Old Estate Collection

[OzPiper]

How sad having to sell that jaw dropping collection that would have taken years to assemble.

So sorry to hear of his health issues, as well as the loss of his workshop.

Is that Neal Yarm who makes those beautiful pipe stands ?

 

[ashdigger]

How sad having to sell that jaw dropping collection that would have taken years to assemble.

So sorry to hear of his health issues, as well as the loss of his workshop.

Is that Neal Yarm who makes those beautiful pipe stands ?

Yes

 

[OzPiper]

Yes

I’ve always admired his handiwork but they didn’t suit my needs for bulk storage.

Some years ago I sold off most of my wine cellar including quite a few rare bottles to pay for the extensive home renovations I had promised my wife.

I understand his pain.

 

[kcghost]

MS is certainly the bastard of diseases. Neil has made many of guy a beautiful pipe rack.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I’ve always admired his handiwork but they didn’t suit my needs for bulk storage.

Years ago when Smoker's Haven still had auctions on eBay I saw my first one not knowing anything of Neal and won it for $30. It's a fun piece but I only get it out every now and again.

 

[greeneyes]

He says he wants $50,000 for the lot.

I wish him luck.

 

[jonasclark]

I'm honestly not sure I can see $50,000 there. I'm not sure I can see $10,000.

 

[rmbittner]

I'm honestly not sure I can see $50,000 there. I'm not sure I can see $10,000.

Really? These are all over 100 years old, all (it seems) with original cases, with many, I’m sure, featuring actual amber stems. To me, these appear to be irreplaceable museum pieces.

 

[PA Piper Mike]

I get wanting to dump everything in 1 transaction, but it might be hard finding 1 person willing to buy 200 pipes for $50k. He might be better of breaking them up into 5 pipe lots. I'm sure there'd be a few of us willing to buy 5 of them for $500-$1,500+. I know I'd be interested.

 

[tklee]

Wow! What a collection!

 

[TheIronMonkey]

I get wanting to dump everything in 1 transaction, but it might be hard finding 1 person willing to buy 200 pipes for $50k. He might be better of breaking them up into 5 pipe lots. I'm sure there'd be a few of us willing to buy 5 of them for $500-$1,500+. I know I'd be interested.

Sometimes, a single collection can be worth more than the sum of its parts—this often happens in book collecting, where the time and effort it took to amass all the objects factors in on the perceived value of having all the things/objects in one place as a new, unique whole, impossible to replicate. I get both approaches.

 

[Puffaluffaguss]

Shoot if I had the money I would give him the 50k after a good look at the pipes. Sell off the ones that I didn't prefer and keep the rest how they were. I would keep it mostly in the condition they are in. If smoked ill smoke um if not ill leave um be. I might need to remortgage I'm feeling a "MAJOR" P.A.D moment right now lol

 

[sablebrush52]

$50,000 for 200 pipes breaks down to $250 per pipe. The issue is that many of these exquisite pipes appear to be by long forgotten makers. There are BBB's, which could get that kind of price or more, what looks like Orlik or Imperial, and a number that I can't quite make out. So some of these might not get $250 at auction. I'm seeing some with damaged amber stems that have been shortened and reshaped. It's also a specialist's collection, which means a limited number of buyers, especially for 19th century pieces. The condition looks to be excellent in the main, but I wouldn't want to own 200 pipes from this era. They're fun to look at, but not always fun to actually smoke.

Is there more documentation on this collection, such as makers and dates? Is there better photography of the individual pipes so that a potential buyer has a better sense of their condition? Owning pipes from this period I can attest that there are always surprises, some good, some bad. For $50,000 I don't want any bad.

 

[Ben.R.C]

Smoking pipes recently listed a bunch of his pipe racks, they look quite nice.

 

[monty55]

It's also a specialist's collection, which means a limited number of buyers

Exactly.

It's an amazing collection. But given how small the pipe world is, he may be the only one who wants to own all those pipes, as a collection.

Possibly he contacted SmokingPipes, or they contacted him. He'd be able to sell them off individually without a problem.

So sorry this happened.

 

[LotusEater]

I hope he gets somewhere near what he wants/needs out of his collection. If they were available individually or in small lots I think there would be a lot of interest from the folks here and elsewhere.

 

[Alejo R.]

Sometimes, a single collection can be worth more than the sum of its parts—this often happens in book collecting, where the time and effort it took to amass all the objects factors in on the perceived value of having all the things/objects in one place as a new, unique whole, impossible to replicate. I get both approaches.

I would like to discern.

But first I would like to clarify that it is very sad that someone is forced to part with something like this due to health problems.

I proceed to explain myself.
It is a matter of marketing, you have to think about the target buyer.
Who would be interested in spending many thousands of dollars on a collection of pipes?
Probability would tell us that Certainly not a novice smoker.
You would certainly be a collector who already has a substantial collection that you have already spent some good bucks on.

This collector does not see a collection of 200 pipes, he sees 10, 20 or 30 that complete his own and pre-existing collection and another pile of pipes that do not interest him and for which he is very little inclined to pay more since his ultimate destiny is certain. it will be a resale.
It is best to sell it individually or in the smallest possible lots.
Of course this takes much longer.
Regards.

 

[ssjones]

I'm honestly not sure I can see $50,000 there. I'm not sure I can see $10,000.

Agreed, $50k is completely unrealistic.
Get them to Pipestud, etc to sell on assigment. That's his best outcome financially. I'm not sure if time is a factor for him. (hope not!)

 

[condorlover1]

Wow. $50,000.00. I must be a damned millionaire. One or two of mine might be worth big bucks from a historical perspective but my insurance only goes to about $10,000. You have to be really dedicated to only smoke 19th century pipes as they tend to only really work well with 19th century type tobaccos like plugs and twist.

 

[AppalachianPipe92]

Thats pretty incredible. Immediately thought of @ashdigger
What an amazing collection, and lovely pipe stands also. Wish I was at a spot to entertain the idea of buying. Gorgeous pipes and condition looks fantastic