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M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"

The frames are an unknown wood. They are stained a very dark walnut/mahogany. The frames are approximately 11 by 14 inches. The black and white prints are protected by glass. Both prints have the artist's signature and freehand copyright mark of 1897 in the artist's handwritten script as well as the imprinted title and copyright marks.
On cardboard on the back of "Cupid Awake," there is an appraiser's signature "Joyce R." Also handwritten on the cardboard is "picture & frame from the home of Belle and Logan Minner 1985" and "Cupid Awake 1897" and "Original frame & photo-M.B. Parkinson." There is also a seal under protective tape for the Rosenbaum Co. Picture Frame Department.
On the back of "Cupd Asleep," there are two appraiser's signatures/initials "J. Runell" and a set of illegible initials. Also handwritten on the back is "From the home of Belle & Logan Minner 1985" and "Cupid asleep 1897 M.B. Parkinson" and "Original frame & photo."
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Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
I have a set of original M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep" dated 1897. On the bow of each photo is the copyright notice and dated 1897.
Each print is 6" x 8.5". The print of each is so sweet.
I just posted them on Ebay, seller: leopardspotshop. They are in excellent condition and I've priced them at $9.99 for the auction. I saw a couple of people here that said they wanted them and just thought I would mention it to the forum. What a great site! Thanks, Colleen
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
I have one of these as well. It is Cupid awake. It is in the original metal oval frame. I looked at the back side of the photo and it says Number 1898 on it and has the original copywrite on the photo itself. I am interested in selling this and wondered what the best value is for it. I see a range of $35-75 but wondered if I can get a closer idea. Many thanks! RobinG ~
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
My Mother has "cupid asleep". On the back it says No. 1899 Taber Prang Art Co. Springfield, Mass. Its about 5x7 and its in an oval frame. She wants me to find out a value for it? If anyone can help, it would be greatly appreciated. my email is jachsgurl_23_2004@hotmail.com. Thanks
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Not much to say about these prints that has not already been covered, if value is what you're interested in, they currently sell in the $30.00- $75.00 range depending on the frame.
Lovejoy
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
I have cupid awake and asleep signed and dated 1897 in original wooden frames 17 x 14 I am looking for a good home for them re-decorating and need to sell anyone interested e-mail me at memom8299@yahoo.com thanks
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
I have in my posession two 5x7 M.B. Parkinson photos of "Cubid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep" copyrighted 1897 which have copy numbers in consecutive order. They appear to authentic and the paper is very old. On the back, the wording says.
No. 2829
copyright 1897
Cupid Awake
Published by Taber Prang Art Co.
Springfield, Massachusetts
On the front is scrolled
"Cupid Asleep"
by M.B Parkinson
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
I just acquired one of these photos of Cupid Awake, a very large one in an old ornate frame. Frame has some damage and glass is cracked but picture is in great shape. Signature is perfectly readable. The owner was a very old lady, am sure it is original. Have no idea of the value though. Can you help me with determining the value?
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Not much chance it being an original photograph, but post an image of it here front and back and I'll have a look.
Lovejoy
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Not much to say about these prints that has not already been covered, if value is what you're interested in, they currently sell in the $30.00- $75.00 range depending on the frame.
Lovejoy
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
jminner:
I just came across bott of these, ,y uncle gave them to me. I believe they are 11 x 14 just like yours. Do you have an approximate value? ...the frames are not matching and I do not know the # of each or if they have one.
Thank you for your time in advance,
Tanie
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
I have a 15 1/2 by 20" rectangular framed Black and White of Cupid Asleep. Bottom middle of photograph are two lines of print, first is "Cupid Asleep" beneath this and to the left are two additional lines of print "Copyright 1897" and beneath this, "by MB Parkinson" Copyright inscription also on one of the bows. Black wooden frame is probably original.
Photo is in great condition except for 1/4" white spots where nails are inserted into back of frame resulting in rubbing of picture surface on glass. Does anyone know relative value of this?
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
The child in the photo's was Josephine Anderson.
She was the daughter of a friend, a single mother who worked and sometimes left her child in Parkinson’s care.
Josephine died in the 1970s.
Are the frames oval?
Can you post a picture of them?
Thanks
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
No the frame is rectangle. I was looking around on the internet yesterday,and noticed one on e bay. I printed it out and compared to mine. mine is in better condition. But also I noticed that there seems to be a window behind Josephine's right shoulder on the on line picture. Not on mine. Also the words "Cupid Awake" are on the left of the copy wright and M.B. Parkinson.(The other photos I see on the internet they are on the right.) Also other's have said there's the Taber-Prang Co. on them. Mine does not. And by the way, I only have the one photo. Cupid Awake. I would love to have the pair! As for pictures, I will try and take a few later today. Thank you for your quick response.
