Topic: Need some help with pricing my weights

[Blue516]

Hi!
I am planning to sell about 20+ paperweights and really need some guidance on pricing. I'm not sure if some are ordinary or average weights as I'm just a novice. I appreciate any help you can give me. I will just start with my only Joe St Clair.

http://tinypic.com/91kww6.jpg

http://tinypic.com/91kykz.jpg

http://tinypic.com/91kyu0.jpg

Thanks.

[Leni]

Depends where you're planning to sell them I think.  On ebay the Joe St Clair might only attract bids of about $20 or so, but elsewhere it might reach $100 - $200 or higher.  

I speak only as a complete amateur collector, with little experience other than on ebay UK and a few paperweight websites.  I'm based in the UK and I don't think St Clairs are very well known here.

Does Joe St Clair sign or identify his weights in any way?  I bought a weight recently which I thought might be a St Clair, but it has no identifying marks.  

A signature or ID mark would help your weights command a higher price, otherwise you bet some wise-guy will tell you it's "probably Chinese"   :wink:  :roll:  :lol:

Leni

[Blue516]

So where is a good place to sell the weights? I was thinking of using ebay.

 

[Leni]

Sorry, I didn't mean to put you off ebay completely.   :oops:  :roll:  

However, if you do use ebay, make sure you open the auctions to international bidders and remember that good pictures (from different angles and always including one of the base) and accurate descriptions are vital.  

If you have labels and provenance for the weights you are selling, make much of it and include photos of that as it will get more attention.  

Put as much info as possible in your title and subtitle - never just 'Paperweight' for example   :roll:   Not that you would!   :wink:

You do seem to have some interesting weights.  Good Luck!

Leni

[Blue516]

Thanks for the advice Leni. I have been reluctant to put them on ebay because I wasn't really sure how to begin. I have about 25 weights. Some signed. I am hoping for some solid information on this board.

Marilee

[Leni]

You need to wait for some of the real experts to come along, Marilee  

Not everyone looks in here everyday, but sooner or later they'll come along and give you some good tips if you don't get impatient.  

As I said, I'm just a complete amateur  :oops:  :roll:

Give it a day or two and see who drops in and what they have to say  :wink:

Leni

[Blue516]

Okay that's what I'll do!

I am recharging the battery for the digital camera or I'd send you a pic of one that is quite beautiful. It has a big G on the bottom and Glasshouse scratched on the bottom along with 1991, WHL, and 1059. I believe it is a limited edition. I'll get a pic of it online soon. Do you know this glass maker?
Marilee

[Leni]

I think there's a place called 'Glasshouse Studio' but I don't know anything about it!   :?

Someone will be along soon to help us out, I'm sure  

Can't wait to see more of your weights!  

Leni

[Max]

Leni said:

As I said, I'm just a complete amateur  

Don't do yourself down!  You're very good with paperweights,  and learning all the time.    

[KevinH]

Hi Marilee,

As Leni as said, those of us outside the USA will probably have little knowledge of weights like your Joe St Clair example.

But I can answer Leni's question about whether St Clair weights are signed or identified in any way. They always (?) have an impressed mark on the base, which can just about be seen in the base image that has been shown. For weights from the St Clair family, the name "St Clair" will be shown along with the first names, the most common being "Joe" and "Bob & Maude".

(Also, in the St Clair line is Joe Rice who makes very similar weights.)

I can also say that the design of this weight is known as a "Calla Lily" and this has been a very regular theme in weights from various American makers for many years.

Various St Clair examples can be seen quite regularly on eBay and this may be a good way to determine the current selling price. There are at least 38 St Clair paperweight items listed (picked up through the UK version of eBay) as I write this.

For the weight marked with a "G" and "Glasshouse", I have no knowledge of this. But, as with all the other weights, Marilee, please do post pictures as this will be helpful to me, at least, as well as possibly getting you some assistance.