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When visiting large auction houses, and I find this happens particularly in Europe, one finds hidden stamps when you take the heavy box lot home.

Let me explain, in heavy rubbish lots, there are those that spend the time getting all the cr*p out and seeing what is there. It could take a person an hour to go through a box of two dozen second rate/schoolboy albums.

And then the person finds a rare perf variety or postmark or stamp and removes it from the page and stuffs it in an less obvious place in the box. For instance at the bottom of bag of really bad 'on piece' 2c Washingtons, or deep in the folds of the worst album where no one will look.

The person has not stole anything but has lessen the chances of someone else finding it, and thus they know the real value of the lot, and will bid accordingly.

Except, that they don't win the lot, much to their surprise, and someone like yourself, who also searched the box, and who also saw that rare stamp, finds it has moved location within the box. This is not an isolated incident, I found it happened often.

Once I mentioned this to the SG auctioneer during a viewing phase. And he logicaly said, they could not do much about it as it was a hard one to catch on camera.

So, here is the ethical question. You have won this box and you find that the valuable stamps have been hidden. You believe that the box would have sold for a lot more if the stamps had been viewed by all, not the first one to get at the box and hide the rare items. Do you return the lot and inform the auctioneer?

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For US and GB collectors visit http://www.theswedishtiger.com

Remember, this country was founded by convicts, so expect some bias in the responses <g>

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John

Looking for used pre-decimal OS/NSW and G/NSW state perfins, and NWPI KGV overprints.

Hi all just registered, I had to answer in this thread.

1 How do one know when something is hidden it may not be

2 When the hammer falls isn't the lot yours

An interesting question. I think that I would have to conclude that the Auction House should know what it is selling. If it misses a rarity, and underprices a junk lot, that is simply bad luck.

The same goes for buyers - they need to know what they are bidding on. I believe that somebody "hiding" a good stamp among bad ones is completely unethical, and tantamount to stealing, but I do not think that it is up to the ultimate buyer to return the lot in question. It is ultmately up to potential purchasers to carefully study what they are buying, and the amount they are willing to bid.

With junk lots, this is always a risky and time consiming business.

It can happen in reverse, of course. A junk lot can be seeded with some good stamps near the top, and then overpriced, based on what appears to be a "good" lot. (I once purchased a suitcase of 1920's stuff which did exactly that, and got badly burnt on the deal) Caveat emptor applies here.

Norm

Pembroke

Greetings fellow newbie. How does one know? Well, between the time you first viewed the lot and the time you purchased the stamps, the rare stamp has gone from an prominent position to an obscure position, usualy at the bottom to the box, or hidden behind some other larger stamp.

When the hammer falls, is the lot not yours? No, it really isnt. I have purchased lots where I find that someone has stolen all the valuable stamps after viewing them. I have brought this to the auctioneers attention and they have released me from the obligation from purchasing. This is not guaranteed, it is dependent on your relationship and history with the auctioneer.

Conversly, if you find that the auctioneer has been cheated out of a good realization then it is ethical to return the lot. Remember that the lot is likely to be a commission lot and the person that submitted it may have really needed the money. This is not bleeding hearts, it is to do unto others as you wish others to do unto you.

FromDownUnder

An interesting reply, thank you for this. I think your argument falls apart when you say " is ultmately up to potential purchasers to carefully study what they are buying, and the amount they are willing to bid."

I chose, to use as an example, a junk lot. Most serious dealers will not waste valuable time looking at these, usually they will only address them if they have gone through their lot list and have time to kill.

So by virtue of the fact that the cursory look by an experienced dealer would likely draw his attention to the rare stamp on an album page, it is less likely that the experienced dealer would be a tipping out a fat envelope of 1d KGV heads used (presuming this is where the rare stamp has been hid). I will give you an example from Long Island last monht. In a junk lot there was a 1/- New Brunswick pair!. A valuable stamp.

It was prominently displayed on a New Brunswick lot. It did not make the lot description, probably as there was a huge amount of junk in the box and the auctioneer is notorious for underdescribing. I won the lot to find the stamp stuck underneath the Zaire stamp on an album page.

In fact my daughter found it as I gave her some pretty stamps for her dolls to play with and the dolls did not like that old dirty stamp. The result, I returned the auction lot. Why? Because the consignement lot would have realised way more than the paltry amount it sold for, if all had a chance to bid on the 1/- pair. Let me know if you think I am being too obscure here.