Blessings, Cheryl
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
I wish I could give you good news, but as has been said before, there is nothing special or rare about these prints, they were produced by the millions, and sell in the ranges indicated.
Lovejoy
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Just exactly what do you mean by original prints? All of the Cupid Awake/Asleep are mass produced prints . The copyright date means very little in term of date or value, all it indicates is that the image is covered by a copyright and protected from duplication by anyone other than the owner or their agents.
At the time of the Cupid's copyright, images based on photographs were covered for a period of 25 years, which means if an image had a copyright in 1896, it would still carry that "1896" date marking until 1921.
What should be stressed here is the value of the print itself and not the frame. Of course if someone had used a large or elaborate frame the value will be higher for a Cupid print than for one in a dime store frame, but the prints themselves are not rare or valuable. Here's a link to cupids sold at auction to give you an idea:
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/search?q=cupid+awake&&sort=relevance&dtype=gallery&type=complete&rows=20
Lovejoy
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
I too have a cupid asleep...in a dark oval frame with a piping of metal decoration on the frame itself...on the back of mine is just some numbers 4363 and under that is 66355 and under that is the size 8 1/2 X 11 1/2
anybody know what that means...??
Debbie
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Hello,
I just acquired an original large oval dark wooden frame of
"Cupid Awake" dated ofcourse, 1897.
I would love the matching Asleep or any of Josehine grown up.
What would the value be, you may say. The value is what anyone would pay for such.
I am taking the highest bid right now.
email if interested.
cindycalender24@yahoo.com
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
The value is what the market determines it is. Right now the market says these are not rare, valuable or highly sought after ;~) Here's a link to cupids sold at auction to give you an idea:
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/search?q=cupid+awake&&sort=relevance&dtyp...
Lovejoy
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
You sound very uptight! take a pill cupcake.
A lot of what you wrote is true, but there is diffenetly a tone to your typing.
I agree with the last writter.
Fabulous
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
A "tone"?
These are for sale online in original old oval frames 10x12 ....copyright dated 1897......$48.99 for both. Lovejoy is correct.
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
I'll be sure never to accumulate an item such as this, it will spare me the time discussing it.. :)
On the Copyright. That is one item that can be easily researched and the dates verified. Star Wars toys as an example were Copyright and the actual value of the toy is more often determined by the quality of the box unopened than the toy itself, almost similar to a frame.
But when it comes to pricing items, statements one way or another are arbitrary ultimately. If as an example I see an item at a major flea market, http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=williams+grove+flea+marke...
One of two selling scenarios exist, one I sell at below market where the price "minus shipping" if the comp is online sales is the metric used. On the other hand.. if the item draws people to the booth, if it is an item that brings in traffic or that I would sell only at a pricepoint, I ask MORE than the market value. I'll simply pack it up and take it with me.
The American Museum of Natural History and the History Institute of America reproduced a dozen or more images, using hand coloring, and these are different in size fom the originals, being approximately 20" x 26". These and other early facsimiles are often found on eBay and are not valuable, fetching prices from $10 to $100.
http://prints.jjaudubongallery.com/2007/02/02/audubon-prints--the-many-e...
I want $40.00 apiece and set at $75.00
These are not Giclee, no computers, and closing in on 81 years of age. These were the first "reproductions" of the Audubons and have been traditionally and historically rejected by audubon collectors.
Can you get one of these prints at $10.00 as the author states?? No! With shipping and handling do they go for nearly $100.00 yes.
On the other hand I have a US Uncle Sam cast iron mechanical bank on a lamp. That will not be sold less than $150.00 and no small number of people will come over and admire it and then tell me something anecdotal why it should be less.
The bottom line is that buying genuine antiques and collectibles is like buying stocks, in hindsight we know the results from an investment standpoint. My bet is that the prints and "probably" the lamp go before 6:30am by professional buyers who don't fret after the purchase if they pulled the buying trigger. They know that they over time with education will make many more good buys than bad.
But back to the point concerning art. Know your pieces. Know the counts and the technology. And finally make the decision to sell or buy and once made be comfortable with it.
But the Cupid Awake and the Cupid Asleep are much more common, many thousand times more common than say 1937 Audubn 20.5" x 26.5" and put aside the "prejudices" of others or "naked pricing" of the internet, because if somebody tells me that they can get the print for less online, I tell them to buy it unseen and see if it walks to their home address for free?
All sales are final...
Visit my online website at http://www.mvpantiques.com
We sell in store at:
Remember When Antiques
330 Frederick Street
Hagerstown, MD
http://www.rwantiques.com/
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
Any item is only worth what an individual is willing to pay, but on the larger scale values are determined by demand in the general market. You can list whatever price you want, but only an uninformed buyer will pay more than the going rate, a dealer will certainly not pay retail for an item they plan on flipping.
