04 August 2019

Not a Coincidence

This series on Top eBay Chess Items by Price (March 2010) often features curious items. Once in a while it also features a curious auction. A few years ago, in Something Smells Fishy (January 2016), I noted,

This series isn't just about pricey chess auctions. It's also about eBay.

A curious auction isn't necessarily suspicious; it can be curious for any one of a number of reasons. Case in point: last year I posted about The Imagery of Chess, New York 1944 (September 2018), a 'single sheet' that sold for US $500, 'Best offer accepted'. The exact same auction -- different title, same photos, same description -- appeared last month. This time it sold for US $550, again 'Best offer accepted'. Was this the original buyer flipping an item for a small profit? The original seller with more than one copy of the item on his hands? Only the second seller knows for sure.

A few years before the 'Fishy' post, in Top eBay Chess Item Twins (November 2012), I noted,

I've seen items relisted after a lapse because the first buyer never paid, but I can't recall seeing the same item sold twice in the same fortnight.

While preparing this current post I noticed an item, obviously one-of-a-kind, sold twice in two days. Titled 'Signed By Famous Actor & Historical Chess Fever Jose R Capablanca JR Feb 11 1909', it sold for US $500.00, 'Best offer accepted'. A day later it sold for US $650.00, also 'Best offer accepted'.

The description said,

Signed by famous actor and chess player Jose R Capablanca. Post card he wrote and sent while on US chess tour from Memphis to New Orleans on February 11 1909, only four days prior to his New Orleans simultaneous exhibition tour of February 15 1909. Many flaws but this is the real deal.

Feedback to the seller from the second buyer said, 'Beware of this seller. I paid for the item and was strung along.' What will the first buyer say?

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