As far as a junk lot being seeded with good stuff at the top, as is the want of so many featured auction ebay dealers (we all know who these are), two wrongs do not make a right.

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For US and GB collectors visit http://www.theswedishtiger.com

theswedishtiger, thanks for your response. I doubt that there is a definitive answer to your question in all circumstances.

In some respects, it also comes down to the seller, who should at least have some idea what he/she is selling. And point out better items to the auction firm.

I suspect however, that many/most junk lots come from estates, and the former owner has not left sufficient instruction as to the value of certain items, or the correct disposal of them. So the same thing as per my above para applies.

So, assuming that, here is a scenario:

Let's say the lot was reserved at $100.

You as bidder "a" are aware of the full value of the lot (say retail $1,000), and bid $700.

The underbidder (the one who hid the rare stamp to stop possible competition) bids $110,

So, you win the lot at $120.

You have done the right thing, and bid a fair wholesale price for the lot. It is not you as the purchaser who is at fault here, and I cannot accept that you as purchaser should be responsible because three other parties (the seller, the Auction house and the potential thief) have not behaved in a responsible manner in regards to the lot you purchased.

I think this is pertinent to the specific example you cited, because, as you pointed out, the expensive New Brunswick pair were appently originally quite visible to the auction house, and should have set up a signal to the person doing the valuation.

Norm

But then are you note capitilizing on the auctions houses mistake at the estates expense? No matter, I think at this point we are down to splitting hairs. I think, however you get my drift on this matter

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For US and GB collectors visit http://www.theswedishtiger.com

I agree.

Norm

It's funny this should come up now. Last Saturday, I was at a deceased estate auction in Albury, one box contained junk, tins of recent used decimals, an old Seven Seas catalogue, some unused S.Seas album pages etc. but at the bottom of the box, neatly folded with a rubber band around it was a PO stamp promotion sheet and inside it was several Across Town postage labels in PO packs. At least one Sydney ($30) and one Perth (35) with several other packs. Being nosey like I am, I lifted all the other stuff out and looked at it. Then I replaced it as I had found it. When the bidding came, there were only 2 bidders- me an' ím. As I was low on cash and didn't have my cheque book with me, I cut out early, the next bid was the winner. I definitely think he knew what was in it, so did I.

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Waroff49

The last chapter of the Never_Ending Story is being written.

As someone who has been the purchasing and sales manager of a leading auction firm during the 'boom' days of 1977-81 and probably attended more auctions than most, I have often seen lots where stamps have been moved, or turned over, and worse, in some cases stolen.

Any auction lot normally has three interested parties (1) the auction house who's primary duty should be to achieve the highest possible price for the vendor, thereby earning the best possible commission; (2) the vendor who wants the best price achieved and (3) potential buyers who wish to buy lots at the lowest possible price.

Whilst I agree that it is unethical for a viewer to move items in order to hide something valuable, this is not the responsibility of other viewers to point out - perhaps unless they see someone 'fidling' with a lot during viewing and point it out to a staff member. More I believe it is the responsibility of those supervising the auction viewing to ensure it does not happen. I have attended some auctions where every viewer has a staff member supervising and watching them - not always practical, but a goal worth aiming for.

As to whether a viewer (who then becomes the successful buyer) finds an undescribed rarity whether highly visible or not in a mixed lot - I do not believe there is any obligation or moral duty to return the lot. The responsibility with lotting surely lies with the auction house and any consultant(s) they might engage. If a buyer decides to return such a lot for their own reasons I know many auctioneers who would say something like 'keep it - that is your good luck for finding it'. If there were such a duty where would you draw the line? It is common for buyers to save a lot of money on their maximum bids - should they make a donation to the vendors fund in such cases? I don't think so.

These are interesting scenarios to explore in some ways, however, I believe that if a buyer has done no wrong and participated honestly in an auction, then once the hammer has fallen, that should be the end of the matter.

So if I buy an antique chest that someone has hidden a treasure map in it 200 years ago, with the intention of his descendent finding it, I should give it back. and please don't say it is not the same thing it is, as for the stamp lot If I purchased it not knowing these stamps have been hidden I shouldn't have to say anything, if the owner or auctioneer can be bothered to check the lot first why should I tell them (that's the name of the game so to say).

