A US No 5 Rare Variety Going Crazy On Ebay

I think it was the most ornate and beautiful of the classic U.S. stamps.

It seems to be waiting for the snipers now...

i see that the seller did not know what this stamp really was.
i never use ebay very much.
can the seller withdraw the stamp for sale?
maybe get it certified and sell it for much more.
it just seems like a large amount of money we are talking about.
i do understand that he already had a great find and a large profit but this just seems a great difference from some of the other amounts given for this stamp.

By pulling the stamp and getting it certified would only take money out of his pocket. As of now, the cat is out of the bag and everyone is pretty sure it's the #5 and I doubt it would pull any more money in a different ebay auction. If I were him I would have pulled it day 1 to get it into a mainstream auction house like Siegel or similar where I believe it would pull in more.

that stamp has already been expertized by the premier 1c Benjamin Franklin expert in the country. He has already stated it is a #5 and HE is the one APEX and everyone else goes to.

Lonedan, I understand that ebay would allow an auction item to be pulled based upon a mis-described item.

Until the auction is closed, we don't know that it won't be pulled. Presumably, an item that could be pulled five minutes in could be pulled with five minutes left. Anyone who seriously wants that stamp has had plenty of time to see it in person by now, and he or she could make an offer. That being said, I have no reason to doubt the seller's statement that he won't pull the item.

We also don't know that the stamp would have done much better at a traditional auction. At least as recently as last night, the only visual information I've seen floating around is contained within the auction itself, and the two scans leave a bit to be desired. The traditional auction house workup may reveal issues with condition that result in a hit to the hammer price. That, plus the additional fees to an auction house, might end up making this current course of action the best bet.

I suppose the only way we'd know for sure is if the buyer is buying it only to flip it. Then we can do this all over again in a few months.

Incorrect.. The seller hasn't let anyone examine it in person.
And I don't blame him, I would not start telling people where the location was of a such a valuable item.

"Hello, Mr. B____? This is _______________. I'm calling about that Number 5. Say, you know, it would be a shame if G_________ got it for $15,000 or so...you know he's only going to resell it. I'd give it a good home, though. If you don't have $30,000 in bids with 5 minutes to go, know that you can cancel it and I'll give you $40,000. By the way, I should take a quick look at it...mind if I pop over and meet you at your bank? Thanks."

If this conversation had happened, I don't think we would have heard about it (at least not yet).

*No names were changed to protect the innocent, but a couple of blanks were inserted in the interest of discretion; I assume those who are actively following the bidding know who the high bidder is...no need to needlessly excite the G@@glebot.

Just my 2d. Again, I have no reason to believe it isn't going to run its full course.

In a perfect world, Bill Gross would buy the stamp and put it on display in that 12,000 sqft gallery that the Smithsonian's National Postal Museum is naming after him (thanks to his $8 million donation for the honor). They could display it between his July 2, 1847 cover with 10c Washington and the block of four 1918 "inverted Jenny's."

Perhaps I was mistaken on everyone knowing the identity of the high bidder...SV, I'm sending a message through the system.

i just wonder if the buyer will want to pay the extra $0.89 to Expedited Shipping?

Sold for $32,300.00.

No expertization or refund policy stated.

i think this would be nice to talk about on the jay leno show
very interesting

@LONEDAN

The winner new what he was doing, placed only one bid.

Here is the link again:

http://cgi.ebay.com/140499528884