Valuing your old tennis rackets

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 Valuation Service £ € $

Valuations will involve approximating the date of the racket and then to consider the various options, which are all crucial, to arrive at a sensible valuation which could be anything from £5 to £25,000 or higher.
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Many experts have found this subject very challenging in the past and there are volumes on dating and valuation of old rackets and in conclusion there are many caveats as there are many options and variables.
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There are at least 36 varieties of handle, 24 different head sizes and shapes, 32 different butt caps and tail ends, 6 different lengths, and over 40 different string types and patterns, and many combinations.
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In addition the maker and model and any possible player endorsement.
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Example Valuations

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I have detailed below some examples of valuations across the board highlighting the value of certain features.
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( Valuation and rates as at October 2020 )

( 1 )

£ 1,200 - 1,800

€ 1,350 - 2,050

$ 1,550 - 2,450

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No model name
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c. 1874/5
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Henry Malings of Francis Street Woolwich London
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One of the first rackets made at the dawn of Lawn Tennis. Features to note are the lop sided head, white sheepskin grip, makers stamp to the throat and original strings with only one broken. Rackets of this date nearly always have some strings broken which is acceptable. Rackets from this date are rare and worth between £1200 - £1,800 dependent on condition and this example would be at the top end of the estimate.
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( 2 )

£ 60 - 80

€ 67 - 89

$ 78 - 103

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Maker & model unknown
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c 1890
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This racket from the late 19th century is in superb condition without any damage and all strings original and intact. Almost perfect but without maker or model the value would be lower and range from £60 to £80. With maker and model however the value could be £200+. The makers stamp is an important feature.

( 3 )

£ 200 - 300

€ 225 - 330

$ 260 - 390

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No model name
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c1922/23
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BIRMAL - Birmingham Aluminium Casting (1903) Co Ltd
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At first glance these aluminium rackets would appear to be from the period following the demise of the wooden racket in the late 1970s early 1980s and worth only a few pounds. They do in fact precede this date by some 50 years. An innovative experiment with new materials and wire strings. Also one of the first rackets to have a leather grip. Production was short lived and therefore these rackets are scarce and worth £200 - £300.

( 4 )

£ 650 - 800

€ 720 - 890

$ 840 - 1050

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Tournament 3 Light
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C mid 1920s
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G G Bussey
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Apart from two special features this racket is a fairly standard and common post WW1 racket in fairly good condition and worth £20 - £30. The two special features however of the "wavy" wedge and "ball-tail" handle take the racket to a different level. These features are unique to Bussey and the "ball-tail" is rare. Value £650 - £800. Rackets from 1880s - 1930s had many different types of handle ends which enhance value in various degrees.

( 5 )

£ 30 - 50

€ 33 - 56

$ 38 - 65

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Lady Maxply
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c. 1980
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Dunlop
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The ubiquitous Dunlop Maxply was made in various guises for some 50 years from the 1930s to 1980 s. One of the first multiple strip framed rackets. These rackets were made during one of the most popular periods of the sport and sold in their millions. This example is in new unused condition and still retaining its protective poly covering to the grip. Having said that and whilst extremely decorative, because of the numbers made, would still only command a value of £30 - £50.

( 6 )

£ 300 - 500

€ 335 - 388

$ 390 - 650

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Max 200 Pro
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c1985
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Dunlop
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A landmark production being one of the first Grafil injection moulded rackets made following the wooden racket era. Used by top players such as John McEnroe and many more with this version used by Steffi Graf at Eastbourne in 1985. Over a million were made and as such worth £30 to £50. If however you are lucky enough to have a match used racket by a famous player it could be worth £300 - £500 and if used to win a major tournament by a famous player the value rises to many thousands of pounds. In this event proof of provenance would be absolutely crucial.

What is the value of your old racket?

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