What's Going to Happen to Your Collection?
by Charles "Buck" Van Tine

Collecting is a journey. But when the journey is done, you can't take your collection with you! Many of us with treasured collections wonder what's going to happen to them if our children (or anyone in our family) are not bitten by the same bug as we were. What to do then? We can let them deal with the remains of our collecting journey, or we can take steps now to help them, and help ourselves.

Some tips:

Identify & Establish Values
1. Keep or create a log book (or computer file) of each inkwell, with photos, what you paid, and where you obtained each item
2. Mention The Society of Inkwell Collectors in your log book (this will provide a helpful resource for whomever is handling your collection if you are not around)
3. Either list general sources of current values (SOIC auction catalogs, eBay, professional appraisers), or indicate current known values and their sources

Determine Disposition
Options include:
1. Selling as an entire collection (through an auction house, eBay, or the SOIC)
2. Selling as lots (this offers more opportunities for more buyers, and still helps make sure you are not left with some odd pieces at the end)
3. Sell each item individually
4. Donate the collection (this requires funding for storage, care, and display, and a written contract with details of the donation)
5. Donate individual pieces to family members
6. Donate one item to everyone at the funeral
7. Donate select pieces to educational organizations like schools or museums

This is a general overview of the presentation and does not capture the presentation in its entirety.