Yesterday a dealer asked me if I’d take a look through a couple of bags of odds and ends . It’s a tempting offer when your natural habitat is the margins of the antiques trade.
There were some interesting bits in the bags, including a couple of bits I wanted for myself. I suppose I could have declared a liking for the badge in the picture and bought it for a fiver, but I’m both honest and an idiot. Honest is good because, apart from the obvious, you get given bags of interesting stuff to look through. An idiot, because I’m poor as a result.
It looked to me like a pre-war football badge. I’ve had a few, mainly picked up cheap, from dealers. I’d never cheat anyone by telling them they were worthless, but if a dealer wants to put one out for £5 I’ll happily hand over the money.
We checked it up on the internet and it’s a badge done for Wolverhampton Wanderers fans for the 1939 FA Cup Final. Portsmouth won 4-1 and held the cup until 1946 due to a pressing away fixture against Germany that took a few years to clear up.
Wolves went on to win it in 1949 and 1960, making their record four wins in eight finals.
The badge is currently making £21 on ebay. My professional opinion is that it will make at least £40 and, if you have two keen collectors after it, possibly twice as much. If it does, I will be right and people will think I’m an expert. And if I’m wrong it will be the fault of the auction for failing to attract the right quality of bidder.
See, it’s easy to be an antiques dealer – you just have to say things in the right way and you will never be wrong.
Pingback: Wolves Badge – the Result | quercuscommunity
“Quality always sells” they say on telly
They do indeed, and they aren’t wrong. Sadly the pyramid consists of 1% quality and the other 99% is average to dross. 🙂
So true
🙂
I look at football badges myself and it’s an absolute minefield of half truths and dodgy photos!
I can imagine – the internet has been great for increasing my knowledge but has done nothing for my view of humankind. 🙂
It’s nice to see something so rare. The badge is good too 🙂
🙂
Never too old to learn, I didn’t even know these existed!
That’s so true – never too old to learn. 🙂
Yay for you and your honesty. While you might be poor, I suspect there are other less tangible rewards that might match or even surpass the money you might have earned from a dishonest assessment.
You’re right, it’s always better to feel good about yourself rather than just count the money. 🙂
That’s not an opinion generally shared I would say, looking at the world of banking and utility, insurance and internet providers.
Sad but true. As a nation I think we need to look at the idea of “success” and redefine it. Same with “happiness”.
Good for you, Quercus! You are a better man than many of those with money.
Thank you. 🙂
Pingback: A Rare Wolves Football Badge — quercuscommunity – 环品聚创生态战略