PBA Galleries

cirerita

Founding member
Post Office w. drawing, $6600
Bukowski/Purdy Letters w. drawing, $5400
Genius of the Crowd, $4800
Flower, Fist, $4500
Longshot, $3900
Women w. drawing, $3600
Not Quite Bernadette, $3300
Ham on Rye w. drawing, $3000

Most poetry mss sold (at the low estimate), many letter mss sold well over the high estimate, and most paintings did very well. Despite the unsold items, I think this auction did better than expected.
 

mjp

Founding member
I think the biggest bargains were the books with paintings - they went crazy cheap.
Yes they did. So did some of the non-book art (one of which was formerly in a book, but that's another subject). I still believe his art is undervalued. So does "the widow," apparently.

When the Dorbin with a painting stopped at $650 or $675 I was surprised. I lost that to Runfoola on eBay with a bid of $1100 if I recall. Couldn't justify the money it would have cost to get it this time though, c'est la vie, and all of that. Plus, I find the 20% vig to be more than a bit gougey, so I wasn't really motivated to try to take any of that stuff.

The auction did reasonably well, but I still think he came out very much on the losing end, considering what he used to pay for things. At least the things I know of and heard about. But if the collection wasn't meant as an investment I guess it doesn't matter. It's only money, right?

Oh, also, I thought the early BSP broadsides went for low amounts...I'm on my way out the door now so I can't check, but that's how it seemed as they were whizzing by...
 
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I ended up paying $75 each for 6 broadsides; 3 signed and some duplicates. As a somewhat noob Buk collector with a specific interest in broadsides, I was not happy at all with how they lumped some of the broadside lots together. Buk hand marbled each of the Chilled Green broadsides and even though I have one, I would have bid separately on the one in this auction if priced reasonably. Over all I think they mis-priced the broadsides. Pastoral at $700? and the crackedhead publisher pushing his unlimited copies on ebay just last week for $70! The Penny Poetry piece didnt sell either. That was my biggest shocker. ive spent a great deal of time looking for that one.

I did jump in on the early BSP broadside bidding, but the the spreadsheets said no. I think one of 'em maybe did not sell?
Like some others here I ended up with 4 spreadsheets for this auction in order to try and manage my emotions, easy to click a button....
 
Interestingly, I have been told by a dealer who attended the auction -

"Only five people attended the auction in person: three dealers, and two civilians."

The joys of the internet ...
 
"Civilians", huh? Guess they weren't armed then. What's the regulations about concelaed weapons at auction houses? Depends on the state I guess.
 

d gray

tried to do his best but could not
Founding member
they only get in by showing proper paddle license and registration.
 

hank solo

Just practicin' steps and keepin' outta the fights
Moderator
Founding member
Anyone have a spare catalogue? They're nice for reference...
 
you wouldn't be able to tell, who these 5 people were, would you?

Unfortunately no - I have no idea who attended. But with State tax implications - unless you are a dealer and have an exemption - it is cost effective not to attend (so as not to attract the State tax on the purchase - on top of hammer price and buyer's premium)
 
One of the ebay sellers (treetotree - someone here probably knows who that is) already has some items from the pba auction for sale. There are also new pics of those items and from that I would infer that treetotree was at the auction and already has possession of his items.
 
Which stuff did he win at the PBA auction that he's now got up on eBay? I see he's got a Purdy book up now, but that's a different copy. What am I missing?
 

mjp

Founding member
Scott is an even-handed and fair seller, but honestly, he's a bit of a kook too. Like many among us.
 
Ok, maybe I AM an asshole, but I got my PBA books last night and while I was tremendously excited to open them, I was surprised to find the condition of the Pulp as being much lower than what I expected.

In the listing it said, "A touch rubbed at board edges; near fine." Am I crazy to think this is a bit more than 'a touch' rubbed?

photo-1.JPGphoto-3.JPGphoto.JPG

In at least one place you can see the board under the paper, and in another the paper is pretty separated.

I'm planning on writing the folks at PBA to point this out to them. It's one of the problems of merely listing one or two pictures, and then only of the guts.

Am I crazy though? Am I being overly sensitive or nit picky? Anyone else have anything like this?

Thanks
Dan
 
Sorry to see that. Way more than a "touch rubbed." Received the items I'd won today and luckily had no issues with incorrect grading. Yeah, I'd call/write them if I were you.
 

jordan

lothario speedwagon
stavrogin - you must post pictures of the books you won... since PBA's pictures don't quite do justice.

Am I crazy though? Am I being overly sensitive or nit picky? Anyone else have anything like this?
i would be pissed, yes.
 
It's one of the problems of merely listing one or two pictures, and then only of the guts.

That is very unfortunate, Kilgore. In this day and age, there is no reason to not list 10-20 pics - IMO.

So what will come of the unsold lots? "Days" didn't even get a bid. I'd express my interest online but if my squaw happens to read this, I am a dead man...

I think Lot #305 is the real deal. The last book published by BSP. Absolute dynamite. Powerful images by Montfort, I felt like I was in the room with the guy flipping through them...
 
I sent an email to Shannon at PBA last night and received a prompt response this morning. He agreed the grading was incorrect and offered to either refund the BP or refund the entire purchase price upon return receipt of the book. Despite my initial frustration with the situation, I feel like this is a good resolution, and I'm pleased with the whole deal. I mean, I'd be more please if I had a near fine presentation copy of Pulp, but I'll take this too.
 
Sounds like the right price for Runfola to buy it back. So he can re-sell it in a couple of years for 9 grand.
 
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