Posted By:
hankronI don't know how it applies now, but a few years ago when email auctions were common listing the high book price was a common event and a reasonable practice.
If, in an email, the seller had 500 lots, he or she would list the grade, min bid and Near Mint book value for each card. This was intended only as a convenience for the bidder-- so they didn't have to look up each price in the Becket or wherever. Commonly, elsewhere in the total auction description, it was explained what the high book value meant and why it was included (i.e. Vg = 30% high book, etc).
In other words, the email auctioneer was not explicitly not saying the card was worth high book, but that the number was included so the bidder could do his own calculations. In fact, I know that there were sometimes complaints if an auctioneer didn't include the high book. Personally, as a bidder, it was a great service to not have to look up each value in the Beckett.