James Mcneil Whistler Engraving found last week!!!Title changed

[Get-the-point]

Ok, so I did not Glam up the Title, but I can tell you I am freakin out of my mind happy about this!!!! My cousin calls me up and asks me if I want to go antiquing with him. He said to me that he saw a couple of old antique stores he wanted to check out. So we got together and went to them. So after going into the first one a very beautiful colonial home that I was told it was built in 1746. This building alone was a work of art inside!!! So after looking at a few things I turned the corner where I saw this engraving on the wall. The price tag had on it Early Engraving. I looked at it and felt it was real and then looked at the signature..........What I saw next was the only thing capable of getting me to snap it up and pay for it without question!!!! I saw Whistler, 1859......Yes....... James Mcneil Whistler!!!! I have aquired a rare Whistler Engraving. After purchasing it, I took it to two Fine Arts Dealers and a Restorer of Fine Art. The first one looked at it and said, Oh my God!!!! You have a real Whistler Engraving!!! The second one told me that is was very real and worth alot of money. I took it to the art restorer due to the fact that it has about 5 foxing dots on it and I wanted it restored and he refused to touch it. He stated that it is 100% intact and in great condition. I would love to keep this piece as it will just keep rising in value but it can take care of alot of issues in my life right now so I am taking it to Swann Auctions this week where they are gonna auction it for me!!! I will be getting a Metal Detector!!! My reward to myself so suggestions would be great!!!! I have found this very same engraving on Christies and Sotheby's, one sold for 6k another for 5+k and these auctions took place 4 yrs ago. So it is on the buyer on what he feels its worth, but the appraiser already gave me a base value of 5k. I hope you all enjoy this rare piece.............it is Titled.........."Black Lion Wharf" it is part of the Sixteen Etching plates series that James Mcneil Whistler did. This was a great find and it made all those hunts worth it!!!! Please Enjoy!!!..........................GTP>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[baspinall]

If it's real you did good. There is a name for those little drawing down in the corner... Can't think of it right now.

 

[Frank1960]

I was telling a friend about this and he brought up a good point. Are you planning on telling the antique shop what it was worth?

Why?
Would you tell the thrift store, if it was found at one?

was just curious is all

 

[lennon631]

Hmmmm, if "I" owned that Antique store? Wouldn't WANT to know. Why upset them? Nothing to gain really...

 

[GopherDaGold]

I was telling a friend about this and he brought up a good point. Are you planning on telling the antique shop what it was worth?

Why?
Would you tell the thrift store, if it was found at one?

was just curious is all

Hey Frank1960... would YOU?

If there is ANYONE on this forum who thinks GTP should have notified the shop after discovering it's potential value, that person has obviously lost thier marbles.
It's called 'treasure hunting'... not 'treasure-returned-to-retail-outlet-after-discovering-it's-true-value-ing'.

Once it's tagged and on the shelf to be sold it's fair game for anyone, including GTP. If that post was intended to illicit guilt or shame for scoring a valuable piece for next to nothing... nah, doesn't fly.

 

[Get-the-point]

Well, I know if it were me, I would not want to know. Now If someone lost this like at a train station or bus depot, I would do everything in my power to return it to them. Since this had a price tag on it and was being sold, there is no point to saying anything once purchased. The antique dealer knew what he wanted for it and put a price tag on it to gain that. So he made a profit when he sold it as they are not in the market to lose money. So when he made that decision, I just happened to be lucky enough to capitalize on it. That is what antiquing is all about. Now it is my turn with it and who know's I might and might not get full value for it, but then it will go along to the next guy or girl who will choose the same thing or keep it. Anyway that is my opinion and my stance on this. Everyone makes there choice and that is what they need to live by.

 

[Get-the-point]

I was telling a friend about this and he brought up a good point. Are you planning on telling the antique shop what it was worth?

Why?
Would you tell the thrift store, if it was found at one?

was just curious is all

Hey Frank1960... would YOU?

If there is ANYONE on this forum who thinks GTP should have notified the shop after discovering it's potential value, that person has obviously lost thier marbles.
It's called 'treasure hunting'... not 'treasure-returned-to-retail-outlet-after-discovering-it's-true-value-ing'.

Once it's tagged and on the shelf to be sold it's fair game for anyone, including GTP. If that post was intended to illicit guilt or shame for scoring a valuable piece for next to nothing... nah, doesn't fly.

Wait!! Even Me??!! lmao!!!!...............Gopher, I just found out "The Whistler's" had this piece above there prized table in Whistlers Mother....lol.....It's the truth check out Whistlers Mother Painting, you will see it above the table in the painting..............lmao!!!!

 

[GopherDaGold]

Then you definitely have to upload that pic into your eBray ad. Might garner a few extra bids! Be sure to link us to your auction once it's live.

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I've picked antiques from dealers and then resold them to other dealers for over 25 years. I've also sold a lot of antiques to private individuals for their own collections.

As an antique seller and a picker, in my opinion, I wouldn't want to know if I sold something below market value. If you feel you got a "deal" on something that I sold you then just be happy with that. But don't insult my intelligence by coming back to me and telling me that the Wedgewood Match Holder I just sold you for $20 is really worth $600 (which is what happened to me). All I know is that I paid $5 for it and made 300% profit.

I once bought an important early Town of York (now Toronto) document on vellum (animal skin), dated 1832 for $50. I consequently did some research on it and sold it on-line to a Canadian expatriate in California for $3000. I certainly didn't feel the need to go back to the dealer that I purchased it from to gloat about it.

Just think about that.

 

[Get-the-point]

Well I think that answers your ? there Frank. I mean people have morals and values, but with anything judgement must come into that play. I think it takes poor judgement to deliberately rub it into someones face that they lost there MONA LISA or Picasso. JMO......................


Now for everyone I need help finding out about that ship in the lower left corner of this print. It is a early print of that engraving, but I think the big key to this picture is that little clipper ship. So let's see what can found about that. So far I have found none. I thought it was his hallmark but it might not be. I think it is the hallmark of the printer. I'm not sure!!! So any help on that little clipper ship would be nice. I have found that they have been used as insignia's so I just have to find the print shop allowed to reproduce this that used that hallmark................