Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1910-08-04
AUCTION STORIES
Unexpected Prizes That Have
Been Won by Bidders.
A GREAT BARGAIN in EGGS.
Flow Two Specimens Of tho Great AUX
Species We're Bought For 50 and
Sold For $2oo0-An Old Picture That
Had a Valuable Linina.

sold For $2,000-An Old Picture That
Had a Valuable Lining.
OF course have met with q good
many interesting experiences during
my career as an auctioneer," relates
Henry Stevens I'm London magazine.
but the most striking of them all oc-
CURED. 1 think, In connection with q
great auk's egg. eai
some years ago u young fellow rode
over to an obscure furniture sale 1t
the country village I'm the hope OF Sc.
curing a bargain to help I'm furnishing
nome In view Of his intended mar
rage. And q bargain he did get,
though not OF the kind he originally
thought Of III
One Of the lots put I'D for sale was
Dasketful OF shells. eggs and other
ornaments which had attracted the at
fention OF an old lady who happened to
be present. Just as they were on the
point OF being Knocked down to her
the young man was struck by the APP
pearance OF two large eggs I'm the bas-
ket. and, thinking he might rs well
nave them as curiosities, he started to
bid. with the result that the lot was
knocked down to him for so.
Upon examining the eggs 1t oc-
CURED to him that he might be able
to make profit on their sale. He ac-
cordingly wrapped them up I'm hand
kerchief and brought them to me.
las soon ms they had washed Off the
CRIME which covered them discovered
that they were eggs of no less n bird
than the great aux. and as n result of
their sale n few weeks later handed
the astute young bargain hunter a
check for $1,000.
AT another sale which 1 conducted
there was an old picture so covered
with dirt and CRIME that It was almost
impossible to see what IL was like.
This was hung upon the wall in n
prominent position. but did not appar-
emily find favor I'm the eyes of any of
tho dealers who were present No re-
serve price was placed upon this pic
ture, which had been put into the sale
by local pawnbroker to whom it had
been pledged and not redeemed.
In spite of every effort on the part
OF the auctioneer. 1t was eventually
knocked down TO young man who
lad looked into the sale quite casually
In order to waste half an hour during
which he had to wait for Il train. TAX
Ing great fancy to the frame. which
was Of oak, blackened with age, he
hazarded n bid of S. at which price
1t was knocked down To him without
any competitions.
LAS he did not want the picture. he
asked Tie aIrI Iontcr whether he would
mind {: ing to get bid for II If lie
cut II "ut OF the frame. and. being al
sw"rol in the affirmative. he took ont
his Knife and neatly cut through tue
canvas all round the edge
Imagine the astoniShment of him
so!! and all present when. hidden be.
mind the canvas. he discovered five
bills tor 500 each. Evidently the pic
ture Ind been used TO conceal the saw
ings or some previous owner. who had
died without disclosing the secret and
whose hard won fortune thus came
into the hands Of total stranger.
Il should quote as very interesting
! sale at Rutland Gate. where there
were only the remains of the furni-
turc, firm having been allowed to
tnkc what they chose TO their rooms.
az was accordingly after the nature of
rummage sale. but in one cupboard
"hich had been overlooked were what
the junior clerk described as three
silver cups. The auctioneer was sit.
ting IN his Office when gentleman
drove up in a hanson cab. anxious TO
speak about these cups, for which he
offerTd no less than $500.
1.-THE auctioneer was so much sur
priscd that he thought his visitor must
have some reason for this high bid
and he wisely determined not TO take
the first offer he received oh. don't
think they VIII take that he said. and
with this answer the gentleman had TO
be content. An expert was called on
90 examine the so called cups, and he
discovered them TO be In reality six
! teenth century chalices. for which he
himself made an offer of $500. The
three cups were subsequently sold for
$3.50. Lut Il was only by the slightest
chance that they had not gone for n
i~"cD song. 30 'oI
Snall never forget an incident
which occurred in connection with the
sale % some valuable shells. The bid
ding for one large shell in particular
vas r1uch more brisk than | had an
ticipa;ed, but the rt~-.G for this be-
ce,ne apparent when 10 last It was
knocked down TO q gentleman Ia a
very excited condition. who directly
It vas handed to him flung It upon the
ground and trampled il TO atoms at
the same time shouting out I'm loud
voice that now that one was destroyed
he possessed the only specimen I'm the
world"