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General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: sem73 on Wednesday 05 September 07 19:26 BST (UK)

Title: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: sem73 on Wednesday 05 September 07 19:26 BST (UK): Hi All

How sad....but interesting!!.....

Item number - 110165230440

http://www.rootschat.com/links/01vr/

Sarah :)

Moderator comment: URL added
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: angi0 on Wednesday 05 September 07 19:34 BST (UK): Hi Sarah

That is so sad... wish I could afford it and return some of the stuff to family members some lovely photo's in there and what looks like a lot of war leters too..

Angie
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Lydart on Wednesday 05 September 07 21:13 BST (UK): EVERYONE on RootsChat MUST want this !

There's refs to a Maurice Robinson, a Lieut Green in Ceylon ... birth certs, photos, secret war-time documents ...

SOMEONE on RC must have a little more money than sense (!) and could buy it ? Wish I could afford it ...
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Thursday 06 September 07 10:38 BST (UK): Hiya all

What a treasure! and I thought I was a hoarder!

Hope whoever buys it has the sense to try and trace the families connected to the items

Sadly they are probably only after the theatre programs which are collectable

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Lydart on Thursday 06 September 07 11:47 BST (UK): As you say, the programmes are very collectable, and selling those on, would probably cover the eBay cost for the really interesting stuff !
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Les de B on Thursday 06 September 07 12:22 BST (UK): The photo's of this box on Ebay reminded me of a recent "box of treasures" that came into my possession. My grandmother's house was demolished in the mid 1990's, and a new house erected by new owners (non relatives). Only a few months ago, the new owners contacted me saying that when the old house was demolished they found a box of letters, photo's, cards, etc....... under the old house. After all these years, the new owners had decided to Google the address and names on the box's contents, and in doing so, found my name connected to them on a Family Tree Website.

You could imagine the delight when I received an email "out of the blue" from this person saying she found the box and contents, and wanted to know if I would like them. Of course the answer was "YES"! The contents were fantastics; old photo's, letters, documents, but most cherished by me, 4 birthday cards in pristine condition written by my grandmother to her mother in 1930, 1931, 1932, and 1933 - just fantastic family history!

Hope the future owner of the Ebay box has good intentions, and makes somebody just as lucky as I was.

Les
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Lydart on Thursday 06 September 07 12:24 BST (UK): Oh how lucky you were ... just the sort of thing every FH enthusiast hopes for, and rarely gets !
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: toni* on Thursday 06 September 07 12:59 BST (UK): its a shame isn't it i would love to be able to buy it too. but obviously it would mean more if it was to do with my family.

i saw a birth certificate in one of the photos, are you allowed to sell them on?
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: jamiecussans on Thursday 06 September 07 16:56 BST (UK): Dear All,

I am the seller of the box of ephemera and was surprised to hear there's a whole chat thread on it!

My main business is postage stamps and this box came with another 4 boxes of stamp collections as a 'clearout lot' which I bought at a stamp auction. It was very interesting to look through this box and ideally I would keep it and perhaps try to track down family members (although presumably they aren't very interested because they sent it to auction). It would also take time to find them which at the moment I don't have.

So it was a choice of putting the box in my attic for years or putting it on Ebay and letting someone else enjoy and research it.

Thanks,
Jamie
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: pjbuk007 on Thursday 06 September 07 17:24 BST (UK): This looks fantastic for someone.

Should we not put the names up? ie in title of thread?

I can See Secker, Greeen, Goulay, Wellings. Will put those names on appropriate forum.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: DJFRENCH on Thursday 06 September 07 17:34 BST (UK): Sounds really interesting...can't access the ebay link but it makes me sad that these things have to sold ....

i would rather they were handed over to the rightful oweners in a perfect world
how much is the box ...

DJ
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: DJFRENCH on Thursday 06 September 07 17:43 BST (UK): I have seen it now! ::)

Thare are some wonderful pieces in there which i now understand can be sold but i hope the photos find the right families.

