About Blackwell Auctions
Edwin Bailey
Owner
Edwin started in the auction business in January of 1997, when he started using a little-known service called AuctionWeb to buy and sell antiques, jewelry, art and collectibles online. (The company later changed its name to eBay.) Soon he started selling online full-time, his own items as well as pieces consigned to him. In 2015 Edwin founded Blackwell Auctions with John McNeal, a long-time friend and mentor in the business, who passed away in February 2021 (read about him here). Edwin has visited thousands of homes in the Tampa Bay Area and beyond as a trusted buyer and appraiser.
Thad Deye
Operations Manager
Thad owned and operated PKGs, a packing/shipping store, for nearly 20 years, becoming the shipper of choice for several local auction galleries and retail shops for mailing high-value items safely. He also has rich experience in researching antiques, jewelry, collectibles and firearms. Thad writes the bulk of the auction catalog, maintains Blackwell’s ATF compliance for firearms sales, evaluates walk-in consignments, answers emailed auction inquiries, and much more.
Nancy Velasco
Business Manager
Nancy manages the gallery staff and ensures that all aspects of the auction experience run smoothly. Nancy is our friendly voice on the phone and greets our gallery visitors, providing excellent service to both bidders and consignors. She assists bidders with absentee and phone bids, invoices and payments, and maintains consignor inventory and statements.
Trey Bailey
Director of Digital Media
Trey (Edwin III) photographs and produces images of each item in the Blackwell catalog, as well as content for all digital/print ads, videos for Facebook and YouTube, and media for in-house events.
Shannon Bailey
Chief Finance Officer
Shannon manages all financial aspects of the business, including fun tasks like taxes! She also serves as head cheerleader for Team Blackwell. When not at the gallery, Shannon loves serving in her community, reading, traveling and walking many miles with the family dog.
Jessica Cleveland
Logistics Specialist
Jessica (Jess) works hard to ensure that in house shipping is completed quickly and efficiently post auction. She manages multiple Blackwell online sales accounts and assists with clients and phone calls in the front office. She coordinates day-of-auction staff.
Michael Stewart
Production Specialist
Stew does a little bit of everything! He is chief of gallery configuration, setup and equipment. He also assists with photography and online sales, and clerks a bidding venue on auction day. He also manages the livestream for each auction and fixes technical issues as they arise.He likes computers and is our resident troubleshooter. He’s also the only one who can figure out the printers.
About the name
Blackwell Bailey moved from West Virginia to Indiana after the Civil War.
His grandson was Edwin Blackwell Bailey, a physician.
And the physician’s grandson is Edwin Blackwell Bailey II, who thought “Blackwell Auctions” had a nice ring to it.
Directions
Directions From I-275: Take the 118th Ave/Bryan Dairy exit and then turn south at US 19, staying on the frontage road to 110th Ave. From either direction, northbound or southbound, exit off US Hwy 19 to 110th Ave and turn east (northbound, the sign will say Bryan Dairy). We are located in the shopping center on the northeast corner of US 19 and 110th Ave.
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