I'd rather have a new scope

And observatory.

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22247/lot/58/

On 13/01/2016 03:56, RichA wrote:
And observatory.

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22247/lot/58/

I am a bit surprised they went for so much.

£300k for about 600 original photographic plates values them on average
at £500 per image which is definitely on the high side.

In a free market things are worth whatever the punters are prepared to
pay for them and the auctioneers job is to maximise returns by selling
to the highest bidder. It is funny when something sells secondhand on
eBay for a price that is actually *higher* than buying a new one.

People do strange things in an auction when irrational bidding war fever
takes hold and the undisciplined pay way more than they intended.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at 3:44:33 AM UTC-5, Martin Brown wrote:
On 13/01/2016 03:56, RichA wrote:
And observatory.

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22247/lot/58/

I am a bit surprised they went for so much.

£300k for about 600 original photographic plates values them on average
at £500 per image which is definitely on the high side.

Included, according to link you gave:

"A 27-inch cellular mirror, and a 20-inch optical flat, the latter in original crate with Ritchey's annotation"

This is a collection of historical interest.

In a free market things are worth whatever the punters are prepared to
pay for them and the auctioneers job is to maximise returns by selling
to the highest bidder. It is funny when something sells secondhand on
eBay for a price that is actually *higher* than buying a new one.

People do strange things in an auction when irrational bidding war fever
takes hold and the undisciplined pay way more than they intended.

It is sometimes said that saying virtually anything with a (decent) British accent automatically makes it sound erudite and intelligent. Unfortunately, Captain Obvious, we cannot hear your British accent even if it were to be of the decent sort (which it probably isn't.)

On Tuesday, January 12, 2016 at 10:56:14 PM UTC-5, RichA wrote:
And observatory.

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/22247/lot/58/

And have ~$400,000+ left over.