will be interesting to see if the new CEO can stand up under the pressure that is sure to be coming over the next few weeks.

In the South we have an old saying: "Keep your powder dry." This might be a great time to practice patience.

Join me and the rest of the 31 Club as we build wealth in antiques, collectibles, and art, right here. You'll get my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" for FREE. Or, if you're not quite sure about joining and have some questions you'd like to ask me, or just want to talk with me, E-mail me at info@31corp.com. I'll personally see to it that we set up a time to talk with one another.

Discover how the 31 Club, together with my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you begin building personal wealth using antiques, collectibles and fine art. Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

Need to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

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Daryle Lambert - Ebay Changes. You Heard Them Here First.

Photo From T&J Powersellers on Ebay

Yes, there are many people writing about the up coming changes at eBay, but you heard them first in our blogs and press release on October the 4, 2007. In my opinion, the changes are going to be good for the customers and should strengthen eBay's position in the market.

It was no surprise to me that Meg Whitman decided to step aside. Why shouldn't she? What a ten year run! She took the company from one, that at times, didn't know if it could keep its doors open to a company that is known around the world as one of the most profitable enterprises on earth.

The timing is right for her departure, and I suppose becoming a billionaire might have given her an incentive to depart. Why risk her legacy on the changes that are about to take place?


She is a very smart lady and knew that the growth the company has experienced over the last ten years can't be sustained without dramatic changes. And these changes come with no guarantee that they will produce the desired results. So, yes, it's time to turn it over to someone else.

What does this mean for the company and it's competitors? First, as I wrote in October, if eBay does away with the listing fees, it will be a disaster to its competitors. They have been testing this plan for several months now, while at the same time raising other fees to see if that would offset the loss in listing fees. To the customer, this scenario could be a great bonus. They could list more items and not worry about having to pay fees if their item doesn't sell. I personally think that by eliminating competition and keeping more of their sellers listing more items would be a wise move.


There are a couple of things that can wreck the ship for Ebay. First, are the lawsuits that continue to come. Second, the possibility of foreign governments wanting to get involved, wanting part of the action. The road might become rocky for eBay, but I think the long term outlook for this company is very favorable.

Ebay will always play a very important part in the future of the 31 Club, in the Antique & Collectible business, as well as the Fine Arts business. In the last few months I have had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of some of the most knowledgeable people in the use of Ebay and other online auctions around the world. I'll be introducing them to you so your auction experience can be tremendously enhanced by their expert guidance. We've already featured the OnlineAuction.com and will continue to tell our members that presently, this company offers some great advantages if you are a seller.

The secret in this business is balance, and that means knowing our markets and where your items fit best. The Internet is just one component in the future success that you will achieve, but it is also a very important one.

The 31 Club aims to keep you ahead of the curve, both in information and in trends. Knowing when to buy items, such as Lotton Glass, and also when to sell items, such as prints, will prove to be invaluable to you. and this is the service that we will be providing our members.

Your destiny is in no one else's hands but your own. Go for the golden ring.

Join me and the rest of the 31 Club right here. You'll get my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" for FREE. Or, if you're not quite sure about joining and have some questions you'd like to ask me, or just want to talk with me, E-mail me at info@31corp.com. I'll personally see to it that we set up a time to talk with one another.

Discover how the 31 Club, together with my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you begin building personal wealth using antiques, collectibles and fine art. Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

Need to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

Go to Our Homepage.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.

Daryle Lambert: Trade Secrets & Knowledge Will Help You Get the Edge in Art and Antiques

Too often, I get calls from individuals who tell me they've found a Renoir or a Picasso. Of course, this doesn't turn out to be the case. These turn out to be copies, and poor ones at that. This is the get quick rich quick mentality, and I suppose deep down we really can't help it sometimes. Yes, there have been cases where paintings are found, and if it happens to you, I will be the first to say that it's nice knowing you. But, in all truth, financial success comes from our attitude, our knowledge and actions, and some education into the trade secrets few care to share.

You can arrive at the same place financially as the person who actually did find a Picasso by simply doing what Marsha did over and over again. I wrote about Marsha in yesterday's Blog, and if you haven't read it, you'll need to do that in order to fully grasp what I'm saying today. Truthfully, we all know deep down that the chances of being the one to find the next million dollar painting are quite slim, and we need to be working in reality. But, the process of 100% compounding will turn hundreds into thousands and thousands into hundreds of thousands. That is a sure thing, if we educate ourselves on this topic and are persistent in our quest for knowledge. This is what we do, here, at the 31 Club. Although I've been collecting and dealing for about 45 years now, I never stop learning.

Over the years, I have personally met people that began with nothing, and when we crossed paths ten years later, have seen their lives dramatically changed. They no longer drove that ten year old beat up truck, but a new Mercedes instead. They're no longer living on the wrong side of the tracks, but in a home having more bedrooms than most people have in their entire house, not to mention two vacation homes. I often ask them how this change came about. The answer: ” I learned to be the best at something.” Wow! That is just what we, at the 31 Club, are teaching.

Is that painting quality and is it painted by a listed artist? Sure it is. I recognize the signature. And look at that Zsolnay vase. The mark is an old one. I remember seeing it in the book. And, could the signature on that painting be below the matting? Well, it sure is, and it's the work of a great artist. If these are the things that are running through your mind while you're on the hunt, your fortune is just ahead of you. Do you see the effects from education you are receiving through this Blog alone? Each one of these revelations will mean thousands of dollars to you.

You see, when you know more than most of the people looking for treasure, your chance of finding it is greatly improved. Knowing Rookwood is fine, but knowing which artist brings the most money and what their signature looks like will be your advantage over most. Is that painting by the father or son? This can make a great difference in value. Do you know the difference in their signatures? This is the type of information and education that I'll be sharing with our members on a regular basis in the membership section of our website. If you've been one of our regular Blog readers who hasn't yet joined, quite frankly, I'm wondering why. Where else you can get access to this kind of information and personal attention, just like Marsha does, for such a ridiculously low cost? Is there anywhere else you can call and talk to someone with my years of experience, who will guide and mentor you for practically free? This is what I'm offering right now. People will spend more money on their weekly lattes or on a pizza than what it cost to be mentored and guided by an expert in a field that can help them change their financial picture. what's up with that?

Let's look at some more ways to use the knowledge you'll gain by being a member of the 31 Club. Did you know that some artists incorporate their signatures within the painting itself? I have looked at a piece for 15 to 20 minutes, knowing by sight that the painter of the piece was a trained artist, yet unable to find the signature. Looking again and again, low and behold, there it was as part of the table in the painting.

Would you know what to do if you're confronted with a painting that looks like a high quality piece but lacks a signature? This might be a treasure, because many fine artists signed their work on the reverse, as it is known in the trade. What would you do if that painting had a paper dust cover affixed to the back side so you couldn't see if there was a signature? Would you know how much finding a signature might add to your bank account? Members of the 31 Club will know.

Did you know that there were artists that painted under different names? You can find these alternate names in most of the better art guides. Artists often used marks, rather than their name, to mark their paintings. Can you possibly grab hold of how this kind of information can prosper you? This is the kind of information I am sharing with 31 Club members.

I've been asked many times, why I am doing this. Why the 31 Club? And, why at a ridiculously low cost? And I'll tell you this: The way I see it, on the day the Lord calls me home, if I haven't shared what I know with others about the things I know that could help them improve the quality of their lives, then I haven't done what He has asked me to do. If sharing my knowledge could help make life easier for you and your family, why would I keep that all to myself?

Join me and the rest of the 31 Club right here. You'll get my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" for FREE. Or, if you're not quite sure about joining and have some questions you'd like to ask me, or just want to talk with me, E-mail me at info@31corp.com. I'll personally see to it that we set up a time to talk with one another.

Discover how the 31 Club, together with my book, "31 Steps to Your Millions in Antiques & Collectibles" can be the tool that helps you begin building personal wealth using antiques, collectibles and fine art. Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

Need to read more about the 31 Club? Read an article here.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us.

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Expert Opinion Needed in Asian Antiques and Antique Bottles

There are a few areas of the Antique, Collectible and Fine Art markets I find I don't have enough knowledge about. The ones that give me the hardest time are Asian antiques and antique bottles. Both of these areas require years of experience and much study before a person can claim to be an expert. This doesn't eliminate these types of items from consideration, but finding an expert in these fields you can trust and consult with is highly advisable. This would be the person you could contact to authenticate an item so you could decide if it's something you might buy. If it's an item you picked up at a garage sale or a house sale, you might find out you have a real treasure.

A man I know inherited collection of Asian collectibles from his parents, along with a collection of Tiffany Glass. Since his interest was in art glass, and he was not attached to any of the Asian pieces, he decided to sell a few of the lesser items. A major auction house was interested in a rather small jade piece they seemed to think would bring in a fair dollar, maybe $30,000-$50,000. He consigned it to them, and then he and his wife went to New York and sat in the audience during the auction.

