Amazing figural
 

This is without question one of the finest napkin rings in the hobby. The detail and quality are amazing. Did anyone from our board win this piece? If so, congratulations!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT

I suspect the seller left something on the table by not cross-listing it in Vintage sports memorabilia.

My grandmother purchased the same napkin ring over 30 years ago (she collected napkin rings) and I now have it in my collection. I posted a few images of it several years ago and I believe it was valued around $2500.00. I think you are right in that the seller left money on the table by not listing in two categories!

I'm not completely sold that there was money left on the table IMO - although you're welcome to disagree with me. While the piece is truly beautiful, I'm sure it only appeals to a small number of collectors, and the title of the auction was well written. In short, I feel that anyone who was running searches for "baseball napkin ring" would have surely found the piece. I always feel cross-categorization only works when those passive collectors might stumble across an item and jump into the bidding. I just find on a piece as niche and expensive as this, there won't be tons of casual bidders who'll stumble across it and bid the piece up further.

The key to the high price quoted is that it was "several years ago". If you look at completed auction results for pieces that sold in the early and mid 2000s you will find exceedingly elevated prices on everything from pennants to pinbacks, photos to trophies, and everything in between. Those prices do not reflect the current state of the economy or hobby and will probably not be seen again for many many years.

Both of you make very good points. Mike, you're right that the market has changed even from 2-3 years ago. I'm not looking to sell mine in the near future but do you think it would go for significantly more if cosigned to a house like Robert Edwards?

Just my two cents but I think it would do better in REA than on eBay, but not sure what "significantly more" would entail.

I agree with you Ben. I believe it would have generated another $500-$600 if listed under baseball on ebay and it could do well in REA particularly when you consider scarcity. That is the key with this piece.

It's typically a $1,500 piece, give or take a hundred or two. The seller probably left a bit on the table...

I completely missed it on ebay... and I'm always searching for this kind of thing. But I overlooked it because of missing key words in the title. If the seller would have substituted the useless word "Silverplt" with "Antique", "Early" or "Vintage", I would have caught it in my search. To me, the search words hurt him more than the omitted category.

Here's a link to a previous REA Auction. It was easily the best piece in this trio, which sold for a hair under $3,500...

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...69.html#photos

old thread
 

http://www.network54.com/Forum/56713...gural-+pewter-
Mike. yes that is the best baseball napkin ring out there...and as previously hashed, as seen in the link above....there's a thermometer with the same figure