What The Auctioneer Means Is ...

I'm not above stealing a good idea, but these interpretations of auction descriptions were published by the St. John's (Newfoundland) Philatelic Society:
• 'Needs sorting' - a mess
• 'Needs careful sorting' - a real mess
• 'Rare' - uncommon
• 'Extremely rare'- scarce
• 'Exceptionally rare' - very scarce
• 'Full of character' - tatty
• 'A good basis for further expansion' - All the scarce values are missing
• 'An excellent basis for further expansion' - Most of the scarce values are missing
• 'Varied condition' - mostly damaged
• 'An original lot' - rusty
• 'One of those original lots so rarely encountered those days' - rusty and stuck down
• 'An ideal lot for the specialist' - heavily duplicated
• 'A number of useful covers noted' - the rest of it is rubbish
• 'The envelope is soiled and torn and part of the flap is missing but would display well' ...preferably in a darkened room
• 'Worth careful inspection' - we didn't have time to check this one
• 'Viewing essential' - don't say we didn't warn you
• 'A veritable olla-podrida' - I've been given a thesaurus

It's a true story I tell ya !

Very good *and true!


Peter

Just made my day

I used to be an auction lot describer. It looks like you found my notebook.

I also enjoy the "untouched in _ years" and "could be anything lurking within".

Most likely silverfish and/or mouse feces.

That's pretty good stuff.

On the other hand, what collector wouldn't want to see this on a large lot........

"Worth careful inspection' - we didn't have time to check this one"

"Old timer's lifetime collection"...Translation: Every mint pre 1900 stamp is fully hinged onto the page and you'll need a lifetime to get them off w/o ruining them.

Some from our local Western Australian Club
auction sheets...

"She says they must go" and "Floor sweepings"

"Floor sweepings" is a very old term in auction catalogs. I can remember seeing it occasionally in my youth.

Mystery box, what lurks.

BTW, in the process of buying a used car that was driven by an old priest.

Not a druid, I hope ...

And when it breaks down in the first month of ownership, the dealer will say that you were too hard on it. The car was used to being treated like a princess, and along you come and treat it like a.... well.... a car. I mean, what do you expect?