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Galesburg Library Foundation to Present Antiques Appraisal Event
August 25, 2016 @ 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
How much is that beautiful china Aunt Esmerelda willed to you worth?
Is that antique powderhorn REALLY from the Revolutionary War era? Is that hand-stitched sampler from the 1800’s or 1900’s?
Did that china coffeepot come from Sweden with your immigrant 2nd great grandmother, or did they buy it at the dime store in Monmouth?
If you have questions about old and antique items in your china cupboard, attic, or basement, rest assured there is a way you can find out their approximately value! The Galesburg Public Library Foundation is bringing well known antiques appraiser Mark J. Moran to Galesburg in August. He will be able to help you answer most of not all of your pressing antique questions. He can help you resolve once and for all if your “stuff” is junk or actually of value!
Moran will be presenting an Antiques Appraisal Event on Thursday, August 25 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1556 W. Fremont Street, Galesburg. The Galesburg Public Library Foundation is sponsoring the event as a fundraiser for the not for profit organization, and they are promising an educational and entertaining day for all who participate.
“This is not your local version of the TV Antiques Road Show,” says Terry Bruner, who is helping organize the event for the Library Foundation. “It will be similar,” she added, “but we are putting a local twist on the event. Mr. Moran will be appraising unique items which people bring to the event. But it is being styled as an entertainment experience for the participants,” Bruner contain. “There will be seats for everyone to sit and you will know which hour your antique item will be evaluated. People can come and go or sit with us all day. Mark Moran is very entertaining int he way he presents the program, and we think it will be a fun event for everyone who attends.” Bruner also said that “we are expecting some local historical items at the event, as well.”
Moran, a professional antique appraiser and author or editor o over 20 books on antique items, is from Iowa, Wisconsin. In the summer he travels in the midwest and presents such as the one the library Foundation is bring to Galesburg for libraries, historical associations, and other groups.
Moran specializes in evaluating ceramics, advertising items, clocks, musical instruments, fine art, furniture and glassware. He also specialized in antique toys, for art, and sports memorabilia.
“While there are specific things Moran will not evaluate, the list if what he will evaluate is longer,” Bruner said. He will not evaluate weapons (guns, knives, or swords), traps, or Nazi or Japanese memorabilia, He will not evaluate previous gems, coins or money, or jewelry.
The Antique Appraisal Event will start at 10 am at the Galesburg Knights of Columbus Hall and will wind up at about 3 pm. The cost to attend the event is $20.00 per person, and tickets are available at the Galesburg Public Library’s Circulation Desk.
If you wish to have items evaluated by Moran, the cost will be $20.00 for each piece. The Library Foundation would like to limit the number of items each person has appraised to three in order to allow the maximum number of participants submit items to be evaluated. In addition, participants must complete paperwork in advance for all of the items they wish to have evaluated, so that Moran can ensure a variety of different items are presented at the event and not duplications of similar items.
Moran will make house calls on the day of the Antique Appraisal Event if an advance reservation is made for the house call. The fee for the house call will be $75.00 plus mileage for locations more than 10 miles from Galesburg.
Moran states that his opinions of value are information and cannot be used for insurance or charitable donation, which require a certified appraisal.
Food and beverages will also be available the day of the event at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
If you have further questions about this fundraising event, contact the Galesburg Public Library Foundation at Foundation@galesburglibrary.org or call Terry Bruner at 309-221-2084.