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Author Topic:   Aurora Sales Results
SRB
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posted 10-15-2005 07:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for SRB   Click Here to Email SRB     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Well I thought the folks at Aurora had a real good day. Almost everything sold and, unlike some past years, the sale moved along nicely at about 125 lots an hour. A few lots went through the roof. $14,000 (plus commissions) for an Apollo 13 switch that may or may not have been involved in the accident. (Why did a technican at the Kansas Cosmosphere get to keep it? Did Max know this?) A beautiful Gemini-Agena model for $6,000. A nice, clean Gemini 3 launch cover signed by Grisson and Young for $2,750 (estimated at 500-600). I think the Apollo parts achieved high prices considering the large number sold. Even a few multi-thousand dollar items that didn't sell in the Aurora October 2004 sale were put up again and they all sold today.

I didn't see a lot of bargains. Maybe the patch flown on Apollo 8 for 1,800 might qualify since there are so few flown items from that flight especially if the Earthrise picture with has genuine signatures. Anyone spot any bargains? On to day two.

Steve

Astro Bill
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Posts: 1329
From: New York, NY
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 10-15-2005 08:31 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Astro Bill   Click Here to Email Astro Bill     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
What about Cunningham's 1991 Acura NSX - Lot #356A?

mikelarson
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Posts: 293
From: Port Washington, NY
Registered: Jan 2005

posted 10-15-2005 08:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mikelarson   Click Here to Email mikelarson     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Walt's NSX went for $22K + commission, a bargain in my opinion. I really wanted that car but the timing wasn't right.

Completed prices for all of the Aurora lots can be found on this Ebay Live Auctions link

[This message has been edited by collectSPACE Admin (edited October 15, 2005).]

spaceflori
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Posts: 1499
From: Germany
Registered: May 2000

posted 10-16-2005 01:47 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaceflori   Click Here to Email spaceflori     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Am I right that the Bean painting didn't sell at the start price of $12,500 ??? That was a surprise to me...

Florian

divemaster
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Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-16-2005 02:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for divemaster   Click Here to Email divemaster     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Walt's car did NOT meet the reserve. Neither did the Bean painting.

However, the bear Corporate Angel Network Charity bear sold for $600! Wally Schirra signed it last night for me - and one of the attendees [who shall remain nameless right now] wrote me out a wonderful check.

Now, the good part is that there are two more bears in Sunday's auction. One signed by Wally and another signed by Dave Scott! Dave Scott signed his "Dave Scott Apollo 15 CDR". It is AWESOME! These will probably be the last two lots of the auction tomorrow. Please bid on these bears. They are for a wonderful cause.

Thanks again!
Tracy

gliderpilotuk
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Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-16-2005 04:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for gliderpilotuk   Click Here to Email gliderpilotuk     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Ap8 flown patch was a bargain with the crew Earthrise. I find it hard to compare with the $6k paid for the (unflown!) Gemini-Agena model, but it's horses for courses.
#145 flown GT-3 medal at $750 was also a bargain.
#7 M7 signed program at $175 - although I suspect reserve wasn't met.
#414 at $3750 for an Ap 11 cover was "interesting" - although personally I didn't care for any of the crew signatures.

Paul Bramley

gliderpilotuk
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From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-16-2005 04:20 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for gliderpilotuk   Click Here to Email gliderpilotuk     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
BTW - if you don't want to wait an age for the results to be posted, simply go to Ebay and do an advanced search for "Auroraintl" under completed items.

Paul

spaced out
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Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 10-16-2005 04:58 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaced out   Click Here to Email spaced out     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As Paul mentions the Apollo 8 flown patch was a bargain at $2115 (including fees). It's funny how mixed presentations like this tend to confuse buyers or put them off. Had it been split into two lots - the flown patch and signed Earthrise separately - I could easily imagine the Earthrise selling for $1500+ and the patch still going for $1800+.

The flown GT3 medal too was amazing value.

Lot #7 just seemed to disappear. I was waiting for it to start then it opened at $150 for some reason then closed immediately. Very strange.

