Missed Out And Sick About It!

Here's a sad little story. Today I was in my local auction house, at a general sale, and there was a stamp collection amongst the lots. I managed to get a look at what was on offer, the GB was mostly Elizabeth, stamps and covers, and a small all-world collection that looked OK, not picked over at all. Not bad but not too exciting.
But the early GB held some interesting items - there was a penny black and a few penny reds, but also a 2d blue imperf with no corner letters, just blank squares. As I looked at it I thought "hello, hello, what have we here?" and determined to have a go for the collection, not knowing if the 2d blue was real or rare. I just knew I hadn't seen the like of it before.
So the auction got round to the stamps, the lot started at £150 and went up to £260 (plus 20% auction fees), and I knew it was too rich for me. The most I have ever spent on a collection at auction is £120. So, not even a bid.
I got home and did a little research - nothing in my catalogues, but on the 'net I discovered that in 1841 a colour trial for the 2d blue was made, spec DP43, and it turns out these sell between £600 and £900. So if that is what was in the collection, I could have trebled my money in an afternoon if I wasn't so tight-fisted! I just hope it was a fake, but I will never know now, will I?

oh that is awful... sorry about that but you have to admit with out a resource on hand you played it smart and saved your self in case it is in fact fake!

I hate that feeling.

David, sorry that you didn't get the collection but the price was a little rich for you (and for me). Something else will come along shortly to tickle your fancy and this incident will be quickly forgotten.

Bearwithfish of course you are right - and that's what I keep telling myself. But it does feel like "the one that got away"!

Thanks for your empathy fellas.

as a person who fishes I fully understand the feeling.... its kinda like the weather now... sure we can dislike it and even complain but not much we can do to change it... learn from it and have a handy book with you next time.... not meaning to sound cold its just how I try to look at things.. (it helps or at least thats what I tell me self) :)

I would have needed a phone with internet access to find out about that one today - as I said, nothing in my catalogues about it! Maybe I should invest in a "Blackberry" or some suchlike! Then again, I would rather spend the money on stamps.......

Truer words were never spoken.

Oh, ouch, that's got to hurt.....

From the SG GB Specialised Volume 1 (10th Edition 1992):

"15 January 1841. Small Trial Twopence Plate. The small plate of twelve impressions was made because the first 2d plate of the new type "with white lines" was not ready and specimens were required for distribution with the announcement of the forthcoming issue. There were no letters in the lower corners. Printings were in full deep blue.

Price per single £450
Price for complete sheet £4500
Used examples are known price from £1200"

I imagine prices would have risen since then for such scarce items.

May the sympathy be with you.......

I empathise with your feelings, however,
I think you made the right call.

What you feel now is based on the assumption
of a rarity.
Let's assume it was a fake.

You went to a ceiling where you felt uncomfortable,
you withdrew your interest based on your experience.
I think your behaviour at this stage was prudent.

I think you should feel proud and confident that
you showed restraint, we are not gamblers,
but collectors.
Had you decided to throw caution to the wind,
you would not have gotten it at that price, the other
bidder may have forced your price to treble that.

In your experience, knowledge at the time and responsibility
you made exactly the right call.
Bravo!

The voice of reason............

Rod222, Jubilee,
Having slept on it now, I know you guys are right. No point in "what might have been". Thanks for the great responses all.