Couldn't help laughing at the Globe Theatre THE IMPORTANCEOF BEING EARNEST ;D - see the Yellow Gang THread ;D ;D..we know all bour Ernest but can we find him... ;)

DJ
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Thursday 06 September 07 18:10 BST (UK): Hiya Jamie

I can understand you putting these items up for sale because yes it would be a waste just sitting in your attic and looking at the price I think I'm going to go and have a clear out!

Perhaps if something like this comes your way again you might consider giving us a shout now you know about us - maybe we can inspire you to start your tree

Good luck with your selling

And Les De B - I'm green with envy - every Rootchatters dream ;D

Now if someone can just unearth my Bowkett family bible....

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Arranroots on Thursday 06 September 07 18:15 BST (UK): Hi Jamie

Welcome to Rootschat! :)

I think there were lots of us wondering whether we had enough pennies in the purse to afford your box! Even though we are not related!

If you look at some of our threads you will see that we make quite a habit of reuniting people with lost photos, samplers and the like. See Rootschat in the Media (http://surname.rootschat.com/lexicon/rc-media.php)

If you decide to split the lot and keep the family history stuff, the Rootschat detectives would love to help you out!

Either way, as Willow says, if we can help you with anything else please join in!

kind regards, Arranroots ;)
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Lydart on Thursday 06 September 07 19:06 BST (UK): Hello Jamie,

(Welcome to RootsChat ... we do hope you take up an interest in your family history ... it can become quite an addiction !)

Would you possibly consider selling the theatre stuff separately (as I know there's a market for that) and sorting the rest out and allowing us RootsChatters to see what we can find out for you, and find the rightful home for the stuff ? We've done it before, with great success. (Here's a tempter ... ) if you are a regular eBay seller, it could be good publicity for you !
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Nadine Moore on Thursday 06 September 07 19:27 BST (UK): Jamie

Please consider splitting this lot, it would be such a shame for those photo's and personal papers to end up in a bin after all this time.

We Rootschatters are an eager bunch and enjoy nothing more than solving a mystery.

I fould the picture of the envelope that read

"Very Private - Do not open until I am dead, Dorothy"

extremely sad and feel this should be reunited with Dorothy's family

dinie
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: jamiecussans on Thursday 06 September 07 20:23 BST (UK): Hi All,

Thanks for your messages. I can't take the lot off Ebay because it is against Ebay policy and would be unfair to the bidders, but I could let you have the email address of the winning bidder so you can contact them if you are interested in the photos, letters etc.

I spent 2 or 3 hours taking the photos because I kept stopping to read things! The "very private - do not open until I am dead" letter is sad but the main point of the gentleman's letter is thanking his wife for the life they had together, which I found very moving and impressive.

As I said in my earlier post the box was sent to auction so perhaps the next of kin did not want to keep it or it's possible there were no next of kin.

Jamie
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Arranroots on Thursday 06 September 07 20:38 BST (UK): Well, maybe the best thing is if you invite the winning bidder to join us here if they are interested?

:D
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: jamiecussans on Thursday 06 September 07 20:39 BST (UK): Yes I will let them know about rootschat!
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Les de B on Friday 07 September 07 02:54 BST (UK): Quote from: Willow 4873 on Thursday 06 September 07 18:10 BST (UK)

And Les De B - I'm green with envy - every Rootchatters dream ;D

Now if someone can just unearth my Bowkett family bible....

Willow x

Funny you should mention the Family Bible. Regarding my grandmother's house being pulled down. When she died, her brother lived in it until he died and left it to charity, the charity being the ones that actually sold the house before demolition. However, I found out from the neighbours that the brother actually gave them the Family Bible before he died as a token of thanks for looking after him in his latter life.

I politely asked these neighoburs, if the Bible was gathering dust, I would gladly accept it from them. They declined my offer, however, allowed me to take photo's of it, and including handwritten notes on the family within the bible itself. That was about 6 years ago. I wrote to the neighbours about 3 years ago, again requesting I would take the bible if they didn't want it. This time no reply at all.

