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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / January 2005OT: How do you tell your father...
...the book he sent you, which he thinks you can sell for an exhorbitant amount of money, isn't worth more than a couple hundred bucks? Dad is funny. He wouldn't talk to me for months after I hooked back up with my LLL (long lost love) other than to say "hi" and pass the phone to my mom. But for some reason, he got all chatty on Christmas day. Apparently he'd asked my mom "how the hell is she paying her rent?" and Mom replied, "I guess John is helping her." Indeed, he is. This must have gotten him to thinking. Or put him in competitive mode, or something ;) Dad is an 80 year old retired Col., USMC. He dug around and found a military manual from 1940 which he is convinced I can sell for something like $30,000 USD. Uh... The reprint of this manual sells for $28.95 on amazon.com. I called yesterday and told my mom that (Dad was out for a walk). Mom told him what I'd said. He called back and said, "But it's the first printing! And in excellent condition!" Yes, I know that. "Don't give it away!" I don't plan to. But I think you should adjust your thinking downwards a bit. He said, somewhat sulkily, "I'm just trying to get you wealthy!" Mom thinks, as I do, Dad puts waaaay too much emphasis on what people are willing to pay for military memorabilia. I've posed the question to alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can get some data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not worth that much? Jill <---grateful he's at least talking to me again... perhaps too much! > alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can get some > data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not worth that much? I'd look up a local old-book dealer and ask for an estimate. They should provide one free.  SignatureVictor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com >> alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can >> get some data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not worth >> that much? > > I'd look up a local old-book dealer and ask for an estimate. They > should provide one free. Unfortunately, I can't find any local old book dealers. Only folks who trade in used books - as in, paperback novels, cookbooks, etc., and will give you "credit" to buy more books. No one really knowledgeable. Jill >> alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can >> get some data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not worth >> that much? > > I'd look up a local old-book dealer and ask for an estimate. They > should provide one free. Go to MORE than one! Remember, they're in business to buy-low-sell-high. You should go to a gun show and check with the military memorabilia dealers there, too. >>> alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can >>> get some data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not worth [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > buy-low-sell-high. You should go to a gun show and check with the > military memorabilia dealers there, too. There you are, my dear! What he sent me was 'Small Wars Manual U.S. Marine Corps' 1940; it's a first edition printing. I managed to find out it was declassified in 1998 and you can download the darn thing practically anywhere, even from the USMC web site. Jill > >>> alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can > >>> get some data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not worth [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > declassified in 1998 and you can download the darn thing practically > anywhere, even from the USMC web site. A first edition might be worth something indeed. It's been considered a military classic for many years -- copies had been leaking out before it was formally released. > > >>> alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can > > >>> get some data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not worth [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > military classic for many years -- copies had been leaking out before it > was formally released. Thinking about it, I think the manual itself goes back to the twenties. Maybe you have the first fully official edition. >>>>>> alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can >>>>>> get some data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > Thinking about it, I think the manual itself goes back to the > twenties. Maybe you have the first fully official edition. So what might this mean? Dad was the staff secretary at Quantico around 1961 and the librarian was cleaning out "old" books and gave this to him. It's not stamped as declassified because the manual he sent is an original copy. I do gather it is something of a cult classic for afficionados of USMC memorabilia. But, being in Memphis where there are no rare booksellers I'm aware of, I have no idea how to get an exact value on this. BTW, I also have in my possession possibly the only remaining copies of official U.S. documents from officials at Lakehurst, NJ regarding the flights and subsequent cleanup of LZ-129. The Smithsonian has asked me to donate them to the National Areospace museum. Dad was the Marine commander at NAS Lakehurst in 1965; he went up into the barracks attic and found a box full of old file folders. One of the folders contained the cc's to the then-Marine CO in 1935 authorizing the landing of the Hindenburg, subsequent duty rosters, security information, mooring instructions, etc. etc. Even a lost & found list! Jill > >>>>>> alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can > >>>>>> get some data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > > Jill Now that is an interesting collectible, Jill. I think donating these to the National Aerospace Museum would be really worthwhile. Christine >>>>>>>> alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I >>>>>>>> can get some data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > to the National Aerospace Museum would be really worthwhile. > Christine The only problem with that is... have you ever actually been to the Smithsonian Institution? Wonderful place!! It takes a couple of weeks to go through. And if you have any clue, you know how much of this stuff winds up in the basements gathering dust, never to be displayed or seen by anyone? That is probably what would happen with these papers. Dad really wants me to sell them. I did painstakingly photocopy them and send them to a documents appraiser in Florida (recommended by Christie's auction house). He wanted $7,250 to give me a written appraisal which would tell me the provenance, history, etc. Hell, I already knew all that! It tells me the 129 pages I have are at least worth $7,250 LOL Jill > The only problem with that is... have you ever actually been to the > Smithsonian Institution? Wonderful place!! It takes a couple of weeks to [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > tell me the provenance, history, etc. Hell, I already knew all that! It > tells me the 129 pages I have are at least worth $7,250 LOL In that case, I think I'd commission Christie's to auction them off. Considering the provenance, and so forth, I suspect they'd consider the documents important enough to feature at an important auction. But don't go by me, I don't know from documents. I'd contact Christie's and see what you can do. Pam S. interested >> The only problem with that is... have you ever actually been to the >> Smithsonian Institution? Wonderful place!! It takes a couple of [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > > Pam S. interested When I do a dyslexia I really do it! Should have said $2,750. Still, that's a lot of money :) I looked up Christie's and found a contact in Dallas and sent an email about these documents. If I hear back I'll also ask about this book. Thanks! Jill > >>>>>> alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can > >>>>>> get some data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not [quoted text clipped - 44 lines] > a > lost & found list! The Smithsonian should give you an estimate on the latter donations, so you can claim it on your taxes. Perhaps you can get them to throw in an appraisal on the Manual for Small Wars/ > ...the book he sent you, which he thinks you can sell for an exhorbitant > amount of money, isn't worth more than a couple hundred bucks? [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > Jill <---grateful he's at least talking to me again... perhaps too much! I got my father's coin collection when he passed away a number of years ago. They're all well circulated coins, some quite old. It's amazing how little they're worth. Even on eBay, where people are known to spend too much for used crap. In most cases the catalogue price is two or three times the face value of the coin, assuming they're not too well worn (some are). But no dealer will give you the catalogue price, since they have to make some profit. It's pretty much just as cost effective to spend them in a vending machine, not that they would work. Of course I wouldn't do this, due to the sentimental value. > Mom thinks, as I do, Dad puts waaaay too much emphasis on what people are > willing to pay for military memorabilia. I've posed the question to > alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can get some > data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not worth that much? > > Jill <---grateful he's at least talking to me again... perhaps too much! I suppose you could go the, "But dad, this means far too much to you! I couldn't possibly sell it!" route. You know, cranky and difficult as your dad may be, it says something that he was willing to give you what he thought was a substantial amount of money to get you on your feet again. Or, as my mom said to me at times as a kid, "You know, I love you, I'll always love you, but I don't like you very much right now." Not that your dad's done anything unlikeable; just kooky =) Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > You know, cranky and difficult as your dad may be, it says something that he > was willing to give you what he thought was a substantial amount of money to > get you on your feet again. This is true. After I divorced the abusive alcoholic @$$hole I had married at age 17 (mostly to get away from my mother), he refused to pay any child support, cancelled my children's health insurance, stole my car, and almost got me fired. I was in pretty bad shape financially. My kids and I were living on beans and peanut butter on day-old bread. The only really good meals they got were at school. They were getting assisted lunches and I only had to pay 25 cents for their lunch, but one day I didn't even have the 50 cents to give them. I asked my mother to *loan* me 50 cents until I got my paycheck the next day and she refused saying I shouldn't expect her to finance my life since I was the one who ruined it by kicking my husband out the door (never mind how many times he had kicked me and my kids *behind* the door). Her favorite saying in the whole world is, "You made your bed, now you have to lie in it!". If she leaves me anything at all after she dies, every single penny of it is going to a battered women's shelter. Hugs, CatNipped > The only really good meals they got were at school. They were getting > assisted lunches and I only had to pay 25 cents for their lunch, but one day [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > and my kids *behind* the door). Her favorite saying in the whole world is, > "You made your bed, now you have to lie in it!". And your kids did, too, apparently. Ugh. I'm sorry your mother was so lacking in compassion =/ > If she leaves me anything at all after she dies, every single penny of it is > going to a battered women's shelter. That's a wonderful idea. Signaturemonique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > And your kids did, too, apparently. Ugh. I'm sorry your mother was so > lacking in compassion =/ Taking the long view... Ultimately, this was the best thing she could have done for me. It taught me to be independent, self-sufficient, and to rely on *NOBODY* but myself to help me. There has never been another time in my life since then that I had to ask anybody for anything for myself or my children. I can not only survive, I can support others as well. My mother taught me that lesson quite well. I also learned that when you don't *need* anybody in your life you can pick who you *want* to share your life with (like I picked you guys!!). As romantic as it sounds, "You complete me" is a terrible way to feel - I am complete within myself. If my DH walked out the door tomorrow, I would be terribly sad, but I could survive just as well as I do now physically, emotionally, and financially. *Knowing* that is a great comfort to me and it keeps DH on his toes as well! ;> > > If she leaves me anything at all after she dies, every single penny of it is > > going to a battered women's shelter. > > That's a wonderful idea. 23 years ago there weren't any shelters or other organizations to help me out of a bad, life-threatening situation. Because I chose to work rather than go on welfare and food stamps I wasn't even elligible for legal aid to take the b*stard to court for the $40,000 in back child support he owed me (ultimately I came to believe that it was worth more than the $40,000 just not to ever have to see him again). My children and I were lucky to survive, much less thrive as well as we have. Others are not as fortunate, so I'm going to make sure my mother will help support someone in a situation like I was in to make up for refusing to help me. I'm hoping it will add to her good karma in spite of herself! ;> Hugs, CatNipped > -- > monique, roommate of Oscar the (female) grouch > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Eros was adopted! Eros has a home now! *cheer!* > > And your kids did, too, apparently. Ugh. I'm sorry your mother was so > > lacking in compassion =/ [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > CatNipped It sounds as though she needs all the help she can get in that department. :-( It's too bad she couldn't have been supportive when you needed her. Joy > > You know, cranky and difficult as your dad may be, it says something that > he [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > CatNipped That sounds appropriate. Joy > Mom thinks, as I do, Dad puts waaaay too much emphasis on what people are > willing to pay for military memorabilia. I've posed the question to > alt.military.collecting. Any other suggestions about where I can get some > data to tell my father, sorry, dear, it's simply not worth that much? > > Jill <---grateful he's at least talking to me again... perhaps too much! http://www.tias.com/stores/kovels/ Would be where I'd start. I'd also do a net search on Military memorabilia. But then I know how little any thing from the 20th century is generally considered worth. Pam S. |
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