The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

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The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » August 12th, 2008, 6:27 pm

I am pleased to announce that I have been retained by The McComb Legacy to auction the estate of Billy McComb on September 7th, 2008 at the Magic Castle starting in the morning (the start time will be announced soon).

This should prove to be a great sale with something for everyone with an interest in magic.

Highlights include:
Early McComb Scrapbooks, Photographs & Posters
A Great Collection of June Merlin ephemera
A Martin Card Rise & a Willman Jumbo Rising Card
Billy's extensive Magic Book Collection
Vanishing Bird Cages including a rare Lindhurst cage
A set of Billy's own color-changing silks
A unique set of Tarbell's Course in Magic with each volume inscribed by Tarbell to McComb with animated line drawings
A complete bound file of Stanyon's Magic signed by Stanyon - believed to be Stanyon's last autograph
Plus much, much more - 304 magical lots!!

A complete catalog of the offering will be available on-line at The McComb Legacy within the next day or so. I will notify the board when it has been posted. Hard copies of the catalog will be available to purchase for $20 from The McComb Legacy by contacting legacyauction@dslextreme.com.

With kind regards,

David Goodman
Auction Results
Raising Funds by Raising Hands

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » August 15th, 2008, 10:59 am

Please know that the catalog,Terms & Conditions of Sale, Bidder's Registration Form, & Absentee Bid Form are now available on-line at The McComb Legacy.

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Jim Martin » August 16th, 2008, 10:56 am

I just read through the catalog - what a remarkable collection.
Everything is clearly organized. One really gets a sense of the man.

Thanks for all the attention to detail.
Jim Martin
St. Louis MO

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Bill Palmer » August 16th, 2008, 2:46 pm

There are a couple of errors.
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » August 16th, 2008, 6:27 pm

Hi Bill.

Would you please just send me a PM with where you think the errors are, so that I can pass them along to the family for any need corrections prior to the sale.

With my kind regards,

David

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby David Nethery » August 16th, 2008, 7:39 pm

Curious about the pipes being auctioned.

Billy is often photographed with a pipe.

What brand of pipes did he usually smoke ?

Traditional Irish Peterson's Pipes or otherwise ?

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » August 19th, 2008, 9:18 pm

Please know that the catalog was updated today with corrections and additional items that should be of interest. The final version can be accessed at The McComb Legacy .

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » August 26th, 2008, 6:30 pm

I am pleased to report that the catalogs have arrived for shippment and the McComb Legacy has graciously reduced the price to $10. Catalogs may be ordered by contacting legacyauction@dslextreme.com .

Stay tuned for details regarding preview times as well as the start time of the event.....

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby The Magic Apple » August 27th, 2008, 1:53 am

this is going to be a great event! I can't wait to see some of the items!!
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » August 27th, 2008, 10:58 pm

Just added today as Lot 142A:

This is one of only two known Chung Ling Soo (William Robinson) hairpieces that Billy had obtained from Eric Mason - (aka The Great Masoni) who as a young man had purchased several Soo-related artifacts from the famous sale of the illusionist's effects at Barnes in the wake of his death. Billy gave one to John Fisher, and left the other in the care of Mr. Fisher for them both to be cleaned by Thames TV make-up people. When their historical importance was explained, it was advised that they be left alone. This wig was returned to Billy and is now being offered for sale at auction. Billy McComb became especially associated with the legend of Chung Ling Soo following the television film made by Macdonald Hastings about the magician's death in which Billy starred as Soo. Mr. Fisher believes that this was the occasion Eric decided that the rightful home for this item was with Billy.

With Letter of Providence from John Fisher.


Bid in person at the Magic Castle on Spetember 7th or telephone bid, absentee bid or bid from the comfort of your home on eBay Live.

Good luck!!

