We have a ton of old photos here. Would I be better off to put these online?

Okay I found a box that is full of vintage photos. Some are tintypes, some are really neat, some are just people and life, some that are really old and some are maybe 1930's era. I really don't know there is probably over a hundred really old photos here. All shapes and sizes. I just haven't been able to go through them all yet. This is not family of mine. I don't know who any of these people maybe. These are all from the trailer of stuff I am auctioning off. Should I sell these as 1 lot onsite and just be done with it or do you think it would be better to sell them individually online. Here are some examples of what is in this pile sorry some of my photos didn't come out great. I thought this ad for a surrey carriage was kind of neat to.

 

more. Check out the ladies next to the trains hats at the bottom. Wow! Now that's a hat!

 

It's more work, but breaking it down to small lots of 2-5 photos will probably net you more dollars.

Any really interesting ones, like the 3rd one that ids Buffalo, or the tin type of the woman, or any that you can id locale, or family name, I would do singularly first. If they don't sell after a couple of times, then group with others.

Wait for other opinions.

 

I am not a seller, but am familiar with collecting photos.

If any have names or places ID'd by either photographer logo or writing on the photos, you might tryvselling separately or in groups that go together. Figure out what you actually have to see if there is any historical significance. Separating them if you sell online could help. I know you are in Texas -- do you know whether the photos are? There are people who collect certain types of photos from Texas... local scenes, etc. Esoecially if the location is identifiable.

One down side of what I see here. Many of the photos appear to be in middling to downright poor condition. They have not been well taken care of. Given the choice, collectors would normally want the ones in better condition.

If you tried selling them in a large group online, your likely customers would be either those who wanted to take a chance with the group and hope something good was in the mix, OR crafters who would want to cut them up, decorate them, etc. (Horrors!)

If you sell them onsite I think some of the above would apply, except... since people can examine them in person you might get away with doing less sorting and evaluation. You would run the risk of selling something good at a cheap price, though. I like some of the images, but can't tell if anything valuable. Nothing leaps out at me.

Oh... if a bunch are identified with names from one family you might try selling them together.

 

Another thing... it would be good to put them in photo-safe plastic sleeves to protect them from further damage.

Sorry for any typos. I am writing from my phone...

 

The hat's why they need a train...
I like the kids by the tree.
That cart has serious camber issues!!!! Unless...it was used for a tractor too.

 

They are mostly from one family in the Madisonville area. I can't quite make out all the names on the back. It looks like the last name is Whitten or something similar. Most all have names and other info listed on the back.

As for condition you're right they were all just piled in a cardboard box with a bunch of old bills. Thanks so much for your help.

 

Some of those look like real photo postcards. They usually sell better than just standard photographs.

 

I haven't sold photos, but have sold many vintage and antique postcards and Victorian trade cards on eBay and Etsy.

I've had success selling them to buyers looking for certain surnames and/or locations. So if there's identifying info, I usually include it as keywords in the listing title, in custom Item Specifics, and in the description.

 

I agree with Kronos... if any are postcards, list them in the Real Photos subcategory and put "RPPC" (Real Photo Postcard) in the title.

Just be sure the postcards look like actual photos and not repros, which will have tiny dots visible under magnification.

Also, when listing RPPCs, if there's any info about the publisher and printing method, include that in the listing.

 

Yes many of them have post cards on the back. Thanks!

 

the kids in the goat ( Kid ! ) cart are adorable.

 

Hi Komokwa,
I had a goat cart when I was about 5 or 6. Usually he just hauled me around. However I had the chore of getting the mail. The whole town had 50 some postboxes on the main road. They were all lined up in a row starting with number 25. Ours was 62. Later on they gave us a street name and number. We were the first house on Waterman road, because there was such a distance from the main road our number was 312. It was about ½ mile down from the main road. I took that goat and cart up to get the mail every day until they started to deliver to the houses.
greg

 

So then you often heard; 'Greg! We're gonna get your goat!"
Yes, I know what that refers to.

 

Hey Greg......those are nice memories !!!

 

The one with the oil well may be of interest to somebody, especially if you know where it was.

 

& the car for auto buffs.!!

 

This will help with dating the Real Photo Postcards

http://www.playle.com/realphoto/

It's a bit more tricky if they have a stamp on them

 

Nice thanks. None of these have stamps.

 

I can't really add to what's already been said, except that I love to look for 'joblots' of old photos, and on the odd occasion have been lucky in that one or two photos have had more monetary value than the rest put together (one of a Canadian Mountie springs to mind). Of course, real value is in the eye of the beholder, and I find them all fascinating anyway! It's often difficult to predict how well a photo might sell in it's own right... when I sell them, I list the price as the minimum I'd be happy with, and sometimes breath a sigh of relief if it doesn't sell and stays with me!