Anyone know a good U.S.-based IRS qualified appraiser specializing in photo gear?

BrianG · Mar 14, 2019

Hi all,

I recently lost a very large collection of vintage and antique photo gear, ranging from 1890's-1980's in a fire. I am trying to locate an appraiser who can provide an estimate of the value of the pieces based upon an ID and condition description. I know lots of people with tons of experience in the area but no formal certification. I unfortunately need to find someone who meets the IRS requirements for appraisal:
For property other than real property, the appraiser must have successfully completed college or professional-level coursework relevant to the property being valued, must have at least 2 years of experience in the trade or business of buying, selling, or valuing the type of property being valued, and must fully describe in the appraisal his or her qualifying experience and education.

Any suggestions of appraisers meeting these requirements would be greatly appreciated.

trendland · Mar 14, 2019

You would need it for your insurance ?
Well there have to be a sort of "register" of such experts! You should find out were this people
are central "organized"!
with regards

removed account4 · Mar 14, 2019

Maybe the people at the George Eastman Museum can point you in the right direction,
or they would be able to tell you the worth of what you lost. the GEM has one of the most extensive
collections of cameras/photographica on the planet, and if they can't help you, they would know who would be able to.
when i had to itemize all my gear for replacement value, my insurance company just had me go to ebay because
that is real-time replacement value as well...
I’m sorry to read of your troubles
John

Martin Rickards · Mar 14, 2019

BrianG said:
Hi all,

I recently lost a very large collection of vintage and antique photo gear, ranging from 1890's-1980's in a fire. I am trying to locate an appraiser who can provide an estimate of the value of the pieces based upon an ID and condition description. I know lots of people with tons of experience in the area but no formal certification. I unfortunately need to find someone who meets the IRS requirements for appraisal:
For property other than real property, the appraiser must have successfully completed college or professional-level coursework relevant to the property being valued, must have at least 2 years of experience in the trade or business of buying, selling, or valuing the type of property being valued, and must fully describe in the appraisal his or her qualifying experience and education.

Any suggestions of appraisers meeting these requirements would be greatly appreciated.

If real means what it says, your collection doesn't seem to fit into that category.

AgX · Mar 14, 2019

"real property" = immovable property, real estate

jim10219 · Mar 14, 2019

Check your local camera store. I'm sure someone there has an art degree. There is no official photography degree, just fine arts degrees, so you don't have to find someone who specifically went to school just for photography. They might have an emphasis on photography, but the degree itself will just read "Bachelor (or Masters) of Fine Arts". The fact that they work in a photography store should be enough to fulfill the rest. Plus, I'm sure they'd love to help because it might mean some sales for them as you replace your gear!

MattKing · Mar 14, 2019

Maybe these people could help: http://www.paappraisers.net/index.html

Alan Edward Klein · Mar 14, 2019

B&H buys and sells used equipment. It's possible someone there could provide an appraisal or steer you to someone who meets your IRS qualifications. Try KEH and Adorama as well.

Arklatexian · Mar 14, 2019

BrianG said:
Hi all,

I recently lost a very large collection of vintage and antique photo gear, ranging from 1890's-1980's in a fire. I am trying to locate an appraiser who can provide an estimate of the value of the pieces based upon an ID and condition description. I know lots of people with tons of experience in the area but no formal certification. I unfortunately need to find someone who meets the IRS requirements for appraisal:
For property other than real property, the appraiser must have successfully completed college or professional-level coursework relevant to the property being valued, must have at least 2 years of experience in the trade or business of buying, selling, or valuing the type of property being valued, and must fully describe in the appraisal his or her qualifying experience and education.

Any suggestions of appraisers meeting these requirements would be greatly appreciated.

My question is are there people in the U.S. who are IRS qualified as per the above rules to appraise photo gear? I would not bet on it. I have known a person who was an appraiser of oil paintings who did not meet those requirements. Check with the IRS and see what to do if there is no one who qualifies. I think the problem would be meeting the educational requirements. How many people could make a living appraising used photo equipment. Collectors items, maybe. IRS must have run into this problem before. They have run into every other problem........Regards!

Arklatexian · Mar 15, 2019

jim10219 said:
Check your local camera store. I'm sure someone there has an art degree. There is no official photography degree, just fine arts degrees, so you don't have to find someone who specifically went to school just for photography. They might have an emphasis on photography, but the degree itself will just read "Bachelor (or Masters) of Fine Arts". The fact that they work in a photography store should be enough to fulfill the rest. Plus, I'm sure they'd love to help because it might mean some sales for them as you replace your gear!

What local camera store? All three of our full-service camera stores died with the advent of Digital. Today, as far as I know, our closest camera store is 180 miles from here followed by 220 miles and 320 miles. Oklahoma City might be in there somewhere at near 200 miles. The good old days are gone for us unless we use our computers to order......Things just ain't the same anymore!...As to a degree in "photography", both Brooks and Art Center in California issued some sort of "diploma" that you had completed a professional 2 year course of photography. Brooks is no longer teaching photography but I think Art Center is.........Regards!

Alan Edward Klein · Mar 15, 2019

You might contact these people for recommendations.
http://www.photographyhistory.com/idcclist.html

bdial · Mar 15, 2019

Or try Photographic Historical Society of New England, www.phsne.org
They do have some member dealers down your way too.

FWIW, the big problem I see is that you're apparently asking for after-the-fact appraisal, and the appraiser would need to see the actual items in their original condition to give you a good number. I'd expect that an appraiser might be able to give you a very low-range number, just based on your provided description, or general market value, but it might be very low compared to what you may be expecting or hoping for.

mark · Mar 15, 2019

Honestly, for something like this you should probably contact one of the big auction houses. What you are looking for is going to be a very niche qualification that, I bet, there are only a very very very few folks who hold that specific label. Sotheby's or Christies would know.

mgb74 · Mar 15, 2019

bdial said:
Or try Photographic Historical Society of New England, www.phsne.org
They do have some member dealers down your way too.

FWIW, the big problem I see is that you're apparently asking for after-the-fact appraisal, and the appraiser would need to see the actual items in their original condition to give you a good number. I'd expect that an appraiser might be able to give you a very low-range number, just based on your provided description, or general market value, but it might be very low compared to what you may be expecting or hoping for.

I think that - to the contrary - the appraiser will tend to give you a high number as there's no incentive to "low ball". Appraisals for insurance always seem substantially higher than resale.

As to the IRS definition, I would not focus on the "college" as much as the "professional-level" coursework. A very quick search came up with this. Note the 6th paragraph.

Anyone know a good U.S.-based IRS qualified appraiser specializing in photo gear?

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency