While searching for letterpress printing equipment (my other vice) this week on eBay I stumbled upon an auction for a bundle of family letters. Over one hundred letters from a young man at college in the 1930’s written home to Mom. Letters asking about laundry, mending, and even breaking the news of his engagement. Photos enclosed. Sold for ephemera value, marketed to scrapbookers and paper artists.
I was heartbroken to see such memories for sale and attempted to purchase the lot, just so I could try to return them to the family. Alas, I was outbid in the final seconds… the winner paying less than $40.00 for such a treasure. I am haunted by the thought that I should have been willing to pay more, but consoled by the hope that maybe the bundle was purchased by a like-minded family-history lover who will do the same. Were you the highest bidder?
Yes, expensive (sigh). I do hope those letters go back to family one day.
Of course, the baby had to stay with the mother and father!!! I carefully wrap my nativity set in tissue in just the same way. The wise men and shepherds each have a sheet of tissue, but Mary, Joseph, and the Babe all go together in one sheet, together.
denise
This has happened to me so often and I am such a softie. I bought a photograph of a mother, father, and baby. The mother was wearing glasses.
The seller wrote me and told me there were two more photographs of the baby at different ages. I could not bear to part the three photos, so I bought them all.
The only problem is how expensive it is saving the world.
-fM