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Antiques & Collectibles

Old circus printing blocks

5 years ago

I picked these up a couple years ago at an auction. They were part of a box lot.

I know they're printing blocks for a circus. I've researched the name, Gene Le del, apparently he was from Texas. Found a bit of info.

I'm trying to determine if they're value.

They measure about 13" x 4" and are about 1" thick. They were quite well used, as they're stained with red ink.

Anyone have any ideas?

Featured Answer

Sammy

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Well, if they were mixed in amongst a box of miscellany—and not mentioned in their own right in any description—that would change things. Anyone in the market for that kind of thing (circus memorabilia and printing paraphernalia are the two obvious niches that come to mind) wouldn’t have been aware of them and thus unable to drive the price up or down. Unfortunately, I can’t even begin to help you with a number since that’s way outside my wheelhouse. If it were me, I’d start by looking for past auction results on eBay and other online auction sites like invaluable, liveauctioneers, bidsquare, etc.

What else was in that box, btw? If there was a velvet Elvis or some other piece of fine art, maybe it was concealing an original signed Declaration of Independence! :D

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Comments (10)

lindac92
5 years ago
You know what they are....what do you want to know? From the late 60's and before....when posters were printed with set type.....sell to a collector of circus stuff.
pudgeder thanked lindac92
pudgeder
Original Author
5 years ago
Value?
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Sammy
5 years ago
The value is what somebody is willing to pay for them. Sooooo, what’d you pay for ‘em?
pudgeder
Original Author
5 years ago
LOL They were in a box lot of other items that I wanted. I paid about $5 bucks for the whole lot. I'm just trying to see if they're of any value.
jemdandy
5 years ago
Contact Circus World Museum at Baraboo, WI to see if they have any interest in those.
pudgeder thanked jemdandy
User
5 years ago
It appears that this was a carney show rather than a circus in Texas so you might want to contact the carnival associations in several states. However value would only be in what you use as a donation value on your taxes as this company dissolved in the 1960's. Most want things much older than that.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
5 years ago
Betcha somebody on Etsy.com might be interested. You might check to see if there's anything similar on there - or ebay - and what they're asking...
pudgeder thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
5 years ago
As late as 1996 the Gene Ledel Shows were still going on...although floundering. Read more HERE.

tj
pudgeder thanked tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
User
5 years ago
Company forfeited its existence apparently fairly recently.
pudgeder thanked User

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