from:msnbc.com

Garage sale find called pricey Ansel Adams lot

California man paid $45 for glass negatives which may fetch $200 million

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I hope he finds the guy he bought them from and gives him the 45 dollars he talked him down fron

  • 3 votes
#1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:04 PM EDT

He should give him the 45 dollars plus a bit more,like maybe 100grand or something like that.

  • 2 votes
#1.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:12 PM EDT

The seller obviously wanted to get rid of them and the other guy bought them fair and square. no money is owed to the seller just because they turn out to be worth something. that is rediculous!

  • 9 votes
#1.2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:53 PM EDT

Not to say that it is OWED per say. Rather a sincere 'Thank you' in a sense.

  • 6 votes
#1.3 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:06 PM EDT

The right thing to do, does anybody even care anymore??? It is certainly not owed to the seller but it is the right thing to do. Half should be given to the seller, the were unaware of the treasure they had, its the right thing to do.

  • 3 votes
#1.4 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:03 PM EDT

No it's not. I bought them their mine and I will now sell them for what I want. Were they worth that much when he bought them.

  • 3 votes
#1.5 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:24 PM EDT

does anyone realize the seller may need the money that was why he had the sale he should give the man at least 1m

  • 3 votes
#1.6 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:26 PM EDT

What about the warehouse that the other buyer bought them from in the 40's. They did not realize what they had, and this guy bought them cheap, held them for many years and then sold them at a garage sale. Maybe the warehouse should get some money?

The seller is not owed anything, and if the current owner wants to drop him any money, it is up to him. If it was me though, I would give him a couple of mil.

  • 4 votes
#1.7 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:02 PM EDT

He bought them 10 years ago. The original seller bought them in the 40s, around 65 years ago. Then add on about another 20 years at least for how old he was when he bought them, so he would be in is 80s now. He is probably dead.

  • 1 vote
#1.8 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:10 PM EDT

C'mon the seller shouldnt get $1 he got what he wanted when he sold them,Man what a bunch of idiot's!!

  • 1 vote
#1.9 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:11 PM EDT

Who the hell is Ansel Adams?

  • 2 votes
#1.10 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:50 PM EDT

So then some Lawyer says to the garage sale guy, he gave you $$, that shows you have a case for more, (Lawyer gets a cut of course). How a good deed can go really bad!

  • 1 vote
#1.11 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:51 PM EDT

I wasted 15 minutes reading this article and these comments, maybe i should get a couple mil.. lol

  • 1 vote
#1.12 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:41 PM EDT

Pure Capitalism

"Per say"???Get your ignorant butt off this site. A CB radio would suit you better!

  • 1 vote
#1.13 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:42 PM EDT

If the negatives were sold for 200 million I would've given the original owner 20 million, unless the seller was a jerk. Honestly what am I going to do with 180 million dollars?

  • 2 votes
#1.14 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 11:52 PM EDT

@boldfresh - it's better to be silent and be thought an idiot than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.

    #1.15 - Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:43 AM EDT

    Awesome quote

      #1.16 - Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:54 AM EDT

      boldfresh,

      Ansel Adams was one the premier nature photographers of the late 1900s. He was able to capture wonderful images throughout the U.S. But he mainly did his work in the West. Just do a Google Search and you will see his work.

        #1.17 - Wed Jul 28, 2010 2:47 PM EDT
        Reply

        if it turned out to be worth $200m and he gets that or close, i'd give the guy $1m.

        • 4 votes
        Reply#2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:14 PM EDT

        you bet the guy deserves at least that after all 2oo million

        • 2 votes
        #2.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:36 PM EDT
        Reply

        if those prints are original?whay? this antique painter and dealer advirtise so much those prints plates,why?he try to convince average internet surfer about truthfullness of his findings.He have to have own reason?but what he has on his mind???

        • 1 vote
        Reply#3 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:15 PM EDT

        What?????

        • 4 votes
        #3.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:12 PM EDT

        serbob...

        I second that...bobby steck, huh?????

