UPDATE: Potter & Potter Houdiniana auction results.
Related:
Saturday, April 9, 2016
The Cancer of Superstition brings $28,000
The Cancer of Superstition manuscript written for Houdini by H.P. Lovecraft and C.M. Eddy sold today at Potter & Potter's massive auction of Houdiniana for $28,000 (not including buyers premium). The auction estimate was $25,000 to $40,000.
This was the most publicized item in today's auction. I'll be back later to report results on some of the other lots. In the meantime, I am LIVE TWEETING the auction still in progress.
UPDATE: Potter & Potter Houdiniana auction results.
Related:
UPDATE: Potter & Potter Houdiniana auction results.
Related:
I was there for the first two hours - very professionally run event. All the high-end items went to telephone and Internet bidders while I was there, but there was some spirited "on the floor" bidding for some of the less flashy items.
ReplyDeleteI didn't bid, but I have to admit I was tempted by the set of three keys and the lockpick ...
There doesn't seem to be any pattern to the prices these photographs are fetching. Some are barely cracking $300, and others are going for as high as $1,400.
ReplyDeleteContent and condition play a big part.
DeleteWell, being from Cleveland, I couldn't resist bidding and winning the 1922 Houdini program, which included the water torture, from BF Keith's (now the still existing and thriving Palace Theater). Unfortunately, at $900, this went far and above the $100-150 estimate! What I'd like to know is, who were the other Houdini nuts (over)bidding for the same item??!!
ReplyDeleteOne other person from Cleveland. ;p
DeleteHmmm. some items going for lower than expected prices. Scrapbook went for a lot, but others real cheap like a Houdini for Prez. poster, King of Cards and others. I'm sure a disappointment for those who own the pieces but good bargins for those buying.
ReplyDeleteIt was indeed a mix of high and low prices. Hard to predict. They also went by fast! It was hard to decide what to go for on the spot.
DeleteBeauty is in the eye of the beholder. I believe some bidders have a special sentimental reason for bidding on a given lot, other than merely fair market value, thus, the hard to predict phenomenon. As you said, all it takes is one other Houdini nut to create a bidding war. Thus, even though you may be kicking yourself for not bidding on an item that went for a fair price, there is no way to know if you did bid, another Houdini nut wouldn't have taken the final price sky high.
DeleteI spoke to the auctioneer before the event, he said each lot would last about a minute or so; so that this was not like the last Haversat auction where a late bidder could extend the auction by a few minutes or so. This was "you snooze you loose"! It seemed as if there was no activity for a few seconds, it was all over! (aside from a few second or third "Fair Warning" chances for some larger items)
ReplyDeleteThe discussion over who actually authored the Cancer of Superstition manuscript didn't seem to affect its value. I never bid live on these auctions so its velocity doesn't affect me. I look it over days or weeks ahead of time and decide on whether or not to place a prior bid.
ReplyDeleteI lost out on one item from the Davenport end of the auction, but I placed a high bid. The winner had to open his wallet with me because I never go down without a fight. I learned that from Hardeen.
Genuinely sorry the one item I tried for I lost. My focus was on local history and I don't see my home town crop up very often. Hope buyer's remorse gets it back on the block again, soon!
ReplyDeleteWhich home town/item, B Thom?
Delete