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Flying Tigers (re Forum question from Terry)

Posted By: Bill H
Posted Date: Apr 22, 2010 (09:39 PM)

Message
Hi Terry,

This concerns your query in the forum which seems more appropriate for the Message Board, where discussion of a wide range of topics beyond antiques themselves is permitted.

First, a disclaimer. I'm principally a collector who knows some Chinese language. My selling experience is limited to indirect sales on eBay via a local antique mall that handles all the hassle of money-changing, packing and shipping. Any real expertise I possess actually is quite limited compared to willingness to make it a springboard for sharing a store of peripheral tidbits amassed while acquiring it. A couple of decades working in Asia while collecting eclectically and learning local languages left my head full of smatterings about a host of Asian stuff besides my main interest in Chinese porcelain. Forewarned is forearmed.

To the extent that I watch the US and UK 'Antiques Roadshow' TV programs, I'm aware that 'Flying Tigers' memorabilia is eminently collectible, but reliable channels for selling it are limited.

My check of on-line archives suggests there's little interest in 'Flying Tigers' memorabilia on the part of major international auctioneers such as Sotheby, which had no records on file of ever selling anything related to the Chennault group. In any event, 'big-ticket' auctions may not be the best route for your purposes, which after all involve a rather narrow category of collectibles.

Speaking of the roadshows, a good place to start may be the US 'Antiques Roadshow' page on the PBS website, which link is pasted below. Not only can you get an inkling of how past appraisals have rated 'Flying Tigers' collectibles, but biographic and contact information is included on the appraisers who rated the objects. I've never contacted anyone via this channel myself, but these appraisers obviously have been vetted before appearing on these programs.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/roadshow/index.html

Interest in and prices for military memorabilia tends to vary geopolitically, so you may want to inquire of some of the regional houses. I've included a few web links below which can be pasted into your browser window. If you care to contact any of them, they may be able to recommend alternates if they aren't interested themselves. Nothing here should be construed as implying an endorsement of any of the cited firms. They're all professionals who've passed the test of time, and they don't charge for appraising the auction potential of anything they review.

NORTHEAST:

Skinner's, Boston, MA (have dealt with satisfactorily as buyer):

http://www.skinnerinc.com/buy-sell/howtosell.php

SOUTH:

Brunk, Asheville, NC (have dealt with satisfactorily as buyer):

http://www.brunkauctions.com/selling/howtoconsign.php

WEST:

Bonhams & Butterfields, San Francisco, CA (no personal experience):

http://www.bonhams.com/cgi-bin/public.sh/pubweb/publicSite.r?sContinent=USA&screen=HowToSell

Hope this helps.

Best regards,

Bill H.

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