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » August 28th, 2008, 1:07 pm

Just uncovered last evening and now included in the McComb Auction on September 7th, 2009:

Lot 142B 25 CHUNG LING SOO DREAM OF WEALTH NOTES
A rare collection of 25 original Chung Ling Soo notes that were used in his highly successful Dream of Wealth illusion. These exact notes are pictured opposite page 97 of Will Dexters The Riddle of Chung Ling Soo and his caption reads, When five-pound notes flooded the stage in Chung Ling Soo's 'Dream of Wealth' illusion, the patrons in the gallery envied those in the stalls, who occasionally caught a stray note that fluttered over the footlights. This is one of the notes that found their way into the audience from time to time. These were originally acquired by Eric Mason at the Barnes sale on November 3rd, 1920 and then given to Billy in later years.


Good luck!!

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » August 29th, 2008, 3:15 pm

The start time of the Auction will be 9:30 a.m. PST on Sunday the 7th.

All lots will be available for preview from 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. on Saturday the 6th or from 8:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. on Sunday the morning of the sale at the Magic Castle, 7001 Franklin Avenue, Hollywood, CA 90028. If you are a member of the Magic Castle, you will have an additional preview period from 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. on Saturday the 6th.

Registration will be on Saturday & Sunday during the preview sessions and you must be registered to participate in the sale. I recommend registering early to avoid the lines. (Registration Form) If you will not be at the sale in person, please fill out an Absentee Bid Form and fax it to 323-650-5908. Telephone bidding is available by special prior arrangement.

Live on-line bidding is also available at: eBay Live or LiveAuctioneers .

Please note that photographs for almost all of the lots are being added starting today and should be complete by next Tuesday.

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Dustin Stinett » August 29th, 2008, 3:38 pm

Is that "A.M." as in "morning"?

Oy.... :tired:

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » August 29th, 2008, 3:58 pm

Dustin,

It is morning but keep in mind it is 12:30 P.M. on the east coast. Thanks for locking the other thread. I can now update in one place.

With regards,
David

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Donal Chayce
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Donal Chayce » August 29th, 2008, 8:33 pm

If we've sent a mail-in registration form, do we still need to register onsite prior to the auction?
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » September 2nd, 2008, 6:43 pm

If we have received a mail-in registration form, you will simply need to show your ID and pick-up your paddle.

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Donal Chayce » September 2nd, 2008, 7:58 pm

Thanks.
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » September 5th, 2008, 12:18 pm

Just a reminder that the auction is this Sunday.

It will be held at The Magic Castle in the Inner Circle.

Registration: 8:00 a.m. PST
Auction Start: 9:30 a.m. PST

PREVIEWS:
(at the Magic Castle, Inner Circle)
Saturday, September 6
1:00 - 3:00 pm
6:00 - 8:00 pm


It is my suggestion to pre-register so that you can just pick your bid card up the morning of the sale.

Please know that photos of all items are now on-line and for those not in Los Angles, bidding can be done from the comfort of your home using eBay Live .

I will look forward to seeing everyone in LA!

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Okito » September 7th, 2008, 6:52 pm

How was the auction?

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby David Regal » September 7th, 2008, 7:43 pm

Fun fun fun.

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Kevin Connolly » September 7th, 2008, 7:51 pm

It looks like there was some very reasonable prices on most items. Condition was poor on many of the books though. The Houdini set was a bargain.
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Donal Chayce » September 7th, 2008, 9:31 pm

Many of the books, particularly the older books, were in poor condition. That said, many more were in good to excellent shape. Among the books I purchased was a copy of David Charvet's Jack Gwynne biography (inscribed to Billy) that was in pristine condition.

And while I agree with David that the auction was fun, there was nevertheless a very bittersweet--perhaps even melancholy--air about it as well. At least there was for me.
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Bill Palmer » September 7th, 2008, 9:46 pm

It was more fun than a barrel of lobsters.
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Todd Karr » September 7th, 2008, 10:09 pm

I was lucky enough to win Roy Benson's tattered silks, feather flowers, and candle for his opening piece, "Oh, See the Pretty Thing." Benson made the props purposely tattered. So beat up-looking, in fact, that the catalog warned buyers: "Poor condition"!

High prices included, I believe, $2750 for a Chung Ling Soo wig and $2000 for a Vernon silhouette of Billy.