Also lets say I was the one to find a stamp or three on the bottom of the box, should I the put them on top and push the price up, other punters would love me.

One sell at auction to get the best price, One Buy's at auction to get the best price.

Any one who hides things for there own benefit is another thing, cut there hand off

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Tony

Following Lakatoi 4's warning here, there were three off topic posts. I have deleted them, and will continue to do so for any posts which are not directly related to the opening post, or responses to the proper context of this thread.

Keep it nice and keep it on topic please people.

Norm

Interesting poll response so far.

I would return the lot
Yes 6% [ 1 ]
No 93% [ 14 ]

Total Votes : 15

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

Ethical questions are always difficult - we all want to be ethical in all we do, don't we?? As for this particular question I would return the lot if, and only if, I was aware that the lot had been tampered with. If I bought a junk lot at auctions and it turned out to be gold mine in there, well, that's my good fortune.

Just like I would pick up a valuable stamp as swift as possible if it's offered by a professional seller, but misdescribed / underpriced. As a professional seller he ought to recognize goodies and if it isn't - well that his bad work and my lucky day. If the same stamp was offered by a regular collector on the other hand, I would try my best to draw his attention to the fact that his stamp is of better value than he seems to be aware of.

How to distinguish between collector and professional - can be difficult, but feedback number, descripton of item, details of P & H etc will often be a signal as to wether it's a collector or a dealer offering the item.

Kind regards
olavemil

Yes I am talking about a lot that has been tampered with. Often with junk lots the description will be the word "useful GB" or "some hi-value HK". It's when find that most of the useful GB have been removed from the album page (leaving the tell tale stains of the stamp mounts) and you find them stuffed at the bottom of a large envelope of QEII used Oz (that you know the auctioneer would not empty or sort) then you know the lot has been tampered with.

If on the other hand you won that same box and saw the useful GB where it belonged (not hidden) but found in that big old envelope of used Oz a eight strip of the Victoria QOT, then sure keep it, you just struck oil. It was not mentioned by the auction house and one cannot say if it was tampered or not. In my previous example, I think one should start asking oneself ethical questions.

By the way, when I lived in Sundsvall, Sweden there was a common joke told about your country. It was how do recognize a Norwegian Beer Bottle. The answer was, at the bottom it says "Open other end". I now regret telling it!

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For US and GB collectors visit http://www.theswedishtiger.com

Don't regret it. We Norwegians just LOVE to tell all sorts of jokes about the Sweedes, just as they LOVE to tell all sorts of jokes about us. For every Norwegian joke in this manner there is a counterpart in Sweden - just change the name of the country.

As it is Norwegian and Sweedes are really good neighbourghs. We used to be at war once and again, but that ended more than 200 years back.

Kind regards
olavemil

This is far from an 'ethical' question, rather one of buying and selling at auction.

I was at a large (ish) public auction in sunny Oxfordshire, England on 3 June which had around 150 / 200 room bidders and probably more than 100 'box lots'.

I have attended this auction several times before (and others also), and what the original person wrote is common place.

Sorry I may be missing something here but a 'box lot' is exactly that! Some are more messy than others and unfortunately to look at these type of lots you have to dig deep and get dirty.

There were three box lots in particular in the auction I attended, all obviously from the same vendor and all estimated at £200. Viewed them all and it was clear each was worth at least double estimate, they sold for £794, £680 and £975 respectively. there was also a£25 box that went to £1200!

What is clear is that some auctioneers do no-one (buyers or sellers) a favour in misleading descriptions. With only 2½ hours viewing time on the day and having travelled 160 miles to get there, no way was I going to look in every box, indeed they are the absolute last things i look at after collections, folders and single items.

The main thing to remember here is that generally speaking no one of sound mind bids on a boxed lot / mixed property without having viewed it first unless (and its unlikely given the nature of such lots) they have a decent description.

The other main 'viewing tactic' I see is where (such as last Sunday), someone identifies a 'good' underpriced box, so they deliberately place the box out of order, or with its lot number obscured to deter other viewings. My mantra is that if you cannot find it then its either withdrawn or worth more / significantly more than estimate.

As to the ethics, when I buy any auction lot, I enter a contract to purchase good / bad or ugly. For a box lot it is encumbent upon me to have viewed properly, so when the hammer falls I purchase whatever is there. Its not my fault if others (or myself) do not look properly or are taken in by others hiding good items.

