Author |
Replies: 19 / Views: 1,052 |
Valued Member
95 Posts |
|
Lot 30 of Sotheby's upcoming Treasures sale on December 7 - "The Wallace Document. The World's First Postage Stamp: The Earliest Known Example of the 1840 Penny Black". Estimated at a mind-blowing 4-6 million pounds. https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auc...ge?locale=en(I am surprised the item was consigned to an auction house specialising in fine art and luxury items. I thought the vendor would have consigned it to a philatelic auction house.)
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
647 Posts |
|
Quote: (I am surprised the item was consigned to an auction house specialising in fine art and luxury items. I thought the vendor would have consigned it to a philatelic auction house.) Don't be. Sotheby's, Christie's, and the like have a reach unmatched by any philatelic auction house, and anyone--collector, dilettante, or otherwise--remotely interested will hear about a Sotheby's sale. The reverse isn't necessarily true. Remember, the would-be buyer isn't restricted to a philatelist with the means to buy it, it's open to anyone with the means to buy it. |
Send note to Staff
|
Edited by classic_paper - 11/30/2021 11:15 am |
|
Valued Member
United States
222 Posts |
|
calls to mind "Fishing for a whale with a bamboo fishing pole and a worm" |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
3927 Posts |
|
There is a very long discussion of this item on another forum. An interesting discussion that is pointing towards the distinct possibility that one can't provide any proof to the claims made in this auction |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United Kingdom
6389 Posts |
|
Valued Member
United Kingdom
50 Posts |
|
The stamp may well be considered an investment opportunity for a 'non philatelist' who will lock it away to hopefully appreciate in value. |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United Kingdom
6389 Posts |
|
The suspicion is that, given what the vendor originally paid for,the lot, the hope is to find a non-stamp collector. But you're relying on finding more than one bidder ready to blow millions without due diligence - not impossible, of course. |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
647 Posts |
|
Quote: But you're relying on finding more than one bidder Nope, you only need one, so long as they bid at or above the reserve.  |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Valued Member

United States
154 Posts |
|
Pillar Of The Community

8179 Posts |
|
Pillar Of The Community

8179 Posts |
|
Valued Member

United States
154 Posts |
|
Positive outcome for sanity, truth in advertising, and collector intelligence |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
1203 Posts |
|
Don't typically read the Aussie forum, but numerous folks on there poked some serious holes in the claims made by the owner/Sothebys. An interesting read. |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United Kingdom
6389 Posts |
|
The question is, where do you go from here? I suspect that you only have one shot at trying to induce people to bid at that sort of price. |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community

United States
6379 Posts |
|
I'm one of the forum moderators on the Aussie board and I can state that the people chiming in there are very knowledgeable in this area and I'm betting they are correct. |
Send note to Staff
|
|
Pillar Of The Community

United States
5426 Posts |
|
Replies: 19 / Views: 1,052 |
|