(e)Bay Watch

- by Bruce E. McKinney

HENRY EDWARD HUNTINGTON (1850-1927). Document signed by him on verso, as President of PER. $20.50. A great book collector.



On Monday there are four more items that will close (complete). After that things will slow down for a few days. Seven day auctions are being posted for the first time today and tomorrow to close exactly a week away. The ten day auctions will be posted on Thursday and Friday. It never ends and it is fascinating.

Now, for the auctions that close today, I just have to wait.

Results: Of the two lots with Civil War Exemption Documents the first sold for $30.01 and the second sold for $31.01 to a different individual whose bid was placed in the final seconds of the sale. On the defective 1807 Beer’s Almanack, printed in Poughkeepsie, I finally bid $15.00 and lost it to someone willing to pay $15.50. Defective pieces simply aren’t very appealing. The Sing Sing Public Schools certificate sold for $15.21. The dimensions were 3” by 4 ¾,” a bit small for my purpose. Even in an inexpensive frame, it was going to cost $40.00 with shipping two ways. I’ll find something else. After all Christmas is still ten months away. With two hours to go the 1758 Boston Almanack was already above $75.00 as I expected it would be. Then, in the last few minutes of the sale, the serious bidders emerged and it sold for $227.50. The Rhymes of Ironquill finally found a bidder at the seller's opening: $9.95. And of course there is always tomorrow. I’m following half a dozen items and there are less than 24 hours to go.