Everyone, including Billy's companion Annabel, seemed to have a good time, and auctioneer David Goodman was superb. It was nice to see Billy's items get a good home, and as each item was displayed, those present took a trip through Billy's life, learning a lot about him as we saw his youth and career flash before our eyes.

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby dwmagic » September 7th, 2008, 10:10 pm

yep, fun, good to see a few folks, but most attendees must have been online.
Even Copperfield bought a lot.
It did go to show what value there is in the masses of goods we retain. Even when it is a beloved member of the family.
(Too subtle?)

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Bill Palmer » September 7th, 2008, 10:32 pm

I won seven lots. These were some that were of particular interest to me, especially because the set of cups and cups and cups and balls I already have had no instructions. So I bought Billy's set. ;)
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Dustin Stinett » September 7th, 2008, 10:34 pm

It was a terrific time indeed. I didnt get what I went there to getended out of my leaguebut came away with some nifty stuff. I dang near came away with some stuff I didnt want. I couldnt tell you what it was David thought I bid on, and I can only imagine what the look of horror in my face was like when the hammer fell and David pointed at me! (Note to self: Never scratch nose with bid-card in hand.) Fortunately David has a seldom used idiot clause in the terms just for people like me. He really is a fantastic auctioneer. He went five hours-plus without a break! I have to pee just thinking about it.

My sincere thanks to David, Annabel, and all the volunteers who helped make it a great time!

Dustin

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Ray T. Stott » September 7th, 2008, 10:44 pm

Yeah, I landed a few trophy pieces online this afternoon.

Lot 133 DIACHYLON FROM ROBERT HARBIN - This was a bit dried out but I have wanted one all of my life.

Lot 333 FULL DRESS EVENING SUIT WITH A** SHOT OUT OF TROUSERS

A really great day of collecting! :)

David Copperfield, eat your heart out :D
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby MagicAuctioneer » September 9th, 2008, 3:49 pm

Thank you for all of the kind words regarding this event and to all of the individuals who helped make it such a success!

Most importantly, our thanks to all of the purchasers. We are delighted that Billy's treasures have found new, caring homes.

Please note that I will be announcing in the next couple of weeks another significant magic auction that should be of interest to all.

With my kind regards,
David

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Kevin Connolly » September 9th, 2008, 4:09 pm

I read elsewhere that the bid increments were different from Ebay and in room. For instance if the next increment on Ebay was at $25.00, the room bid would be accepted at $5.00. Not really fair if so.

FYI If you have another auction and want to use Ebay Live, get it on by the end of the year. Ebay is shutting it down.
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Pete Biro » September 9th, 2008, 6:10 pm

I couldn't get there due to family obligation.
Anyone tel me what the Martin rising card deck the Martin birdcage pulls fetched?
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Dustin Stinett » September 9th, 2008, 6:56 pm

My notes say $650 for the Card Rise and $975 for the cage & leg pull.

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Richard Kaufman » September 9th, 2008, 6:58 pm

Glad to hear they're shutting down eBay Live: it was a crap program that never worked properly.
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Bill Palmer » September 9th, 2008, 7:16 pm

I had never used eBay's Live Auction for bidding before. I have a very fast internet connection, and I found that I needed to respond very quickly in order to get a bid to connect.

This time, though, they had corrected the problem with the bid increments. I remember during both of the Jay Marshall auctions that the bid increments on eBay were not in sync with the live bids from the floor or on the phone. This time, the increments were correct, as far as the stated table of bid increments is concerned.

The problem with the lowered increments, such as the occasional $5.00 bid increase from the floor, is one that probably can't be managed with the present software.

Telephone bidding is more fun, anyway!
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Doug Thornton » September 9th, 2008, 9:15 pm

Richard Kaufman wrote:Glad to hear they're shutting down eBay Live: it was a crap program that never worked properly.

Amen to that. I had never used eBay Live before, but was thrilled to have the chance to bid from the east coast. The night before the auction, I bid on six items. On Sunday, I got an email alert that I had lost on one. Then I won one, and next I lost one. But after that, my other three bids somehow got disintegrated: eBay said I was not bidding on any more items.
The bums! I was angry at first and then chalked it up to experience. I will stay away from them.......(The bums.)
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby mai-ling » September 9th, 2008, 10:18 pm

Does anyone know if the portrait of Lot 83 was
a George Johnstone portrait?

