Information/value of WWI Trunk

we got on the LetGo app and made a very low offer on two trunks, rusty, crusty and dusty just like we like but the picture was awful so we couldn't really see what we were offering on lol... when we met and put them in the truck i noticed the military markings and pointed out how cool they were to the seller with a 'so what' kind of response from him. what we ended up with is a WWI locker from a chief intel officer 2nd lieut from 30th div. 119 reg.... it's an awesome local piece just because we are at Ft Bragg but also because we've found that the original owner's grandpa, dad and uncle were all owners and editors of the local Fayetteville Observer, the oldest paper in NC... we've found his grave, a little info outside of his military, etc... my question is if there is any value other than total coolness and bragging rights of saving something significant from the trash? we were able to find a nearest of kin which is a great grand nephew and told us that there is an exhibit in the local museum that has letters this man wrote home during the war on display... just don't know what route is should take, sell, keep, donate, give back to family...

 

I think it's worth little.
My opinion is offer it to the family first then the museum.

 

Old trunks like this are worth more for their cool factor than as trunks, as far as I know. It might be priceless to the family. No clue what a retail price would be on something like this.

 

Agree with KOT and add that if offering it to family, if I were doing so, I'd ask them to either pay for shipping or come to yr place to pick it up. Why not volunteer to deliver it to them? Because if they accept it "just to be polite" it may be in the trash again as soon as u are out of sight. Remember the family probably are the ones who tossed it originally and are disappointed that it has come back like a bad penny. Many families have zero desire to get things like this back, but well-meaning souls waste their time and money locating heirs for that purpose. The Japanese and a few other cultures are very much interested in family artifacts, but no so in much of the world.

Another idea is to list it on Eboo or some dedicated gun or militaria sales site. Or offer it to a militaria store like Horse Soldier in Gettysburg pa. The best outcome may be to get it in the hands of a wwi collector who will appreciate it, display it, etc., and the vendors will do that. Or put it in a militaria auction say with Cowan's in Cincinnati.

 

I totally agree with Mr. Spring. They should be required to put forth some effort in order to ensure that they actually WANT it.
Good for you for thinking of it!