Something happens when people jump onto eBay — they lose their minds. I am talking about the recent activity in signed Dorothy Parker books and letters. The archives have stories of past auctions over the past 5 years. The gallery lists some samples of Mrs. Parker’s signatures. But a recent auction takes the cake.
An unknown buyer paid $500 for a signed copy of “After Such Pleasures” — one of her many best-of compilations (Viking Press, NY, 1934). Copies of this book and other compilations come up monthly on eBay. But how this was valued at $500.00 is beyond reason. Perhaps because it was inscribed, and possibly owned by, B-movie actress Esther Muir.
There’s a current auction runing on eBay right now for what is purported to be Mrs. Parker’s signature. Unless she was drunk when she signed it, it doesn’t look anything like the real McCoy.
Auctions of rare books and autographs happen all the time. Last month, I went to one at the William Doyle Galleries here in New York. A letter signed by Queen Victoria went for $100. Yes, that’s correct: a hundred bucks. So how anyone can value a common signature like Mrs. Parker’s, one that is about 70 years old, 5 times more than the former queen of England…
Any comments about auctions you’ve taken part of?