When the price of this rather common looking piece sailed past $100,000, they began to sit up quite straight in their seats. At $250,000 this piece hadn't even started. At $500,000 they were having trouble breathing. The final bid was somewhere around $700,000. Wow! Do you think that would make your day?

I can't top that story with an old bottle story, but as a child, I remember collectors would often go to the old buildings and dig for bottles. They also dug for bottles in the country, because the farmers would take their trash and fill gullies to stop erosion. In fact, anywhere trash had been disposed of is a place people would look for bottles. Antique bottles is one area that's a weak spot in my knowledge bank. It is very hard for me to tell a reproduction flask from an old one, but the dollars tell me there is a difference. This is where you must be very careful and depend upon an expert you have cultivated a friendship with.

Here is why it's important to know something about old glass. Recently, a railroad flask sold for $29,000 at an antique bottle auction. Many of the other bottles came in over $10,000 and most managed to top over $3,000.

There are some great bottle guides on the market, but I believe this is one area where you must handle the real things over and over again before you could trust your own judgment.

I see these old bottles and flasks at almost every sale, and if they are cheap enough they may be worth risking$1 to $5 dollars. Then, you do research. You might find you've walked away with the prize of the day.

Discover how the 31 Club, together with our book, can be the tool that helps you begin building personal wealth using antiques, collectibles and fine art, rather than the conventional methods of using stock, bonds, and real estate investing. You won't find results like these through your bank or your stock broker! Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge 31 Club members are participating in.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

Great Link for Bottles:
The Society of Historical Archaeology together with the U.S. Department of the Interior/Bureau of Land Management has the best site I've ever seen for information about utilitarian bottles and jars. Great information and photos. Today's Photo is from their site.

AmericanBottle.com has a good history of glass
National Bottle Museum
AntiqueBottles.com
The Federation of Historical Bottle Collectors






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Daryle Lambert: I'll Take Them All - Antiques - Collectibles – Paintings

This is a time when we treasure hunters should be taking advantage of the opportunities that come our way. While there aren't a lot of large auctions during the winter, some do come along that can prove to be fertile fields for us.

Our 31 Club Member, Cecil R., attended the sale where our group's Harvey Joiner painting was sold, and he reported to me about a few little things he picked up. If all the members would follow Cecil's example, I wouldn't have enough hours in the day to share them all.

What has Cecil done this time? At Sohn's auction in Evansville, Cecil found 62 Bronzes medals, made by the Medallic Art Company of New York. Three inches in diameter and weighing seven to nine ounces each, the medals were produced in 1967 in recognition of the Wright Brothers, Orville and Wilbur Wright and others. Perhaps aviation collectors might have an interest???? Medal collectors???

The medals first came up for bid at $3 apiece. The auction didn't go very far, however, and Cecil said he would take them all for $5 each. Having no further interest, Cecil won them at that price. He spent $310 for the medals, then sat back and waited for the next bargain. Most people at that auction probably wondered what he was going to do with those things. Cecil knew exactly what he would do with them. Put them on Ebay!

The first one he sold brought $61.78. He has sixty-one more to go. The last time I checked one of his medals had a bid of $74.75 with seven bidders and eight hours left to go. He hasn't finished selling them all yet, but it looks like they could average $40 apiece or about $2,480 total. You figure the profit and tell me if there are still things being sold that can make you smile. Nothing out there to be found? Says who? Cecil saw an opportunity where others just saw sixty-two hunks of metal.

There were probably six to eight hundred items sold at that auction, and Cecil bid on only a few of them. He also bought a Mettlach Beer Stein that he tripled his money on when he sold it on Ebay for $377.00.

I hope he'll keep us posted on the rest of the items. I'm certain that if you figure them all out, he will have made at least $3,000 from that winter auction. I believe many of us would be satisfied with having made that.

How does he continue to find value in the items others pass up? I've written about some his finds on previous blogs, and in the near future, I hope he will join me at a 31 Club seminar so he can tell you himself. This I do know: Cecil spends his time wisely. If he's got time to spare, he loves to keep up on his studies.

Have you looked in your local paper to see what auctions are listed this weekend? How about garage and estate sales? Do you have a list of second hand shops or consignment stores you visit regularly? Have you been telling all your friends and neighbors what you're doing? If the answer to these questions is no, why not?