I suppose one has to take the "good" (original box of documents I received) with the "bad" (Family Bible I didn't receive).

Les
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: MarieC on Friday 07 September 07 07:51 BST (UK): This is amazing! How often does it happen that someone mentioned in a thread turns up on Rootschat!! ;D ;D I'm going to keep monitoring this thread in the hope that Rootschatters get their hands on the family history stuff and reunite it with family, as has happened before! :D

MarieC
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Ruskie on Friday 07 September 07 08:07 BST (UK): This is such an interesting thread - I'm feeling a bit tense actually and hoping someone caring and worthy wins this auction. I hope you don't mind if I register my interest too. I would like to be notified of the outcome.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: adee7 on Friday 07 September 07 12:06 BST (UK): When I read this thread I felt some sadness that such personal items could be set aside in a box then show up on ebay.

I'm fascinated by the idea that Rootschatters could be involved in finding a relative of this person.

Wish we could post a large note on e-bay to say that we're here for folks who find similar items and aren't sure about what to do with them.

Kathleen
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Lydart on Friday 07 September 07 12:11 BST (UK): I've just checked the details of the current bidders for the lot ... Bidder 2 seems to have the highest bid so far, and if you then check to see details of that bidder, he/she seems to be a purchasers of similar lots, with emphasis on cards and ephemera ... so I suspect he/she is going to break the lot up and re-sell as separate smaller lots, with the possibility that things like the letters will be scrapped ? I could be wrong of course ...

But it doesn't look too hopeful for a family history enthusiastic to get it ...

(Oh for an ENORMOUS pension ... then I'd go for it !)
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Ruskie on Friday 07 September 07 12:38 BST (UK): Well Lydart, that might be good news in a way - they might be happy to pass on the letters (and possibly photographs and personal items with little monetary value) to the rootchatters if we send a SAE ;) or maybe we could all put in a pound or two and purchase the personal itmes?
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Aussie Karrob on Friday 07 September 07 13:09 BST (UK): WOW WOW WOW WOW

What a treasure indeed. I do hope you lot over there in the UK get your hands on the personal items. PLEASE take up jamiecussans offer of the winning bidders email address.

It is too good to lose.

Cheers
Robert
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: poppysmum on Friday 07 September 07 14:21 BST (UK): i wish i could afford it, I'd LOVE to have a look through that box!

caroline
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: poppysmum on Friday 07 September 07 14:23 BST (UK): hmm, maybe if the thetre stuff is collectable, we could make back the money the box costs by selling them back on ebay...

i think my husband would kill me though, in fact he'd probably go mad if he even knew that i've been looking at it, i am very sentimental!

caroline
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Lady Di on Friday 07 September 07 14:27 BST (UK): Ohhhhhh NO - please don't let this lot go to a non family member.

I have always been a sucker for family history items that have lost their way. The book, Pilgrim's Progress, that I found was returned to the right family, thanks to Rootschatters. 8)

I just know we can do it again.

Anyone have any idea how much the asking price is?

Di
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: adee7 on Friday 07 September 07 14:30 BST (UK): The bid is now at 122.09 pounds.

Kathleen
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Jeanette H on Friday 07 September 07 15:24 BST (UK): Hello To All RootsChat Members,

What a magnificent "Time Capsule” - A Snap-Shot in Time.

I have been so enthralled looking through all those photographs of the various ephemera. Trying to find out what I could about the persons behind all the material
objects.

What a shame that all this valuable information has to go to collectors, who only see the “MONEY” sign, instead of people like us who see the value in what interesting
stories are hidden behind the ‘Mystery’!

* Such a large collection of ‘Letters’ (which appear to have been written during the 2nd World War, imagine what stories they would hold.

* Also the very large collection of ‘Theatre Programs’, they must have loved attending the Theatre Productions.

* Photographs galore.

