[meteorite-list] Tucson Auction

From: Darryl Pitt <darryl_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:08:37 -0500
Message-ID: <A063FA93-5C82-43BB-A17B-1FF85DC24C89_at_dof3.com>

John and Greg do indeed have terrific points.

The issue with Mike's Tucson Auction is that the prices attained are, far more often than not, anomalously low. I'm not exactly certain why---but several factors come to mind. To a lesser extent, the same occurred with the Macovich Auctions at Tucson...was it a decade ago? (Wow.)

I am all for transparency, but transparency can frequently result in disinformation if there is no context. And to be clear, I did not state this was a wholesale event. I suggested that be stated that the auction occurred at a wholesale marketplace.

For me, it's precisely because this is not the same as eBay---this is a traditional auction and its perceived gravitas is far greater---that perhaps we should be more sensitive to the messages being provided. Just a thought.


Nonetheless, I totally get the opposing point of view.

All best / Darryl






On Feb 24, 2011, at 12:37 AM, Greg Catterton wrote:

> I have to agree with John 110%. He said about all that needs said.
> One thing I dont understand is why the auction was considered a wholesale event, I never understood it to be as such - no more then ebay auctions and from what I have read, some prices were just as above "market" as others were under.
>
> Greg Catterton
> www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com
> IMCA member 4682
> On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites
> On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites
>
>
> --- On Wed, 2/23/11, John.L.Cabassi <John at Cabassi.net> wrote:
>
>> From: John.L.Cabassi <John at Cabassi.net>
>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Tucson Auction
>> To: "'Michael Blood'" <mlblood at cox.net>, "'Richard Montgomery'" <rickmont at earthlink.net>, "'Met. Darryl Pitt'" <darryl at dof3.com>
>> Cc: "'Meteorite List'" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>> Date: Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 10:38 PM
>> G'Day Michael, List and All
>> I'm a little perplexed over this statement. You've got to
>> remember that
>> this was a live auction, many people viewed it, there were
>> a lot of
>> comments made. But why are we trying to hide something
>> here? Aren't we
>> trying to be honest? Not even with the buyers, but with the
>> public that
>> view this list? We're just adding to meteorite buyers /
>> collectors being
>> corrupt. We don't need to hide anything and we don't need
>> to give those
>> that frequent these pages fire power to say that we're not
>> legit.
>>
>> I'm sorry, I disagree with this whole thing. Make it be
>> known, make it
>> be public. That's the only way we're going to move forward
>> from being
>> negative. That's just my thoughts and not anyone
>> else's. But I'm a
>> little concerned about the non-transparency. Bear with me,
>> I'm not out
>> to condone anybody, but give it some thought.
>>
>> Cheers
>> John
>> IMCA # 2125
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
>> [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com]
>> On Behalf Of
>> Michael Blood
>> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 7:00 PM
>> To: Richard Montgomery; Met. Darryl Pitt
>> Cc: Meteorite List
>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Tucson Auction
>>
>>
>> 1) I responded to Darryl off list.
>> 2) OK, if anyone wants the results, email me OFF LIST.
>> Michael
>>
>>
>>
>> On 2/23/11 6:35 PM, "Richard Montgomery" <rickmont at earthlink.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Darryl makes a monumental point. While, as
>> someone who couldn't
>>> attend the auction, I originally asked the List if
>> there was any way
>>> to know the final-sales-prices of the auction, hoping
>> I could find
>>> them somewhere....Now I suggest that Michael, Capt.
>> Blood, makes them
>>> available only off-list by request to avoid
>> publication in a rogue
>>> journal or hyped newspaper/journal adventure bent on
>> achieving TV
>>> ratings....somehow for those of us who still don't
>> know (I listened to
>>
>>> the whole Ruben-feed but didn't take notes).
>>>
>>> I know that there will be a bunch of posts about
>> this (no pun
>>> intended to our most respected meteoriticist, TB )...
>>>
>>> Kevin K, what do you think?
>>>
>>> Respect intended,
>>> Richard Montgomery
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Darryl Pitt" <darryl at dof3.com>
>>> To: "Michael Blood" <mlblood at cox.net>
