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Cleaning Out Another Person's Stuff

I have a friend (gay, elderly) in hospice care, and I am helping to clear out his apartment. Yesterday I had an entire garage-full of boxes delivered to me. Since I have lots of time on my hands, I'm starting to go through them and sort them out. Apparently most of these boxes have been sealed up for 20-30 years or more ... and they're like an archive of his life. But he must have packed every single item in his house when he moved --- there are magazines, newspapers, junk mail--EVERYTHING-- from the '80s and '90s (mostly.) Record albums (vinyl), books, clothing, and more -- and I've only opened about 1/10 of the boxes.

So ... serious question -- how do I know if any of this might be of interest to anyone? Most of it is probably not inherently valuable, but he did tell me that he has a complete collection of Drummer magazines (I haven't run across those yet), and there is a lot of stuff that might be of interest to certain types of collectors or obscure museums. Is there an easy way to find out?

by Anonymousreply 34March 30, 2020 9:58 PM

I want the Drummer Magazines! PLEASE. Can I have them?

by Anonymousreply 1March 29, 2020 4:40 PM

Look on eBay, call antique or salvage dealers. Some salvage companies will split the profits with you.

by Anonymousreply 2March 29, 2020 4:43 PM

I'm not so concerned with the everyday items like clothes, household goods, Christmas decorations, books, etc. --it's the specialized stuff like the gay things (would anyone want gay travel guides or Advocate magazines from the '90s?) and the record albums. I'm going to give the more basic stuff to my handyman and let him have a yard sale and split the profits with my friend. But it would be nice to donate the more specialized, unique stuff to an archive or a museum if there's any interest.

by Anonymousreply 3March 29, 2020 4:51 PM

R3 someone always wants this old specialized gay stuff. Wait for the pandemic to be over, then post something on Kijji and say it is "FREE" - with the condition they take it all - not pick and choose, but take the whole thing you can't get rid of.

Someone will come by and pick up the whole lot, someone will always take it

by Anonymousreply 4March 29, 2020 4:54 PM

Gay archives in SF (GLBT Historical Society), LA (One Institute) are probably overloaded and now not-staffed, but perhaps inquire later.

You'd be surprised what kind of vintage gay stuff sells on ebay, but meant for another time. Also, you'd have to deal with shipping, etc.

by Anonymousreply 5March 29, 2020 4:55 PM

I understand the desire to go through this now but no one is going to take any of this stuff till this pandemic passes. I'd suggest sorting it in to types if you have the time now. The gay stuff will have value. Magazines and newspapers less so.

by Anonymousreply 6March 29, 2020 5:08 PM

The vinyl may be valuable, but it will depend on what it is and the condition.

If it's albums that are popular and were in a lot of homes, then the value is probably not much (unless in mint condition).

But if your friend had esoteric tastes, or has lots of imported LPs, then take a closer look. Those probably have value.

by Anonymousreply 7March 29, 2020 5:10 PM

Don't underestimate the value of the clothes. Those jean jackets from the 80s do well in consignment shops. Also, a theatrical costumer would probably love to get his or her hands on a lot of vintage clothing. They'd probably not be able to buy it all off you, but you can donate it for a tax write-off. (You really should inventory everything -It will probably end up being worth $1,000 to $5,000 for tax write-off purposes.)

by Anonymousreply 8March 29, 2020 5:41 PM

Where are you located OP?

by Anonymousreply 9March 29, 2020 8:14 PM

L.A. area.

by Anonymousreply 10March 29, 2020 8:59 PM

This is a DL dream come true.... [italic]you got his fucking STUFF![/italic]

by Anonymousreply 11March 29, 2020 9:01 PM

eBay is helpful for seeing what some things may sell for. Make sure you click on "sold items" when you search so you can see what they sold for.

by Anonymousreply 12March 29, 2020 9:06 PM

R12 yes, many of the sellers are delusional. You only have to see what's being offered and then look the same item up on the "sold" search to see what people actually will pay for something.

by Anonymousreply 13March 29, 2020 9:37 PM

I'm really not trying to make any money off of this ... I'm well off myself, and this guy has no relatives to leave things to. I just don't want to throw things away that could be of use to someone.

by Anonymousreply 14March 29, 2020 9:50 PM

Keep an eye out for "ephemera", the stuff that people would normally throw out without a second thought that has some cultural or collectors significance; An original dealer's brochure for a now collectable car, a newspaper from the day Elvis died, or a poster for a now legendary dance party. People like to get their hands on a piece of history or little things that no one else has that will complete their collection.

by Anonymousreply 15March 29, 2020 9:53 PM

Being under lockdown and only allowed out for groceries or solitary walks up and down the alleys I'm going through a suitcase full of old correspondence and shredding shredding shredding.