'Caveat emptor' prevails I think. Auction viewing is exactly that so if others do not look 'properly' who's fault is that? I have never done such a thing in my life but I can see why any prospective purchaser may seek to gain an advantage, after all 'knowledge is power'. In a way maybe the auctioneers should beef up descriptions of 'noted' good items or alternatively pull these out as better singles /

either way a public auction is exactly that and a fun part of this wonderful hobby.

Penny Blacks response is interesting. I wonder if he, or anyone else reading the board, if say they found those useful GB at the bottom of a bag of rubbish, whilst sorting through the box. And realised they have been hidden there, from someone who has searched the box previously, would he put them back (loosely) on the album page where they had come from.

I must stress that there is no right or wrong answer to this. This thread is just a discussion

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For US and GB collectors visit http://www.theswedishtiger.com

personally speaking I have done just that on one or two ocassions, but to add a little more............

This goes back about 12 years and I was viewing at an auction alongside a colleague I knew well. Reasonable sized auction probably 12 staff overseeing and video camera's also in use.

By way of background this auction had recently had a few problems with some good items being stolen from their box lots and they had narrowed the culprit down to about 4 people and therefore on this ocassion they had created a 'ringer' lot. This was a cheap starting lot but with a brief catalogue entry that would have encouraged the unscrupulous to look.

Anyway the basis of policing was that there were about 10 really nice stamps spread throughout the lot and after 'every' viewing the lot was 'checked' by a member of the auction staff.

Well my friend looks at the lot and hands it back in. After about 10 minutes the auctioneer (now bankrupt I should add) confronted my friend very loudly to the effect that 4 stamps were missing from the lot and that it had been scrutinised both before and after he viewed.

After a short and noisy debate my friend asserted the stamps were still there! Auctioneer said not with the result that he threatens to call the police.

To cut a long story short.......... my friend had 'moved' the items within the box and they were there all the time which he took great delight in demonstrating to the auctioneer very loudly and publcily.

Now this proves what people can 'legitimately' do when viewing even when the auctioneer is 'checking' - They 'assumed' everything would be in the same place and it was not. I make no judgement on the ethics of this all but it serves to show that people can and will do whatever they can to purchase at the cheapest price. Did my friend do wrong? Did the auctioneer? Either way a conundrum.

have a great day

Peter

An interesting one and I have some interesting stories relating to stamps being stolen which I will save for another day ...

re the auction house above, I think we would all agree the auction house has a right to do what is reasonable in order to establish who it is that actually steals items from their auctions. The scenario above seems reasonable to me except perhaps they should have checked more carefully for stamps moved within the lot before making the accusation ...

re the chap that moved the items ... as I noted above I believe that is unethical - although certainly not in the same league as stealing but could be considered deceptive if the four stamps were hidden to such an extent that they would not normally be seen by other careful viewers.

Peter,

It sounds like the auction house "checking" let them down badly, if you are going to accuse, you have to be certain you have nabbed the culprit.

Which leads on to your friend. His behaviour,at best, was not good , but what is more worrying is whether he was considered one of the four potential culprits. Not the sort of person I would wish to associate with..

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very friendly ebay seller and buyer

I think that sums it up perfectly, really.

Here is the exact description of a pile of junk I advertised on one list, which is there to see still on:

http://www.glenstephens.com/J-3.html

15. TEN Large Cartons: What a horrible mess. From many estates and office cleaning. Stamps, packs, FDC's, old albums, covers, catalogues, dead bodies, uncut diamonds and horse manure. It is all here. MUST repeat MUST be collected $A475

A client collected it, I took his $475 and was pleased to free up the space in my garage.

He later phones me about something else and says in conversation - "how much does s a 1913 bi-colour £1 roo sell for with a telegraph puncture/" I reply about 20-25% the price of a fine used one - i.e. about $500. He says "that's what I thought, and that's what is says on the back of your black stock-card I found in one of those boxes I collected. I was just surprised you'd include it with a such a lot. "

Now good luck to him. Anyone who was been to my place knows it is a large 3 story house filled with stamps to bottom. Filling lounge rooms, dining rooms, kitchens and all bedrooms. Literally. Most of it I have no idea what in there, much less be able to track it.

I had not meant for that item to go into a junk box but clearly it had. That one little stock-card was clearly worth more than the 10 cartons had cost him. All I know is he remains a good client and that is the key here.