Adding to what other people have noticed with regards to Names of people:
* A Passport in the name of ‘Maurice Robinson - 427521’.
* Maurice Robinson (RIP Letter - dated: Feb. 16th 1971)
* A Photo - with names: Paddy O’Sullivan, Dympna Brennan, Olive Crawford, Afon Powell, at Oxford.
* David Davidson.
* Miss H. Reeves - Letters addressed to various addresses: Harlow, Essex / Sandwich Bay, Kent / Framlingham, Suffolk.

The time-frame appears to cover from about the late 1890’s to early 1970’s.

It would be wonderful if somehow we could perhaps find any possible relatives and put them on to all this material, which is clearly in need of a loving home.

Jeanette H.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: pjbuk007 on Friday 07 September 07 21:42 BST (UK): As I suggested earlier, why not put each name in a title for a new thread in the common room?

I did SECKER yesterday, but have to go offline again asap/ Please do it as it means the name comes up and if there are any interested rootschatters, they will see it.

NB to MODS - I think we should have an "On EBAY" board, because these things do not quite fit into the "unwanted heirlooms" or other boards.

I am happy to look on ebay weekly.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: pjbuk007 on Friday 07 September 07 21:43 BST (UK): And each post should have the relevant surname in caps as the first bit of the SUBJECT
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Arranroots on Friday 07 September 07 21:47 BST (UK): There is no need to post individually for each name in the box - internet search engines will find this thread and individual threads will not provide any further info.

I will suggest an Ebay board - but bear in mind that these are time-limited items, so they would effectively "expire" when the auction ends. I don't know what the thoughts of Admin are about effectively advertising on behalf of Ebay (they don't currently return the compliment, lol!)

kind regards, Arranroots ;)
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: adee7 on Friday 07 September 07 23:09 BST (UK): A few more names from the box:

Curry Paxton
Mr. W. Howe

There's a letter of condolence from the Ulster Bank Limited addressed to Mr. William Johnston re his mother's death.

One of the items that caught my attention (and made me feel sad) was an envelope with "To The Sweetest Girl In All The World" written on it. :(

Kathleen
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: MarieC on Saturday 08 September 07 10:04 BST (UK): Could I suggest something? Could someone in the UK see if they can take up a collection (may have to be a collection of promises! ::) ) to put in a bid? I would do it/be involved, but I am not in the currency zone, and it is a real pain, and expensive, sending money back and forth internationally! If you did make a joint bid, you'd obviously get some of your money back selling the theatre programmes, and a huge amount of fun trying to find claimants for the family stuff. Just a thought...

MarieC
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Berlin-Bob on Saturday 08 September 07 10:15 BST (UK): Quote from: MarieC on Saturday 08 September 07 10:04 BST (UK)
Could I suggest something? Could someone in the UK see if they can take up a collection (may have to be a collection of promises!⁽¹⁾ ::) ) to put in a bid? I would do it/be involved, but I am not in the currency zone, and it is a real pain, and expensive, sending money back and forth internationally! If you did make a joint bid, you'd obviously get some of your money back selling the theatre programmes⁽²⁾, and a huge amount of fun⁽⁴⁾ trying to find claimants for the family stuff⁽³⁾. Just a thought...

MarieC

Nice idea, but ......

⁽¹⁾ some people would promise to contribute and then "forget", and the Organiser will be out of pocket

⁽²⁾Would this really cover your costs ?? Some of this stuff goes for quite high amounts.

⁽³⁾Do the family want to be traced ?? Maybe the Family (binned it)(sold it)(gave it away) in the first place.

⁽⁴⁾Definitely agree with this one; just needs a lot of thought before starting the quest :) :)

Bob
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: MarthaJane on Saturday 08 September 07 13:29 BST (UK): I've just had a look at that on ebay, incredibly sad the family evidently had no interest in the personal items.

