Donate it to a "collectors organization", take the tax break, let them market it to their research minded members through a newsletter or whatever. Too bad EDM didn't have that as a viable option. I wish I had that option, but, like EDM, I'll have to fling it to the winds.
Bill:
The first problem with donating "stuff" to an organization harks back to the Nixon papers; check out Schedule 1040-A-Lines 16 & 17 that refer you to the Orwellian instructions at p. A-7 & 8, and, in turn, the documentation requirements of subsidiary schedule 8283--also "See Pub. 526 for details."
The second problem is the "...marketing to research minded members through a newsletter..." Please be advised that virtually all the requests for my list so far have been as a result of my listings on eBay and my starting this thread. Briefly stated, print media is dead; people don't read books or newspapers or magazines or newsletters anymore; the action is on the Internet.
The third problem with the "donation" idea is getting anyone to
timely do what I did in creating the 12-page For Sale List. Historically a certain organization has taken 90 to 120 days to respond to new membership applications with money attached. And, besides, who knows better than I what the stuff consists of.
The simple solution: I priced this stuff as a "give-away" to those who see value in it, but if I had simply offered to give it away for free everyone who otherwise could care less would have wanted some.
Finally: Some of my stuff may be too esoteric and expensive for any takers; the Broadfoot Publishing reprint of 42 volumes of
Shooting & Fishing (1885-1906) that sell on their website for $5,000 that I offer @ $2,500 plus S&H (each book weighs 6 lbs.). Or the 64 issues of Parker Brothers' pulp-weeekly sportsman's newspaper,
Rod & Gun, ca. 1875-77 @ $1,500, which merged with
Forest & Stream in 1877, and in turn merged with
Field & Stream in 1930, and thus merged, exists today! These pills might be too big for researchers to swallow, and if not sold after the Vintage Cup, I will, in fact, donate them to a certain library in Middleburg VA and not take the tax deduction. Who needs the audit?
And the rest of the nominal stuff? The bits and pieces of 30 years of Parkerology and double-gun research: Bill would "fling it to the winds" to avoid being possessed by his possessions; living in the country, I have a burn pile. EDM
