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Collectibles Hold Promise As America Approaches 250
Exquisite pieces are already commanding top dollar . By Eric L . Reiner
ANYONE WHO REMEMBERS 1976 CAN TESTIFY THAT the 200th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence painted America red , white and blue with patriotic euphoria . In 2026 , the country ’ s semiquincentennial ( aka sestercentennial ) will very likely bring a similar swell of national pride with fireworks , intense media coverage and inspiring museum exhibitions . All the hoopla , art experts say , will boost the value of Americana collectibles .
“ Historically , important milestones for the country have given rise to a widespread excitement for all things American . With the Bicentennial in 1976 , collectors clamored for Americana ,” recalls Bill Rau , CEO and third-generation owner of M . S . Rau , an art and antiques dealer in New Orleans .
Most likely to increase in value the next few years , Rau predicts , are “ items from America ’ s most popular historic figures — Washington , Lincoln , Jefferson , Adams , Hamilton and even Paul Revere , who was an impressive silversmith — as well as objects associated with wartime presidents like Roosevelt and
Truman and to a lesser extent Woodrow Wilson . I recommend wealthy collectors begin doing their homework now .”
Advisors don ’ t have to be connoisseurs to give clients guidance about buying or selling precious pieces . But an understanding of the marketplace is essential , starting with its recent history for context .
“ From 2000 to 2007 you saw a great uptick in the Americana market ,” says John Hays , a deputy chair at Christie ’ s , the auction house , in New York . Then the financial crisis led to a slide that lingered a decade . “ It took a long time to recover , but now we ’ re seeing the market move forward again ,” Hays says .
Data bear that out . On May 12 , Christie ’ s sold the smaller of two extant versions of Emanuel Leutze ’ s Washington Crossing the Delaware for $ 45,045,000 . That was more than double the amount expected , and reflected an average annual compound increase of about 11.8 % from the celebrated work ’ s previous sale 43 years ago at $ 370,000 . “ And Remington sculptures are on fire right now ,” Hays adds , referring to the esteemed 19th century American West artist Frederic S . Remington .
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