WLS Radio Show - 2025-08-16 E06 - The Eagle's Nest

Curious about the value of your old military artifacts, vintage license plates, or sports card collections? In this episode of The Donley Auctions Hour Podcast, Randy, Mike, and Susan Donley reveal the stories behind some incredible finds—including tiles from Hitler's Eagle's Nest, a Civil War autograph album, and a world-record-breaking license plate. They also share a behind-the-scenes look at their recent "Summer Classic" auction and offer crucial advice for anyone considering consigning their treasured collectibles.

Here are some highlights from the show:

• Donley Auctions is seeking consignments for upcoming auctions including automobiles, coin-operated games, advertising items, toys, and military relics. They emphasize the importance of provenance for historical items to help achieve a higher price.

• A GI's letter authenticated Hitler's Eagle's Nest tiles and they have a fascinating collection of D-Day items, including battle maps.

• The benefit of using an auction house over a dealer is highlighted, explaining that Donley Auctions works to get the highest price for the consignor.

• A remarkable Civil War autograph album with 259 signatures of notable figures, including Ulysses S. Grant and Andrew Johnson, was recently acquired.

• Donley Auctions holds a world record for the highest price achieved for a license plate, a 1905 Chicago #1 plate. They are actively looking for more vintage license plates.

• They discuss a professionally graded Chicago Cubs card collection that is 92.6% complete and ranked as the #1 collection in the PSA registry. They also discuss the importance of professional authentication for sports memorabilia and other collectibles to avoid fakes.

• They offer services for those handling a loved one's collection, especially widows, and advise against cleaning items like old coins, as it can decrease their value.

• Donley Auctions travels nationwide to pick up collections. You can reach them at 815-923-7000 or consign@donleyauctions.com.

You can listen to the full episode here: https://youtu.be/AfGjy5tG1K0

Broadcasting every Saturday at 7pm CT on WLS 890AM, The Donley Auctions Hour is your go-to source for insights into the auction world. Join Randy, Mike, and Susan Donley of Donley Auctions as they share valuable knowledge on valuable items and explain how you can get top dollar for your antiques and collectibles. Catch all episodes at DonleyAuctions.com/radio and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for new episode notifications.