The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-08
ROMANCE OF AUCTIONS.
Small Fortunes Which Have Fallen
TO AstOnfshed Bidders.
Henry Stevens. in the Strand.

W AaNVuAhhCu DluuSTs.
Henry Stevens. in the Strand.
OF course have met with a good many
interesting experiences during my career
as an auctioneer, but the most striking Of
with a 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 securing
bargain to help In furnishing a home in
view Of his intended marriage. And a
bargain he did get. though not of the
kind he originally thought Of
One Of the lots put up for sale was a
basket full Of shells. eggs and other odd
ments which had attracted the attention
Of an old lady who happened to be pres
ent. Just as they were on the point of
being knocked down 10 her the young man
was struck with the appearance Of two
large eggs In the basket, 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 49,
Upon examining the eggs it occurred 10
him that he might be able TO make a
slight profit on their sale. He accordingly
wrapped them up in a handkerchief and
brought them TO me.
As soon as I had washed off the CRIME
which covered them discovered that they
were eggs Of no Jess a bird than the great
aux, and as the result OF their sale few
weeks later / handed the astute young
bargain hunter a check for $3.50. which
was sufficient to set him up in business.
Another sale which / conducted there
was an old picture so covered with dirt
and CRIME that It was almosximposslbl
to see what il was like. This was hung
upon the wall in a prominent position, but
did not apparently find favor In the eyes
Of any Of the dealers who were present.
No reserve price was placed upon this
picture, which had been put into the SAFE
by a local pawnbroker, to whom Il had
been pledged and not redeemed.
In spite OF every effort on the part Of
the auctioneer il was eventually knocked
down 10 a young man who had looked
into the sale quite casually IN order to
waste half an hour during which he had
10 wait for a train. Taking q great fancy
to the frame, which was Of oak, black
ened with age. he hazarded a bid Of S
at which price it was knocked down 70
him without any competition.
As he did not want the picture he asked
the auctiOneeT whether he would mind
trying 10 get a bid fot II If lie cut Il out
Of the frame. and being answered In the
affirmative, he took out his knife and
neatly cut through the canvas all round
the edge
Imagine the establishment OF himself
and All present when hidden behind the
canvas he discovered five bills for 500
each. Evidently the picture had been used
20 conceal the savings Of some previous
owner who had died without disclosing
the secret. and whose hard won fortune
thus came into the hands Of a total
stranger.
I should quote as very interesting a
sale al Rutland Gate. where there were
only the remains Of the funiture a firm
having been allowed TO take what they
chose 10 their rooms. II was accordingly
after the nature Of a rumm8ge sale. but
IN one cupboard. which had been over
looked, were what the junior clerk de-
scribed as three silver cups. The auc-
uoneer was sitting in his Office when q
gentleman drove up In a hanson cab.
anxious 10 speak about these cups. for
which he offered no less than $3.50
The auCtioneer was so much surprised
that he thought his visitor must have
some reason for this high bid: and he
wisely determined not 10 take the first
offer he received. "Oh. I don't think they
will take that" he said. and with this
answer the gentleman had TO be content.
An expert was called on 70 examine the
so-calied cups. and he discovered them
10 be in reality sixteenth century chaIices
for which he himself made an offer OF
800. 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.
7 shall never forget an incident which
occurred in connection with the sale OF
some valuable shell. The bidding for one
large shell IN particular was much more
brisk than had anticipated. but the rea-
son for this became apparent when at last
il was knocked down 70 gentleman IN
very excited condition, who directly il
was handed 10 him, flung It upon the
ground and trampled it TO atoms. at the
same time shouting out in 4 loud voice
that now that one was destroyed he pos
sessed the only specimen in the world.