Watching Christies

[BeanTown]

Couple of thoughts on their auction. I got registered pretty easy and their credit line they gave me was very fair without doing any research on me. I was able to put in some absentee bids a week before it began. I was hoping they would let you know if you know if you was the high bidder going into the live auction part, but they do not.

I called a day before the auction to understand how reserves went. I was at first told that only some lots had a reserve on them and the auctioneer would tell us. Then another person jumped on the phone and said every lot has a reserve on it and it's anywhere between 60 percent of the low estimate all the way up to the low estimate.

I watched both days on my home computer and was pleasantly surprised how fast they were able to coordinate all the phone bids, Enet bids, room bids, against the absentee bids which the auctioneer had on podium. I enjoyed not listening to long auction descriptions and really enjoyed understanding what the auctioneer was saying unlike traditional auctioneers (Automobiles, Live stock, etc...).

I was texting a couple of friends during the auction who was in attendance in NY and watching back home as I was. It was nice hearing both perspectives on how they thought the auction was going.

What I don't think Christies did well was the photography of each lot. I wanted to see the backs of cabinets, postcards, and original photos. I was wondering why the Clarke Horner Photo went for more money than others... Answer it was in a complete Horner Cabinet mount but you would never know that from the description or picture. I too wanted to see the group of Old Judge Cabinets which included a Dogs Head. I wanted to see the other four punch cards in the group of 5.

My observation is that it's a tremendous advantage to be in attendance not only to view the actual items, but it seemed that bidders in the room always got their bids taken first which forced outside bidders to take the next increment up.

I like their format. Problem is I can tell it's no where close to their area of expertise. From images to descriptions and most of all the estimates. I feel they hurt many items with low estimates as many collectors/investors entering the hobby might put a lot of weight into what the printed price "should" be.

All and all It was a great expierence and had a lot of fun participating in it as I enjoyed the auctioneer mentioning where people were from when bidding online. I was Georgia and it seemed at times like it was an SEC battle as South Carolina was in almost every Cuban lot.. Well fought!

I snagged a couple of items and will look forward to their once a decade auction. I was hoping to snag the Joe Jackson Semi Pro 1908 team cabinet but ended up being the bridesmaid. I was glad they showed the entire cabinet!

[glchen]

I won one item also (the 1930 Yankees team photo). I believe the others have given really good descriptions of the auction. I just wanted to add that Christies does charge sales tax in a few different states, which might not be immediately obvious: NY, CA, FL, IL, RI, TX. In addition, you can charge up to $50K on your credit card for your winnings. Most auction houses only limit CC to $2-3K, so Christies does allow significantly more. One of the reasons their BP is so high, I guess.

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by glchen

I won one item also (the 1930 Yankees team photo). I believe the others have given really good descriptions of the auction. I just wanted to add that Christies does charge sales tax in a few different states, which might not be immediately obvious: NY, CA, FL, IL, RI, TX. In addition, you can charge up to $50K on your credit card for your winnings. Most auction houses only limit CC to $2-3K, so Christies does allow significantly more. One of the reasons their BP is so high, I guess.

Well done on the cabinet!

Jay cee.. You nailed a lot of my thoughts. The estimates were worthless. The only thing I could come up with is they went off of what the consigner had in them. They made no sense (in the photo auction anyway). And I believe this must have cost them money.
Also, it absolutely amazes me that auction houses continue to leave out the back scans. It is at minimum, 75 percent of how one can tell what a photo is online. It's absolutely ridiculous.
As much as I loved this format, I have a feeling there will be many disappointed people when they receive their photos if they thinking they are type 1s. I am not saying the majority or even half but I will guess double digit percentages.
I could tell just off the fronts and the sizes that some were problematic.
I will give Christies a bit of a pass on this as it is not their wheelhouse of items but there is NO EXCUSE for sports centric auction houses to leave back scans out of photo lots. ZERO. If they do, it must be by design and not for the bidder's/customer's well being at hand.

[BeanTown]

Was this image ever used anywhere? Hope it comes in as advertised as an Original Paul Thompson photograph.

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

Was this image ever used anywhere? Hope it comes in as advertised as an Original Paul Thompson photograph.

Pretty sure that one is 100 percent legit. Give or take.. Lol!
Nice addition!

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by Forever Young

The estimates were worthless. The only thing I could come up with is they went off of what the consigner had in them.

This is what I was told by an attendee that the reserves were based off of, and it sounds like the ranges were then based on the reserves. So the ranges could have been indicative of one collector's buying history, but not necessarily true market value of any one piece?

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by thecatspajamas

This is what I was told by an attendee that the reserves were based off of, and it sounds like the ranges were then based on the reserves. So the ranges could have been indicative of one collector's buying history, but not necessarily true market value of any one piece?

Correct. Not sure how the attendee knew but I agree with him/her(must be politically correct).

Anyone else want to share their winnings?!

[thecatspajamas]

Originally Posted by Forever Young

Correct. Not sure how the attendee knew but I agree with him/her(must be politically correct).

I think he got the scoop from the consignor. In retrospect, I'm not sure whether he was referring to the memorabilia or the photos (perhaps they were the same consignor?), though we were discussing the photos at the time. Mostly wondering how many lots would not reach their reserve due to the reserves being based on what he paid for them.