Lets learn and make money together. It's much more fun if you are able to share your successes with others, and at the same time, have a place to share some of your mistakes with, so others can learn from yours. At the 31 Club, you'll find encouragement from others who are truly wishing you the best. If you're not a member yet, what are you wanting for? Join today!

Discover how the 31 Club, together with our book, can be the tool that helps you build more personal wealth dealing in the rare and valuable upper end markets, rather than the conventional methods of stock, bonds, and real estate investing. You won't find these kind of results with your bank or your stock broker! Find out more about joining our growing community of antique and art wealth builders here.

Read more about The Million Dollar Challenge 31 Club members are participating in.

If you haven't yet had a chance to see what we've got listed in the 31 Gallery & Marketplace, click on over and take a look. You might even find a real bargain. We've got many high quality items priced reasonably. If you have a high quality piece you'd like us to find a buyer for, why not consign your item to us. No high fees when you sell with us. Contact us here.

If you wish to leave comments use the ANONYMOUS button and then you don't have to sign in to leave your message. Chime in and participate with us.

For 31 Club News Stories, click here.

Read about a cruet set purchased at a garage sale for $10 turned into $850, here.

Daryle Lambert: Surprise Value in Sleeper Paintings -- Harvey Joiner

Just because the art world is on fire doesn't mean that every artist will have his work available for sale in the market. Why is this important to know?

Let's take Kentucky artist, Harvey Joiner for example. Though he was exceptionally skilled in portraiture, having painted the first five Indiana Governors and portraits of prominent people of the time, he became best known for his paintings of Cherokee Park in Louisville, Kentucky. He was born in 1852 and died 1932. His work wasn't appreciated until the last few years, and not many of his paintings have changed hands throughout the art world . Most of his paintings have stayed within the families they were painted for. If they were purchased, they were handed down through the families.

Because his paintings very seldom come on the market, his sales prices in the art guides have stayed very low. In fact, over the last ten years, you can find very few listings and prices of his work sold. If you look him up in the ASK ART guide, you will find 15 listings, and only two of these listings are over ten years old, and most of them are within the last two years.

Because of this, the prices for his paintings are way behind the market. In ASK ART his highest listing is $4,000, but I personally know that some of his paintings have brought over $10,000 when sold through private transactions. Do you think this information gives you the advantage when you spot a Joiner, knowing that if a person researched it, they could only find a value of $4,000 or less?

When you are studying painters, check to see when their last painting came up for auction. This might just give you the clue that you're searching for. If it has been quite a while since something has sold, you can take an educated guess that the value might have appreciated several times from that sale but not be shown by the guides.

What I find is that there seems to be works from a small group of painters the market continually sells over and over. In fact, as I check ASK ART, I often find the same painting has sold four or five times in the last ten years. The term "new to the market," often tossed around by the auction houses, to me means that no one knows what the true value will be when the painting is sold.

Let's look and see what we can learn from this. If you're considering making an offer on a painting, and the artist hasn't had a piece come to market for a while, take that as a plus, because more than likely it will be undervalued. Second, if it has been several years since the artist has had one of his paintings sold, you might find that they are selling at a huge premium in the private market compared to the values that are in the guides. An example of this is a Pauline Palmer painting sold privately by one of our 31 Club members for $120,000, yet the auction guides list Palmer's highest price gained at an auction around $50,000. Third, your study and knowledge can come into play because most people simply look at the auction record guides, then offer half of what the guide states. You might offer more than the guide shows.

One of the greatest benefits to being a member of the 31 Club is that you'll have access to all the information necessary to evaluate a painting. When you call us and e-mail the specifics of the piece, such as size, type of painting, artist's name, photos of the front and back, perhaps some detail shots, and a shot of the signature, we can give you an estimated value. We can even purchase the painting with you if you choose.

The main reason I now spend 75% of my time in the art field is because that is were the big money can be found. Just check the auction records in the trade paper. You'll see what I mean.

Have you taken out your subscriptions to the Maine Antique Digest, AntiqueWeek, and The Antique Trader? What are you waiting for? These are your guides to wealth. One poor or mediocre painting bought because you read an article in one of these papers can pay for all of them for the rest of your life.

Today's Photo is a detail from a portrait by Harvey Joiner, currently up for auction at Sohn's Auction House in Evansville, Indiana at this weekend's auction, beginning Friday.

If you're looking for the pathway to reach your goals with antiques, collectibles and fine art, the 31 Club can be the venue that will give you the nuts and bolts for successfully buying, selling and profiting in the 21st Century Marketplace. Join us today and rub shoulders with like-minded people.

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