Appraise My Fountain Pen Collection In Toronto

[bemon]

Hi folks,

 

We'll be relocating to a small town in the next few months and as we'll no longer be a 10 minute walk from a subway stop we'll probably need a second car sooner rather than later. I was hoping to get settled in and lease an inexpensive second car after about a year, but due to school transportation logistics it looks like we'll need another set of wheels pretty much immediately.

 

Does anyone in and around Toronto know where I can go to get my pen collection appraised for sale? Unfortunately I may need to turn it into a used Corolla.

[taimdala]

This may be a long shot but the one and only thing I can think of is this:

 

In Toronto, there is a pen store called House of Fine Writing, 123 Queen Street, West (in the underground shopping mall, beneath the hotel). It's run by an incredibly nice and knowledgeable man named Andrew Walti. Now, I don't think he deals in vintage or used pens, as he sells new pens like Lamy, Platinum, Mont Blanc etc. BUT he may know people who do appraise and buy/sell vintage/used pens. Just ask. I'm sure that he may know someone who is an appraiser or can point you in the right direction. When I was shopping there, he was amazingly helpful and full of information.

[bemon]

This may be a long shot but the one and only thing I can think of is this:

 

In Toronto, there is a pen store called House of Fine Writing, 123 Queen Street, West (in the underground shopping mall, beneath the hotel). It's run by an incredibly nice and knowledgeable man named Andrew Walti. Now, I don't think he deals in vintage or used pens, as he sells new pens like Lamy, Platinum, Mont Blanc etc. BUT he may know people who do appraise and buy/sell vintage/used pens. Just ask. I'm sure that he may know someone who is an appraiser or can point you in the right direction. When I was shopping there, he was amazingly helpful and full of information.

Appreciate that- thanks! None of my pens are vintage, probably the oldest is a late 90's model MB 146. All the rest are current. I never got bit that vintage bug.

 

I'll give him a shout. It's taken me a long time to collect them so I wouldn't sell my collection piecemeal, but if I could get someone to take the whole kit and caboodle, storage and all for the right price I'd have to go for it.

[Estycollector]

Its this a bit like asking others to do your homework?

[bemon]

Its this a bit like asking others to do your homework?

No, but it's a lot like asking others where they've had their pen collections appraised.

Edited August 19, 2020 by bemon

[carola]

Does anyone in and around Toronto know where I can go to get my pen collection appraised for sale? Unfortunately I may need to turn it into a used Corolla.

Ooooh... that´s SO BAD! It hurts!

[dennis_f]

Deleted this post and sent you a PM.

Edited August 19, 2020 by dennis_f

[MuddyWaters]

Laywines in Yorkville deals in vintage pens but not sure about used. You could always list on kijiji, I have found some good pens there. If you are willing to sell pens individually I might consider some myself.

[carola]

Would you care to tell us what your collection consists of?

[cunim]

A few people in TO know vintage (eg Restorer's Art), but modern is tough. Shops would consider name brands at 30-50% of new value as what it's worth to them - disappointing. Maybe pick out the best (eg MB, Omas, Conid, any maki-e) and offer them as one lot at higher percentage (of new) in the FPN classifieds.. The rest could go as a second lot at a lower percentage. Cheer up. Small towns rule.

[bemon]

Laywines in Yorkville deals in vintage pens but not sure about used. You could always list on kijiji, I have found some good pens there. If you are willing to sell pens individually I might consider some myself.

Yeah I have and do sell on Kijiji. I've had great success for one off pens. In my dreams someone says "I've appraised your collection at 10K. Here's a band draft" instead of selling a collection I don't even want to sell off peace meal.

 

Maybe I'm being lazy!

[bemon]

Would you care to tell us what your collection consists of?

Sure can:

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/topic/351961-share-your-collection/

 

I've added one or two pens since I posted this including a MB 149 which might represent some decent ROI. But that's the gist of it.

[sirgilbert357]

Appreciate that- thanks! None of my pens are vintage, probably the oldest is a late 90's model MB 146. All the rest are current. I never got bit that vintage bug.

 

I'll give him a shout. It's taken me a long time to collect them so I wouldn't sell my collection piecemeal, but if I could get someone to take the whole kit and caboodle, storage and all for the right price I'd have to go for it.

 

 

You will get the worst possible money doing it this way.

 

The best way is always sell individually, with box and papers.

[Uncial]

Taking a look at your link, if an appraiser is feeling generous they might give you as much as €3000. I doubt they would go much beyond that, and this would assume they take everything, which in reality is unlikely. That's just totting it all up in my head based on a third of the value of each. I suspect the resale value of ballpoints is extremely low, but I could be wrong. You will be far better off selling them yourself even though it is a significant hassle.

[carola]

Well, if you decide to sell single pens, there might be one or two of interest for me in that collection...

[mike.f]

Well, if you decide to sell single pens, there might be one or two of interest for me in that collection...

There are a few that interest me as well.

[bemon]

Taking a look at your link, if an appraiser is feeling generous they might give you as much as €3000. I doubt they would go much beyond that, and this would assume they take everything, which in reality is unlikely. That's just totting it all up in my head based on a third of the value of each. I suspect the resale value of ballpoints is extremely low, but I could be wrong. You will be far better off selling them yourself even though it is a significant hassle.

That's something, converted into dollars that's something to think about.

[bemon]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions and comments! I've got a few contacts I'll reach out to. To be clear I don't WANT to sell my collection. But it never hurts to get a number on it so I can have something in my back pocket to deal with if I need to.

[Wahl]

Sorry for the bad news, but nowadays it is unlikely that you will get even 30% of the value for your collection.

 

Selling them yourself one by one would be a better choice, although time consuming.

[tinta]

Sorry for the bad news, but nowadays it is unlikely that you will get even 30% of the value for your collection.

 

Selling them yourself one by one would be a better choice, although time consuming.

I'm of similar view.