        • 3 votes
        #3.2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:19 PM EDT

        Capitalization, spelling, punctuation and grammar all count. BUT, only if used CORRECTLY! :)

        • 1 vote
        #3.3 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:40 PM EDT

        Who cares about a mistake in spelling? Everyone makes mistakes- What is being said is more important than some flaw in the way it was presented. I wasn't sure if "then" or "than" was appropriate but I still comunicated my point.

          #3.4 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:55 PM EDT

          David...

          Not sure what you're responding to...or whom as we were addressing bobby steck. Now, answer me this one...did you catch what bobby steck was trying to say? I read it three times but still was left dumbfounded...

            #3.5 - Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:25 PM EDT
            Reply

            its obama's fault!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

            • 3 votes
            Reply#4 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:16 PM EDT

            Gee, I thought it was George W's!

            • 1 vote
            #4.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:43 PM EDT

            Yep, George W's....and no, the buyer does not OWE the seller. It's just a show of gratitude and kindness and rare character if he would give him some of the proceeds of the auction to the seller...

            • 1 vote
            #4.2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:29 PM EDT

            LMAO!

              #4.3 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:13 PM EDT
              Reply

              Maybe if Mr. Norsigian offered a portion of the find to Matthew Adams. Perhaps Matthew would change his mind.

              • 3 votes
              Reply#5 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:17 PM EDT

              Ha ha...you know what? You're right....

              • 1 vote
              #5.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:46 PM EDT

              That's exactly what I thought!!!!

              • 1 vote
              #5.2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:38 PM EDT
              Reply

              Read the article again. The buyer only truly owes another $25. $70 originally marked, talked him down TO $45, he should pay him another $25, but if the owner accepted the $45, shame on him for not knowing what he had. It usually pays to do your homework.

              • 4 votes
              Reply#6 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:17 PM EDT

              That statment was pretty sassy, Sara...!!

              • 1 vote
              #6.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:27 PM EDT

              Let the seller beware too!

              • 2 votes
              #6.2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:35 PM EDT

              Thank you. I do what I can.

                #6.3 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:35 PM EDT

                listen to the teabaggers the guy doesnt need to give the man anything he just made 200 million typical repud

                  #6.4 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:38 PM EDT

                  Obama released a statement today saying that the IRS is looking into the windfall and will tax him up to 95%, citing the plates are a national treasure and no one is entitled to the money except the american people

                  • 5 votes
                  #6.5 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 7:22 PM EDT

                  Whats really funny is that your probably right......

                  • 2 votes
                  #6.6 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:30 PM EDT

                  ron avery, do you know what a tea bagger is?

                  • 2 votes
                  #6.7 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:05 PM EDT

                  jim in auburn - 'tis a joy to be a tea bagger!!! And I'm not talking politics . . . I would enjoy checking out the ansel adams collections after some serious tea bagging!!! Lighten up people. Let the gentleman enjoy his healthy profit.

                    #6.8 - Wed Jul 28, 2010 12:24 AM EDT

                    well sara and others if you were the seller.. something very possible what the hell would you want. i mean we say the seller shouldn't get money, but if you were the seller, you WOULDN'T say the same thing, I AM CONFIDENT IN THAT. give the seller enough to live comfortable and keep your other 190+ mill...

                      #6.9 - Thu Jul 29, 2010 3:09 AM EDT
                      Reply

                      from his convincing words about price sound suspicious,to be worth something 200 milions dollars is only his statement but main role is to get so much money.I wonder why ?He try convince public on Internet about this price why?

                      I do have old plate picture of BABE RUTH, and I say worth is 1 million? but really this picture is worth 1 milion or this is my only loud guess to the Internet public convincing of how expensive is my possesion,but value is really value if you receive this price to your pocket and without of cheating other collector or buyer. my e-mail; steckosam@aol.com

                        Reply#7 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:23 PM EDT

                        If you have the un-broken, un-faded "glass negative" that is the plate, it could be worth thousands at auction. They are not talking about prints on card stock. They are talking about the glass negatives. The glass plates were coated with photosensitve chemicals and then inserted into a metal and wood plate box. It was then inserted into the camera. When the photographer was ready to shoot, he would remove the safety gate, trigger the shutter and then reclose the safety gate. The glass plate would then be processed to become a negative. Prints would then be made from that neg.

