The Smithsonian Institution does not, as a matter of policy, offer monetary evaluations. However, we have compiled the following information that we trust will be helpful. This information is not intended to be comprehensive and does not constitute an endorsement by the Smithsonian Institution.
Identifying your Object
Local sources of information or personnel to help you identify your object(s) are:
- university or area libraries
- state and local historical societies or museums
- state extension services
Determining Value
Antiques, artworks, and other collectible items have such an individual nature that fixed values are difficult to establish. Prices asked and amounts offered are determined by personal interests of both seller and purchaser and by trends in the market.
You can ascertain the current range of prices for items exchanged at sales and auctions by consulting the price guides available in bookstores or public libraries. Also, dealers actively engaged in buying and selling antiques, professional appraisers attached to sales galleries, and official appraisers of local probate courts usually can give prevailing price values. Information on providers of these services can be found in collectors' magazines, in the yellow pages of telephone directories, or in other sources available from the reference librarian in your area library. While the organizations named below do not provide appraisals, each publishes a directory of its member appraisers and offers a computerized referral service:
American Society of Appraisers
www.appraisers.org
International Society of Appraisers
www.isa-appraisers.org
Appraisers Association of America
www.appraisersassoc.org
Last updated: October 2018
Smithsonian Information
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e-mail: info@si.edu
