Bkennedy - Posted - 05/29/2015:  19:55:52

I am 28 years old and an active duty Marine on recruiting duty currently stationed in New Jersey. outside of my recruiting station is a antique music shop. A gentleman routinly sits outside of the shop playing his banjo smoking his pipe. I speak to him casualy and mentioned I have an old banjo that my great grandmother from lexington va. gave me. He said he would love to see it, so after two months or so I finally got a chance to grab it from my house in nc. I brought it too him to check out and as soon as he laid eyes on it it his jaw dropped. I know nothing about music, and certainly nothing about a banjo but he said that he thought it could be a boucher. After further investigation we found writing on the neck that said "W. Boucher Jr. Baltimore" he called one of his friends that after some research may have been one of the best sources of information I could have asked for. He confirmed its originality and said that it was certainly a boucher. It had some modifications that would have been common and nesassary for the time period and that it had simply been played. Now I have had this banjo since age 10 or so and had it hanging on my wall through highschool, and of recent it just layed around in the closet. I had no idea of its significants. After research I found there are no more than 45 accounted for. Now I know most would say never sell it but I am considering it, but dont realy have any idea of its true value. Could you guys give me an idea or a suggestion to get it appraised. I can provide picture if need be. My email is kennedy.brock@yahoo.com

Edited by - Bkennedy on 05/30/2015 04:00:27

deestexas - Posted - 05/29/2015:  20:06:51

Post pictures - from all angles.  There are some experts here who can provide some estimates.   And welcome.

Bkennedy - Posted - 05/29/2015:  20:11:34

I would be happy to upload some pictures but cant find the option to do so. Any guidance would be appreciated?

deestexas - Posted - 05/29/2015:  20:24:18

Go to your hangout page.   On the right side there  is a link for photos under "+ Add Content"     Then you navigate to the photos whereever you've stored them on  your computer.   Once you add them to your hangout page, you can then use them in a forum posting. 

Bkennedy - Posted - 05/29/2015:  21:39:55

I have uploaded some pictures to my hangout

Bkennedy - Posted - 05/29/2015:  21:40:19

Thanks for the help sir.

davidwigal - Posted - 05/29/2015:  21:51:31

Wow that certainly looks like the real deal; I think you should be able to sell it quickly and for a good price. I can't wait until some of the more knowledgeable members chime in.

Welcome to the Hang-Out and thank you so much for your service 

EggerRidgeBoy - Posted - 05/29/2015:  22:42:56

I took the liberty of posting a link to this thread over on the Minstrel Banjo site (minstrelbanjo.ning.com/forum/t...ington-va ).. That site is dedicated to "early banjo" (pre-1900, basically), with a particular emphasis on the 1840-1870 era.  There are several people there with expert knowledge of antebellum banjos such as those made by Boucher.

trapdoor2 - Posted - 05/30/2015:  05:12:25

How cool! Well done.

Of course, to 'really' evaluate it, us collector types would like really clear, detailed pictures taken outside in the bright sunlight. I know, we're just like that.

Original Boucher...wow. It isn't that they're so rare, they're survivors. I'm sure you've read all the history of them on the net. One place to go that doesn't often crop up in basic searches is the Banjo Sightings Database. banjodatabase.org/ Lots of pictures of other extant Boucher banjos there.

Don't even clean it. Banjos of this age, much like furniture or other antique items, have gained a patina that must be preserved. Dust it...but don't wipe any of the grime off of it.

Value...

Well, it isn't going to buy you a new car. These things typically sell privately, so coming up with a realistic value is difficult. A very early one sold on ebay a few years ago. I can't remember what it went for...several thousand, I think. If you went on Antiques Roadshow with it, you'd get on TV for sure (wear your blues!).

Because it has been modified from its original form, it will have crossover appeal in the folk-art genre and Appalachiana. Folk art collectors have more money than banjo players. 

Oh, by the way, your story has value. Dig into family history and document everything you can about the banjo. Who owned it, where, when, etc. Good documentation can actually add significantly to the value of the instrument. Get it written up!

Selling it...

There is an annual Banjo Collector's Gathering. Most of the major banjo collectors go to it to show, buy, sell or trade. Other than that, your best bet (my opinion only, of course) would be to put it up on ebay. Hire a professional photographer, get detailed pix from every angle, every odd little detail. Put it up on ebay and post the auction link here and on the Minstrel Banjo forum. I would put it up as a reserve auction...but setting the reserve price is up to you (there are many strategies to selling on ebay).

Help is here. Look for specialists like Greg Adams or Bob Winans...they've been "writing the book" on Boucher for some years. I'll send Greg a note (he's a member here).

Edited by - trapdoor2 on 05/30/2015 05:32:47

winkineye - Posted - 05/30/2015:  07:38:07

Hello.Very scarce instrument you have there. Contact Peter Szego. You can Google his name. He's a good man and will give you honest advice.