And how much it went for?

I contacted Annabell if it was and she was not
sure. Usually in almost all of George's drawings
he would have a bunny rabbit next to his name.

I was thinking this might, since he and Billy,
not only go so far back has friend but they
were related as well.
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Brian Glicker » September 10th, 2008, 1:20 pm

I was the one that bought the portrait and I will check tonight to see if there is a bunny.

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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby chris morrison » September 10th, 2008, 2:49 pm

Best line of the day:

"Hey Max, when you die, can I have your ponytail?" - David Regal
(immediately following the fierce bidding and final selling price of $2750 on the Soo wig)

Knowing I was going to show restraint and NOT bid on anything I almost chose to stay at home that morning. So glad I decided otherwise as it was great fun to be there with the gang.

Kudos to Auctioneer David Goodman. He is thoroughly entertaining at his job and best of all - he's a fellow magic fan so he actually understands what all of those odd lots represent in our little world.
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Ray T. Stott » September 16th, 2008, 4:13 pm

[size:14pt]
[font:Times New Roman]The real legacy of the Billy McComb Auction[/size][/font]

[color:#FF0000]For the bidders that were present at the auction I'm certain that a good time was had by all.
For the internet bidders it was a less joyous occasion and the live bidding software worked perfectly and had nothing to do with it.

What made it so unpleasant was the mass confusion that occurred during invoicing, check out and shipping.

Amateur hour made flesh.

The poor lady that had the responsibility for invoicing had no bidder personal information although the registration with liveauction.com was given complete access to our eBay personal information.

She persisted in warning after warning about incurring storage fees on merchandise won less that forty-eight hours previously.

I was asked repeatedly to go here and there to check out and neither place had the capability to do the check out.

After receiving a priced invoice the terms of the sale required us to contact some outfit in L.A. for shipping who was unable to supply a price for it, at least in my case, "and would get back with me in a few days."

The payment deadline came and I was forced to pay the invoice without a hint of how much it would cost to ship some books.

Many of us remember the screwing we got from the contract shipper, likely some principals brother-in-law, at the Sid Radner Auction and I approached this set up with both caution and trepidation.

Magically, after remittance, the contract shipper sent an email with the shipping costs (did not disclose manner of shipment) and requested that I send them my credit card information on an unencrypted Windows Word doc. attached to the email.

Filled in the information, clicked the send button and thought that I was finally free of this confused administration.

Not the case.
Received the e-mail back with a message that they could not open the attached file (their own file) and to please fax the information to them and that's where it lies at this very moment.

Lightbulb0 Auctions need to do their homework before their next declared auction before I spend another sou with them.

Utter and total confusion.


[/color]
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Re: The Billy McComb Legacy Auction

Postby Annabel Gray » September 17th, 2008, 2:01 pm

Mr. Stott - I have seen yesterday's post that you made on the Genii Forum. I have the following to say in reply:


I don't know who you are - there was no registered, absentee or internet bidder in your name.


However, some of your comments are familiar because there was one bidder who sent me rude, uncooperative and unprovoked messages with references to threats and some previous auction that I know absolutely nothing about and to which I have zero connection. This bidder has gone by at least 3 different names and did not provide a mailing or billing address, and it was for this reason I had my first encounter with him/her. Here is what I wrote to the bidder on September 8th so I could send my congratulations and generate an invoice so he/she could receive their purchases as soon as possible:


"I am trying to generate an invoice in order to get your winning lots to you as soon as possible, but I cannot do so until you provide your shipping and billing address.
Please go to your 'proceed to check out' link which is located on your MyeBay Page and enter in this information. It will update your invoice and I can then send it out to you to complete the transaction. Thank you"


No response. When you have nearly 200 bidders and 306 lots it is very time consuming when someone refuses to follow a simple process that everyone else seems to manage. I followed up with a second request as follows:


"Please take care of this as soon as possible. Not having your billing and shipping address is holding everything up & I don't want you to incur extra storage charges at the shippers.
Thanks,"


Now I do get a response and I am accused of making threats! As follows.


