I'm Weaponized Now!
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I'm Weaponized Now!

  • Writer: Donley Auctions
    Donley Auctions
  • 16 hours ago
  • 3 min read

Market Shifts, Extinct Birds, and D-Day Secrets

Welcome back to another episode of Donley Auctions Unfiltered! Randy and Susan are back to recap a wild weekend of sales and give us the inside scoop on what’s shaking up the antiques world. From shifting collector demographics to a shocking sale of an extinct bird, this episode is packed with market insights and historical treasures. Whether you're a seasoned buyer or just love a good story, you won't want to miss these highlights.

Episode Highlights:

  • The Changing Face of Collecting [01:41]: Randy opens with a crucial market insight—the "age of collectors" is shifting. As the older generation passes, a flood of merchandise is hitting the market. It’s a "double-edged sword" [01:58]: prices for middle-of-the-road items are dropping (great for buyers!), while the "best of the best" rare items continue to hold their value.

  • Native American Auction Success [04:09]: The recent auction saw solid results, with the "sweet spot" for pricing falling in the mid-to-high hundreds. A standout item, a delicate Corn Husk Bag, hammered down at $475 [04:29].

  • The Passenger Pigeon & The Photo Ark [05:13]: The star of the show! A rare taxidermy Passenger Pigeon sold for a shocking price to a very special buyer—Joel, a National Geographic photographer. Joel joins the show [06:05] to discuss his Photo Ark project and his mission to document endangered species. He shares the tragic history of the pigeon (extinct since 1914) and discusses the science of "de-extinction."

  • Wild West Town Relics [11:18]: Nostalgia sold well, with souvenirs from the Wild West Town finding new homes. A unique Calendar Clock from a Lincoln display was a crowd favorite—set to the exact day and time of Lincoln's assassination [11:46].

  • Franklin, TN Trip [12:21]: The team is busy prepping rare items (and strictly enforcing a "Do Not Touch" policy!) for Mike and John's upcoming trip to the Civil War Show in Franklin, Tennessee.

  • Furniture & General Antiques [13:03]: Most of the recent furniture collection found a home with a bulk buyer. Any remaining pieces are heading to the General Antiques "Clearance" Auction on Dec 11 [13:42]—a perfect chance for bargain hunters to snag a deal.

  • The Power of Provenance [13:50]: Randy drops a golden nugget of advice: Provenance is profit. A story without documentation is just a rumor. He urges collectors to write down family histories and get them notarized to add hundreds or thousands of dollars in value to their items.

  • The Bison Opportunity [16:29]: A massive taxidermy Bison didn't sell and is still available for a steal at $3,500. Randy pitches it as the perfect centerpiece for a museum or a bold bar display.

  • Razor Blades & Ammo [17:17]: Mark your calendars for two unique upcoming sales: an Online-Only Razor Blade Display Auction on Dec 4 and a Firearms & Ammunition Auction on Dec 13 [19:02] loaded with tons of ammo.

  • D-Day History Revealed [20:07]: The show closes with a spine-tingling "Show & Tell" featuring the John Banister Collection (coming Feb 7). The team showcases top-secret D-Day paperwork, including demolition plans and sailing orders from May 1944. These rare documents, which lives depended on, offer a nerdy and deeply moving glimpse into Operation Overlord [20:49].

Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/47dldkOGGLA


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Donley Auctions is a team of experienced auction professionals dedicated to creating a fun and exciting auction experience. With a rich history connected to the original Union Phonograph Show, the Seven Acres Museum, and Donley’s Wild West Town, Donley Auctions offers a diverse range of items for both seasoned collectors and newcomers. Specializing in firearms, militaria, coin-op, phonographs, cars, motorcycles, petroliana, antique advertising, architecture, coins, sports memorabilia, early inventions, and more, we are the place to get top dollar for your high-quality antiques and collectibles. We host live and in-person auctions monthly, complete with complimentary food and beverages, as well as online auctions at DonleyAuctions.com, where you can bid from anywhere in the world. Our friendly atmosphere, combined with our commitment to providing an engaging auction experience and expert shipping, makes us the go-to auction house for buyers and sellers alike. Whether you're looking to buy or sell, Donley Auctions is the place to be!


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