Antique Burt Balls 1880s

J

jwine1088

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
One of my friends is a prospective seller of these rare balls. We know know what the material is and we know it's of significant value value. However we are unsure of an altruistic value. If anyone could provide insight. They have special notches on the inlays for the numbers which I've never seen. Original box is in tact as well.

Thank you.
 

Attachments

  • 20150505_204746_resized.jpg
    20150505_204746_resized.jpg
    93.9 KB · Views: 680
coolboy303 said:
One of my friends is a prospective seller of these rare balls. We know know what the material is and we know it's of significant value value. However we are unsure of an altruistic value. If anyone could provide insight. They have special notches on the inlays for the numbers which I've never seen. Original box is in tact as well.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Anywhere from 100 to 150 bucks! Closer to the 100 if they play bad;)

Seriously though, that is pretty sweet!!! Good luck
 
Like anything else they are worth whatever someone will pay for them. I'd have to believe they fetch 1500. Amazing set. You just need to find the right buyer. Great thing is you only have to sell them once.


Can you tell us where these were found? Any other treasures?
 
coolboy303 said:
One of my friends is a prospective seller of these rare balls. We know know what the material is and we know it's of significant value value. However we are unsure of an altruistic value. If anyone could provide insight. They have special notches on the inlays for the numbers which I've never seen. Original box is in tact as well.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
I know times have changed but when ebay first came out I sold a set somewhat like those but in better shape. They bid up to $650.00. I could not believe it I was hoping for $50.00. Today there are quite a few for sale and they are not so rare.
 
macguy said:
I know times have changed but when ebay first came out I sold a set somewhat like those but in better shape. They bid up to $650.00. I could not believe it I was hoping for $50.00. Today there are quite a few for sale and they are not so rare.
Click to expand...

I'm surprised because the spot price on ivory is more than 650 especially on 15 balls. Clay Burt balls are on eBay currently listed for 2500. And due to the provenance and rareness of the design in the numbers and I believe it is a one of a kind set. I'd like to see someone find another set like this. The figures of a partial set that aren't even the same surpass that range threefold. I'm more interested in the spread above with those figures factored in.
 
coolboy303 said:
One of my friends is a prospective seller of these rare balls. We know know what the material is and we know it's of significant value value. However we are unsure of an altruistic value. If anyone could provide insight. They have special notches on the inlays for the numbers which I've never seen. Original box is in tact as well.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

* intrinsic value
 
The balls in the picture appear to be ivory, not clay. Ivory would make them worth $3000 or more. The only ivory full set I've seen go by on Ebay (back when you could call it "ivory" and not "elephant bone" or whatever it is now) went for $5500. It had pretty good colors.

If they are clay, I'm guessing at least $1500 with the box. See page 95 in the Stellinga's book as a reference.
 
Even with the slow market, those are worth a fair penny. $1500 at the minimum. Should be worth more than $2000
 
Balls

What's the back story on these balls?

They have value but you gotta find the right buyer.
I could point you in the way of some private collectors or have them contact you.





Best of luck'

Rob.M
 
coolboy303 said:
I'm surprised because the spot price on ivory is more than 650 especially on 15 balls. Clay Burt balls are on eBay currently listed for 2500. And due to the provenance and rareness of the design in the numbers and I believe it is a one of a kind set. I'd like to see someone find another set like this. The figures of a partial set that aren't even the same surpass that range threefold. I'm more interested in the spread above with those figures factored in.
Click to expand...
You didn't say they were ivory, I was looking at a small picture on my phone. Now that I look at them much bigger they look like ivory and would have a much higher value.
 
2strong4u said:
Like anything else they are worth whatever someone will pay for them. I'd have to believe they fetch 1500. Amazing set. You just need to find the right buyer. Great thing is you only have to sell them once.


Can you tell us where these were found? Any other treasures?
Click to expand...

My friend told me this guy's father collected high end cues and vintage billiard memorabilia. I believe he has cues from the 60s-70s probably just as high end as the balls. And my friend is not willing to disclose that.
 
Bob Jewett said:
The balls in the picture appear to be ivory, not clay. Ivory would make them worth $3000 or more. The only ivory full set I've seen go by on Ebay (back when you could call it "ivory" and not "elephant bone" or whatever it is now) went for $5500. It had pretty good colors.

If they are clay, I'm guessing at least $1500 with the box. See page 95 in the Stellinga's book as a reference.
Click to expand...

I've heard recently that a set of these goes for a ton of money. They are one of a kinds. Clay is another story that's more common. These are rare because of the material, and the design differs from other sets that are the same material. Meaning it's a one of a kind. Look them up all the sets have round numbers inlays. This set has a designed inlay.
 
ideologist said:
Even with the slow market, those are worth a fair penny. $1500 at the minimum. Should be worth more than $2000
Click to expand...

A guy who has the same set and sold in the past sold them for more then 10 times that amount. And those one didn't even have the same design in the inlays just the circular inlays.
 
coolboy303 said:
A guy who has the same set and sold in the past sold them for more then 10 times that amount. And those one didn't even have the same design in the inlays just the circular inlays.
Click to expand...

Well, selling ivory is harder, and the market is slower. If you get 20k for them, congratulations!

Put them on ebay, hope no one reports them, and you'll know what they are worth.
 
dontlitethat said:
What's the back story on these balls?

They have value but you gotta find the right buyer.
I could point you in the way of some private collectors or have them contact you.





Best of luck'

Rob.M
Click to expand...

A doctor owned these his name is inscribed on the box and they are custom due to the custom design on them.
 
ideologist said:
Well, selling ivory is harder, and the market is slower. If you get 20k for them, congratulations!

Put them on ebay, hope no one reports them, and you'll know what they are worth.
Click to expand...

It's up to my friend what he wants to do, i just was gathering input as a favor.
 
Burt made top of the line billiard balls until they found they could make more money making gaming chips for Los Vegas.
 
coolboy303 said:
One of my friends is a prospective seller of these rare balls. We know know what the material is and we know it's of significant value value. However we are unsure of an altruistic value. If anyone could provide insight. They have special notches on the inlays for the numbers which I've never seen. Original box is in tact as well.

Thank you.
Click to expand...

Just curious, did you ever roll them on a table? I will be they sound like a train coming down a track. I had some old ivory billiard balls that would actually bounce as they rolled..
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top