This item can be found in the America's and in Europe. It may be found in various sizes and condition. You may have one in your attic and/or have a family member who has passed one down through the generations. This piece of art was created by hand (in most cases) by schoolgirls and can date back as far as the 15th century.

 

This item (if vibrant - full of life and color) and in good condition, can command thousands of dollars at auction. In fact, one such item achieved a hammer price of $1,300,000.00 in 1996 and an entire collection was sold for $1,700,000.00 (that very same year) by Sotheby's in New York.

 

Samplers are one of the most highly prized pieces of art on the market today. While many dismissed Sampler's as "child's art" (not more than a few decades ago), serious Sampler collectors (around the world) are quietly and deftly acquiring these pieces of art and amassing private collections for the future.

In order to answer the question "how can a piece of fabric and/or linen stitched with letters and numbers and/or graphic design" - command over one and a half million dollars at auction - we have to look at the history of the Sampler, how it came to be, its origins and command for attention.

 

Samplers were a way in which young schoolgirls could be somewhat assured of marrying into a "family of means". In the 18th and 19th centuries, a young girl could literally stitch her way into a wealthy family by showing her creative talents through the proud display of a Sampler.

 

In fact, schools could lure many female students by weighing the curriculum toward honing ones needlework skills. No doubt, the schools were selling prospective students and parents on the fact that they indeed offered the teachers and experience required to ensure that young ladies would be taught the fine art of needlepoint .

 

Who better to teach needlepoint than a schoolmistress, who was not only highly experienced in the art of needlepoint but, one who was known for their past work at prior learning institutions. Schoolmistresses who were known for their craft - had a following and taught their protégés well.

 

While many may think of a Sampler in terms of numbers and letters, this assumption would be the farthest from the truth...

Yes, Samplers were a way in which to teach students their A, B, C's and numbers however, what started as a simple marking Sampler (letters and numbers) evolved over the centuries into creating works of art. As young ladies honed their talents, their creations became more advanced with vivid colors and subjects. Alphabets and numbers were replaced with intricate designs and more than a few of those rare pieces have found their way into museums.

The collecting of Samplers has been overlooked (by the mainstream) for many years due to the simple notion that a novice (a child) had created the piece and as such, where does value come into play.

If you own a Sampler, which has been passed down through the generations, the Sampler is no doubt "priceless" to you (the value in this case is the handing down of a family heirloom). 

TIP: Value can be found in Samplers for those who seek to start a collection and/or who become a dealer/reseller to a niche market...

 

Yes, the buying and selling of Samplers is not in the "mainstream" of collectibles, as they have been overlooked for decades due to finding "value". The "value" is based upon supply and demand of a "one of kind" item. Finding the right Samplers is paramount to the success of Sampler collectors. There is no mystery as to why a Sampler can command $1,700,000.00 at auction, as it's a "one of kind" piece of art.

 

The Sampler, in all its splendor, can tell the entire history of one family through the generations. It is (stitched) signed by the artist and in most cases, dated. If you find a Sampler with a completed name and date stitched on the piece, you have the ability to go back in time and research the family name, the school which the creator had attended, the year she was born and the year she passed on.

 

Samplers are the epitome of a public record of birth, marriages and death. They can cite both name and verse of the those who have passed through the generations...

When seeking a Sampler, some collector's opt toward focusing on the date the Sampler was created while others (rightly so), hone in on the design. In the case of Samplers, age may not be as important as design.  The more vibrant the colors, the more intricate the design, the better the condition - the higher the price!

 

Samplers were (for the most part) stitched on linen however many English Samplers were stitched on bolting cloth (better known as woolen).  Samplers displaying numbers and letters are readily available on the market today however, graphic pieces (which are colorful and vibrant) may be rare and can command prices well into the six-figures.

 

Collecting Samplers is like collecting a piece of art. When you happen upon a Sampler that appeals to you - buy it for its design and beauty. Procuring a vast collection of marking Samplers (letters and numbers) may not be a good idea, as if you can afford many less expensive marking Samplers, the one which is vibrant and full life (and which costs as much an entire collection of lesser valued marking Samplers) will pass you by. Samplers consistently go up in value and are market driven as they are "one of a kind".

 

 

Spot Samplers were created by the English in the 17th century. They are created using metallic threads and boast geometric designs.

 

The name says it all! An English House Sampler is just that - a Sampler with an English House stitched in detail, which can display line and verse and/or be accompanied by animals, trees and shrubs accenting the yard.

 

These Samplers came into vogue during the end of the 18th century when it became popular to know world geography. They can be stitched in a globe format or square world map.

Interestingly enough, many of these fine Samplers displayed only England and Wales (which seemed larger than life) considering England and Wales are the only country stitched in a globe format.

You may have noticed that we have touched upon only a few Samplers originating out of England. European Samplers are highly desirable however, we must not forget that America has many desirable Samplers as well.

 

Samplers, which were created in the Northeast (New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island and Delaware) are highly prized and can be extremely valuable.

 

 

The most popular Sampler hails from New York! New York Biblical Samplers are rare and came to be in mid 1700's. They boasted intricate figures and designs and told the story of Adam and Eve, Jacob and Moses.  If  you happen upon a Biblical sampler with many scenes, you may have found a true collectible which is both rare and valuable!

New Jersey Samplers of the House included animals and plants along with letters and numbers.  These Samplers can command tens of thousands of dollars. Next time you attend an auction, you may find a few of these Samplers being offered, as they can be readily found however, even in vast numbers they are still highly sought after and collectible!

 

In the 18th and 19th centuries, Philadelphia girls were extremely busy creating Samplers, which in today's market command tens of thousands of dollars.  Philadelphia (during this period) had a vast supply of teachers and schools thus, what seemed like an endless supply of Samplers (with an English style and flair) came to be.

These Samplers were created using birds, flowers, insects and large animals. The weeping willow tree was a favorite subject along with the familiar strawberry border. The names of the creators were usually stitched at the top (middle) of the piece.

 

Is it possible to find a rare Sampler on eBay? No doubt, you'll have to do your research and complete due-diligence on any sampler, which you may think is important and/or is being sold as a rare piece with provenance.

TIP: In some cases, the person selling the Sampler has no idea what they may have...

 

If the Sampler you choose has stains and/or is faded then it will be valued accordingly. In addition, if you're contemplating purchasing a Sampler, which has been framed (under glass), the glass should be of the protective kind which prevents fading.

 

Should you purchase a framed Sampler? If it's an extremely rare Sampler then the answer may be Yes! However, make sure the Sampler has NOT been glued to a backing of any kind. Samplers were nailed or tacked to wood (not glued).

 

If you're considering an expensive (framed) Sampler, ask the seller to remove the frame in order to examine the back of the Sampler. Look for holes and any other sign of stitch repair work which could greatly reduce the value of your investment.

 

 

Is it possible to fake a Sampler? In 2005 Early American Life reported that many of the Samplers entered into a 2005 Competition were historic reproductions in which their accuracy to detail - was deemed to deceive their audience.

 

The date and name of the original maker was added to the Sampler (which in turn), were deemed fraudulent works and fakes (especially by the curators who asked to judge the works).

 

 

 

Summary...
Are Samplers underrated? As you many of know, when you create a guide and post your guide, you will find items appearing on the right hand side of your guide available in that specific category on eBay.

 

Pay close attention to the limited items appearing on the right hand side of this guide, as you will not find this guide pulling up many items for sale. However, what's most interesting is that two of the available items appearing are books available through the Smithsonian on the subject of Samplers.

These books are highly recommended for researching the history of Samplers and should not be overlooked as worthwhile reading material on the subject.