Today we’d like to introduce you to Carlos Ramos.
Hi Carlos, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m
Originally from Palestine, Texas I now reside in Midland, Texas
I sold a first edition of T.S. Eliot’s first book — Prufrock and Other Observations, published by The Egoist Press in London in 1917 — in San Antonio with a friend of mine for $60k.
That 500-copy first edition is why it’s one of the most valuable modern firsts today. Even in rough condition, copies sell at Christie’s and Bonhams in the $4k to $20k range.
I sold it to a local who was part of this underground nerd book club — but these weren’t your ordinary nerds. Nowhere near the hipsters you see at Starbucks. This guy, who I can’t name for personal reasons, knew exactly what he was doing to this day it blows my mind to know how much money someone will
Drop for a piece of literature.
He carefully looked over the dust jacket and binding, then went through the key points to verify it was a true first edition. Immediately wired the money we shook
Hands and went on with our day.
For context, The Egoist magazine itself ran from 1914 to 1919, and by the end its circulation had fallen from 2,000 copies per issue down to just 400.
This led me down a never ending addiction for random collections from
Art, sculptures, music, instruments, And More Books smh.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Smooth sailing !!! All I can say is it’s been pretty eventful
lol.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I run Dateless Possessions. I specialize in finding things that have no expiration date
– sculptures, rare books, fossils, jewelry, art, objects that hold history.
What I’m known for is having an eye. I’m not a bulk flipper. People bring me a room full of stuff and I find the one thing that matters.
Moving to Midland, Texas for my daughter.
I had invites to show in London and New York – real opportunities that a lot of artists would kill for – and I turned them down. My daughter is the reason I make sacrifices and try to be the best version of myself. Being there for every milestone is more important than taking the world by storm. I’m proud I chose that.
I’m also proud I made Dateless work in a hard market. Midland isn’t easy for antiquities, but I adapted.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Discipline over hype.
Everyone in my world wants to be the guy who finds the $60k book. They love the story of the hunt. But the hunt is 5% of it.
What made Dateless Possessions work – and what makes me good in a warehouse, on a site, anywhere – is that I actually do the boring part right.
When you have a kia, you can’t be a “when I feel inspired” person.
You have to be consistent. Every milestone, every bill, every early morning
– you have to be there.
A lot of people in art and picking have a great eye but no follow-through. A lot of people in facility work have follow-through but no eye. My most important characteristic is that I have both – I see value where other people don’t, and I have the discipline to protect it, document it, and deliver it.
Contact Info:
- Website: we.directory/voyagesanantonio
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/datelesspossessions?stkn=c3Q2dDlpaWhrcDJ2&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/19L2SH7h2m/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Other: https://voyagesanantonio.com/interview/hidden-gems-meet-carlos-ramos-of-dateless-possessions/?fbclid=IwAR28hrO4bXrowHmWdTkwMKt829cVqcJbqBQ11DgHqO0epN9fAfWToRgJ9uU_aem_AVjw9GfEv7GUdToL73aqBi6dGO-GErP_Qx6ERdvDQfRhDwbiW2jpwNedpKUSAxNgmdI