That was an obvious mistake on my part, and as always dealers do not know everything. A ton of times we have all bought and sold things not realising what unmarked items were .. scarce dies, postmarks or plate flaws etc.

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Click HERE to see superb, RARE and unusual stamps, at FIXED low nett prices, high rez photos, and NO buyer fees etc!

Yes, Glen...

...and next time that particular collector's got 500 bucks to spend, I bet you're top of his list to spend it with

Well, well,

What fun would we have if the dealers knew all and everything. I have to admit it makes me feel a bit better if I beat a reputable dealer. Just like the other day when I bought Norway #1 - Double foot variety - cost me 50 US dollars. If I hadn't had ears my smile would have gone all the way around my head. Boy, do I love those beautiiful scans - I use quite a lot of time studying scans of interesting items.

On another occasion, however, I sold a lot of old US letters on eBay. I have to admit I had no clue to their value. There were only one buyer, a well reputed US dealer / collector. I must say I got a bit worried when he stated in his feedback comment that "this was by far the best purchase he had ever made on eBay up till then".

I guess it boils down to the fact that you win some and you loose some. I was happy with my double foot variety, he was happy with his letters. So it equals up in the end, doesn't it?

Kind regards
olavemil

I would return the lot

Yes
7% [ 2 ]

No
92% [ 26 ]

Total Votes : 28

There musta been 2 people who inadvertently ticked the wrong box...

And as for the rumour there are vicious jokes told between Australian and New Zealanders - TOTALLY untrue!

I say, "FOR SHAME" on the miscreant who tries to 'hide' merchandise. That's despicable.

As for the party that wins the lot without knowledge of the miscreant's fiddling with the wares, "Bravo!" He/She won it fair and square and that's what an auction's all about.

At the same time, WHO is the idiot that goes to all that trouble to hide higher value stamps, only to NOT WIN the bid in the end???
Serves 'im right. He/She's an incompetent idiot at that

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"Making money is a hobby that will complement any other hobbies you have, beautifully." - Scott Alexander
I collect Souvenir Sheets postally used on cover, WW used stamps up to 1957 except everything of Brasil and Argentina.

Now, how about the reverse:

I've looked through box lots and noticed things that just seemed to be a bit out of place - good covers tucked behind junky ones in a folder or envelope.

What I like to do - bring them out and put them up on top of the box (especially if I'm not interested in the lot).

I figure that I'm just fixing a "mistake" by a prior viewer. I also figure that I might be the one with a bulk lot in some future sale and I'd hope that someone else would be there to fix any later "mistakes" to ensure that I received fair value for my material.

(I also do it because I think that someone who would purposely obfuscate things from others in this type of situation is slime).

At viewings I've attended, each client has a staff member assisting them. They don't sit there breathing down your neck of course, that would make you uncomfortable, but they're responsible for the consignors property so they do have to keep an eye out to make sure someone "sticky fingered" doesn't slip a stockcard into their jacket pocket.

It should be noticeable if you lift a stamp from an album page to inspect closer, then go rummaging around looking for a junk bag to 'hide' the stamp in.

Time is money to the auction house. Someone brings in a junk box, the auction house eyeballs it and sticks an estimate on it. If its the collector themself selling the material, then they haven't done their homework. If its the heirs, they've been too stingy to pay for a dealer to do an evaluation, or don't know what they're doing and threw everything into a box to clear the house.

The auction house isn't going to waste their time carefully checking each page/bag/cigar box, as 90% of the time a pile of common material is just that, and is priced accordingly. Opportunity cost. The potential extra revenue that could be earned by pulling the valuable items and selling them separate does not outweigh the cost of paying staff to sit there for hours doing an in-depth assessment.

So in short, the client who hid the stamp from other viewers was being unethical I'd say, but the auction house is slightly at fault for not watching closely enough. It only takes 2 to make an auction, so as long as at least 1 other person spotted the stamp before it was 'hidden', the person who hid it will have competition, and there goes their manipulative attempt at a bargain.

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Collecting Mongolia; Thailand; Indo-China; Mourning Covers; OHMS.
My online 'store': http://stampsfromaethelwulf.blogspot.com/

Philas auctions in Sydney are similar to many auction houses in Australia. Viewers for album or box lots have to put their name and address details down on a card (though those details aren't checked), you then write down the lot numbers you're interested in viewing. One of the volunteers gets your lots and ticks them off as being viewed. When you are finished, you drop them back and the lots are ticked off as being returned.

