What do I do with this?

[FastEddie]

I've got a one of a kind photo from the 1973 Ryder Cup - and I don't know how to go about auctioning it off.  I don't want to just put it up on eBay or any other sports memorabilia auction site because it won't have time to get any exposure or may not get the right eyes on it.

Does anyone know how the charity auctions work that happen around the Ryder Cup or at other golf event charity auctions?

You can see the photo here: http://www.feedingdream.org/golf/

It's pretty funny, and it's signed by many of the greats.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be helpful.

Thanks!

Eddie

[TourSpoon]

What you could do is to have it reproduced with high quality and sell those prints on EBay.  I think you could sell quite a few like that while you find out what to do with the original.

[FastEddie]

That's not a bad idea at all!  Thanks for the response - I'll look into doing that.

[rustyredcab]

Selling prints: I don't want to get a lawyer-like on you, but unless you took the photo, you do not have the right to reproduce it and sell prints. I am not a lawyer but have fought with them over photography rights.

Charity: YOU HAVE THE PERFECT IDEA TO DONATE THE PHOTO. This would be a great item at many charity events. See if one that you support (either with money or just in spirit) has an event where they think it would work -- fetch a good price. I'm sure you can find lots of advise about who is a worthy charity if you asks here.

Here's how the charity auction woks: You donate the photo and they auction it off either in a silent auction or a live auction at one of their events. You get a thank you, a tax deduction, and a good felling from having helped a good cause raise some money. You can set a minimum bid so that you know your gift is doing enough to make you happy. If it fails to reach the minimum bid number, then take the photo back and find a venue or charity that fits this kind of item. A bit of on-line research might give you, and the charity an idea as to what kind of donation this photo might fetch.

[FastEddie]

Thanks for heads up - I do have the rights to the photo.  And I also realized that most of the signatures run off the photo and onto the matting - so copies wouldn't really hold that same effect.

I agree, the charity idea is the best, and with the Ryder on the horizon, I really wanted to get it associated somehow but don't know who to contact about that stuff.  I'd like to check with previous sponsors and/or organizations that manage these events - but again, contact info is not easy to come by.

I think all the guys in the photo would get a kick out of seeing it again, too, if it were to be attached to an event like that.

Thanks again.