In the case of prints or iron banks it depends on when they were made and by who. 20th Century copies of Audubon's prints do sell anywhere from $10.00 and up as do Uncle Sam banks, the difference being again when it was made and by whom. Eg., if I came to your booth and knew your Uncle Sam bank was an original, and hadn't been damaged by mounting it with a lamp, I'd snap it up for $150.00. On the other hand if Uncle Sam was a repro a dealer would be nuts to buy it for $150.00, they could buy all the repro's they wanted for $80.00 a case and make their own lamps ;~)
BTW shipping on a unframed print is hardly expensive
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
My point is this, there are different types of buyers.
Some are "Hoarders" they are clinically ill.
http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2009/08/18/hoarders-tv-show-comp...
Then there are those who always are a combat of wits, it is winning it seems that motivates them. They go about with a light-saber and a few dollars in their hands and try to fill insecurities by buying.
Then there are casual buyers, if they like it they buy it! Cost is really no issue they are having fun. I have seen these types have a riot of a good time as occasional visitors to auctions and groups.
Then there is a professional buyer, of course they know the difference between the value items and those that are not. Along with a professional seller it is about price, no emotion, just the market and demand.
My point is this, that you have to recognize these types at certain points of a sale. Early in the morning when professional buyers are out, you do probably 80% of your total sales in the first hour. You leave allot of money in the price and people whom know you stop by to see what you brought.
And then there is the "interest buyer" they have a simple interest in the item, they like it and they buy it. These people rarely touch and travel in crowds. If they touch they will likely buy.
Then you have the light-saber crowd, they seem more intent on making a point or sticking one instead of doing business. It is as if their low self-esteen gets wrapped up in statements of worth of innanimate objects, these people are almost always LONERS. Typically I ignore these types.
And then there is the hoarder, these are the types that sift-through boxes, touch the most often, and repeatedly offer at a significant price point lower for inexpensive items. The larger the box lot the better! You can tell these people by their cars which are often filled up to the windows with stuff leaving just enough room for the driver. They are more sociable than the light-saber crowd, less likely to take offense, and will travel more often with family.
On the "prints" in a roll.. it has always amazed me on the one hand why people talk down the reproductions and then have an ad to "authorized reproductions." This is especially true with Audubon, I mean honestly google the product. Truth be told on the Audubon I deal with an art dealer who specializes in art in DC. They are an "authorized reproduction reseller" of audubon prints. They are interested in the real McCoy and their own re-productions. Candidly we both know that their reproductions have no numerical limit. We also know that used cars sitting along new cars dillute new car sales.
But the way you can tell the professional buyer is that they don't fixate. They are like professional stock traders who win some and lose some, but win more than they lose and stay unemotional about it. They don't get combative or leave any emotional energy out there as it distracts from the next opportunity, if they disagree with you.. well they probably don't have the time to do it. Most importantly they will pull the buy and sell trigger! They do not walk around with "Would of," "should of," "ought of," and "could of" scenarios. Business is done quick!
The reason I share this is that this is such a wide forum and the types of buyers and sellers I observe are all here at once. And there perspective of the pieces are different.
As you mentioned earlier you stated that the frame had allot to do with the value.
My experience tells me that is not so.
I know that there are different levels of buyers and sellers that I described and some pull buying triggers in the thousands while other in pennies.
It is a wonderful painting or print to some, some would not have the item on their wall and seek other items....
Visit my online website at http://www.mvpantiques.com
We sell in store at:
Remember When Antiques
330 Frederick Street
Hagerstown, MD
http://www.rwantiques.com/
Re: M.B. Parkinson's "Cupid Awake" and "Cupid Asleep"
I don't know where you are going with your detailed description of buyers, but it has little bearing on the " Going rate" of an item. You can put whatever price you want on an item, but only an uninformed buyer will pay more than the "Going rate".
The "Professional Buyer" as you call them, will certainly not pay more than the going rate, and if they are in the business they are only going to pay the wholesale value for their market. If you are selling out your stock to other dealers in a hurry, then your stock is undervalued.
In the case of the Cupids, or any other mass produced print, their value is enhanced by a good frame. To perfectly honest if a dealer finds a Cupid in a good 19th Century gilt frame, they will pay more for it than one in a dime store frame, because they know the gilt frame is worth more than the print. They can upsell both as separate items for increased profit, the Gilt frame now about a period etching or as a mirror and the Cupid in an early 20 Century frame from the shop's discard pile. As for Joe & Sue Public, going to any "Art on the fence" sale will show you the upsale is the frame.
Lovejoy