Why Hammonds House Galleries Can't Appraise Your Gift

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Providing appraisals is not a service offered by this museum.
Hammonds House Galleries is a non-profit 501, C (3) museum and is unable to provide appraisals of the monetary value of art or other materials offered as gifts or submitted for any other purpose.

Here's why
The Internal Revenue Service regards museums and libraries as interested parties, therefore, appraisals prepared by us for gifts that we are to receive are subject to question. Such appraisals are likely to be challenged by the IRS.

To document a gift's value you must hire an appraiser
Donors desiring appraisals must acquire and pay a professional appraiser. The cost of an appraisal is also tax deductible if the art/item is being given to a qualifying charitable institution. Appraisers earn their fee because they must be prepared to defend their appraisal in court. This requires an expert knowledge of prices, which comes from observing the market closely and continually. Curators, who are not in the business of daily buying and selling, are not necessarily conversant with prices on the current market. Accurate establishment of prices can be a complex procedure, requiring a time-consuming search in auction records and price guides not readily available in public libraries. Appraisers must form extensive personal libraries and contacts in the field to keep them abreast of their special market.

Where to find appraisers
Appraisers can be located by checking the telephone directory under heading such as "Appraisers," "Books--Rare and Used," and "Antiques - Dealers." The Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, will supply a list of members as will the Appraisers Association of America, Inc. Both are located in New York City. You can also check with you local Gallery or Art Dealers Association for a referral.

Know the law
For further information about IRS regulations one may obtain publication 561, "Valuation of Donated Property" and publication 526, "Income Tax Deduction for Contributions," free from the local IRS office.

Hammonds House Galleries welcomes gifts of art and art related resource materials that will help us to achieve our mission of collecting, preserving and educating about the contributions to American and world culture by artists of African descent.