And I'm pretty sure he's still a he. No stereotypes being broken here today

Speaking of which (reserves, not he/she's), anyone have any ideas which lots did not meet reserve? I did not watch the auction live, so have no idea how they identified the reserve, or which if any fell short. In looking back at the prices realized, I think my own estimates on several of the photos fell a bit short of what they ultimately hammered at, but then I'm a bit on the cheap side and not accustomed to paying top dollar.

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by Forever Young

As much as I loved this format, I have a feeling there will be many disappointed people when they receive their photos if they thinking they are type 1s. I am not saying the majority or even half but I will guess double digit percentages.
I could tell just off the fronts and the sizes that some were problematic.

Very interesting! Any lots in particular?

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Very interesting! Any lots in particular?

I would say 350, 352, 440 and 470 to name a few are not type 1s. Also, photos mounted on board are issues oar likely to get a Psa letter. I suspect there are more...but a ton of good ones too(the majority I would gather)! Plus some don't care about the type 1 distinction. It was an exciting auction... I could watch that all day long.

[aljurgela]

Originally Posted by BeanTown

Couple of thoughts on their auction. I got registered pretty easy and their credit line they gave me was very fair without doing any research on me. I was able to put in some absentee bids a week before it began. I was hoping they would let you know if you know if you was the high bidder going into the live auction part, but they do not.

I called a day before the auction to understand how reserves went. I was at first told that only some lots had a reserve on them and the auctioneer would tell us. Then another person jumped on the phone and said every lot has a reserve on it and it's anywhere between 60 percent of the low estimate all the way up to the low estimate.

I watched both days on my home computer and was pleasantly surprised how fast they were able to coordinate all the phone bids, Enet bids, room bids, against the absentee bids which the auctioneer had on podium. I enjoyed not listening to long auction descriptions and really enjoyed understanding what the auctioneer was saying unlike traditional auctioneers (Automobiles, Live stock, etc...).

I was texting a couple of friends during the auction who was in attendance in NY and watching back home as I was. It was nice hearing both perspectives on how they thought the auction was going.

What I don't think Christies did well was the photography of each lot. I wanted to see the backs of cabinets, postcards, and original photos. I was wondering why the Clarke Horner Photo went for more money than others... Answer it was in a complete Horner Cabinet mount but you would never know that from the description or picture. I too wanted to see the group of Old Judge Cabinets which included a Dogs Head. I wanted to see the other four punch cards in the group of 5.

My observation is that it's a tremendous advantage to be in attendance not only to view the actual items, but it seemed that bidders in the room always got their bids taken first which forced outside bidders to take the next increment up.

I like their format. Problem is I can tell it's no where close to their area of expertise. From images to descriptions and most of all the estimates. I feel they hurt many items with low estimates as many collectors/investors entering the hobby might put a lot of weight into what the printed price "should" be.

All and all It was a great expierence and had a lot of fun participating in it as I enjoyed the auctioneer mentioning where people were from when bidding online. I was Georgia and it seemed at times like it was an SEC battle as South Carolina was in almost every Cuban lot.. Well fought!

I snagged a couple of items and will look forward to their once a decade auction. I was hoping to snag the Joe Jackson Semi Pro 1908 team cabinet but ended up being the bridesmaid. I was glad they showed the entire cabinet!

Ha! There you are GA! I was the South Carolina guy! Well fought! Al

[Snapolit1]

I was New Jersey. Thankfully lost much more than I won.

[h2oya311]

Originally Posted by aljurgela

Ha! There you are GA! I was the South Carolina guy! Well fought! Al

I was online "Arizona"...

Al - I think you may have picked up one or two items I was interested in...and perhaps vice versa.

Anyone win lots 454 or 455? I missed those in my original search and only saw them after the fact.

lot 454 = Photo (Outland) of Bullet Joe Rogan in Giants Uniform
lot 455 = Photo (Outland) of Turkey Stearnes in Giants Uniform

[ajjohnsonsoxfan]

Jay that Cobb closeup is really sweet! Nice pick up.

I was wanting a Joe Jackson photo but missed that portion of the auction due to time difference on west coast and my schedule.

I did win a couple:

Satchel Paige: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/l...jectid=6021746

and

Ted Williams: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/l...jectid=6021822

Both descriptions say "original photos" which I took as originals from negative or Type I's but could be wrong.

[Forever Young]

Originally Posted by ajjohnsonsoxfan

Jay that Cobb closeup is really sweet! Nice pick up.

I was wanting a Joe Jackson photo but missed that portion of the auction due to time difference on west coast and my schedule.

I did win a couple:

Satchel Paige: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/l...jectid=6021746

and

Ted Williams: http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/l...jectid=6021822

Both descriptions say "original photos" which I took as originals from negative or Type I's but could be wrong.

Nice shots. I am sure your teddy is probably good as it states it has the jacobellis stamp on the back.

[Bicem]

Anyone else get raped on shipping or just me?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Bicem

Anyone else get raped on shipping or just me?

They had to make up for the low BP ....I didn't bid in it.