To be honest I didn't really see any low-end bargains. The good value deals seemed to me to be for items well out of my limited budget.

Another thought: Am I the only one that gets scared when an item receives no bids from the auction house floor? When I see bids only coming from eBay it definitely makes me think twice before bidding. The people at the live auction are all space collectors and have had a chance to see the item up close and personal - if not one of them want to place a bid in those conditions I tend to wonder...

[This message has been edited by spaced out (edited October 16, 2005).]

divemaster
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Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-16-2005 08:15 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for divemaster   Click Here to Email divemaster     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
You also have to remember that there were only about 20 of us actually on the bidding room floor. While there were buyers from 28 diffent countries on the internet and on the phones. Don't feel funny if you don't see any floor bids. It's truly amazing what comes in over the internet.

There is no mention made on the floor if a lot doesn't hit its reserve. It just doesn't sell. There were quite a few items that missed this year. Remember last springs "second chance auction"? Those were the lots that either had no bids or didn't hit the reserve.

I must admit, if you happen to be in CA [which I am at the moment on totally unrelated business], it's tons of fun being on the floor, cheering on the bidding.

One last "Bear" plug: If you can't bid on one of the signed bears, but want to help out with flying cancer patients to treatment, we'll be more than happy to accept a check in any amount made out to Corporate Angel Network. You can mail it to my attention at:
Corporate Angel Network, Inc.
Westchester County Airport
One Loop Road
White Plains, NY 10604-1215

If you're outbid on a lot, send a 100% tax dedutible check for an amount that makes you feel good. I promise that this will be my last plea for money until next spring - and it will get a cancer patient to treatment - your accountant will be happy that you have a legit deduction, and you've done a good thing that your significant other can't yell at you about.

If you work for a company that has a corporate jet, talk to the powers that be about giving up an empty seat to a patient needing treatment. Drop me an e-mail and I'll get a info packet in the mail to the CEO or cheif pilot.

Cheerz!
Tracy

look for another Wally Schirra signed bear and a Dave Scott signed bear at the end of todays auction. Cute as a button. Everyone loves a bear. Especially one in a leather flight jacket with a fur collar, goggles, leather helmet and a silk scarf [with an astronaut autograph on it]

gliderpilotuk
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Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002

posted 10-16-2005 08:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for gliderpilotuk   Click Here to Email gliderpilotuk     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by divemaster:
You also have to remember that there were only about 20 of us actually on the bidding room floor.

Thanks for that Tracy. I always imagined that there'd be twice that number on the floor. Judging by the bidding there must have been some people with deep pockets in attendance. Did you get a feel for the dealer/collector mix?

Paul

divemaster
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Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-16-2005 09:18 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for divemaster   Click Here to Email divemaster     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I recognized one dealer. The rest were collectors with very specific interests [such as myself].

I also think that there were several bargains. Beta cloth patches, which have been averaging $100 for the last several years, were going for $80. I grabbed an Alan Shepard autograph on a 1st Edition of Moonshot for $40 - a steal. At the same time, I couldn't understand why one particular A9 cover sold for $1100, while the next lot on another cover went for $225. The Apollo 13 switch blew me away at $14,000 [phone bid]. The A8 flown presentation was a steal.

Lot 486 - a movie replica of an A12 wrist cuff checklist, blew me away at $1300. Couldn't understand that one.

But, overall, I think that prices were down a bit - especially on A11 items. But that's just my opinion.

However, the bears need to sell for more money

Cheerz!
Tracy

mensax
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Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 10-16-2005 09:46 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for mensax   Click Here to Email mensax     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
It has been an interesting auction thus far. I really enjoy watching it on ebay live.

Keep in mind, I believe, that all bids that are sent in before the auction begins are listed during the sale as being "floor bids", which would lead you to believe the floor is crowded with people.

The buyer of the Apollo 8 presentation did get a nice item, but I don't believe I'd consider it a steal... it is an odd item, more so than a state flag. A US flag from this mission sold for about the same price at Mastronet recently (speaking of which there are some real steals to be had at this time on flown items in their current sale.)

