What Do Folks Do With Past Auction Catalogs?

I've accumulated a large pile of auction catalogs over the past 5 years from the main houses - Siegel, Regency, Kelleher, Rumsey, Harmer, Cherrystone, etc. At this point they're taking up a lot of room in my closet. Do folks tend to save these and, if so, what do they primarily use them for as reference? Alternatively, is there a place that might want them if I decide not to hang on to them? Thanks.

I collect auction catalogs too! They often make a quicker reference than the electronic websites. Research with a combination of methods - find the specialty sale on-line, then leaf through the printed catalog. No doubt the major philatelic libraries have substantially complete runs of these houses.

5 years! Make it 30, & they're stacked sort-of-neatly on the bookshelf & every so often I'll browse through & reminisce about the ones that got away, & feel fuzzy about the ones I won & still have.

Great references for price history, information and visual reference. Besides the hundreds of catalogs that I was sent I acquire older ones from Phil Bansner. The ones that contain my consignments hold a special place.

Very useful for photos and prices, especially when a specialized collection is included. Finding specific items is a problem when you have a lot of catalogs.

Me, I have older catalogs piled up so I'm slowly scanning the pages and photos that are most useful to me. I'm still saving a few specialized sales.

You can maybe offer them on SCF against postage costs if you decide to move them out.

Auction catalogs are a very important research tool.

I keep and collect catalogs that have areas of interest to me.

This type of research can also help in authenticating or validating an item. I find it very useful with covers, in particular. Its common enough, that in older catalogs from the first half of the 1900s, I'll see a beat up tattered cover. Then I'll look in a current sale, and see the same cover, all restored, practically like new. There is nothing like a before and after picture.

In addition to this, I simply enjoy knowing not only the history that the stamp and cover convey, but also, the history of ownership of the item.

TXStamp, do you have any before/after pictures readily at hand?

RK - I'm sure that with a little effort I could find a cover pre and post restoration. Sorry don't have time at the moment.

However, regarding stamps, we had an interesting discussion on this subject in this thread, which you might find interesting:
https://goscf.com/t/56803#56803

Realize that both covers and individual stamps can get "improved" over time. There are valid reasons for some restoration and conservation. Others, not so much. The link above is in the not-so-valid variety.

Also, it is really two separate discussions on the improvement of individual stamps, and covers. Somewhat different skills are involved in each.

There are a fair number of Confederate States covers repaired/restored over time. A lot just don't exist sound, and while good restoration can cost hundreds, the restored covers are still worth less than sound ones would be. Here's one post-repair from a lot grouping in a past Siegel sale, properly described:

The slight color change at bottom right and right of the stamp shows paper added to make up what was missing. This maybe even started out as just a cover front. Not a perfect match (which can be done sometimes), in part because the original part is dirty and the restorer didn't dirty up the repaired part.

Now back to the original thread.

Stuffed boxes show up at auction from time to time. They realize peanuts. But then, I guess the shipping exceeds the value - that's why.

Also, the attendees are generally seasoned auction veterans and most already have the catalogs. So there's minimal competition.

Rarely have I seen the the "real' bound-book-type name sale catalogs in box lots. Those would be of more interest as they're typically not distributed for free.

Recycling.

I save my catalogs up over the course of a year and put them out on the free literature table at a WSP stamp show. I will occasionally keep one if it's a key reference in one of my collecting areas, but since catalogs are all online now there's less need to retain paper.

I like paper, but all space has its limits... :)