eBay: Innocents Abroad

The Fish-kill printing, although more common is an icon, the Philadelphia imprint a rare second edition. Ebay was in fact the perfect venue for offering this copy because sellers can post what they want for what they want. In this case it was very effective. That it caught the attention of the Freemen and through them was publicized with little time to spare meant that interested parties had no time to prepare. A few men then seized the moment, in much the same way that patriots in Kingston, in the midst of revolution two hundred and thirty-four years ago with their community in danger, planned for a future they could only dimly conceive. In time that and in time this will work out. The pamphlet will never be a good copy but should stand as a talisman of good intentions and public spirit.

As to how a difficult [this means impaired] copy achieved such a high price the article in the Freeman, quoting the seller, may have tipped the scales. He is quoted as saying:

It is one of only four known copies in existence, said Stanley Klos, president of the not-for-profit organization Forgotten Founders.”

“We know there were 200 printed in Fishkill,” Klos said. “(Original copies) turn up from time to time. Right now, there’s four known 1777 copies in existence.”

There are more copies than that absolutely.

In a response, Mr. Klos acknowledged the error in the Freeman article about the number of copies in existence. The correct description is copies known to exist in private hands, of which he said, the number is actually three. It is not clear whether the error was made in Mr. Klos' statement or the Freeman's transcription. Mr. Klos offered to cancel the transaction if the buyers so chose.

The buyers of course do not intend to resell and that’s a good thing as it’s unlikely to attract another bid at this level anytime soon. Someday if offered through a traditional auction house the obligation to describe and estimate accurately for the protection of buyer and seller suggest the census of copies will be carefully confirmed, the material appropriately described, and the estimates set conservatively. eBay is a wonderful marketplace but the sign over the door is or should be caveat emptor. There the seller describes while at traditional auctions a licensed third party sorts out the details. In this case the eBay listing was clear enough. The problem was in the Freeman story and some of the quotes attributed to the seller. This item is simply not so rare or valuable in its impaired condition. Then again, a copy of the Fish-kill printing, the first edition, would be very nice. In the AED the current value is $11,292.25, the probability of reappearance 25 years +, its purchase a meaningful contribution to local history.

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eBay: Innocents Abroad

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eBay: Innocents Abroad

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