I came away from this first day of the auction with an impression of a healthy space market. For the most part bidding carried almost all the offerings up to their fair market value. There were about a dozen sales where it was obvious that there were a couple of buyers who were going after an item no matter what the final figure came to.

It does amaze me the wide fluctuations in prices, on an identical item, from sale to sale. Some items were bought for half of what I've seen in the past... some were double. Go figure.

Apollo 11 hammer prices to me were just jaw dropping. If Neil touched it... the average guy couldn't. The Apollo 11 US flag that didn't meet the reserve in a previous sale brought a healthy premium this time around. I guess Apollo 11 is the pinnacle of this hobby, so it's great to see such demand.

Dave Scott's flown items received bids that I've long felt they deserved. I've thought that his items in the past were all bargains... I suppose the abundance of them at previous auctions created the illusion of abundance, which kept prices low. There certainly wasn't an overwhelming selection of flown items in this sale. I wonder if the days of abundance has come to an end?

Yes, the GT-3 medallion certainly should have brought more. A choice piece.

I thought the Apollo food packs were cheap too, selling for a half to a third the previous sale prices. I suppose everyone bought their share in the "grand buffet" of the last sale, and thus overlooked these morsels this time around. Pardon the puns.

Hardware was the main attraction in this sale and did well.

A couple of flown items did seem to slip past the radar screen and were bought for what I thought were good prices... The flown microfilm carried on three significant lunar missions for less than 2K, and the Apollo 15 flown water container from Dave Scott's collection for around 1K.

And, how about the Apollo 15 insurance covers selling for $225? I don't keep up with insurance covers... but isn't that a bargain? There have been quite a few of these selling this year, so I suppose the market is flooded?

I hope everyone got what they were after. I walked away with a few nice items... but for the most part was once again the second highest bidder on most of my picks.

Noah

4allmankind
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Posts: 1043
From: Dallas
Registered: Jan 2004

posted 10-16-2005 10:10 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for 4allmankind   Click Here to Email 4allmankind     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Am I missing something regarding lot 688: Flown Skylab 2 Flag.

For $325 it seems like a heck of a deal!

spaced out
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Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 10-16-2005 10:33 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaced out   Click Here to Email spaced out     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Tracy, Thanks for sharing the view from the auction house itself. I must admit I pictured a much bigger crowd. It certainly makes me re-assess my wariness of internet-bid only items.

If Victoria is reading it also makes me wonder if it wouldn't be possible to move the start time forward to 9am PDT. It would mean a slightly early start for those 20 people attending in person, but for the mass of internet bidders in Europe it would make it much easier to participate, especially in the later stages of the auction.

mensclub10@aol.com
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posted 10-16-2005 10:50 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for mensclub10@aol.com   Click Here to Email mensclub10@aol.com     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
For those who know, were there any STS crew signed lithos for sale?
Dave

spaceflori
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From: Germany
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posted 10-16-2005 03:39 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaceflori   Click Here to Email spaceflori     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Hi Dave,

almost none, one of the major supplier in the past (guess you know him) doesn't consign anymore.
Shuttle autographs were a bit weak, though the STS-1+2 crewsigned and inscribed photoset was nice !
The STS-107 set didn't sell today it seems, way too expensive - even the signed launch cover dropped to "only" $1400 which seems to be more realistic than the $3000-$5000 asked before. There are tons of them out - as opposed to complete Challenger crews.

Florian

divemaster
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Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-16-2005 11:36 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for divemaster   Click Here to Email divemaster     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
For the record, we raised $1010.00 with the bears. Thank you to those who donated to a great cause.

Jake
Member

Posts: 464
From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 10-17-2005 11:38 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jake   Click Here to Email Jake     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I won the Gemini model...!

OK, I won lot #136 not the $6000 model of lot #135.

