This Is What a Treasure Hunt Really Looks Like
Behind every dusty frame, mystery drawer and forgotten box is the hard work of finding the story worth saving.
Read entryCape Ann Auction Journal
Stories worth a closer look.
Auction news, practical guides, collecting stories and Cape Ann finds, all in one place.
Latest From the Journal
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Investment Banker’s Estate Opens With $1 Bids
Part One of a twin-auction estate brings designer fashion, collectibles, silver, coins, art and more to a true $1 opening bid.
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Estate Sale vs. Auction: Which Is Right for an Estate?
A practical way to compare an estate sale and an auction before you make a plan for a home, collection or inheritance.
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Estate Cleanout Checklist: Keep, Sell, Donate, Discard
A calm, practical order for sorting an estate without losing the paperwork, keepsakes or items that deserve a closer look.
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How to Choose an Estate Cleanout Service
What to ask before hiring help to clear an estate, so the right items are reviewed, the work is defined and no important details are lost.
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What to Do With Inherited Antiques
A practical first plan for inherited antiques, art, jewellery and collections before anything is cleaned, divided, donated or sold.
Read entryBrowse by Category
Explore the full Journal.
80 posts
How to Sell Antiques Without Losing Value
How to sell antiques without losing value: what to photograph, what not to clean, and when auction, consignment or appraisal makes sense.
Read entryHow to Sell an Estate: 8 Steps to Start Right
A clear order for selling an estate, from protecting records and valuables to choosing the sale route that fits the property.
Read entryHow to Prepare for an Estate Auction
An eight-step guide to preparing estate contents for auction, from protecting records and sorting property to cataloguing and sale day.
Read entryHow to Sell Inherited Jewelry: A Careful First Plan
How to sell inherited jewelry without rushing: protect the details, decide what needs an appraisal, and choose a sale path that fits.
Read entryHow to Choose an Estate Liquidator
You're an heir recently assigned the arduous task of liquidating an estate. Suddenly,…
Read entryUpdates on Benefit Auction for The Lily Jean Fund
4/3/26: The Auction to Benefit the Lily Jean Fund was a heartwarming…
Read entryFrom George Jensen to US Mint Sets - What's in Our Auction
Georg Jensen Rocking Chair Picking is hard! I've been hunting for auction-bait for a long…
Read entryHunting The Great American Yard Sale
Here are my top ten tips for shopping at yard sales for profit. Research the market:…
Read entryFinding A Time Capsule of Old Tin-Litho Toys
Time Capsule Antique Toy Auction - 200+…
Read entryWilliam Lester Stevens Paintings for Sale
We are excited to announce that we have acquired 2 more paintings from a collection of…
Read entryMassachusetts Auction House Guide: Benefits of a Massachusetts Auction House
When it comes to buying or selling valuable items, choosing the right platform can make…
Read entryGloucester Harbor, Theresa Bernstein and a Story
Gloucester Harbor 1952 o/c…
Read entryLate October / November Cape Ann Estates Auction!
Our Cape Ann Late October / November Estates Auction is packed with fresh estate finds we…
Read entryHow Auctions Empower Sellers: Unlocking Seller Benefits in Auctions
When it comes to selling items, whether you're managing an estate, downsizing your home,…
Read entryOur Get Ready for September 2024 Brimfield Auction
Outsider Art Metal Mask If you've been in this crazy business any amount of time, you've…
Read entryChristmas Shopping at an Auction?!
Christmas Shopping at an auction!? This Cape Ann Auction is crammed with a wide variety of…
Read entryAuction Tonight, Gold or Silver - Or Barbie Dolls?
14 gold and diamonds ladies watch There's still time to get your bid in! Click to Bid With…
Read entrySelling on eBay in 2022
I've been selling on eBay since March of 1999 and, although the sight is still a strong…
Read entryNo Reserve Auction US Gold Silver Coins Stamps Numismatics
No Reserve Auction of Numismatic Coins and Stamps Click on any item above to go to the…
Read entryCape Ann Estates Auction 4/9/2025 to 4/16/2025
Thanks to everyone who participated in last week's auction! We just want to let you know…
Read entryMy First Antiques Estate Contents Buyout
Summer 1992-ish. I’d decided to expand my picking activities to include complete buyout…
Read entryCape Ann Estates Auction for Pirates!
