In December 2023, I visited my friend Harold R. Henry in Hamilton Missouri, who collects cast iron pieces. While looking through his large collection, I found an old auction catalog from 2002. Harold had noted down the prices of the items sold at that auction. I found it fascinating to compare those prices to today’s prices.
I’ve copied the auction results in the photos below. As you review the prices paid, remember that these prices were paid in the infancy of eBay.
eBay’s Impact on Pricing
eBay started in 1995 and quickly became popular for buying and selling unique and collectible items. Before eBay, collectors found it hard to locate vintage items—they relied on newspaper ads, local sales, live auctions, and visits to antique shops.
As eBay and similar websites appeared, finding these items became easier and increased competition often lowered prices. Previously, scarce items would be more expensive.
In this early 2002 auction, I don’t know if eBay and other online sales were common. Also bear in mind that the auction catalog did not provide detailed photos, so buyers could not be sure of the item’s condition. However, since these items came from a collector of vintage and antique cast iron, they were likely well-kept.
2002 Auction Prices
The auction was for vintage and cast iron cookware pieces from the collection of Deb and Gary Franzen. The auction took place on June 29, 2002, and there were (at least)270 lots sold. The preview of the auction pieces took place on June 28, 2002.
Below are photos of the auction catalog itself, showing the winning prices for the different auction items offered.
Reflections on a few of the prices
When I look at the auction prices for the pieces that are pictured in the catalog (assuming excellent condition) a few jump out at me:
No. 239 Griswold Santa Mold: sold for $750 – high by today’s pricing.
No. 135 Lodge Acorn Pan: sold for $375. I’ve seen them go higher and seen them go lower.
No. 140 and 141 Griswold skillet racks: sold for $190 and $220. One recently sold for $500, which I thought was very high; I’d consider buying at $190 or $220 but have seen them go lower.
No. 127 Wagner display rack: sold for $180. I don’t see these come around often; I’d buy at $180 if it was in good condition.
No. 213 Griswold sundial: sold for $500. That’s not an unusual price by today’s standards. I’ve seen them sell higher.
No. 44 Griswold loaf pan: sold for $350. I would buy at that price.
No. 59 Griswold large block logo skillet no. 12: sold for $120. I would buy at that price.
No. 61 Griswold large block logo skillet no. 14: sold for $175. I would buy at that price.
No. 250 Griswold high dome #9 skillet lid: sold for $80. I’d buy all I could at that price.
I would have liked to see what some of the “common” pieces went for – i.e. Griswold no. 8 skillets. When I started my cast iron journey, I could find them for $25. Not today!
What do you think? How do the prices seem to you compared to today’s prices? I’m interested to hear your thoughts!