:-)

------------------
Jake Schultz - curator,
Newport Way Air Museum (OK, it's just my home)

nasamad
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Posts: 2121
From: Essex, UK
Registered: Jul 2001

posted 10-17-2005 01:51 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for nasamad   Click Here to Email nasamad     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote

I was lucky enough to win the only lot I bid on, lot 293. The 2 Apollo Chronology books.

Adam

mensax
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Posts: 861
From: Virginia
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 10-17-2005 04:21 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for mensax   Click Here to Email mensax     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Jake, that was a good buy on a unique Gemini model... Another hidden gem in the auction. I suppose everyone was in shock after the sale of the previous item and this one just slipped by.

Noah

spaceman1953
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Posts: 953
From: South Bend, IN
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 10-17-2005 05:49 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaceman1953   Click Here to Email spaceman1953     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As observed earlier, there is not much more fun than watching these live Aurora auctions online, since "most" of us can't be there live.

For those who try that in the future, just make sure you have "better" than a dial-up connection, but dial-up CAN work OK. That is from my experience.

Keeping your hand OFF the mouse, since my right hand has an itchy trigger button after all these years, can help too.

But I HAVE won with on-line bids. It works, and IS fun !

Gene Bella

divemaster
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Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
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posted 10-17-2005 10:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for divemaster   Click Here to Email divemaster     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
back on the east coast.

I won the cobra head cable!

[This message has been edited by divemaster (edited October 17, 2005).]

Spacepsycho
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Posts: 818
From: Huntington Beach, Calif.
Registered: Aug 2004

posted 10-18-2005 12:21 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Spacepsycho   Click Here to Email Spacepsycho     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Tracy,

I wanted that Cobra head so bad but I wasn't near a computer for the Saturday session. I'm glad it went to someone like you.

I was astounded at the cheap price for the AMU training unit, GT-3 flown medal & the Coke adapter. I was equally amazed at the high prices for all of the flown STS flags, replica AP12 cuff checklist, every Armstrong autograph, AP13 (flown?) circuit breaker and it seems that the hardware, flown or not, is really hot.

divemaster
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Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-18-2005 09:12 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for divemaster   Click Here to Email divemaster     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
As far as I'm concerned, the cobra head was the coolest piece in the auction. Now, if I can talk Kim into having Lovell inscribe it "Are we on VOX?" I'll be a very happy camper. I spent a good part of Tuesday afternoon trying to figure out which cable fit into the base of the cobar head, but none of them did. That would've made one helluva shadow box.

The ASTP flown cover from the Kubosov collection sold for $5500.00. Nice piece. Valery offered it to me directly for $2100 in NJ and I bet that I could have talked him down to about $1800. Guess who's kicking himself in the butt?

Anyone here buy the big Apollo 12 surface flown flag for $3500? I came THIS close to buying it. However, it was a choice of that or painting my house - and I could hear my wife's voice in the back of my head.

My catalog is still in my luggage, so I can't quite remember [with this jet lag]what other pieces I walked out with. Got a few nice ones.

Sat next to Steve Hankow both days. As always, a pleasure to chat with.

The bears will rise again next April. Keep your eyes peeled for some very special offers for charity!!!!! [with many, many, many thanks to Victoria and crew]

Cheerz!
Tracy

spaced out
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Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 10-18-2005 09:24 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaced out   Click Here to Email spaced out     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by divemaster:
Anyone here buy the big Apollo 12 surface flown flag for $3500? I came THIS close to buying it...

As has been mentioned elsewhere I don't see any reason to believe that flag to be surface flown, unless the Bean LOA accompaying it explicitly states so. It's still a nice piece and the price was good for a flag of that size.

divemaster
Member

Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-18-2005 09:42 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for divemaster   Click Here to Email divemaster     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
If I'm not mistaken, there was a "flown to the ocean of storms" inscription.

Jake
Member

Posts: 464
From: Issaquah, WA U.S.A.
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 10-18-2005 10:05 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Jake   Click Here to Email Jake     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks Noah... after the high-dollar Gemini model of #135 I was worried about that next item... but it turned out well. You never know but, I feel pretty fortunate this go-around...