                        • 3 votes
                        #7.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:33 PM EDT

                        And if he has the plates, he owns the pictures, so he can sell many prints and make a bundle that way.

                          #7.2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:06 PM EDT
                          Reply

                          I can see no reason why anybody would doubt it. The S.F. streets scenes date photos and the plates can not be forged easily. Who it was that was behind the camera, thats a different thing. At the time they were shot he was about the only person who was willing to drag camera, dark room and studio into the wilderness to take the photos in the first place. The photos can tell a lot about the camera that took them. Like finger prints, no two cameras of that period were alike.

                            Reply#8 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:24 PM EDT

                            I think Mr. Norsigian knew the value when he bought them. Maybe not the $200m value but he definitly knew they were worth more than $75. He is an opportunist. If it was me, I would go back to the seller and make a healthy donation.

                            • 6 votes
                            Reply#9 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:25 PM EDT

                            I agree, a healthy donation to the seller is needed here.

                            • 3 votes
                            #9.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:36 PM EDT

                            No, it isn't. I have a car i'll sell you for 5K. As it turns out later, it's the last one off the line and worth 100K. You'll be making a donation to me or anyone else? I think not.

                            • 6 votes
                            #9.2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:47 PM EDT

                            Really? An opportunist? So, you're saying you wouldn't have haggled on the price for something you wanted? Even if you knew the value, or maybe especially because you knew the value? Let's all be truthful here, folks. Get off your high horses. Either way you slice it, the burden falls to the seller to know what they are selling.

                            • 5 votes
                            #9.3 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:49 PM EDT

                            You can make great garage sale finds all the time. Does no one watch Antiques Roadshow on PBS? That show is full of people with stuff they pick up a garage sale or estate sale! I've never been so fortunate to find something very valuable. I picked up a $20 Singer sewing machine (haggled down from $25 by this opportunist! ;) ) that I learned was made in Scotland in 1898. If I found out the value was $5,000, I wouldn't be coughing up a donation to the woman I bought it from. That's simply the price of not knowing the value of what you have. Anything I think might be worth something I at least make an attempt to see what a value would be before chucking it in the bin or putting it in a garage sale. That's just called common sense.

                            • 2 votes
                            #9.4 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:12 PM EDT

                            The sale took place ten years ago. Surely there's a statute of limitations in place. Even IF the seller were to try and get something out of the sale of these negatives now, I doubt he would have a leg to stand on legally speaking.

                            • 2 votes
                            #9.5 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:21 PM EDT

                            My mother bought two really ugly painted metal palm trees from an antique dealer a few years ago for $25 each, cleaned them up, decided she didn't really have much use for them, contacted another antiques dealer who offered her $5,000 each for them, and sold them to him.

                            The guy she bought them from was an antiques dealer for Pete's sake. He could have sold them to the highest bidder. He could have put them on e-bay. He could have researched the value of them himself. Obviously, he just didn't want to fool with them and just wanted a quick sale. She certainly isn't obligated, morally or otherwise, to search out the first guy and give him part of her profits.

                            I can see the attorney's now. If the man makes a nice gesture and gives the original seller some of his profits, attornies will claim that as proof that the buyer thinks the seller should have profited from this and argue that he deserves at lest half.

                            • 2 votes
                            #9.6 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:24 PM EDT

                            i know if it were me I would deffinately give him a bonus just out of courtesy alone. The poor guy did not know what he had. If the guy was doing a yard sale then he really needs the money. This guy should give him a hefty part. I know he is not obligated but he should do it. I bout an old ugly lamp one time for a dollar from an old woman. I don't know what made me buy it but I did. I cleaned it up and found out it was pure alibaster and I was offered $700.00 for it. I sold it and went back to the old woman and I gave her $350.00 just because it seemed right.

                            • 5 votes
                            #9.7 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:42 PM EDT

                            Yes, the sale was 10 years ago, and the original guy bought them in the 40s, so that could be 70 years ago. Chances are the original buyer is dead by now.

                            • 1 vote
                            #9.8 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:08 PM EDT

                            I sold it and went back to the old woman and I gave her $350.00 just because it seemed right.

