Does anyone else like to read the profiles of the major consignors (like Scher) to auctions?

Longacre

The first thing that I do when I receive an auction catalog for a major auction is read the background on the consignor. I find it very interesting to learn about them, and how they got started collecting coins. I am especially impressed with the collections that are built by "everyday people" with somewhat normal jobs that have built great sets slowly and methodically.

I also love to read about "self made" people who built great collections and promoted the hobby. The person who comes to mind recently is Bruce Scher. It was great to read about how he built his business, and I love that picture of him sitting on his HOG with his grandson. It's a great everyday people image, rather than the typical collector image of a stuffy older gentleman in a smoking jacket, sipping a fine cognac.

TonedPeaceNut

I couldn't agree more. Not quite what I was expecting, Scher seems to be the all American guy who did well for himself and assembled a top notch collection.

Does anyone know if he is leaving the hobby after Heritage's sale or is he just going to try to keep building other great sets?


TPN

kranky

I like reading them as well. Not so much in the case of an Oliver Jung - a rich guy who jumped into coins and back out, as I understand it - but someone who built a great collection over time and without unlimited cash resources to throw at coins. I guess John Pittman would be the prime example. I didn't get the catalog with Bruce's collection so I didn't get to see that one.

I look for the bios in every auction catalogue, before I start looking at the coins.

pharmer

I do, and the Scher catalog was the best I've seen, from the story through the amazing collection. I look at it daily now, and since I am pretty satisfied with the cross section of toned Morgans I've obtained, I am happily starting on commem's because of his set, beginning with the rainbow Columbian beauty from airplanenut.

coinvet

the typical collector image of a stuffy older gentleman in a smoking jacket, sipping a fine cognac.

I think this is more an image projected by marketers than anything else. Go to any major coin show for confirmation. Also, I know a few mutlimillionaires and they are as 'ordinary' as you can get. Take a read of the Millionaire Next Door by John Stanley. Madison Avenue advertisers have spun an image of the wealthy that is as obsolete as the milkman.

As for bios on collectors.... More marketing sizzle to feed hungry egos and entice new consignors. Sorry to be so cynical but where we view coins as a hobby/past time, those in the business need to come up with ways to separate us from our coins. A glossy catalog with our name on the cover is a great tool.

michael

Does anyone else like to read the profiles of the major consignors (like Scher) to auctions?

most of the time no

yes if it is a long put away collection for decades that reminned intact and was bought raw yes

DavidLawrence

For what it's worth... I always read the bio's and I always feel cheated when there isn't at least an introduction to an auction catalog. Even if it's just info about the consignment. As collectors, I think the story is half the excitement of the collection. Q. David Bowers is the greatest ever at the catalog intro. Heck, he even wrote an entire book on Eliasberg, all of which adds to the value even today of owning an Eliasberg coin. In the stamp dept, (Charles) Shreve's Galleries does a fantastic job as well.