Thanks Victoria, Michael, Maureen, Mike, and all the staff there for a great job.....

------------------
Jake Schultz - curator,
Newport Way Air Museum (OK, it's just my home)

skippy in space
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Posts: 251
From: Aberdeen Scotland
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 10-18-2005 11:27 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for skippy in space   Click Here to Email skippy in space     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I picked up 3 items all in the Russian section all via internet bidding.

Which when your PC breaks on the Friday and you have to configuire the wifes laptop and put out begging phone calls of can I use your PC from 6pm until 1am on Saturady and Sunday. You panic!

Anyway I got online and wasn't quick enough for some items.

BTW what did the book signed for all 7 mercury astronauts go for as it only flashed on my screen for about 2 seconds and it looked to be $170 which lead me to believe that it was autopen announced at the auction.

NC Apollo Fan
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Posts: 261
From: Belmont, NC USA
Registered: Jul 2000

posted 10-18-2005 01:28 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for NC Apollo Fan   Click Here to Email NC Apollo Fan     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Regarding the Apollo 12 'lunar surface flown' US flag I'd be skeptical, based on the lot information, that it actually made it to the surface. It carries the following inscription by Alan Bean:

'Flown to the Moon Apollo XII Nov 1969 Alan L. Bean'

This is the same inscription that he used to certify an item that I have that went to lunar orbit on Apollo 12. If the flag went all the way to the lunar surface I would imagine that he would have made that all-important distinction when certifying it.

Also, the small little label in the corner simply uses the generic '...sailed with the Yankee Clipper and Intrepid to the Ocean of Storms...' This same type of inscription has been seen on many lunar orbit flown items, even through Aurora if I am not mistaken, and in my mind makes no promises beyond lunar orbit. Even if one does believe that the label certifies it as surface flown there is still a glaring question: who placed the label there and when?

Please do not get me wrong - I think that the flag is fantastic and that the winning bidder got a very good deal. My problem was that it was listed as surface flown without - in my mind - any good evidence that it was actually in Intrepid when it landed. Unless there is a letter from Alan Bean stating otherwise, I'd say that it stayed inside Yankee Clipper and did an astounding number of lunar orbits.

What does everyone else think?

Jonathan

divemaster
Member

Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-18-2005 04:07 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for divemaster   Click Here to Email divemaster     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by skippy in space:
I picked up 3 items all in the Russian section all via internet bidding.

Which when your PC breaks on the Friday and you have to configuire the wifes laptop and put out begging phone calls of can I use your PC from 6pm until 1am on Saturady and Sunday. You panic!

Anyway I got online and wasn't quick enough for some items.

BTW what did the book signed for all 7 mercury astronauts go for as it only flashed on my screen for about 2 seconds and it looked to be $170 which lead me to believe that it was autopen announced at the auction.



If you're referring to Lot #7, it did NOT sell for $170. The signatures were real.

spaced out
Member

Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 10-18-2005 04:25 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for spaced out   Click Here to Email spaced out     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by divemaster:
If you're referring to Lot #7, it did NOT sell for $170. The signatures were real.

So... what did happen to that lot? It had an estimate of $1500-2500 but from the live internet side it seemed to open at $150 for no apparent reason, then close a second later at $175. No-one had a chance to bid.

divemaster
Member

Posts: 1376
From: ridgefield, ct
Registered: May 2002

posted 10-18-2005 04:30 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for divemaster   Click Here to Email divemaster     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
quote:
Originally posted by spaced out:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by divemaster:
[b] If you're referring to Lot #7, it did NOT sell for $170. The signatures were real.

So... what did happen to that lot? It had an estimate of $1500-2500 but from the live internet side it seemed to open at $150 for no apparent reason, then close a second later at $175. No-one had a chance to bid.



I don't know why it didn't post online. I won the lot [and for a LOT more than $175]

[This message has been edited by divemaster (edited October 18, 2005).]

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