What's your worst auction consignment result?

[Robbie]

After reading all the threads about the recent REA auction, I noticed that there were some consigners who mentioned that their item sold for about half of what they were previously offered for it.

I am curious to hear what your most disappointing auction result was for an item you consigned to a major auction (not ebay). You do not have to name the auction company, and this is not to lay blame (because many factors go into selling price), but just to hear some experiences.

I will start with one item I sold back when game used bats were through the roof in value. I consigned the earliest known 1956 Frank Robinson game used bat. I don't remember seeing many or any 1950's Robinsons at that time (They are very rare with probably only 4 or 5 existing). After discussion with the auction house, I thought it would go for $8k-10k. It sold for half of that.

[T206Collector]

...autographed pre-war cards in one of the last Mastro auctions, and they went for what I would call "low ebay" prices at the time. My disappointment was compounded by the fact that I consigned the cards in January, was told they would be listed in April, but they didn't get listed until June, and I didn't get paid until July. If I had just sold them on ebay in January, I very possible would have done better and certainly would not have done any worse.

Oh well.....

[calvindog]

Paul, at least you got paid without having to release the hounds.

[drc]

I consigned an 1877 Boston Bostons cabinet card (w/ Harry and George Wright etc) that I paid $3,000 and it sold for $1,500 with one of the big auction houses. And I didn't overpay for the cabinet.

[Robbie]

Originally Posted by drc

I consigned an 1877 Boston Bostons cabinet card (w/ Harry and George Wright etc) that I paid $3,000 and it sold for $1,500 with one of the big auction houses. And I didn't overpay for the cabinet.

Wow, David!... That sounds like an incredibly rare and fantastic cabinet that sold for much less than would be expected.

[JP]

Consigned a PSA 8 Eddie Mathews, sold for a small profit. 3 months later it sold for triple the price by someone else in a different auction. Still regret selling that card, worth 50 times what I paid for it now.

[benjulmag]

Selling 19th century memorabilia at auction, even the really good stuff, can be very risky, unless you put a high reserve to protect yourself. The market for that material is often very thin, and if one or two big players either have the item or are not interested in bidding, the item can bomb. In the recent REA auction, for example, the sheet musics entitled the Live Oak Polka and the Home Run Quick Step did abysmally, selling for a small fraction of what they transacted for in the past. For those who collect that sort of thing, those sheet musics represent the pinnacle of 19th century chromolithography. They are quite rare and the particular pieces offered by REA were in exceptionally good condition for the issue. In the recent Heritage Auction, an N28 poster went for a steal, again much below what such an item has sold for in the past. It did have some condition issues on the borders, but the colors looked good and a good conservator could have made the item look practically brand new (which for posters seems only to enhance their value at auction).

When I look to transact 19th century memorabilia, I typically prefer private transactions, be it sale, trade or a combination of the two. Of course this requires a willingness to wait until the right party comes along, which I recognize may be not possible if there is a quick need for money. But if you have that flexibility, it is something to consider.