Posted By:
Rob D.Unless I knew the buyer of an item in an auction, I'd be wary of putting too much stock in a price "realized." This isn't a knock on Classic Collectibles (I like their auctions) or a commentary on whether the book market is topsy-turvy right now (I'm too ignorant to know). But it's impossible for any auction house to guarantee that its items don't get bid up by the consignor -- or more likely a friend or friends of the consignor. So the fact that a lesser-condition copy of a book seemingly sold for an unrealistcally high price in an auction wouldn't give me much pause.
If the market is as depressed as you guys say, I wouldn't be surprised if the consignor "protected" himself by ensuring the book didn't sell for less than he paid for it during a more bullish market.