                            Good for you, Kitty. And I bet you enjoyed making her happy. You made me happy just reading about it.

                            • 4 votes
                            #9.9 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:23 PM EDT
                            Reply

                            The guy is a swindler. No way are these authentic. If these were the real deal, the buyer wouldn't have exploited the seller's ingnorance and talked him down another $25 if he thought they were worth millions.

                            The seller should claim he was selling them for $75 each, and that after being generous and giving a discount on one negative, the buyer hauled off with all of them while the seller was distracted, and the buyer needs to return the rest of the negatives he stole.

                              Reply#10 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:33 PM EDT

                              I think he should donate them to a museum. If they are real then this would be a significant find for the photography industry. If he does make money off this "steal from a yard sale" he should let the man who he bought them from have some profit from it as well. If it wasn't for the yard sale to bedin with, he wouldn't even have them. Ungrateful

                              • 1 vote
                              Reply#11 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:33 PM EDT

                              If this guy didn't dig and search out these prints at this yard sale then the next step could of been the trash . The seller obvoiusly had no idea what he had which is his own fault. A nice donation would be appropriate but this guy has no obligation to the seller because of his lack of interest and knowledge.

                              • 9 votes
                              #11.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:43 PM EDT

                              The museum idea would really suck. How could he possibly get full value as a $200M tax writeoff? Whatever he does, he better do it quick before the government raises the capital gains tax again.

                              • 1 vote
                              #11.2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 4:21 PM EDT

                              Thank you for breaking the Teabag ice Mark! Yes -- it's all government's fault! Or IOW, the fake American, Indonesian, kenyan socialist Muslim who we're going to impeach, soon as we take back America.

                              • 3 votes
                              #11.3 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:36 PM EDT

                              Yea! I agree with Brooks regarding that they would have most likely been heading for the trash. Power to the individual that found them. Thank God he had them checked out, or they would have been lost to the circular file forever.

                              • 2 votes
                              #11.4 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:39 PM EDT
                              Reply

                              This was an arms length transaction...a willing seller and a willing buyer. It was the responsibility of the seller to find out what these negatives were worth...if anything. Norsigina owes him nothing unless he is feeling generous, providing they are real and authentic.

                              • 4 votes
                              Reply#12 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:34 PM EDT

                              I agree with you completely. I don't understand all the anger over this. People find good stuff at Garage sales all the time. No one makes the people sale this stuff.

                              • 4 votes
                              #12.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:37 PM EDT

                              So true. Just watch a few episodes of Antiques Roadshow on PBS and you'll see that it happens a lot.

                              • 3 votes
                              #12.2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:50 PM EDT

                              Legally he really owes the seller nothing. However, if it were me, I would give him a nice check.

                              But then again, I'll bet the seller has lawyers knocking his door down to "help" him recover supposed damages.

                              "Ol Billy was right, kill all the lawyers, kill em tonight"

                              Just kidding, but some of them seem like such bloodsuckers, eh?

                              • 5 votes
                              #12.3 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:52 PM EDT

                              i agree with you on lawyers.

                              • 2 votes
                              #12.4 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:46 PM EDT

                              Every profession has their scum but some lawyers really put it out htere for all to see. Used to be that "ambulance chasers" were looked down upon by the profession.

                              • 1 vote
                              #12.5 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 6:22 PM EDT
                              Reply

                              I'll double his money and pay him $90 for them, today.

                              • 4 votes
                              Reply#13 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:34 PM EDT

                              You need to spend a little time reading before you speak. The article says that a team of people spent 10 years investigating the pictures to authenticate them. Buyers will also do their due diligence by studying the documentation and having their own experts authenticate before they bid.

                                Reply#14 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:38 PM EDT

                                Hey Mr. Hoist the Colors - I'll double YOUR money and pay you $180 for them, today. Heck, let's make it an even $200, I'm feeling generous today.

                                • 2 votes
                                Reply#15 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:38 PM EDT

                                So sssssssssaaaaasssssssssssyyyyyyyy!!!!!!! Love it

                                • 1 vote
                                #15.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:55 PM EDT
                                Reply

                                Any person who sold such beauuuutiful glass artworks, didn't think about the dates of the newspapers they were wrapped and didn't display them as treasures but had them stuck in boxes; did not deserve them in the first place...........people don't think, and should not be rewarded for their ignorance!

