Does the Stack's Library Include the Bid Books?

Coinosaurus

There was nothing in the announcement as to whether Stack's were auctioning off their bid books or not. But they must exist. How long should a firm wait before making this kind of thing public? 50 years? 100 years?

shorecoll

I'm assuming they'll be auctioned, and I'm assuming that one of the deeper pockets will buy them and bury them, if there's any controversy in there. Such has happened before.

MrEureka

Does the Stack's Library Include the Bid Books?


I've been a regular here for a long, long time, and this is my favorite post ever.

originalisbest

Could you explain any potential controversies? Just for my own edification.

Aegis3

Should I wonder if there'd be anything connected to the Pennypacker/Holland auction(s)? (I assume I have that right.)

Coinosaurus

<< <i>Could you explain any potential controversies? Just for my own edification. >>



The question is, do you want to reveal who your bidders were in 1935? There is value to the hobby here in terms of opening up the research. I personally wouldn't do it - I wouldn't want to be known as a firm that divulges confidential information, ever.

The wierd thing is that if the firm went belly up, no one would think twice about releasing the bid books - they'd go out to auction for big bucks and everyone would consider them fair game. The Chapman's were running auctions into the 1930s - right when Stack's started - and I've never heard anyone complain about releasing their content.

farthing

It's always important to remember that winners don't always win - and losers don't always lose.

CaptainRon

<< <i>It's always important to remember that winners don't always win - and losers don't always lose. >>



I believe a few of us started a couple differant threads about this a few years. I know it happened to me, with their on-line bidding. My issue was: They let someone win the auction, for less then my max bid.

firstmint

The announcement mentioned the run of Stack's catalogues was Stack's own bound set.

I would think that at some point, they would have crossed over from names (either in code or actual) to bidder numbers; or they might have used separate sales account books at the actual auction. I don't know.

Either way, I'm sure that it will offer many interesting surprises from America's numismatic past.

Lot viewing at GFK's will be a real studious affair.

Longacre

What announcement??????

The Man has been working me like a DOG lately. What is Stack's auctioning off in their library?

2ndCharter

What announcement??????

George Frederick Kolbe announced last week that he will be auctioning the Stacks library in January 2010 in NYC.

291fifth

Why are they auctioning off their library? Is everything being sold?

shorecoll

The entire thing including the super secret stuff they may have squirreled away from Chapman, Scott, Raymond, etc. dirt on friends and enemies alike. Yes, I'm exaggerating. I've had some old-time dealers make unsubstantiated claims that they used shills. If they did, you can bet that stuff either will not show up, or be bought and buried...maybe in a 25-year after all Stacks are dead time capsule (or the uncataloged pile at the ANS library). Back in the "good old days", Mehl, et al, didn't always play by the Marquis of Queensbury Rules either.