It's not at all unusual for a top rated firm to refuse to appraise unless having the item in hand;

pretty much par for the course.

They've got one, they think it's valuable or they wouldn't have it, and it hasn't sold quickly for what they think it's worth or they'd be interested in buying another.

That means it doesn't have an active market, but it does not mean there is not a market.

They don't know you from Adam but they suggested several people whom they respect as possible resources.

You have something.

What, I've no idea. I'm not an appraiser, I don't sell sheet music, and I've not even looked at your pictures.

But you have something, based on your story.

Maybe somebody here knows about the sheet music market enough to help out further. I sell a lot of hymnals, but that's only a tangential relationship to what you've got.

Life begins at the end of your comfort Zone.

elynslibrary wrote:

We would need a good clear picture of the title page and the back of the title page at least to start. We also need the title as it is printed on the title page, author's name as printed on the title page and all publisher information as it appears on both the title page and the back of the title page.

 

Elyn, it's not a book ... it's an illustrated broadside. 

I believe the OP is inquiring if his is a real or facsimile copy ... which is almost impossible to say without being able to closely examine the paper for signs of appropriate age.

Also, the fact that the OP's document is "very close" to Baumanns' copy is a red flag.  Very often, facsimiles are a different size than an original printing, so, assuming the Baumann copy is genuine, I would question the veracity of a document which did not share the exact measurement of theirs.

Yeah, but Pawn Stars is about half a mile from Baumann's.

Makes a little difference: they are in a destination marketplace accustomed to big dollar collectors.

For them, they pick up a phone and an expert is there. Magic of film makes it happen in seconds.

And of course, having a filming budget that pays for the appraiser's time doesn't hurt. In "real life" I'm sure they pay for their appraisers' time and/or have them on retainer.

Physical examination is important. If you check these threads, over the years many have sent an item to a place such as Baumann's for examination. It's an expense, but if the answer is positive, it's a risk well rewarded.

Perhaps you can learn something of dating paper from your local library--keep your eyes peeled for a paper and/or book fair near you.

Whatever it is you have, it will keep if cared for. And if it is "something" will only increase in value over the time it takes to prove it.

Life begins at the end of your comfort Zone.

Elyn, it's not a book ... it's an illustrated broadside.

You are absolutely right. Combination of tiny screen and tired me meant a stupid response to OP. My apologies.

With a much larger screen it is easier to see.

On a side note, Pawnstars et al and other television programming of that sort are simply carefully scripted and edited stories that are told - and sold - for the purposes of the storyteller's profit and your entertainment and have no relation to alleged reality.

I think the Bauman response is a canned response-- use the same closing and add a new first paragraph for anything they don't want to sell.  Shouldn't be taken as meaning they think it has value.

Just my 2 cents.