                                • 2 votes
                                Reply#16 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:39 PM EDT

                                If he bought the items at a yard sale and then found that they are valuable, the money should be his. On the other hand, I think if I made a find like that and made a lot of money, I would definitely try to find the person who sold them to me and give them a generous amount as a thank you. Anytime you sell something to someone else, it is theirs. If they held on to it for years and it became a valuable antique, would you still be entitled to a portion of the value? No. In the yard sale game it's buyer and seller beware. Know what you have and it's value before you put a price on it or let yourself be talked down on the price. Ever watch the shows about "pickers"? They generally know what an item will be valued at and sold for, but they won't turn down a really good deal because they feel guilty about making money off it when it's resold.

                                • 3 votes
                                Reply#17 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:41 PM EDT

                                This man is very smart or lucky. Not sure which one yet but I do believe he should in honest faith give the woman what she wanted for the plate. If it were me I'd give her alot more and then either give or lend to museum's.

                                • 1 vote
                                Reply#18 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:42 PM EDT

                                When something is offered for sale - be it yard sale or retail store - it is a legal binding contract when the purchase is made. The notion that the purchaser somehow “owes” the seller anything makes my skin crawl. Like Sassy Sara says – either you “do your homework” or you flunk out of school.

                                • 4 votes
                                Reply#19 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:44 PM EDT

                                there is nothing that says he has to give him anything but it just seems that if it were me I would. I believe in helping people I guess that makes me seem funny right?

                                  #19.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:50 PM EDT
                                  Reply

                                  If we are dumb enough to put it in a garage sale and barter we deserve what we get! I was stupid recently because I am much older now I decided to sale a fishing rod which I have drug around for over 45 years. It was an 8' South Bend worth a lot more than $10 and I was thinking it might be so shame on me for not checking!!!!!! I do have the internet!

                                  • 1 vote
                                  Reply#20 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:44 PM EDT

                                  I once asked two rare-book dealers about the ethics involved, say, if you go to a garage sale, and see a whole row of 1st edition Hemingways that are marked $1 each. Should you tell the seller what he/she has or quietly pay the buck apiece and walk off with a box filled with books that are worth hundreds of thousands? Their response: pay the marked price, don't try to beat them down. You don't have to tell them anything. I agree with those ethics and am disappointed with the Calif. guy knocking down the price when he knew full well what he had, whether they were Ansel's or not.

                                  • 3 votes
                                  Reply#21 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:45 PM EDT

                                  Did you actually read the article? The buyer liked the plates because they were pictures of Yosemite. He stated himself that it wasn't until long after he bought the plates that he started to think he might have something of value. That being the case, what was wrong with him haggling over the price originally?

                                  • 2 votes
                                  #21.1 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:26 PM EDT

                                  Absolutely nothing wrong with haggling at a garage sale. It's part of the game.

                                  • 2 votes
                                  #21.2 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 5:44 PM EDT
                                  Reply

                                   

                                  In true capitalistic style, he will keep the windfall instead of giving it to those who do not care to be as creative or industrious.

                                  • 1 vote
                                  Reply#22 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:46 PM EDT

                                  Holy cow! Isn't that just like some people who want their share of someelse knowledge and hard work. Let me see, he was knowledgible about photography, he spent tens years authenticating the plates, he either had to pay or promise a share of the proceeds for that authentication and he spent a lot of time. The seller spent none of that and some think he is owed a share. I think not. If the seller though he had something he should have priced them higher or not come down on his price. He should have no expectation of the profit of others.

                                  • 1 vote
                                  Reply#23 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:47 PM EDT

                                  Haven't any of you ever watched antiques roadshow? garage sales and estate sales are gold mines. Be in the right place at the right time.

                                  • 4 votes
                                  Reply#24 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:50 PM EDT
                                  Reply

                                  Now thats an Antique Roadshow record.

                                  • 4 votes
                                  Reply#25 - Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:50 PM EDT
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