The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1910-08-11
AUCTION / RI
Unexpected Prizes That Have
Been Won by Bidders.
A GREAT BARGAIN in EGGS.

A GREAT BARGAIN in EGGS.
How Two Specimens Of tho Great AUX
Species Were Bought For 50 and
Sold For s2,ooo-An Old Picture That
Had a Valuable Lining.
"Of course have met with good
many interesting experiences during
my career as an auctoneer," relates
Henry Stevens in London magazine.
but the most striking of them all oc-
Cured, think. in connection with
great auk's egg.
Some years ago a young fellow rode
over to an obscure furniture sale at
the country village in the hope Of Sc
curing bargain to help in furnishing
home in view of his intended mar
rage. And bargain he did get,
though not Of the kind he originally
thought Of
Zone Of the lots put up for sale was
basketful of shells. eggs and other
ornaments which had attracted the at.
tention 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 ap-
pearance of two large eggs in the bas-
ket. and, thinking he might as we'll
| have them as curiosities, he started to
bid. with the result that the lot was
Knocked down to him for So
Upon examining the eggs it oc-
Cured to him that he might be able
to make profit on their sale. He ac-
cordingly wrapped them up in a hand
kerchief and brought them to me.
LAS soon as they had washed off the
Crime which covered them discovered
that they were eggs of no less bird
than the great aux, and as a result of
| their sale few weeks later I handed
the astute young bargain hunter a
check for $4,000.
| AT another sale which conducted
there was an old picture so covered
with dirt and CRIME that it was almost
| impossible to see what it was like.
This was hung upon the wall in, a
prominent position, but did not appar-
emily find favor in the eyes Of any of
the 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.
I'm spite Of every effort on the part
of the auctioneer, it was eventually
knocked down to young man who
had looked into the sale quite casually
in order to waste half an hour during
which he had to wait for train. TAX
ing great fancy to the frame. which
was Of oak, blackened with age. he
hazarded bid of S., at which price
it was knocked down to him without
any competition.
las he did not want the picture, he
asked the auctioneer whether he would
mind trying to get a bid for it if he
cut it out Of the frame, and, being an
swered in the affirmative, he took out
his knife and neatly cut through the
canvas all round the edge.
Imagine the establishment of him
self and all present when. hidden be-
hind the canvas. he discovered five
bills for 500 each. Evidently the pic
ture had been used to conceal the saw
ings of some previous owner, who had
died without disclosing the secret and
whose hard won fortune thus came
into the hands of total stranger.
II should quote as very interesting
a sale at Rutland Gate, where there
were only the remains Of the furni-
ture. firm having been allowed to
take what they chose to their rooms.
It was accordingly after the nature Of
a rummage sale, but in one cupboard
which 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 hanson cab. anxious to
speak about these cups, for which he
offered no less than $780,
'"The auctioneer was so much sur
prised 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 will take that he said. and
with this answer the gentleman had to
be content. An expert was called on
to 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 $780, The
three cups were subsequently sold for
$3.50. but it was only by the slightest
chance that they had not gone for a
mere song.
81 shall never forget an incident
which occurred in connection with the
sale Of some valuable Shells The bid
ding for one large she'll in particular
was much more brisk than had an
ticipated, but the reason for this be-
came apparent when at last it was
knocked down to gentleman in a
very excited condition. who directly
it was handed to him flung it upon the
ground and trampled it to atoms, at
the same time shouting out in loud
voice that now that one was destroyed
he possessed the ONLY SDecimen in the