Is eBay still as Interesting to Instrument Collectors as It once was?

Unfortunately, the answer to that question seems to be a resounding "NO!" An informal survey of my collector customers suggests that far fewer "interesting" instruments have been offered on eBay of late when compared with the offerings of only a year or two ago. Most of my collector customers approach Ebay watching the same way I do - I actively maintain a 10-day book mark list of items of interest. The average number of items on my personal moving bookmark list over a month can be considered as quantitatively characterizing how interesting Ebay is to me during that month. Until perhaps two years ago, my 10-day bookmark list averaged some 20 to 50 items, but more recently only 10 to 25 items - i.e., eBay is less than half as interesting to me now as it was only two years ago. I think that feels about right, as do many of my collector customers, and it raises some serious questions. Has the majority of previously undiscovered quality instruments finally found their way into the hands of advanced collectors or, are more sellers now choosing to offer their highest quality items through private sales rather than through eBay auctions? Finally, is this apparent downward trend on eBay likely to change in response to the recent restrictions announced by the major auction houses regarding their future sales of antique scientific instruments? Comments welcome.

Bonhams to Expand Their Scientific Instrument Sales

I would like to thank Jon Baddeley, Bonhams Director & Group Head of Collectors' Sales, for providing the following information on their scientific instrument auction plans:

"I can confirm that Bonhams see sales of scientific and technical instruments as being key to to the future development of the collectors market and we certainly visualise it as a growth area especially as Christies and Sotheby's are now not going to compete vigorously in this market. Currently we include scientific instruments with our marine auctions - as from 2008, we will be producing two catalogues a year devoted to instruments of science and technology in London. There are also plans to start specialist sales in New York.

In my opinion it is very important that an auction house offers a vendor the opportunity to sell antique instruments in specialised auctions irrespective of value. If we are to encourage new collectors into the market, then again it is imperative for auctions to include lots at more modest prices rather than just those instruments worth in excess of £3000 . As we all know, there are some fantastically important and beautiful instruments in the £500-3,000 price range and I would have no hesitation in continuing to include such items in Bonhams auctions."

Sotheby's has Discontinued Scientific Instrument Auctions

In their 2006 year-end results, Sotheby's announced that they would be moving away from middle-range auctions to focus on sales at the top end of the global art market. Accordingly, the minimum lot threshold at Sotheby's has been raised to £3000. Scientific instrument sales have been discontinued, all catalog subscribers have been notified by letter, and the specialist responsible for these sales, Catherine Southon, has already left the company. Library globes will continue to be sold by Sotheby's and will be included in furniture sales. If some high-end exceptional scientifc instrments were consigned with other property, it is possible that they would also be included in furniture sales. I would like to thank Michael Turner, Director of Sotheby's Clock and Watch Department, for providing this information.

My immediate reaction was that the combined Christie's and Sotheby's changes would create a vacuum in the international auction market for scientific instruments, allowing Bonhams and others to expand significantly in this area, especially in England. I hope to get comments from Bonhams, Skinner's, Dorotheum, and Auction Team Koeln regarding their scientific instrument auction plans for future postings.

Christie's Organizational Changes Announced May 2007

Christie's in London will no longer be holding individual sales in the following Collectible categories:- Cameras & Photographic Equipment, Toys and Trains, Teddy Bears and Dolls, Mechanical Music, Maritime Models Instruments and Artifacts, Scientific Instruments, Popular, Film and Entertainment Memorabilia, Sporting Memorabilia. Scheduled sales continue until the end of the current sale season in July. Christie's alternative strategy will be to create two new categories of sales; "Icons of the Twentieth Century" and "Science, Exploration & Discovery" which will focus on top lots from some of the above categories and objects which have crossover interest away from the specialist collectors. The Science, Exploration and Discovery department will hold approximately three sales per year, incorporating the following categories:

Significant examples of Scientific Instruments

• Optical
• Measuring
• Surveying

Significant Technical and Historic Apparatus

• Communication equipment
• Electrical apparatus
• Calculating machines

Navigation and Exploration Instruments

• Astrolabes
• Time measuring
• Fine marine models
• Space

Other Related Areas of Interest

• Natural sciences
• Medical

Exploration and Discovery

• Discovery remains
• Atlases and maps
• Books and manuscripts
• Pictures
• Prints
• Related relics/objects
• Travel memorabilia
• Diving equipment

I would like to thank thank Michael Pritchard, Director of Christie's Photographic Auctions, for providing this information.

The implications of these changes will certainly be felt throughout the antique scientific instrument market place. Christie's clearly intends to focus on the better lots that now usually appear in their "Exceptional Instrument" sales and many lesser lots will no longer be accepted. The implications to collectors, dealers, and estates who want to sell an entire collection are clear - Christie's will only be interested in your best pieces - you will have to find another venue for the rest (e.g., smaller auction houses that usually have only limited visibility in the world market place, eBay that requires very time consuming individual sales, or dealers who will take a collection on consignment, but will also want the better pieces to compensate them for the time required to sell the lesser pieces).