Bogus Used For 50 Cent Stamp

Don't get me started. It's absolutely sickening that the auction house is trying to pass these off as real bisects. And no, there's no possibility that he doesn't know what these actually are.

These were written about in the American Revenuer back in the 70's when the owner of the auction house was a show dealer. Plenty of other landmines there too, as usual.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

Lot 748 sold for $350!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope it's on extension. Lot 751 brought $270!!!!!!!! Not bad for fakes.

Yeah, those results were nuts.

It was the descriptions, which were written in such a way as to give the impression that they were genuine.

Both description's the same. "50c Blue Used Bisect as 25c, Tied on 1867 Warehouse Entry document, the stamp is handstamped "Used For 50 Cent Stamp", most unusual, unlisted in Scott but other 50c bisects catalog at $350.00"

And this surprises you, given the auctioneer's well-established track record of selling blatantly bogus material as genuine?

Bogus bisects, bogus imperfs, bogus part perfs, bogus silk papers, manufactured "census" numbers... anything in the name of profit.

You already know that it does not surprise me in the least. But I wanted the description available, since we know the sale will almost certainly be taken down before Monday.

I have the revenue section of the auction archived, as I did with both previous John Lewis auctions.

Not to derail the thread, but it's at least somewhat on topic:

I did find out something interesting though: the decision to delete Aldrich auctions from SAN, as well as Apfelbaum, Downeast, Vance, etc. after a period of time, is in fact NOT made by the individual auction houses as I had always assumed. In a discussion with Tom Droege, he revealed that this decision is his. It has nothing to do with the amount the auction houses pay him either. He's just always felt that only the high-profile auction house auctions are worth retaining browsable listings long-term.

This surprised me greatly, and I explained to him at length why I felt this was a bad decision on his part. He retains all of the individual lots in the SAN searchable database, but that information is now gated behind a paywall, meaning that only those who pay for extended features can now find those listings. Additionally, you have to know exactly what it is you are searching for in order to find it; browsing an auction is a different method for different purpose entirely.

Sadly, I feel that Tom is more interested in getting people to use SAN using the methods he believes people should use, rather than in learning how people actually use the site. That's a critical flaw IMO.

I explained to him that I frequently may recall an item from a visual perspective, where I don't remember what the exact catalog number was, but I remember which sale it was in, or that it was in one of several during a particular period. Being able to browse auctions allows one to find items like this. Additionally, being able to retain the context of what similar items were offered in the same auction can be important.

Tom's business = Tom's rules. Sadly that is the way it works. Also sad that one has to pay for access to some features. That nasty capitalism rearing its head again. Sad. I do wish that he would emulate ebay more. But sadly it is probably not to be. I hope that Tom takes the advice of some of the experts here and makes some of the noted changes that would enhance SAN in no small way. One can only hope. For now we must struggle on with the status quo. Godspeed.

I agree. It is definitely his right to run his business as he sees fit. I make all my criticism as one who pays for the extended features, so it's not like I'm trying to get something for nothing. The bigger issue to me is the dismissal of the importance of browsable auction listings as an alternative to search.

Regardless, SAN is a valuable informational resource... just not quite as usable as it could be.

Agreed Rev.

The only thing he seems to care about is getting the most cash for the least info. Fortunately most of the important sales can be better viewed on the websites of the individual auction houses involved.