The more expensive folder lots have to be viewed at a desk where one of the volunteers is on the other side of the desk.

The album and box lots viewing arrangement is purely a trust thing and most viewers are known to the volunteers anyway.

It may well be the case that viewers they don't know are watched closely, but I wouldn't know, I'm too busy looking through the lots

Isn't there a rule in many sports that if you are fouled, but in spite of this you have the advantage, then the play continues?

I think this is similar.

There has been an auction with at least two knowledgeable bidders, but the person committing the foul did not win.

If there had been more bidders, the final price MAY have been higher ... by how much?

Returning the lot to the auction house will result in additonal administrative and labour costs for the auction house. Will these be covered by the extra income from relisting the lot? Maybe, maybe not, maybe it will even sell for less.

Keep the lot and move on is probably the most reasonable outcome for all concerned. Except for the interferer, who gained no advantage from his/her actions anyway.

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

My philosophy is simple. Anything of a decent sort of value should simply not be a in box lot lucky dip. The Auction house should have taken more than a 5 second glance at what's in the box and pulled it out to be sold seperately.

If something was missed, then your good fortune. If it wasn't missed and they can't be bothered offering it seperately, then the better items should be noted in the box description.

If some one shuffles the deck, then they better have a really good poker face to secure the lot as the auction progresses if I saw the same item to and I wanted it. I'd be tempted to bid just to wipe the smug look off their face when the price is still low and they think they've nailed it.

Besides, it's a box lot - it's always a lucky dip anyway.

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Greg - Looking for Goulburn Australia Cancels and Grangemouth Scotland Cancels and Covers
Member of the S.T.A.M.P Club for Slightly Twisted And Mad Philatelists - Motto: "Bring back the lick!"

Many times I've bought a large lot and was bid up to my limit (or above it) by a single person. If I managed to win it, the strangest thing happened when I went thought it, more often than not there was a very good stamp hidden behind some average stamps or a top cover was right at the bottom of the pile.

A pure coincidence, I think not

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Tony

I second that sentiment. It is wrong, and we all know that it is wrong. It is not a level playing field.

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With kind regards, Jim

Interesting discussion.

If an auctioneer caught someone moving valuable stamps and hiding them elsewhere in the lot, then maybe the best approach overall would be to warn them privately (if they are a significant customer) or ban them altogether (if they are not). After all, on average, this sort of behaviour will reduce the realised prices of lots.

On the other hand, if it is a box lot with (say) six unordered albums and one is contemplating bidding, it is not unreasonable to repack with the worst album on top and the best at the bottom. If not bidding, I would try to help others (and the auction house) and do the opposite.

But, there are large grey areas in between these two scenarios. Perhaps we should all try to put ourselves in the shoes of others before contemplating morally questionable beahviour - how would we feel if they were our stamps being auctioned?

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29,000 stamped postcards & covers:http://www.delcampe.net/stores/edwardx
Collecting old passports:http://www.passportland.com/

Hiding stuff happens all the time... I bought a big lot at a major auction house very recently and have just started sorting.. found this yesterday hidden amongst some dross:-



Valued in my old SG catalogue at £ 90,000.00 (okay for a mint one and not with a big red splodge on it)
or £ 250.00 for revenue use.

I'm not complaining, but I never saw it when I viewed the lot originally

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Looking for revenues and unusual stamps?
Weekly auctions on eBay with over 300 curious new lots every week ... Website: http://www.ibredguy.co.uk/main.php

...and I'm bidding in a non-stamp auction tomorrow for a £40 rubbish stamp lot which I know contains around £1,000 of stuff, hope no one else spotted what I did (but at least I didn't hide it!!!!)

_________________
Looking for revenues and unusual stamps?
Weekly auctions on eBay with over 300 curious new lots every week ... Website: http://www.ibredguy.co.uk/main.php

Oh dear, it appears I wasn't the only one who spotted the mint Mulreadies, very early Penny Black cover and multiple QV advertising underprints... the bidding was well over £1,000 when I left the room in disgust (after hanging around the auction for some hours!).

I am now off to have a serious word with myself...

_________________
Looking for revenues and unusual stamps?
Weekly auctions on eBay with over 300 curious new lots every week ... Website: http://www.ibredguy.co.uk/main.php