However, I work for auctioneers and at our last sale, the entire contents of a local farm, that had been in the family for generations, there were several boxes full of school reports from the 1920s, photos, letters, certificates etc. but the deceased had never married, nor had any of his brothers (he had no sisters) the farm and all his money was left to distant relations and so no-one was interested in them. They all went to dealers in ephemera.

I would love to put a bid in on that box!
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: ankerdine on Saturday 08 September 07 17:58 BST (UK): How lovely for you Les de B, it's the sort of thing I dream of happening to me.

I have been waiting for a scrapbook to turn up which was always brought out on a Sunday evening when I stayed with my grandparents as a child in the late '40s. It was the usual sort of thing, photos of ladies in dark full-length dresses and big hats, postcards of seaside resorts, letters and beautiful birthday or valentine cards embroidered and signed with love.

I don't know what happened to it after my family split up from them in the 1950s, after my father died and mum married again. My grandparents would have nothing to do with me after that event. Terrible..
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Lydart on Saturday 08 September 07 21:21 BST (UK): It might be a good idea to 'cool it' so that you-know-who has a good chance ? This site is fully searchable on Google, dont forget !

I wonder if the person who started this thread might like to lock it ? (Sorry, forget who it was !) It can always be unlocked later ...
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: liverpool annie on Saturday 08 September 07 21:23 BST (UK): To the Rootschatter who's name can't be mentioned ........ ::)

Let us all know as soon as you get it ........... you'll have loads of helpers !!

Good Luck .... got my fingers and eyes crossed for you !!

Annie :) :) :)
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Jeanette H on Sunday 09 September 07 07:19 BST (UK): Hello To All RootsChat Members,

I have recently had contact with various departments at the 'Victoria & Albert Museum' in London.

This has prompted me to think why not alert them to this magnificent "Time Capsule” - A Snap-Shot in Time.

So I have sent off some Emails to my various contacts.
Time may be against us.
However, let's hope something good comes of it.

Perhaps they may be able to assist, or contact the appropriate facility interested in all this Research Material.

Possibly a 'Social History Museum' or some place similar that have the means to obtain such material, for instance the 'Government Records Office', perhaps.

'Wishful Thinking'
'Keep All Our Fingers Crossed'.

Jeanette H.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Ruskie on Sunday 09 September 07 08:28 BST (UK): IF anyone decides to bid, wait till the last second and bid HIGH! In fact if you have two pc's you can place a last second bid, if that isn't enough, a second person on a second pc can be at the ready to place an immediate higher bid. OR you can pay for a snipe. If you bid too early, others will come in an push the rice up and up. Best of luck to any who are able to bid. And you can always sell off the programmes etc to get some of your money back. Good luck!!!
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: bel_jon68 on Sunday 09 September 07 10:25 BST (UK): I've just come across this thread - checked out the listing on ebay and have to admit to getting tingles down my spine!

What a wonderful find - if I had the money, I'd bid, and between us Rootschatters we could piece together this huge jigsaw - I'm sure the story told by the contents of the box would make a fascinating read.

Bel
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Polldoll on Monday 10 September 07 02:54 BST (UK): Fabulous story ...just registering my interest too ... all those photos!!!
Polldoll on a "reckie " from the restoration board ... ;) ;D
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Tony55 on Monday 10 September 07 16:08 BST (UK): Hi all,

Just got in and checked on developments :( was surprised how much it had gone up so soon and i'm afraid it's not too far off my upper limit i was prepared to bid, there seems quite a competition going on between bidder 2 and 4 and i think it will be quite frenzied in the last few minutes, thought i'd better give notice incase anyone else want's to have a go.....sorry if i've let anyone down!

Tony... :( :( :(
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: jamiecussans on Monday 10 September 07 17:05 BST (UK): There are currently 69 "watchers" on Ebay - that's 69 different Ebay members who are interested in the lot. I usually consider 20 watchers to be a lot! I didn't think the lot would be so popular but when lots of people are interested it's just a question of how high they're prepared to bid.

Still, I'm sure the buyer will remember the lot long after the price has been forgotten! Hope everyone on here has enjoyed looking at the photos.

