What’s Selling on eBay: July 2019

by Deborah Abernethy and Mike McLeod
$1,552 (89 bids, 21 bidders): Marvel – The Avengers – Issue 1 – GD/VG – Silver Age – Collectible Comic Book.
This iconic vintage comic book is in good to very good condition. The cover has some stress lines that do break the color with some nicks along the edge. The cover also has an area where there is a red ink scribble which is roughly a 1-inch circle. The spine has some wear that breaks the color and slight tearing near the staples but is free of rolling. The pages are off-white and are free of tears, rips, creasing, and holes. The back cover has a small tear. Overall, this comic appears to have been well taken care of from the previous owner considering its age, and it would make a great addition to any collection.
(Photos courtesy of eBay seller motorcitypawn, Motor City Pawn Brokers, Detroit, MI)

 
DBA: This comic book, the first in the Avengers series, has a cover date of Sept 1963 and was created by Stan Lee (writer/editor) and Jack Kirby (artist/co-plotter). The Avengers series continues today in various media (especially the movies). The buyer got a deal as these usually sell for much more.
$3,500 (37 bids, 17 bidders): Antique Rare Primus 76 Camp Stove – nice.
I am selling an antique Primus 76 camp stove. It is rare and hard to find in this condition. The stove is not tested, and I do not know if it is original.
(Photos courtesy of eBay seller flipje46)
DBA: The first camp stove developed was in 1892 by Frans Wilhelm Lindqvist in Stockholm. It was the first pressurized burner kerosene stove and was named the Primus. Prior to the Primus, kerosene lamps were constructed like oil lamps. The Primus design uses pressure and heat to vaporize the kerosene before ignition and results in a hotter, more efficient stove that does not soot. This was the stove of choice for many historic expeditions, such as Richard Byrd’s North Pole expedition and Hillary’s Mt. Everest summit in 1953, among many others.
Model 76 was introduced around 1931. Most collectors say that this one has the first generation burner. The 76 and 77 models use petrol instead of kerosene.
While the seller stated that he did not know if this was original and had not been tested, collectors would have recognized it. I have not been able to find similar objects selling for this price. This is a type of object that is used many times until it falls apart and gets discarded.
If we look at price alone, the seller made a good deal. However, this object is unusual. Not many of these were made, and this camp stove will probably hold value, especially if the historic part is considered.
$1,543 (39 bids, 11 bidders): WOTC Pokemon Fossil 1st Edition Booster Box.
Out Of Print – Collectible!
(Photos by eBay seller dacardworld)

DBA: Pokemon is known as Pocket Monsters in Japan. Humans are called Pokemon Trainers, and they catch and train these Pocket Monsters. This company is owned by Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak, and is worth $90 billion in total franchise revenue.
Fossil is a version of Pokemon, now in its sixth generation. Fossil Pokemon are Prehistoric Pokemons which are obtained from their specific fossils. The rules of the game are complex and make the old Nintendo game of Mario rescuing the princess look like child’s play.
There are a few of these 1st editions available, and this seems to be the going rate for them. I don’t believe that this is a children’s game anymore.
$5,656 (58 bids, 18 bidders): Antique wHw Werkstatte Hagenauer Wien Vienna Secessionist Brass Sculpture Mirror.
We were recently consigned a small collection of rare, authentic examples of Vienna Secessionist Art from Wiener Werkstatte, including fabric, clothing and prints. Also included in this collection was this very unique, handmade brass mirror which was made in Vienna by Werkstätte Hagenauer Wien. This workshop was founded by Carl Hagenauer (1827-1928) who studied with Josef Hoffman and the Weiner Werkstatte.
This unique and handmade mirror consists of a 12” by 14” brass mirror which is attached to an 18” by 4” brass base. Then, attached to the top of the mirror is an 8 1/2” long, hand-carved wood hand, which is holding a 10” by 6” hand-hammered, concave “mask.” Attached to the bottom center of this mask is a small piece of enamel which represents lips on a face.
Originally, the mask would have been polished and would reflect a person’s face. In our photograph, you can see that the brass mask, as well as the frame and stand, have all acquired an old, spotted patina. However, I am sure that when originally made the brass mask would have reflected your face in a unique way. There is also an old break to the right-hand side of the carved wooden wrist, as well as some surface rubs and scratches to the wood. The looking glass is still clear and overall, this rare and authentic, Wekstatte Hagenauer Wien (wHw) Vienna Secessionist mirror is in very good, original and unrestored condition.
(Photos courtesy of eBay seller wwolst12)

DBA: Werkstatte Hagenauer Wien was a family business that made fine, handcrafted objects. The shop opened in 1938 and closed in 1987, but today, it is a museum. Many of the handcrafted objects would sell for similar amounts. All of the mirrors tend to sell for high amounts.
This price seems to be “the going rate.” What makes eBay different is that anyone can buy or sell and get an audience for their merchandise. The costs for selling are small in comparison with other selling methods. So I would say that both the seller and buyer got satisfactory deals.

What’s Selling on eBay: July 2019