Victoria Cross for sale on E-bay

[yank44]

There is an authentic VC for sale on e-bay right now.

http://cgi.liveauctions.ebay.com/60250222-...047294667QQrdZ1

Item number: 200047294667

Starting bid is 65,000 sterling. 123,084 U.S. dollars

To commence on Nov. 23rd

[Ed_Haynes]

Not really eBay, but a live auction link to Spink's real auctions. They and a few of the other big auction houses are doing this as an experient. I hope their experiments fail.

[Riley1965]

I'd rather see this in a Spink Auction without the Ebay connection. This is a VERY bad thing to start!!!

Doc

[Stogieman]

Not really, as any good business person, they're realizing there's an entire class of collector, some with very, very deep pockets that wouldn't even know who they are. if anything, when an auctioneer like DWB, or Spink... or any number of the reputable US auction houses start down this road I think it will tend to improve eBay's image, not detract from the auctioneer's.

As an interesting side bar, despite eBay's rather stringent "ant-hate" denial of people like me & you selling WW2 german items, a check of any of these live auctioneers wares will find the very same banned items listed. Just one more case of "Do as we say, not as we do"....

Also, I am always stunned at what the value of these VC's are. I tend to think the estimate is probably a little low for this one...

[Ed_Haynes]

Also, I am always stunned at what the value of these VC's are. I tend to think the estimate is probably a little low for this one...

I would agree the estimate is low -- Spink's, though not as much as DNW's, tend to be low estimates of late -- in any case everyone knows who will get the VC, "Lord Ashcan".

[Riley1965]

Stogieman,

Having seen the price of VCs I have to agree with you, this is rather low priced. The auction for this should be interesting.

Doc

[Guest Darrell]

I would agree the estimate is low -- Spink's, though not as much as DNW's, tend to be low estimates of late -- in any case everyone knows who will get the VC, "Lord Ashcan".

Any takers among us willing to "up the ante" and make this guy pay dearly for this one?

[Ed_Haynes]

Any takers among us willing to "up the ante" and make this guy pay dearly for this one?

Oh, this has been discussed. You want to be that bidder, Darrell? And hope Lord Ashcan isn't sick that day? Still, you'd have a nice VC!

[Guest Darrell]

Oh, this has been discussed. You want to be that bidder, Darrell? And hope Lord Ashcan isn't sick that day? Still, you'd have a nice VC!

Ohh ... best check to see how his health is ... AND ... check my finances REAL closely

Edited November 19, 2006 by Darrell

[Nick]

Lord Ashcrofts collection of 140 or so VC's are now part of a trust fund that he has set up and will soon be going on public display in Britain.

[JBFloyd]

The auction houses I know of who have tied up with EbayLive have consistently said it was an administrative nightmare to deal with. The system threw off their entire flow and in-house procedures and didn't bring in much more in the way of sales. The great value is the additional customer names and addresses.

But, in a competitive field, you do what you have to get the market.

[Ed_Haynes]

The auction houses I know of who have tied up with EbayLive have consistently said it was an administrative nightmare to deal with. The system threw off their entire flow and in-house procedures and didn't bring in much more in the way of sales. The great value is the additional customer names and addresses.

But, in a competitive field, you do what you have to get the market.

Interesting. Thanks, Jeff. It must be that Spink has been -- deservedly -- losing ground to DNW?

[JBFloyd]

Spink, and all the other London houses, indeed have deservedly been losing ground to DNW. Spink is happy to tell you that they've been in business since the Great Fire, but also think that's the reason you should sell your meals through them.

DNW, on the other hand, is far more aggressive in going out and getting consignments. Their web site is a substantial resource that gives everyone access to critical info. Their catalogs are far better researched and presented. They are certainly more attuned to the US/Canadian market than any of the others. And, they sale the goods. You may be faced with consigning at no reserve on your lots, but the unsold list st DNW is extremely small.

So, maybe someone at Spink has figured out that the web has potential and may be here to stay.

[Riley1965]

DNW = Dixon?

Doc

[deptfordboy]

I believe it stands for Dix, Noonan & Web, Doc.

Cheers

Gilbert

[Ed_Haynes]

Yes, Dix, Noonan, Webb.

http://www.dnw.co.uk/dnw/medals/medalshome.htm

Browse there upcoming auction and drool.

[Riley1965]

Ed & Gilbert,

Thank You!!!

Doc

[Ardent]

I hope Lord Ashcroft starts collecting other stuff soon and not just the VC's as I might want to get rid of my (Royal Navy) MM group in the years to come (for pension enhancement purposes)

[Ed_Haynes]

Rumor has it that he is branching out. Too much money to spend, I guess. I have been told he is getting into other high-end gallantry groups and singles but, much as is the case with his VC accumulating strategy, this is driven by value, scarcity, and "sexiness" and not by any degree of phaleristic knowledge. I think your RN MM group -- so much rarer than a modest VC! -- may be safe from Lord Ashcan.

[Ardent]

Rumor has it that he is branching out. Too much money to spend, I guess. I have been told he is getting into other high-end gallantry groups and singles but, much as is the case with his VC accumulating strategy, this is driven by value, scarcity, and "sexiness" and not by any degree of phaleristic knowledge. I think your RN MM group -- so much rarer than a modest VC! -- may be safe from Lord Ashcan.

oh poo - I was looking forward to that extra ?50 to see me through my dotage

[Guest Rick Research]

Well, there's always eBay!!! If that upscale, well informed, and desirable Average Clientele is good enough for Spink's....

(I didn't click on the link-- did they start the e-bids at ?1 and get 4,739 of those always hopeful ?2.71 lowball bidders? Man, what a "valuable resource" THAT "mailing list" will be to future high profile bidding!!! )

[Guest Darrell]

(I didn't click on the link-- did they start the e-bids at ?1 and get 4,739 of those always hopeful ?2.71 lowball bidders? Man, what a "valuable resource" THAT "mailing list" will be to future high profile bidding!!! )

That's why when I put something up for bid ... I don't start at $0.99. I start at about at about 1/2 of what I'm lookign for. Keeps the riff raff low-ballers out

[Mossy]

Nope, the bids started at comparatively low prices rather than dirt cheap. Thus far there's been a few bids, but it's like it was a bit of a waste of time for poor old Spink. Time will tell though, i suppose.

Although , that's a beaut set Ardent! Could you post it in a seperate thread for discussion and drooling? Love to know the story behind that group!

Sam.

[Guest pikemedals]

hi i was at spink today.the v.c made ?105.000.not bad for a single v.c

[Ralph A]

This one was a little more affordable...