Jamie
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Jeanette H on Monday 10 September 07 18:01 BST (UK): Hello Jamiecussans,

Yes, we have been keeping a watchful eye on the activity at your Ebay site.

The magnificent "Time Capsule” - A Snap-Shot in Time,
as I have been calling it.
[/color][/b]

I'm sure you will be pleased with the results. As who ever finally ends up with the "Time Capsule", will be.

I only hope, as many other people do, that the successful bidder is someone who really appreciates the mysteries they will find.

It would be wonderful to be able to research the life and times of those people, whose personal lives we have had a glimpse into. I am sure they would be amazed at all the interest that has been created through all their personal 'Keepsakes'. Never thinking that what was of personal value to them, would ever have gone for such a large amount.

We really did enjoy looking at your photographs of all the various research materials. Well laid out and displayed creatively. A credit to all the time and effort you would have put in to it. You definitely have been rewarded.

Well done!

Jeanette H.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: jamiecussans on Monday 10 September 07 18:10 BST (UK): Thanks Jeanette, as a postgrad. History student I am very interested in the lot but decided to offer it on Ebay so someone else can go through it properly. I'm sure it will go to a good home.

Thanks, Jamie
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Keziahemm on Monday 10 September 07 18:12 BST (UK): Hi All

My daughter bookmarked this item when it first appeared on ebay with the intention of bidding at the last moment, unfortunately it's already gone above the amount we were prepared to bid ::). Hopefully the person who gets the lot will endeavour to re-unite the families mentioned with some of their social history :-\.

Regards

Susan
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: meles on Monday 10 September 07 18:23 BST (UK): Are there any Rootschatters bidding now?

Half an hour to go...

meles
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: meles on Monday 10 September 07 18:34 BST (UK): I was asking as I was going to bid.

But it's now £450! I did not win the lottery on Saturday, so I will gracefully withdraw...

meles
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Monday 10 September 07 18:40 BST (UK): Maybe we should all start checking out our local auction houses for things like this

This is a good address http://www.ukauctionguides.co.uk/areaprot/blank_page.htm

Its now up to £455.67

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Keziahemm on Monday 10 September 07 18:43 BST (UK): I stepped out for 15 minutes and couldn't believe the price :o :o

Susan
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Monday 10 September 07 18:46 BST (UK): This site http://www.blackcountryauctions.co.uk/ has on it itswebsite the following at the moment

Lot 501: A WW2 Roll Of Honour for The Steel Nut & Joseph Hampton Ltd. steel firm of Wednesbury, West Midlands. (Estimate £80-120)

Or another option is contacting them and asking to be informed if the sort of stuff we are interested in. Maybe we could set up a contact link to Rootschat and have a board where they could post this sort of stuff. Would have to see what the moderators think

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: sem73 on Monday 10 September 07 18:54 BST (UK): Hi All

Glad you've all enjoyed this thread!!...never thought it would get so many of you gripped when I posted it!!!......you might have guessed I'm obsessed with F H on e-bay!! ;D

Sarah :)

PS - It's the most replies to a thread I've had!!...LOL...
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Monday 10 September 07 18:58 BST (UK): Final bid £733.00!!

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Selina on Monday 10 September 07 19:01 BST (UK): Gosh that was quite exciting at the end of the auction!!

Selina
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: bel_jon68 on Monday 10 September 07 19:02 BST (UK): That is absolutely astonishing!!! I do hope the winning bidder is someone genuinely interested in the contents of the box and that we won't see all this stuff back on ebay as individual lots.

Bel
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: bel_jon68 on Monday 10 September 07 19:03 BST (UK): Sarah
...and look at how many of us are online right now!
Bel
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Monday 10 September 07 19:04 BST (UK): Yes I was gripping the edge of my seat

Well done Jamie!

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: MarthaJane on Monday 10 September 07 19:05 BST (UK): Succesful bidder been dealing on ebay since July, mainly in magic lantern slides.

