Please reach out by email at michaelpapa121@gmail.com, you may also call or text 518-774-6234

What to send us

If you are asking about a banner you own, photographs make everything faster. Please include:

• The full banner, laid flat or hung, with all wording readable
• Any signature, usually in a lower corner
• Close-ups of holes, tears, water staining, or previous repairs
• The overall size, and whether the grommets are intact

Do not clean, iron, or repair a banner before you send photos. Well-meant repairs are one of the fastest ways to lose value, and we would rather see it as found.

How quickly we respond

Most appraisal requests get an answer within two business days. If you are working to an auction deadline or settling an estate, say so and we will move faster.

Where we buy

The Sideshow Banner Exchange is based in upstate New York and buys sideshow and circus banners anywhere in the United States, from single pieces to entire collections. We also take consignments, and we handle restoration in-house.

Common questions

Is the appraisal really free?

Yes. There is no fee, no obligation to sell, and no requirement that you list the banner with us.

Do you buy banners outright, or only on consignment?

Both. If you would rather have a check than manage a sale, we buy outright. Where an auction or a targeted private sale would do better for you, we will tell you that instead.

What if my banner turns out not to be valuable?

We will tell you plainly, and explain why. That happens often, and saying so is the whole basis of a reputation in a field this small.