Your Money

Collectors gather to see if there’s cash in their attic

One enthusiast hears his old postcards are worth hundreds

Ian Whyte, managing director of Whyte & Sons Auctioneers, said a diverse array of objects were presented by the public. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
Ian Whyte, managing director of Whyte & Sons Auctioneers, said a diverse array of objects were presented by the public. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
Aine McMahon
Sat Feb 28 2015 - 17:07

Art and collectible enthusiasts gathered at the Little Museum in Dublin on Saturday to find out if there is cash in their attics.

Experts from Whyte’s auction house were on hand to offer valuations of a wide variety of art and collectibles including paintings, drawings, sculpture, prints, silver, autographs, banknotes and cigarette cards.

There was also a number of coins, ephemera, medals, manuscripts, maps, militaria, photographs, pop & rock memorabilia, postcards and toys being valued.

Ian Whyte, managing director of Whyte & Sons Auctioneers, said a diverse array of objects were presented by the public, including pieces of Nelson’s Pillar and medals from the 1916 War of Independence, to a collection of bayonets.

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“Valuation days bring out all sorts of things. You never know what you’re going to get,” he said.

“The value of things that have come in today range from €20 to €5-7000.”

Mr Whyte said some people were “pleasantly surprised” by the valuation their objects received but many were there to confirm the value of the objects.

“One guy pulled out a suitcase and a pack of old postcard fell out. He was surprised to hear the postcards might actually be worth a few hundred quid,” he said.

Mr Whyte said one of the highest valuations given today, was for a nude painting by artist John Augustus , valued at €2-3000.

With the Easter Rising Commemoration to take place next year, he said many people presented 1916 medals for valuation.

Around 2000 medals were awarded to persons who participated in the 1916 Easter Rising.

Mr Whyte had this advice for people looking to sell 1916 memorabilia: “If its something that’s not unique, sell it now. If it’s rare it will always be worth money. If it’s something interesting like the last man to leave the GPO, or one of the Rising leaders, hold on to it,” he said.

Mr Whyte said a lot of items from the period between 1916-1922 are “quite common.”

“The Irish Times handbook issued in 1916, 1917 would probably only fetch between €100-120 because there’s quite alot of them out there,” he said.