All bids start at $1 and there are no reserves! (That's the pirate part!) We're rigging up…
Read entryLiquidation Auction - 22 Room Mansion Contents - No-Reserve
Click for first dibs on our auctions! Our Biggest Auction Ever - ALL Bids Start at $1 - No…
Read entryAuction Bids Are Low but Gold and Silver Prices Soar
18 kt gold Tiffany & Co Brooch - weighs 10.4 DWT ! Currently Bid at $205 8 Pieces of Solid…
Read entryHow to Find Out What Your Collectibles are Worth
You've just asked a supposed in-the-know person how much your old comics are worth.…
Read entryPirate Picks From Cape Ann Estates
Click Here to Go to the Auction Avast, Mateys! Captain Pegleg…
Read entryHelp One Brave Ukrainian
In early April of 2022, I befriended a Ukrainian woman on Etsy whom I began buying digital…
Read entryIf You Don't See a Price, Ask!
We don't put price tags on most items. That's our vintage yard sale & antique show pricing…
Read entryEstate Sale of Adele Carolyn (Taber) Passmore
Estate Sale of Adele Carolyn (Taber) Passmore Join the treasure hunt as Cape Ann Auction…
Read entryWhat's in our New Years auction, and where did it come from?
Before we present the list of 220 lots…
Read entryNo Reserve Gloucester MA - Cape Ann Estates Auction
Gloucester Treasure - Be a Pirate - Weds…
Read entryBonnie Crane Collection Auction - Orientalists, Cape Ann Fine Art and More
We are proud to…
Read entryAbsolute Auctions - Gold Mines or Fools' Errands?
I'm always helping people pick their jaw up off the floor when I tell them my main selling…
Read entrySign up to bid at our Live Auctioneers Auctions
Here are the easy steps to follow to be able to bid on our auctions on Live Auctioneers.…
Read entryNo-Reserve Silver Coin Auction Walks in the Door
When you've been in business for a while, sometimes things just seem to go your way. We…
Read entryFrom Forgotten to Found: Flea Market Redemption
A shaft of morning light illuminated a curious collection on a flea market table. Lot #19…
Read entryCh, ch, Changes! - Cape Ann Auction Purchased Linksys' Service Station Garage
We are excited to announce that we have purchased the building formerly known as Linsky's…
Read entryThe Biggest Vintage Lighting Auction of the Year
Get Ready to Light Up Your Life! The Biggest Vintage Lighting Auction of the Year is Here!…
Read entryAuction Today at 1 pm est! What does it mean to bid live online?
What does it mean to bid live, online? Let's clarify this, so that it's easy to…
Read entryUS Silver Coins and No-Reserve Auctions - A Mighty Combination!
Forget the Stock Market, Invest in Shiny: Why US Silver Coins and No-Reserve Auctions Can…
Read entryThe Story Behind an East Gloucester Pick
A rock is just a rock, but if it fell out of the sky and knocked a body unconscious or…
Read entryCape Ann Estates Auction April, 2024
Vintage Maritime Wedding Cups…
Read entryOur Late-Fall Cape Ann Estates Auction is a Duzy!
All bids start at $1.00 and there are no reserves!…
Read entryThere's GOLD in That There Auction!
Cape Ann No-Reserve Estates Auction June 5th - June 12th. Lot #1 is a 14 kt gold &…
Read entryHow to Organize and Prepare for a Successful Estate Sale
Organizing an estate sale can be a rewarding yet challenging…
Read entryThe TikTok Effect on the Vintage - Auction World
You can't help it, you scroll short video after short video! The amount of talent and…
Read entryEstate Liquidation 101
So, You've Inherited Aunt Mildred's… Everything. The Prudence Fish Estate - Liquidated by…
Read entryCape Ann Auction Lots to Watch this Week
We're back on the usual course with our auction ending on Wednesday, July 24th, and here…
Read entryOur January 2025 Premier Cape Ann Art & Antiques Auction
We're excited to bring you our January 2025 Premier Cape Ann Art & Antiques Auction! We…
Read entryHalloween Auction Updates, Tips, Yard Sale News, TikTok Live
We've got 2 auctions closing this week. Our personal favorite lot in the Halloween…
Read entry13 Rooms of Antiques and Mystery
UPDATE: Click on the front door to enter this estate! It's been so busy, that I didn't…
Read entryRare Rock and Roll Boston Tea Party Poster History
We Love Rare Rock and Roll! Introducing the 1968 Boston Tea Party Poster, featuring…
Read entryShining a Light on History: A Farewell & a Fantastic Opportunity at the Appleton Lighting Auction
Onward! Why Bid at…
Read entry14kt Herringbone Bracelet, 1940s Papier Mache Jack O Lantern, Halloween Cat Doorstop
It's…
Read entry10 Ways to Use QR Codes for Your Business
10 Ways to Use QR Codes for Your Business If there's one thing I always need to do for my…
Read entryTwo Auctions, Gold Jewelry, Antiques, Vintage Vinyl and a Huge Yard Sale!
