Posted By:
RobertEdwardAuctionsHeard from the eBay seller (Wallstreetrecruiter) via email (obviously from reading this board, as we did not contact him):
Subject: YOUR POST ON NETWORK 54 RE1907 TY COBB PC805 Novelty Cutlery Postcard Item number: 6161283890
Date: 3/12/2005 6:50:16 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
From: wallstreetrecruiter@msn.com
DEAR SIR,
WITH REGARD TO YOUR POST ON NEWTORK 54 WHERE YOU MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT "Therefore, it is a certainty that the image was stolen from the web, and the "seller" does not have the card." PLEASE BEADVISED THAT THE COBB NOVELTY CARD YOU ARE REFERRING TO IS MOST CERTAINLY IN MY POSSESSION AND SHORT OF YOU KNOCKING ON MY DOOR AND SEEING THIS FOR YOURSELF, I ASK WHAT I CAN DO TO PROVE THIS TO YOU? I HAVE SENT 2 SCANS OUT W/A SPECIFIC EMAIL ON TOP OF THER CARD BUT IT APPEARS THAT ONLY ILLICITS A RESPONSE THAT I AM AN EXPERT IN "CUT AND PASTE" AND THE IMAGE IS NOT ORIGINAL! AGAIN, 100% UNTRUE, AS WELL AS SLANDEROUS AT MINIMUM.
I RESPECTFULLY AWAIT YOUR REPLY WITH A REASONABLE SOLUTION TO THE SITUATION, AS I AGAIN STRESS, THE COBB IS 100% IN MY POSSESSION AND I AM READY TO PROVE IT.
I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE,
WALLSTREETRECRUITER
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I thought, well, maybe somehow I was in error, or that he was a victim who had purchased a reproduction, and respectfully responded as follows:
Dear Wallstreetrecruiter, Here is a link to our Lot #411 Ty Cobb postcard from May 2004:
http://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctions/ebay/292696.html
The small stain in the same spot in the upper right made me think this is the same card. Please view this for yourself. The areas of light staining on the reverse appear to be in the identical places as well. If you have a real card, the chances of these distinguishing characteristics being in the same place on both cards, of course, are extremely small. Are you sure you have a legitimate card and not a reproduction of the card in Lot #411? Look at the pictures and you will see what I see. In addition, the eBay auction reserve of $500, and estimate of $1000/$1500 is identical to the reserve and estimate on Lot #411 (and having a reserve and high-low estimate range is an extreme rarity in the text of non-eBay Live auctions; the liklihood of having a reserve, low estimate and high estimate all identical to Lot #411 would seem all the more improbable, but anything is possible). If this is just an extraordinary coincidence, and if you have a legitimate card which by chance has the same problems in the same areas as Lot #411, which has also been described with the same reserve and estimate as Lot #411, then I am mistaken and I am sorry. The fact that you have written suggests that you are sincere. I hope you have a legitimate card. If you think you may have purchased a reproduction, I would be happy to personally review it for you. If you have a legitimate card and the conclusions I have drawn based on my observations are in error, and you are willing to send the card to me to review to verify, I will not only pay for PSA grading of your card (which will enhance it's value), I will additionally work with you to somehow compensate you for my error. Like anyone, I can make mistakes. When it comes to baseball cards and memorabilia, they are rare, but I am human. When I do make a mistake, I pride myself on making things right, and if I have made a mistake in this instance, I hope you will give me the opportunity to make it up to you in some tangible way. Also, if you are the victim of buying a reproduction, I will be happy to help you in any way I can to get your money back.
Sincerely,
Robert Lifson
President
Robert Edward Auctions, LLC
800-766-9324
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After sending this response, I more closely reviewed and compared the text of both descriptions, and sent the following second email a few minutes later:
Dear Wallstreetrecruiter, Below is your description, and our catalog description for Lot #411 from May 2005.
Your eBay description forItem number:6161283890:
1907 TY COBB PC805 Novelty Cutlery Postcard "RARE"
Magnificent example of one of Ty Cobb's most striking and attractive cards, from the very rare and highly regarded PC805 Novelty Cutlery postcard set, issued in 1907.
This beauty has No creases. Never mailed. No writing on postcard reverse. Just a hint of corner wear. Bright and clean, both front and back.We grade this card solid Excellent condition. Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000/$1,500.
REA description Lot 411, May 2004:
1907 Novelty Cutlery Ty Cobb
Magnificent example of one of Ty Cobb's most striking and attractive cards, from the very rare and highly regarded PC805 Novelty Cutlery postcard set, issued in 1907. This beauty has been very harshly graded VG-EX 4 (MK) by PSA. No creases. Never mailed. No writing on postcard reverse. Just a hint of corner wear. Bright and clean, both front and back. PSA has given the MK qualifier, in reference to a small area of soiling on the reverse which is so minor we would never even think it appropriate to mention. We grade this card solid Excellent condition. Reserve $500. Estimate $1,000/$1,500.
Note that every word in your description has been taken directly from Robert Edward Auctions' Lot #411 description. Every single word. Now, this cannot possibly be a coincidence. Where did your description come from? Did this language accompany the card you purchased from the seller?
Sincerely,
Robert Lifson
President
Robert Edward Auctions, LLC
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Not sure what the story is on this, but I found this fascinating, and thought others would as well.