How about contacting him/her and trying to find out what he intends to do with the personal information?
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Tony55 on Monday 10 September 07 19:06 BST (UK): :'( sorry guys...went to £531 but that was as high as i could go!

Well done Jamie, please remember us on Rootschat in the future if your having trouble shifting anything....sure someone will be interested!

Regards, Tony :(

(lets hope if it's just the theatre stuff the winners after we may still get the chance of the family history stuff...... ::) perhaps might be worth mentioning to the successful bidder Jamie! :)
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: adee7 on Monday 10 September 07 19:14 BST (UK): Whew!! Good try, Tony. Too bad someone on here didn't win the lottery.

I wonder if we have a sliver of hope that the winning bidder will present some of the items here for us to work on.

Kathleen
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: MarthaJane on Monday 10 September 07 19:16 BST (UK): I have just emailed the successful bidder asking what he/she intends to do with the personal items and whether they will go up for sale again on ebay.

I'll let you know if I get a reply.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Tony55 on Monday 10 September 07 19:21 BST (UK): Fingers crossed MarthaJane :) it would be a shame if it just dissapeared without trace!
Is it possible to have a topic that is only accessable to members for posting this type of information ? i'm sure this thread generated a lot of the bidding interest on Ebay!......just a thought

Tony
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: meles on Monday 10 September 07 19:31 BST (UK): £733 to a last minute bidder! :o

meles
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: MarthaJane on Monday 10 September 07 19:43 BST (UK): tony 55, good point. I was tempted to bid but it soon went beyond my means! How many Roots chatters bid I do not know.

Not sure if it is possible to have a 'secret' thread, I suspect not.

I will report back if I hear anything about the winner's intentions.

Something a tad odd. All the other bidder's identities were hidden apart from the successful one. Ebay hide bidder's profiles when high amounts of money are involved.

Hmm. Have to think about that.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Tony55 on Monday 10 September 07 19:49 BST (UK): It all seemed odd to me....(and a bit nerve wracking) never done anything like that before so had to set up my account and have a quiqk read through the rules and regulations all in the last couple of days.. :o

Can't realy understand the bidding as i was bidder 8 but the ammount shown was slightly lower than my maximum bid then it suddenly jumped to the winning bid :o...i was top bid till about 20 seconds from the end! :'( :'( :'(

Tony
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: meles on Monday 10 September 07 20:07 BST (UK): Yes, Tony, that's how it happens!

When I bid, I make one bid (usually just a few pence above the lowest possible), then make my highest bid I am prepared to pay. The system will bid in stages on my behalf up to my max.

But most bids come in the last seconds. Sometimes I will bid above my max, other times I will restrain myself and stick to my max.

e-bay makes its money on the last minute feeding frenzy. So stick to what you can afford!

meles
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: madpants on Monday 10 September 07 20:17 BST (UK): You were sniped Tony, www.auctionstealer.com you can set up a snipe (3 free ones a week) and probably several people did. It bids for you 10-20 seconds before the end of the auction, especially good if you're not going to be at your comp at the end.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: pjbuk007 on Monday 10 September 07 21:13 BST (UK): I am going on an ebay course next week - hope to learn about the snipes etc then as it is a bit of a mystery to me.

As to Aranroots' point much earlier in the thread, that search engines would find the thread anyway, I might be wrong but that seems not quite the point.

I do not Perrett or Trask in Google every few days, but if I saw a rootschat post "TRASK items for sale" I would see it in "new posts" and have a look.

In the past some kind rootschatters have mentioned items they have seen.

So I am experimentally going to put a couple of names up which have some brilliant items in ebay ephemera auctions, in the Common Room.

If this is a bad thing to do, I am sure I will be corrected!

