I’ll admit it. I’m addicted to eBay. I’ve found all kinds of family memorabilia while on line and expect to find much more. If you haven’t taken the time to check out the online auctions, you should do so now. There’s a wealth of family artifacts just setting out there waiting for you to bid on them.
I’ve found quite a variety of items, including brassware made by the family, silverware, political memorabilia, ledger books with their names listed, original deeds, original court records; and even can openers, matchbook covers, and glass bottles – all with a family connection.
I’ve found hundreds of books dealing with my family. Everything from County Histories to Surname books dealing with my family surnames can be found on line. Not all time – mind you. I may search for my names of interest and come up with nothing, or I might find several books of interest all in the same search. I’ve never found a Family Bible for any of my family on eBay, but I’ve met people who have.
It is easy to search eBay and other online auction sites. Just type the name of the item you’re looking for into the search box, check the Search Titles and Descriptions box, and click on “Search.” The search engine will search all items for sale and bring up a list of those items that fit your criteria. If the name is common, you might want to do an “advanced search” and exclude certain words. Example: If you are looking for items on Monroe County, you might want to only look at sites that “do not” include the word “Marilyn.”
When discussing eBay, I’ve often had people ask me how they can be sure that they won’t be “ripped off” when making purchases sight unseen. It’s really pretty simple. First off – the majority of items have been photographed and you can see what you’re bidding on. Secondly, many of the sellers describe their items in such detail that you know exactly what to expect. But – the most important feature is what keeps everyone honest. It’s called “feedback.” Whenever a sale or purchase is made, the buyer and seller both leave “feedback” about their satisfaction with the sale. The parties all want to have overwhelmingly positive feedback, so they do all they possibly can to make the other party happy. My personal experience has been that the items I’ve purchased through eBay have been packaged better than most obtained from the major retailers.