[Rob D.]

Robbie,

It's been my experience when notifying auction houses of such an error that nothing gets done. More than once I've read "only one known" descriptions, only to have another example of the described item sitting in my basement. Sometimes I've even e-mailed a photo as proof. I suppose the auction house can maintain that unless its representatives see another example in person, theirs is the only one known to them. I suppose.

Looking at the bright side, most bidders know to take all such puffery that auction houses spew with a grain of salt.

(Like you, in the very auction to which you're referring, there's an item described as "Extremely rare, this is the only one we've ever seen." I have one, have seen another offered at a National and have seen two others for sale on eBay. Who knows, maybe my eyesight is above average.)