The Searing Family Blog

While we are doing books, there is an interesting eBay listing for you Searing rare book collectors.  Found at: http://bit.ly/eixHrv    for $169.99 on a Buy It Now listing:            ” The Land of RIP VAN WINKLE, A Tour Through the Romantic Parts of the Catskills, Its Legends and Traditions by A.E.P. Searing with illustrations by Joseph Lauber, Charles Volkmar and others, engraved by E. Heinemann was published 1891 in New York measuring 9″ x 6 1/8″ with 147 pages, many illustrations including full page and foldout panorama “From the Overlook” measuring approx. 17″ x 5″ laid in.This rare book was professionally rebound and restored with new endpapers. The original title label is attached to the front cover. “ 

After a long absence in the auctions, Helen Searing appears again on eBay, with a But It Now of her book, Springboard in the Pond, co-authored with Thomas A.P. Van Leeuwen.  The listing is for $33.95, and five copies are available.  Unfortunately the long publishers note attached to the listing doesn’t say much about Helen Searing.  I did find a nice listing of her other works at: http://eng.archinform.net/arch/15450.htm  Anyone with more information on Ms Searing should leave a comment or contact me.

Several Searing items have surfaced recently.  A 1994 Dennis Searing pool cue was offered and bid up to $2855.00, but failed to meet the reserve!   And on September 22 The Land of Rip Van Winkle, A Tour Through the Romantic Parts of the Catskills, 1884, by AEP Searing was offered and at the last minute was bid up and sold at $16.01.  Still a good buy for someone.

Update: July 24, 2008  A new 2006 edition of a Laura Redden Searing book is up on eBay  UK for Buy It Now, $18.04 plus shipping:  Idyls of Battle and Poems of the Rebellion, by Howard Glyndon [Pseud.]   See our entry on the author for details about this interesting book.  The tintype photo of a girl mentioned in an earlier entry was up again, but withdrawn early as no longer available.  It was done at Searing Studios in Brooklyn.  I am seeking information on this business if anyone knows about it.  Another tintype by the same studio (different address) was purchased by me as a Searing artifact.

Original entry: Searing items have been a bit scarce on eBay lately, but there are some renewed appearances. First, a nice Searing plane: “A nice early wood plane by J. Searing of Newark NJ. Looks to be in good condition with minor wear, one arm wedge looks good, the other appears to be shorter but still functional. Has a nice early James – Cam iron. Takes a wide 1-3/4 inch cut leaving about a 5/16 inch tongue. Plane bed is smooth and rear tote looks good.” went for a great price – $19.50 – on June 29, after only 3 bids. Come on, Searings, where were you!! Second, in currently active items, a 1994 Dennis Searing (see below) custom made cue is up for a mere $4995.00 plus shipping (Did not sell, as of 7/13/08); a pair of Searing made shafts, up for $300.00 (did not sell); and finally, another Searing plane, currently up to $18.00 (SOLD for $51.00 7/13/08 to a Searing). I continue to watch for these items and will post them as I see them. Dan

We’ll try running a few items to see how a simple listing works:

4-10-2008 A handcrafted Hammered Dulcimer, with case, by Burge Searing  sold for $280.00 with 12 bids.  Mr. Burge Searing is featured in ‘Notable Searings’.

3-31-2008 A tin photograph of a young girl in a hat and necklace by Searing’s Gallery, at 206 Fulton St., Brooklyn did not sell.

3-24-2008 The book Art Spaces by Helen Searing did not sell.

3-20-2008 Another Searing Memorial Methodist Church plate(see a description below) sold for $9.99

3-12-2008 An 1873 volume Sounds from Secret Chambers by Laura Redden Searing sold for $49.95.

2-27-2008 A Searing Memorial Methodist Church plate sold for $8.07 From the eBay description prepared by the seller: “THE SEARING MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH IS THE OLDEST METHODIST CHURCH ON LONG ISLAND . ORGANIZED AS THE SEARINGTOWN SOCIETY IN 1785 , THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS ERECTED IN 1788 AS THE SEARINGTOWN METHODIST CHURCH . THE OLD BUILDING WAS GREATLY ENLARGED IN 1952 AND RENAMED IN MEMORY OF ITS FOUNDERS . DECORATED BY DELANO STUDIOS SETAUKET , L.I. N.Y. HAND COLORED – SEARING MEMORIAL METHODIST CHURCH ALBERTSON , LONG ISLAND , N.Y. “

Finally there is something on eBay other than a searing grill. Below is information on a Dennis Searing built pool cue. Over the years I have watched these come and go, sometimes with no bids, sometimes selling for thousands of dollars. Dennis is obviously a well respected, indeed famous pool cue maker, whose creations appear to be treasures to sellers and buyers. As with other Searings mentioned in this blog, I am seeking out more information…but this will have to do for now. From the eBay listing in mid-February, 2008:

“Huebler Cues is out of business. There will never be another Huebler cue built, especially not one built by Paul himself for a World Champion. It gets better…in the mid 90’s this cue was sent to the legendary Dennis Searing. Dennis refinished the butt of the cue and rewrapped it with a nice piece of boars hide and built a new shaft. So this one a kind Paul Huebler has a Dennis Searing shaft and wrap. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

2-27-2008  With a ‘buy it now’ price of $2000, this item had no takers..maybe next time.

Items related to Searings occasionally come up on eBay. I will list them here with as much appropriate information as I have. For starters, here are two recent paintings by artists Searings that sold in December, 2007

An expressionist cityscape done in mixed media on masonite by Sonia Searing recently sold on eBay for around $50.00. Signed LR “Sonia Searing”; on verso, “Past Splendor” is written along with the artist’s name and Bradenton Florida address. Estimate age to be post 1950s. Davenport’s lists a 20th century artist by the name “Searing” who is noted for cityscapes. (Description courtesy of seller’s description on eBay.)

A vintage oil painting on board of a street market scene done in an impressionist style, ca 1960′-70’s, with a signature that looks like ‘Searing,” in original frame also recently sold on eBay for approximately $12.00. (Description courtesy of seller’s description on eBay.) Nothing more is known about this artist.