>>> Cc: "Meteorite List" <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>>> Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2011 5:46 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] ad
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Michael,
>>>
>>> Please do consider not publicly posting the auction
>> results---or if
>>> you are intent to do so, I urge you to consider making
>> it absolutely
>>> clear the auction occurs at a wholesale marketplace
>> and the prices
>>> attained reflect the same.
>>>
>>> The last thing needed is more confusion for the
>> growing legion of new
>>> buyers who are exasperated in their efforts to
>> navigate the murky
>>> waters of meteorite valuation.
>>>
>>>
>>> Thank you for your consideration. All
>> the best / Darryl
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Feb 23, 2011, at 7:24 PM, Michael Blood wrote:
>>>
>>>> Finally got everything off - looks like I will
>> survive.....barely.
>>>> Soon to come: Auction
>> results/prices
>>>>
>>>> Here are some goodies:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> HAPPY
>> HUNTING! Michael
>>>>
>>>> All specimens may be seen at:
>>>>
>>>> http://michaelbloodmeteorites.com/Sale.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> BRENHAM extremely thin sealed in oil in thick
>> plastic.
>>>> This should
>> never rust. Increadable surface area to
>>>> Weight.
>> 18.3g huge = $275 SALE = $175-
>>>>
>>>> DEPORT, Tx. This specimen is the 11th specimen
>> collected
>>>> In the Monig
>> Collection ?1K? (1A sold for $6.5K in the
>>>> auction ($25/g) This 41.37g specimen cost me a
>> considerable amount
>>>> and is available for $600-
>>>>
>>>> CAMPO 7.9Kg (This was by far the best specimen in
>> this weight range I
>>
>>>> saw at the show) and stands nicely on
>>>> One side and
>> also stands upright = $600- Sale= $500-
>>>>
>>>> NWA2737 (Chassignite) Extremely rare 3 sizes: #1 =
>> $35=
>>>> #2 or #3 =
>> $45, #4 = $60
>>>>
>>>> http://michaelbloodmeteorites.com/Sale.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> MILLBILLILLIE thin with exceptional surface
>> area
>>>> #1 = $35
>>>> #2 = $40
>>>> #3 = $50
>>>>
>>>> ODESSA Small specimens a little larger than golf
>> balls. These
>>>> I have not
>> seen in years and only from the person I got them
>>>> From and I
>> got all he had. (Photo shows both sides of each)
>>>> 73.5g =
>> $150-
>>>> 109.6g =
>> $220-
>>>> 112,5g =
>> $225-
>>>> 123.1g =
>> $245-
>>>>
>>>> http://michaelbloodmeteorites.com/Sale.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> STANNERN (Eucrite) May 22,1808 Czeck Rep.
>>>> #1 = SOLD
>>>> #2 = $50-
>>>> #3 = $55-
>>>>
>>>> LIBYAN DESERT GLASS Huge speciem
>>>> 752.3g =
>> $1,500- SALE = $850-
>>>>
>>>> http://michaelbloodmeteorites.com/Sale.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> CHANGXING China .259g = SOLD
>>>>
>>>> UNIDENTIFIED NWA 2,612.5g Whole Stone.
>>>> 98%+ Fusion
>> Crusted
>>>> = 40c/g =
>> $1,045 SALE = under 29c/g = $750
>>>>
>>>> HENBURY Nice, small specimens with character
>>>> = $3/g
>> sale = under $2.25/g
>>>> 38.2g =
>> $114- SALE = $85-
>>>> 67.4g =
>> $202- SALE = $150-
>>>> 70.8g =
>> $222- SALE = $159-
>>>>
>>>> TATAHUINE Superb specimen = $65- SALE $50-
>>>>
>>>> http://michaelbloodmeteorites.com/Sale.html
>>>>
>>>> NWA 6355 Lunar Full Slice 14.68g
>>>> See full
>> description of this full slice at:
>>>>
>>>> http://michaelbloodmeteorites.com/NWA6355_14_68g
>>>>
>>>> 14.68g =
>> $700/g (here and elsewhere) = $10,275-
>>>> SALE PRICE:
>> under $550/g = $8,000-
>>>>
>>>> S-A 133.6g = $400- SALE = $275-
>>>>
>>>> CHICXULUB Micro-Tektites from Haiti in Riker
>> Display
>>>> = $40- SALE
>> = $30-
>>>>
>>>> MUONIONALUSTA
>>>> 152g Supurb
>> Etched Full Slice = $1,520- SALE = $750-
>>>>
>>>> See all specimens at: http://michaelbloodmeteorites.com/Sale.html
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> "Teachin' a pig to dance is a waste of time and it
>> irritates the pig"
>>
>>>> Mark Twain
>>>> --
>>>> 1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it,
>>>> 2. Whenever you're right, shut up.
>>>> Shaquille O'Neal
>>>>
>>>>
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>>>
>>> ______________________________________________
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>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> "Teachin' a pig to dance is a waste of time and it
>> irritates the pig"
>> Mark Twain
>> --
>> 1. Whenever you're wrong, admit it,
>> 2. Whenever you're right, shut up.
>> Shaquille O'Neal
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________
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Received on Thu 24 Feb 2011 09:08:37 AM PST