"Lady,
There is no "PROCEED TO CHECK OUT" LINK LOCATED ANYWHERE ON MY EBAY PAGE(S).

I WENT TO THE INDIVIDUAL LISTING PAGES WHICH ALWAYS HAVE A CHECK OUT LINK ON THEM FOR LIVE AUCTIONS FOR THE WINNER AND NONE IS PRESENT.

YOU NEED NOT THREATEN ME WITH STORAGE CHARGES ON AN AUCTION THAT HAS BEEN OVER FOR LESS THAN 72 HOURS.

MY BILLING INFORMATION IS AS FOLLOWS:
MY SHIPPING ADDRESS IS THE SAME"


I was tempted to reply that I did have a name and that there was no need to write to me in bolded upper case letters - email etiquette interprets this as shouting. But I resisted temptation and replied as follows:


"Thank you for your prompt reply.
When I noticed there was no return address on your invoice, I spoke to the internet office and wrote down exactly what they told me to write to you- I am sorry this did not work for you. It has been quite a headache going through each invoice and checking that all the details were entered correctly prior to the sale.
Please understand I had no intention of making mention of the storage charges as a threat. Rather, it was supposed to be a friendly reminder so as not to delay the process and help you. The shipping company have graciously agreed that no charges will be incurred until Wednesday, September 17. I have nothing to do with the shipping post auction, but I did negotiate this generous timeline to help prospective bidders. I did not want you to incur any extra charges (which would not come to me anyway).
I will speak to the internet office tomorrow and let them know your shipping address so that an invoice can be generated.
With best wishes, it is unfortunate there has been a misunderstanding."


No response, until finally payment was sent, and the following message was on the payment email:


"I HAVE CONTACTED BOX BROS BY E-MAIL AND TELEPHONE AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED AN ANSWER ON THE TOTAL OF MY SHIPPING CHARLES.


I AM PAYING MY BALANCE WITHOUT KNOWLEDGE OF THE SHIPPING AND TRUST THAT THEIR SERVICES WILL NOT BE THE ILLEGAL GOUGE THAT SID RADNER TRIED TO SCAM HIS BIDDERS WITH AFTER HIS LAS VEGAS HOUDINI.


I MADE IT VERY HOT FOR HIM."


Whoever you are Mr. Stott, allow me to introduce myself. I am Billy's longtime partner and put on this auction in his memory and so that his magical estate could go back into the hands of the magic world. It has been a labor of love and has taken a long time and been a tremendous amount of work. As a whole it went very smoothly, there was only one problem due to a conflict as to whether a winner was on the floor or internet (which is very common during live online auctions) and this glitch was immediately resolved. I have not processed your payment and have no intention of doing so until your shipping problems are sorted out. In both the online and hard copy of the catalog the terms and conditions were clearly displayed. There was a whole section on shipping with the terms and contact information of the shippers, so there should have been no surprise when you discovered they were 'some outfit in LA.' As I have already said, I even arranged for an improvement on these terms in order to help prospective bidders.


The shippers are experienced professionals who are well known in LA for their efficiency and getting the job done. They have been employed by high-profile celebrities in our community and are used by large auction houses, the Emmys and other major award ceremonies. There is no need to waste my time or the Genii forum's time with this unnecessary, defamatory and damaging report when it may be you yourself who is not the victim but the perpetrator. There have been no other complaints re the shippers or the auction.


If, like other people, you had taken the trouble to fill in your information correctly you may not have had these problems. The books in this auction were the big bargain for bidders but because of their weight they are naturally going to be more expensive to ship. Perhaps this angers you, in which case you should have filed an absentee bid form and had a friend in LA pick them up for you - though maybe you don't have any friends in LA.


Mr. Stott, if it is not you I corresponded with by email, I apologize but it is hard for me to believe there are two of you out there.


If you have any more to say, perhaps you would contact me directly at The McComb Legacy and we can talk about any misunderstanding without dragging the magic community or Billy into it.


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