SELLING YOUR MARBLES

Have marbles to sell? The best way to contact us is via email at info@marbleauctions.com or via text/call at 203-209-7076

Please tell us your name and phone number, describe the pieces you want to sell, and include photos. We don’t need detailed/close-up photos; just give us a general understanding of what you have. We will review and let you know what we think, and how the selling process works. 

For more than 30 years Block's Marble Auctions has specialized in selling marbles.

Our reputation for honesty and integrity is based on a tradition of providing the highest quality service, and we are proud of our long history in the marble collecting field. We are the only auction house specializing in marbles, with an extensive—and growing—customer base of dealers and knowledgeable private collectors.

Our clients and customers are the heart of our operation, and we take great pride serving them. As a three-generation, family-run business, this has been our philosophy from the very start.

MARBLE EVALUATION

Contact us to discuss selling your marbles at auction; email or text is preferred. After that, the first step is a evaluation via images, an in-home evaluation or a FaceTime virtual evaluation with our experienced and knowledgeable staff to discuss your marbles. Will we give you a rough valuation of your marbles which is based on knowledge acquired through 45 years of appraising, buying, selling and auctioning marbles. After this complimentary evaluation, we will discuss the selling procedure, including the benefits of consignment or buy-out, and answer any other questions you may have.

CONSIGNMENT OR BUY-OUT

Once we have conducted the evaluation, we will discuss with you the benefits of selling your items on consignment or through buy-out.

Selling on Consignment

We will take care of cataloguing, insurance, advertising and selling expenses. In return, we deduct a percentage from the gross auction sale total. Consignment (also called commission) rates vary according to the value of the items to be sold. We offer competitive rates with no hidden costs. Selling on consignment also offers the advantage of competitive bidding for your items.

Following the auction you will receive an itemized list of all items sold and the prices realized for each. Approximately two weeks after the sale, you will receive a check for the net sale amount, along with an itemized list of all items sold and the prices realized for each.

Selling Through Buy-Out

Choose this option if you prefer to receive immediate payment for your items. We will evaluate your marbles, let you know what we estimate they will bring at auction and tell you what we would pay for them upfront.

No matter which option you decide on—consignment or buy-out—we will exercise the same care in giving you a realistic auction estimate up-front. We have been appraising marbles and marble collections for over 40 years and have sold millions of dollars of marbles at auction.

Some Comments about the Marble Market

Generally speaking, machine made marbles produced after about 1932 have little value (with a few special exceptions). This is because after that date the machinery had been developed to the point where each established manufacturer could produce millions (5 million to 7 million) of marbles per day, every day. The supply of marbles after the early 1930s increased astronomically and therefore the quantity surviving to today reduces the value significantly. The entry of foreign manufacturers into the market after the 1950s further decreases the value of a marble manufactured after that date. We have found that well over 95% of the marbles we are asked to evaluate fall into these categories. The reason that some marbles are valuable at auction is because there are not a lot of them.

The value of marbles is also greatly dependent on condition. Condition, supply, demand and popularity are the main factors affecting market value. (Mere age is simply not relevant). Rare marbles may sell for 100% to 500% “book value” price while poor quality examples may sell for less than 5%! Currently popular types will sell at higher percentages of “book value” than marbles with a similar scarcity rating that are currently unpopular types. While two marbles may appear similar to the untrained eye, dedicated dealers and collectors value each specimen based upon its individual characteristics. Until an educated professional carefully examines the “key” marbles in a collection, it is simply impossible to gauge market value from photographs or a written list. The marbles must speak for themselves. Our valuation estimates are based on four decades of buying, selling and auctioning marbles. We catalogue and auction about 15,000 lots of marbles a year.

ESTATES AND COLLECTIONS

If you are the Executor of an Estate or a lifetime collector ready to downsize, we can help. Block's Marble Auctions specializes in marble collections, both large and small. We have set a number of marble price records in our auctions and offer a lower commission to our consignors than most other auctioneers.

We handle the entire selling process from imaging and cataloguing, advertising, and sale and shipment of your marbles.  We offer competitive selling rates with no hidden costs.

For specific estates and collections, we can curate and promote a catalog auction and/or special collection auction that offer an international audience through live, online bidding platforms, and a broader advertising and promotion program. From traditional print advertising in well-respected antiques and collecting trade publications, to online and digital promotions to social media campaigns, we have and use the resources to reach a global customer base and generate excitement for the auction.

Have things to sell? Let Block's Marble Auctions sell it for you at auction.
For more information: Email info@marbleauctions.com or text/call 203-209-7076