Page 14 - JOAMay2021

eBay
WHAT’S SELLING ON eBay
WHAT’S SELLING ON

by Philip Hawkins and Mike McLeod

$4,238 (38 bids, 16 bidders): Great Britain/Worldwide Old Time
Stamp Collection, Antique 1864 Lallier Album Early Classic. A
delightful and rare ancient 4th edition Lallier, printed in Paris in 1864
and signed by Justin Lallier himself. This desirable old estate find is in the
winter of its life but is a fascinating piece of philatelic, having the original
fold-out map at the front, and Lallier’s original signature.
The original collection within consists solely of 1800s stamp issues
with nothing after about 1890. There are many first issues noted, and a
fascinating array of classic stamps from countries and states which were is still beautiful with mother-of-pearl inlay. There are
obsolete a century and a half ago. Some of the good bits as follows: GB two tight cracks on the backside of the body. The
with 1840 Penny Black; 1847-1854 embossed set of 3; Edinburgh/Leith sound remains impressive for such an early instru-
circular delivery imperfect, and other early newspaper/railway parcels, etc. ment. (photos courtesy eBay seller bigpray84)
The album is in quite battered shape. Both boards and some pages
are loose, but it appears to be complete. The collection is stuck down PH: The serial number dates the instrument, as our
as was the norm in those early days of philately, but this is still a valuable seller noted, to 1902. The model? Our seller did not
collection with many good and scarce stamps present. The condition of provide measurements of the guitar, and measure-
stamps is very mixed throughout and some have trimmed perforations. ments differentiate models made before 1930, after
(photos courtesy eBay seller qc_33) which serial number, model, and body size were all
stamped on the neck block. Using detailed clues
found in the photographs, this appears to be a Model
1-28, based on a combination of split diamond inlays (used on models
1-21 and 1-28) and snake-eye bridge pins (used only on model 1-28) – the
only measurements would confirm the model for sure. Martin guitars of
this era used gut strings and were not outfitted with bridges to handle steel
strings until around 1927-28. Guitars after this transition command much
higher prices.
The most recent reported auction sale of another 1902 Martin I located
was in 2012 at Heritage Auctions (1902 Martin 00-42 Natural Acoustic
Guitar, Serial # 9356) that brought $6,500.

$1,000 (18 bids, 6 bidders): Antique Old Evans Eagle Claw Spring-
loaded Fish/Animal Hook/Trap/Lure. I co-wrote with Tim Mierzwa a
book titled Spring-Loaded Fish Hooks, Traps and Lures. This is the exact
PH: The seller of this album provided an in-depth and extensive Evans’ Eagle Claw Fish and Animal Trap that is pictured on the cover.
description of a detail-oriented item – bravo! Henry Justin Lallier (French, There is a deep and full stamping (which many do not have) which reads:
1823-1873) was the producer of the first printed stamp album in 1862. “PAT Apl 17, 77 S. W. Evans and Son Frankford, PA.”
Most of the albums that appear for sale are showing signs of age with The Evans’ Eagle Claw is probably the most iconic of all traps, either
tattered corners, etc. Usually, the stamps contained within the albums have fish or animal. It is made entirely of brass and has eight striking jaws.
been adhered to the page as was the custom in early stamp collecting. It was patented on April 17, 1877, being patent #189,805. These
I was able to locate a couple of reported auction sales of similar albums: traps were manufactured by S.W. Evans and Son, located just outside
an 1867 Lallier album with stamps sold at auction at Fusco Auctions in of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and were primarily a manufacturer of
Ohio in November 2016 for $575, and Barnaby’s reports a more recent umbrellas, which actually makes complete sense, since the trap operates in
sale of an 1862 1st edition Lallier album with stamps in London in a manner very similar to that of an umbrella. It was available in two sizes:
September 2019 for $1,024. Based on these earlier sales, I would say a 3-inch (not counting the line-tie ring) model, which was advertised for
our seller should be pleased, although the price could certainly have been small fish or mice, and a larger 4-inch model for large fish or rats.
driven higher by our seller’s good description of the stamps contained This Eagle Claw is the smaller
in the album. size and is in EX++ condition,
functionality, and appearance. It
sets easily and has the prettiest
$10,100 (17 bids, 8 bidders): 1902 C F Martin & Co. #9518 Acoustic patina that brass can have.
Inlay Guitar in Original Case! Another characteristic of these
Rare! The case is intact but some- traps that should be considered
what rough. There are 20 frets, 12 and looked at by collectors is the
clear of the body. Two of the frets curvature of the striking jaws. The
are very slightly off-center on the jaws on this Eagle Claw have a
neck, and the fine (Bakelite?) trim very elegant angular curvature to them and are
along the side of the neck is cracked symmetrical, which allows it to sit upright and so
in a couple places. The wood body displays really well. (photos courtesy of the owner,
William Blauser, www.springhook.com)
12 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles