The E-Sylum:  Volume 7, Number 11, March 14, 2004, Article 17

PET PEEVES RE: AUCTION CATALOGS

  Ronald S. Thompson writes: "Regarding Pet Peeves - I agree
  that price guidelines are very useful for the bidder.  I think they
  are a great service by the cataloguer along with the lot
  descriptions since most bidders will not be able to personally
  view the  lots.  I assume that the dealers who don't include price
  guidelines hope the bidders will overbid without them or think
  it is the bidders obligation to know the value.  I know that
  catalogues without price guidelines are not my favorites and that
  I tend to bid more often when price guidelines are present."

  Philip J. Carrigan writes: "As to auction catalogs and their
  inclusion of a bibliography and estimates:  I see more catalogs
  with the biblio and very few with estimates.  The point of
  helping someone learn about attribution systems or bidding
  values is noble.  My view is either or both of these elements
  are nice to include in a sale catalog but a collector is best
  advised to avoid learning either varieties or prices from a
  catalog or via the bidding route.  If one doesn't recognize the
  meaning of an 'O-101' with a listing of US Bust halves or
  know what to bid, one needs to read (only) more sale
  catalogs, find a good agent and sit in the auction room with
  catalog but without a bidder number.  This and other means
  will prepare the collector to ultimately BID.  Also, estimates
  are not needed when popular and well-chronicled series are
  auctioned."

  Darryl writes: "Your points are well taken, Phil.  However, your
  advice would seem to have a novice collector watch and learn
  and wait until he is a more experienced (i.e. knowledgeable)
  collector before actually buying anything.

  Recently, I was reading a catalogue on American paper currency
  - not U.S.  Federal issues.  Every state seemed to have its own
  attribution system but no where in the catalogue could I find any
  reference actually telling me who catalogued the notes of Missouri
  (for example).  How helpful is this to the novice???"

  Anyhow, thanks for your comments.  Hopefully there will be
  more."

  Wayne Homren, Editor

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