The importance/value of an auction catalog

[Rob D.]

Today I received the catalog for Legendary's current auction, and it reinforced a thought I've had for some time regarding auction catalogs. I know that Huggins & Scott recently has made a push for bidders to not receive their catalogs and instead do everything online (offering a $50 credit for those who opt to go paperless). Many of the smaller auctions don't even offer hard-copy catalogs as an option.

Each time I receive a catalog, it arrives after I've already searched and browsed the auction online. And each time I find a good number of items within the pages that I end up bidding on that I would not have if the auction were Internet only. I'll usually do a number of searches (Lajoie, Butter Cream, R306, Indians, Cleveland, Boudreau, Colavito, Cobb, Ruth, Goudey, T206, etc.), so it's not like my scope is limited. But in this catalog alone I discovered an uncut sheet of Fro-Joys with mailing envelope and Ruth premium; a few Kalamazoo Bats; a complete set of graded Dan-Dees; and a great selection of 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars. All of these are things I wouldn't necessarily search for but likely will end up bidding on.

It's not like I'm uncomfortable using a computer or the Internet: I do it for a living and spend about 8-10 hours online each day (I do not live in my parents' basement). I simply think that there are many positives to having a catalog you can hold in your hands -- no matter the size of the auction. I wonder not only whether other bidders feel the same way, but has the thought crossed the minds of collectors who consign high-dollar items? Do you feel at a disadvantage placing your items in an auction that's online only? It certainly would give me pause.

[calvindog]

Rob, I agree, mainly because you can't look at the online catalog while on the can.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Get a laptop, Jeff.

[calvindog]

Too much going on to use a laptop there.

[bmarlowe1]

x

[bijoem]

no doubt in my mind....
no printed catalog = fewer bids = lower final result for the auction as a whole.


the internet is great for finding stuff you know you want.

the printed book is great for finding out you want stuff you never knew you wanted.

[Wesley]

I'm always leery about guys selling old auction catalogs.

[Abravefan11]

the internet is great for finding stuff you know you want.

the printed book is great for finding out you want stuff you never knew you wanted.

Exactly!

[Sixtofan]

I agree with Rob. Although I live most of my life and work online, I absolutely always bid on things that I did not notice while browsing the catalog online. The advantage of the paper catalog is I actually look at each lot and due to a lack of impulse control bid on things I never would have otherwise

[painthistorian]

better not bring those catalogs into certain bookstores such as Brentanos, you may get flagged!

[barrysloate]

I always find things in catalogs that I might miss online. Computers are great for bidding, but not so great for browsing.

[Bicem]

I browse online just fine and don't really use the catalogs much anymore, but that's just me.

[Leon]

If there is a large auction, say 1000 or more lots, give me a catalog. If the auction is 300-400 or less, online is just fine...but that is just me. I always opt out of catalogs if I can save a buck and have choice :).

[Cat]

I rarely look through the catalogs and I am sure I miss things that I may bid on, but oh well. The REA most recent bids counter was killer for me though. I bid on at least a half-dozen items that I normally wouldn't have. One lot I won and another I was the underbidder.

[Jewish-collector]

Good points Rob !!!

The question of auction catalogs came up at one of the previous Net54 National dinner speeches by (I believe) Josh Evans of Lelands. He mentioned that most, if not all, of the high end bidders want to see all of the lots in a nice compact form. He said they take the major auction catalogs on business trips, planes rides, etc,.... He said they don't have time to browse the lots online, even if they are very proficient with technology.

I think auction catalogs are a fantastic resource. I just wish someone would create a master index of all lots/items of all of the catalogs, so we as collectors and researchers could locate a certain card or piece of memorabilia very quickly and easily.

[Al C.risafulli]

Auction catalogs are very, very important.

-Al

[kcohen]

I'm like some others on this thread. I do focused searches on-line, then I like to relax with a drink and leaf through and dog-ear the pages with items that I might bid on. Not necessary for an auction of only a few hundred lots.

[3-2-count]

I'm not sure if it's a sign of ignorance or what, but I seem to find more items I'm interested in when browsing through a catalog. Scrolling through a maze of thumbnails doesn't compare to gazing at a nice picture. And yes, I'm on the can when finding most of these items. It's where I do my best thinking. ;)

[Rich Klein]

Is that, if you keep them, and something interesting comes up on the board; you can research and reference if and when you'd seen the item before in a catalog. On line, it's quite different research and harder to remember.

Rich

[Jacklitsch]

Auction catalogs are very, very important.

-Al

:)

[usernamealreadytaken]

I get a few catalogs, the last being the REA. How much you think that costs (Printing and S&H)?

[Exhibitman]

And they help you poop!

[3-2-count]

Come to think of it, they do aid as a light to mid laxative. <a href="http://planetsmilies.net" title="person smiley"><img src="http://planetsmilies.net/person-smiley-1754.gif" alt="http://planetsmilies.net/person-smiley-1754.gif" title="person smiley" style="border-width:0;"/></a>
Thought I was the only one. Good to know I'm not alone.