Autograph book up for auction

[Tom_in_CA]

A few forum-pages ago, you folks helped me interpret names from our late father's autograph book (circa 1941-43 Hollywood). That post was here:

http://www.fanmail.biz/mboard/viewtopic ... 4&t=124171

After much input about the value, rarities, etc.... I shopped it between "Autographworld.com" and "rrauction.com". Autographworld never responded. But a fellow from rrauction.com did get back to me, and gave quite a bit more insight: The pro's and con's that it's in a book form (as opposed to photographs), the rarity scales of individual names, the issue of some being back to back, etc.... His input was that since there is no single outstanding name (like, Walt Disney for instance), and since there is a LOT of names (albeit some of them common, or unknowns), he said it would be better sold as a whole. His opinion was that his firm would probably fetch between $500 to $1000 for, and that they charge a 15% fee.

So what I'm going to do is, put it on ebay, with a hidden reserve that is within that range of price. That way, I don't "give it away" if the bids never reached $25 or whatever I can still elect to sell to the highest bidder, as I understand it, even if the reserve isn't met. So don't let that stop you from bidding.

It's been submitted to ebay, but may take a few hours to get onto the viewing there at ebay, as there is a lag-time. As soon as I get the link, I'll post it here. Or, check there this evening sometime tonight and it should be up. Key words: Vintage celebrity autographs. Or seller: "Tom-in-Salinas-CA"

thanx everyone for your help!

[Tom_in_CA]

Here's the ebay item #: 120384890188

[dobie516]

Thanks for the info Tom. I'll check it out. It's worth a good bit.

[dobie516]

My bid is in. I'm high bidder, but haven't met the reserve yet. Again, good luck with it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0384890188

[aamir]

I haven't heard of anyone on there, so I won't be bidding, but good luck with your item, I hope you get lots of money for it, as it is obviously emotionally and physically valuable to you.

[Selise]

I'm bidding too.

[Tom_in_CA]

aamir, when this book turned up in our dad's boxes (we'd heard rumors about it as kids), the 3 us asked each other "who wants it?" (as it can't be divided into 3 parts). No one was/is a collector, so it would've gone unappreciated, and putten into a box for another 50 yrs. So it was decided to sell and part that 3 ways.

Personally, even if it meant just GIVING IT to someone who knows the different names, has the hobby, appreciates it, etc... I mean, then at least it's on someone's "mantle" for theirs and other enjoyment, rather than sitting in a box, where, perhaps the next generation just pitches it.

Dobie516 & Selise, dont' worry about the hidden "reserve" (ie.: don't let that stop you from bidding), because the seller can elect to sell to the highest bidder anyhow, even if reserve not met. That was just to keep it from going for something silly like $100. The reserve was in the ball-park of what I was told it should/could fetch. If the end bid is remotely close, I'll take it.

One thing that puts this at a seller's disadvantage, is that the key-word search on Ebay only applies to the title, not the text in the body. So for example: Someone searching for "Cary Grant", or "Johnny Weissmuller" (tarzan) or "Mickey Rooney", and did a word search under those names, would not find my listing. There is just no way to cross-reference. So that limits the word search ability to simply "Vintage Hollywood Autographs". Had I thought about it more, I'd have added the words "celebrity", and a few key names (might have gotten 3 names in the 55 word limit). So in a way this hides it from persons who don't key in a specific word or words in their search.

[Selise]

thanks for letting us share the chance to own this. I keep hoping I"ll be high bidder.

[TwiHardPotterFan]

if walt disney was in there id be on my hands and knees begging you for it lol but I don't know any of them names mentioned so good luck with your ebay auction.

[x hayley x]

Whoever wins this is so lucky! It would be such an honour to own, it contains so many great names.
If this was like 5 years in the future then I'd be bidding too! But at the moment I'm a poor University student
Good luck with it anyway, hopefully you'll get the amount you were hoping for, or more!