I can't believe the kind of smut and incriminating stuff my old boyfriends and I used to commit to writing pre- internet.

Even a couple of old Polaroids I'd forgotten existed !!

Not the kind of stuff I'd want family sifting through.

by Anonymousreply 16March 29, 2020 10:05 PM

When a friend died of at heart attack on the street, two of us had keys to his apartment. Parents were coming from out-of-town to clean out the apartment. We went in and collect his leather outfits, sex toys, porn magazines and videos before Ma and Pa showed up.

by Anonymousreply 17March 29, 2020 10:21 PM

r15 Yeah, that's the kind of stuff I'm thinking of. This guy lived all over the place and has stuff everywhere. Want a gay guide to Denver from 1995? How about a Mexico City gay newspaper from the '80s? Issues of House an Garden from the '90s? Credit cards from defunct stores? Cartridges for old video game systems? Grammar school books from Mexico?

by Anonymousreply 18March 29, 2020 10:56 PM

Story time. A good friend of mine rented out a part of his house to one of his friends. This friend used to be heavy into leather and various kinks. As he got older he became religious and was a deacon at his church. He still kept all his leather and sex toys, but they were boxed away into a closet. He died suddenly and his two adult children came over to clean out his things. Bare in mind, my friend was friends with his adult children, a son and daughter. I was on the phone with my friend when the children were going through their dad’s belongings and my friend started to laugh hysterically. I asked him what was going on and he said L’s daughter just walked out with a 14” double headed black dildo and a shocked looked on her face. I said, “didn’t you go and dispose of L’s kink stuff?” He said, “he’ll no, why should I!” Moral is have someone you can rely on to keep your secrets save. Those kids aren’t going to unsee their dad’s kinks.

by Anonymousreply 19March 29, 2020 10:58 PM

R18 I am into collecting vintage things OP. Especially gay magazines and bar stuff. I will take stuff. I'm not kidding. Can I get in touch with you somehow?

by Anonymousreply 20March 29, 2020 11:25 PM

Also, OP, any old gay novels? I have an Instagram page devoted to gay history. It's @gayhistory101 on Instagram. DM me! PLEASE.

by Anonymousreply 21March 30, 2020 12:45 AM

I second looking at the vinyl. Is anything still sealed? That might be worth something. And classic albums in very good condition could be worth something as well.

by Anonymousreply 22March 30, 2020 12:50 AM

Go to Discogs.com to check on the value of the vinyl. You can also list them for sale there.

I have a 1500+ collection of vinyl. I've bought and sold through the site, and you'll get top price compared to Ebay.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 23March 30, 2020 12:51 AM

The problem is, we all have to much stuff of everything. I am 57 and spent the last 14 days sorting things out. Throwing things away was sometimes really hard.

A lot of things from an average household in our first world environment is worth nothing.

There may be some special stuff like old vinyl or some really special publication.

We went to my great uncles stuff, WW1 and WW2 handwritten diaries. As today, nobody is really interested.

So.

by Anonymousreply 24March 30, 2020 1:07 AM

OP, the website at the link might help you find an appraiser or estate liquidator in your area. I found a great one in my part of the country -- he's gay and the other firm I interviewed is run by a lesbian, which may just be a coincidence? Anyhow, don't be shy about telling them that you're looking for someone to handle your friend's esoteric collection of gay-themed items and you'll probably find at least one person who's knowledgeable about such things.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 25March 30, 2020 1:09 AM

Clear out them wobbly sausages!

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by Anonymousreply 26March 30, 2020 2:41 AM

ARE THERE ANY [BOLD][ITALIC]GAP PLAYLISTS??????[/BOLD][/ITALIC]

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by Anonymousreply 27March 30, 2020 2:48 AM

Sounds like this

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by Anonymousreply 28March 30, 2020 2:53 AM

R22 soldier's war diaries are very collected, even recent ones.

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by Anonymousreply 29March 30, 2020 3:13 AM

^ I meant R24

by Anonymousreply 30March 30, 2020 3:15 AM

"Bare in mind"

Oh, dear!

by Anonymousreply 31March 30, 2020 4:32 AM

Discogs.com will give you the value of the vinyl. As said, white labels, promos, mislabels and imports are what you should be homing in on.

by Anonymousreply 32March 30, 2020 10:48 AM

Is there/will there still be a market for first-edition and rare books? I am starting to regret not having culled my collection before Coronavirus.

Thank you, R23, for the record buyer's link.

by Anonymousreply 33March 30, 2020 1:34 PM

r34. You have to look it up. It is probably a diifferianted market.

Sometimes you give something away for no money and regret it.

My experience, you have to keep an eye, what you think is worth something. Keep it, because it is worth for you and if you need the money, sell it.

by Anonymousreply 34March 30, 2020 9:58 PM
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