When Horst Lichter enters the expert room at “Bares for Rares”, expert Sven Deutschmanek is bending over a roll of film. They brought along Samantha and Klaus Beth, daughter and father from Cochem.

“What’s on it? Old family pictures?” Asks the moderator. But far from it: It’s about Mickey Mouse and Donald at Christmas – a film made after 1934 that was shown in French-speaking countries.

The sellers would like to have 2000 euros for it. A proud sum – in which Deuschmanek does not want to go. He only estimates the value at 600 euros – with room for improvement. The expert doesn’t want to commit himself completely: “It can very well go into the four-digit range,” says Deutschmanek.

Lights persuades father and daughter to try their luck in the dealer’s room anyway. “If you can’t say anything about it, I’d say: You go to the dealer’s room and see what they say.”

The Beths agree to that. Despite this discouraging expertise, the two head to the dealer room. Father Beth makes a course correction and now puts the pain threshold at 1500 euros, which is still well above the estimated value.

In fact, Deutschmanek wasn’t entirely wrong with his cautious estimate: Jan Čížek got out before it started: “I’ve never traded it and have no idea about it, so I’d rather not do it,” says the dealer. But the auction started promisingly: Wolfgang Pauritsch immediately offered 500 euros. Susanne Steiger and Thorsden Schlößner are also bidding. The bids quickly become four digits, it even goes up to 1800 euros. In the end, Schlößner was awarded the contract for this sum.

The sellers have almost reached their desired price – and tripled the estimated value. With the money, the Beths want to go on a nice family vacation. And Thorstden Schlößner will watch Mickey Mouse first.

Source: “Bares for Rares” in the ZDF media library

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