Good Afternoon, everyone!

I have a number of railroad items that I am interested in having appraised so that I have an idea as to what their value is.

One of these items, I am considering donating. Is anyone familiar with any appraisers in the Western New York region, that I could visit and have my items appraised? I have never had an appraisal performed before and suspect that it could not be carried out via e-mail.

I look forward to any input that anyone may have.

Thanks!

-Mike Walsh

I have a few friends that live in that area that are knowledgeable and I trust, but they don't appraise professionally. Actually, I only know one person that has appraised rail items professionally... does anyone have a list of appraisers they have used anywhere?

Two parties that can appraise professionally and have specific expertise in railroad collectibles and artifacts:

Golden Spike Enterprises, http://www.gserr.com

Maurer's Auctions, http://www.maurerail.com/

I'm not endorsing either, just giving two examples. If nothing else, these two happen to offer a selection of recent auction catalogs with realized prices and/or list of items available, useful as a general guideline at least.

Do not be certain that they cannot do appraisals by e-mail. There is almost no rail item that will be unfamiliar to experienced rail dealers and auctioneers such as these. Maryland and Pennsylvania marker light? Otto Mear silver pass for the Colorado & Southern? Trolley destination roll signs? 1897 Lake Erie & Western RR Framed Broadside timetable? Waybill for the El Paso & Southwestern? 600 slides of Baltimore streetcars? Not a problem; I've see all of those and more at Maurer. At worst, the item may be unusual enough or unique (the only surviving ticket or employee timetable from an obscure short line, for example) to make an appraisal difficult. But most items can be quantified one way or another.