What to do with older Mastro and REA auction catalogs?
 

I've got maybe 50 - 75 older auction catalogs from Mastro and REA. They're in storage right now and I need to clear them out. Any ideas on what to do with these? I'd like to keep a few but don't need that many :( .

i have kept a few auction catalogs over the years...but most I just recycle. some here offer to send them to other collectors. it'd be kinda cool to have a "library" of older auction catalogs somewhere!

Don't think they can be recycled because they're books, and the local library probably wouldn't want them.

I've considered offering to send them to other collectors but I think they'd be expensive to ship. They'd have to go Priority Mail based on their weight, so whoever is receiving them would have to cover that.

ya...what I meant is recycle them in the circular file!!!!!

If they are books can't you ship book rate?

Afraid not. Tried that a couple weeks ago and was a bit to honest or transparent with the postal folks. If a price is listed for any item, even if it is a starting bid point, it is no longer a book, but a catalog. I argued, they busted open the package, and deemed it a catalog that does not qualify for book rate.

ed...i've never had a problem shipping "books" this way. I'd think the box would be so heavy they would not question it?

I've shipped book via USPS Media Mail with no problem. Don't know if that's the same as 'book rate'.

I was wondering the same question, I got my AH books from the last 2-3 yrs it seems, and from like 8 AHs, and they weigh a TON!!!! Thought it be a good idea for bonfires for when my neighbor has a bunch of kids, i assume for boyscouts.

I create files with pages from the catalogues for items I either won, have a similar item, think I might acquire in the future, wish I could get, or have a historical especially well researched description of an area that interests me. You can track specific items, get a feel for rarity and follow value changes. I also keep catalogues that are about a single subject or are histoically important in their own right, very subjective. Some catalogues have excellent essays about a person, era or subject, that are well worth keeping. I am usually opposed to extracting pages from books, but make an exception for catalogues. You will also enjoy going thru them again to pull out a few pages. Just remember to date and annotate them. When you have done all that, ditch them.

Is that true - these catalogs can't be recycled? I've been tossing the auction catalogs in the recycling bins for years. Aren't they just like any other paper or magazine which would go in the recycling bin?

Ever wondered why all your auction catalogs are mailed to you via priority? Because they can't be mailed via media mail. The auction houses would save thousands of dollars on every auction if they could use media mail.

I've got a ton here in Vancouver. If anybody wants to drop by and pick some up, let me know.

Canada has no media rate, so they are about $18 each to ship.

Max

Post Office
 

Ed---Just curious, did they ask for your permission before "busting " it out ?

What about something like SCD, either the catalog or the the publication. I assume a price guide is not a price list, but what if there is there is advertising with prices in the ads within the publication ?

I just take them to the recycle bin in town, they never come back. You can recycle.

Joe

As a periodical, SCD is mailed via 2nd Class Mail. It's a special category t encourage dissemination of newspapers, magazines, etc.

There is a lot of red tape to acquiring a 2nd Class mailing permit, but the postage break is (or at least used to be) substantial. It also used to be the postal norm that 2nd Class mail traveled about the same speed at 1st Class.

As I said, I was too honest with the Post Office.

When I told them I wanted to mail it book rate, they asked what was in it. I responded old auction catalogs. "Well, it has prices in it, so it isn't a book," was the response. But those are only suggestions or starting points, nothing in those books sold for what was listed as a price. "Well, you'll have to prove that." How can I prove that, I don't have a list of realized prices with me. "May I look at the items? (meaning the books)" Sure. "No, this is a catalog. Nothing but items to buy and a required price. This has to go priority mail.”

It went from being a $4 charge to more than $15.

But at least they didn't charge me for a second Priority box large enough for the three catalogs. They charged for the first one, because is was larger than an envelope. But since they are the ones who opened it, they gave the second box for free, but I still had to repack it while at the P.O.

 

No, they don't ask permission. I ship records frequently and they've been opened many times by the Post Office. If there's something else in there besides what qualifies as media mail, then they'll charge you or the person who receives the package the extra postage.

...
 

re: Rob D.

Hoarder!!!!! (I'll STFU now - guilty as well - looks like MY office.)

The library is at robs house

Your post office charges for priority boxes?

I cut out the pictures of the cards & put them in plastic sheets and/or top loaders. Best collection of vintage baseball cards on earth. :D:D:D

Sarcasm maybe? Actually sounds like they made a mistake with that issue so they compensated him with the one mailing for free.

I'm sure there are collectors who would want the catalogs with a specific player featured, especially on the cover. There are plenty of player collectors who would want them if even the slightest glimpse of their player is on the cover and some who might even want them if their player is mentioned or photographed within.

I only request them periodically and then they will come for a while and I suspect after they receive no bids from me for a certain period, they stop mailing them out and I am dropped from the list. I might have a dozen or so, some having great covers while others just show a random selection of collectibles on the cover.

Brooks Robinson
 

I'm the type of collector that mrmopar mentioned above. I really like to collect books, magazines, programs, and even auction catalogs covers w/Brooks pictured (on the front or back). Just makes for a cool display around the room like on a coffee table. I have a few scattered here and there. The new Heritage Auction catalog is an awesome addition to the room.

Another option for some:

Find a drop box to donate your books to BetterWorldBooks

I once had a pile of auction catalogs that resembled Rob's pile, but I put them all in the recycle bin (at my wife's "encouragement") a few years ago. I no longer keep them, with ONE exception, and I'm sure that Leon can guess what this ONE exception is - I wrote all of the final auction prices in it and plan to keep it until I get too old to collect any longer!
Val

Thanks for the link. That might be an option for me as there's one on the same street as my local card shop.

Yup, my stack is very close to that :) .

My stack is about 4 feet high. Tried to pull out one towards the bottom the other day. It wasn't happening.

Old catalogs...
 

Made this 4 years ago. Cut out catalog pics and made a poster - sprayed on shellac - and framed it. Here it is hanging in my office at work:

That looks great! I wouldn't have thought of that.

Great Idea looks amazing, have about 50 books will make a poster over the winter.
mike

I don't know if they still do, but the USPS did issue priority mail envelopes and Express Mail envelopes with the postage pre-printed on them.

Stamp collectors have had the same problem mailing copies of the Scott Postage Stamp Catalogue, which actually has "catalogue" as part of its name.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...4,203,200_.jpg

Explanations that it's a reference book, and not an actual list of items for sale, have fallen on deaf ears.

+1. Same here

Recycle
 

I am one of the few on my street that pays to have recycling picked up. It's a nominal fee and takes a few minutes more work but recycling is good. And the AH catalogs recycle as well as the rest of the stuff. And many times they are the heaviest items too!! :)

How much money do you think a years worth of AH Catalogs would fetch? Thats actually a really good idea, but some of the old AH catalogs might be worth something in years to come! I love my old Sloat catalogs along with Lipset.