The End Of The Chicago Philatelic Powerhouse .

Can't believe the second part of the final Rasdale Stamp Auction went past mid-night again . I checked in at midnight after spending the eveing with friends . But seen they still had 200 lots to go

They should of broke that auction down to three days , those long days and late nights had to cause buyers to skip a big part , the 15 or 16 hours was too much for all the older stamp collectors who would be bidding .

Still upset about this auction was like a funeral ,I want a party or get together with Chicago style hot dogs and Chicago deep dish pizza . Spent $300.00 in auction fees and didn't expect gold platted stamp tongs like from Stanely Richardson at Kelleher but wanted my 2 Chicago Hot Dogs .

Yeah, I'd be really ticked off if I had consigned stuff that went across the block like that.

I am a bit surprised that they haven't sent clients to another house that they have a good relationship with. They were tight with Regency and benefited from that debacle.

Well, I went winless at Rasdale and I was not being shy on the things I was bidding on. So the consignors of that stuff at least should be happy.

I'm surprised there wasn't a new thread about Rasdale's last auction, or I guess maybe this one is the de facto thread (the title works well enough)

The last auction notes that Kristin is retiring and the office is closing, but Kevin will continue to buy/sell stamps. Can anybody explain what that means? If he is still buying/selling stamps why wouldn't there be another auction? And why wouldn't that venture still be called Rasdale?

"If he is still buying/selling stamps why wouldn't there be another auction? And why wouldn't that venture still be called Rasdale?"

Buying and selling isn't the same thing as running an auction. His choice. Not calling what he will do Rasdale may not have been entirely his choice (it was the family business name).

An auction the size of Rasdale's is not a one or two person affair and I am guessing that Kevin doesn't want the pressure of processing over a thousand lots for a catalog. Reviewing each lot, photographs, data entry etc. Then there is the invoicing and payment processing for both buyers and consignors and shipping which is a massive task.

Why lose the family team only to replace them with new hires and continue a stressful pattern.

Running an auction is a HUGE undertaking. I have worked for auctions occasionally in the past, and doing one is months of work; obviously the more people involved the faster the work will go. Doing good descriptions is a skill, and there are not a huge number who can do them well. Plus the setup, the viewing, the invoices, etc.

Agree that a stamp auction is a huge undertaking and a large financial commitment . Not only that but you also need a large space to have it with a experience staff .
Since the new generation of the extended Rasdale family decided it wasn't for them .
My guess and it is only my thinking ---That Kevin decided why sell to all the wholesellers and ebay sellers why not do it part-time ,why not retire and move to Florida and spend half the time fishing and only half the year selling on-line direct to that huge crowd of previous buyers he build up thru the years .
Maybe just be his own retail store on line ,that skipping all those cranky wholesale buyers .

Thanks for the explanations about Kevin, it makes sense. I'm a little fuzzy on the history, from the auction:




When they were located in downtown Chicago, where exactly were they, in the Loop? What was the address? And what year did they move from downtown Chicago to Westmont?