We've been known to fill our plates pretty full at times, and this week is the perfect…
Read entryLifetime Collection of Outsider Art at Auction
Check out our latest auction to find out what a lifetime collection of the craziest art on…
Read entryArtworks by Female Artists See Value Appreciation
Floral Watercolor by Marguerite S. Pearson Artworks by female artists have seen a surge in…
Read entryMastering the Art of Estate Liquidation
The Estate of Prudence Fish Balancing Professionalism, Empathy, and Profitability…
Read entryIt's Time for a Gloucester Yard Sale!
Sean says "get rid of it!" Everyone once in a while we get the urge to purge! That means…
Read entryThar's Gold & Silver in This Here Auction!
Bid Now through Wednesday, August 7th! Cape Ann Estates - That's where we get most of this…
Read entryTo Be Auctioned Without Reserve - Jeep Patriot with 16000 Miles
Inspections by appointment on this #noreserve #Jeep #vehicleauction #4x4 THIS AUCTION IS…
Read entryAntique Jewelry Collecting: Tips for Beginners
Antique Jewelry Collecting: Tips for Beginners Contact me , if you have a large collection…
Read entryNo-Reserve Silver Coins & Estates Auction Updates
We have 2 auctions closing this week! A collectible coin auction, and an auction featuring…
Read entryUnderstanding the Importance of Professional Appraisals
When it comes to valuing assets, professional appraisals…
Read entryFine Estate Jewelry and Coins
If you're reading this between July 2nd, 2025 and July 9th, 2025 you can bid on any of the…
Read entryWork From Home Selling Vintage Items
Contact me if you'd like to know more about this topic. Even now in a post-Covid world, to…
Read entryA Series of Man-Cave Americana Auctions
How do you liquidate 20,000 sq ft of rusty gold, old signs, boat motors, Petroliana, and…
Read entryGloucester MA Rocky Neck Art Colony, 10 Influential Painters
The Rocky Neck Art Colony in Gloucester, Massachusetts is a historic and vibrant community…
Read entryGloucester MA Auction Tonight! Short Bids on...
We'll Pirates, we have an auction that begins to end tonight, June 12th, 2024 starting at…
Read entryCome with Us on a NH Pick!
We went on a pick in an old New Hampshire home! Can you guess…
Read entryFine Newburyport MA Estate Comes to Auction
Cape Ann Auction presents a Fine Newburyport MA Estate Auction PLEASE NOTE: There are…
Read entryAnother Awesome Multi Cape Ann Estates Auction!
254 lots - all start at $1 and will be sold without reserve! This multi cape ann estates…
Read entryThe Bidding is HOW MUCH?!
Our current Cape Ann Estates auction is tonight and we're amazed at some of the current…
Read entryStraight from Frankenstein's Castle
...with fine art and…
Read entryWhat to Look for When Hiring a Certified Appraiser
Hiring a professional appraiser can be a…
Read entryInvesting in Art by Alan H Crane
The artistic brilliance of Alan Horton Crane, an esteemed American artist and lithographer…
Read entryCape Ann Auction's No-Reserve Treasure Chest Unlocks Wednesday! With 2 Auctions!
Mary Queen of Scots Antique Portrait The end of our current voyage is near! So set sail…
Read entryShadowland Auction Part 1
Every estate pick has a story and this Shadowland auction (part 1) comes through in…
Read entryWhat are we looking for?
That's a good question! Since that's the question we get most, here's a quick helpful…
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