And I do wonder if there should be an AUCTION ITEMS area in unwanted items, so that anyone could post with the surname in the title if they saw anything?
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: bel_jon68 on Monday 10 September 07 21:13 BST (UK): Bad luck, Tony :(

Madpants is right, unfortunately - why people can't just set their absolute maximum bid and let ebay bid automatically, I don't know - maybe they get a thrill out of 'playing dirty' and swiping something from someone else at the last minute! >:(

I've just done a quick search for "ephemera" on ebay - there's a lot of interesting stuff to be had if you've got the cash...

Bel
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: meles on Monday 10 September 07 21:20 BST (UK): Well, I would not say playing dirty.

It's an auction, and people may bid when they wish and for how much, just like a real auction....

meles
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: jamiecussans on Monday 10 September 07 21:27 BST (UK): Yeah it is fair - you just have to place your max. bid and wait and see if it's enough. Doesn't make any difference if you bid 7 days or 7 seconds before it ends..a max. bid is a max. bid!
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Monday 10 September 07 21:33 BST (UK): Quite true Jamie

If you were standing in an auction room you would bid up to your max so it all depends on if you have the cash to start with

Wonder whats the longest time a bid has run for in an auction room?

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: bel_jon68 on Monday 10 September 07 21:37 BST (UK): OK, sorry, perhaps 'playing dirty' is a bit OTT :-[, it's just tactics I suppose.
My point is that you can be sniped for a figure less than your maximum bid. The automatic bidding system is slow enough to allow a snipe to creep in during the last few seconds of an auction and by time ebay is ready to up your bid, you've been outbid.

Great news if you're a seller though!!!!! :) We know someone who's a happy bunny tonight! ;)
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: jamiecussans on Monday 10 September 07 21:39 BST (UK): The only difference with bidding in an auction room is the bidding stages - usually £50 or £100 when the bidding reaches £500. So for that reason the bidding never lasts very long in auction rooms.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Monday 10 September 07 21:42 BST (UK): True Jamie

Bet in never goes up in pennies like e-bay lol

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: jamiecussans on Monday 10 September 07 21:47 BST (UK): Yeah that is why people bid in the last minute, to try and bid an extra couple of pounds more than the current high bidder and win the auction. Annoying when it happens but if you bid the maximum you're willing to spend then it's fair enough
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: bel_jon68 on Monday 10 September 07 21:55 BST (UK): Willow

Longest auction room bid I've found so far is 74 hours of continuous bidding.

The world's longest eBay auction was listed on January 13 2000 and is set to expire on December 31 2030 coming up just short of 31 years.

(this from a website called
thelongestlistofthelongeststuffatthelongestdomainnameatlonglast.com) 8)
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Monday 10 September 07 21:57 BST (UK): Lol thanx Bel-Jon

Do you think someone put the wrong date in on the e-bay one! They may have dropped down dead by then

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Tony55 on Monday 10 September 07 21:58 BST (UK): Quote from: jamiecussans on Monday 10 September 07 21:47 BST (UK)

Yeah that is why people bid in the last minute, to try and bid an extra couple of pounds more than the current high bidder and win the auction. Annoying when it happens but if you bid the maximum you're willing to spend then it's fair enough

Guess all's fair in Love and War.............and Auction's! :)

So do Ebay only take the minimum of your maximum bid to beat the next highest bid? Bet it's easy to get carried away!

Well done again Jamie.

Tony
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: jamiecussans on Monday 10 September 07 22:06 BST (UK): Thanks Tony. That's right - if you bid £100, and there's only one other bidder and they've bid £10, then you will win the auction and pay £11 for the item. If someone bids £98, then you'd have to pay £100 and so on. It becomes second nature after a while!
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: madpants on Monday 10 September 07 22:11 BST (UK): but thankfully they've changed the reserve item bidding process.

It used to be, if you bid on something with a reserve
eg. 99p start with a £100 reserve, if you were the only person to bid but were prepared to pay £150 you'd not get it because no one bid you higher than 99p

Now
eg. 99p start with a £100 reserve, if you put a max bid of £150 it automatically hits the reserve price (£100) and then if anyone else bids it goes up in the usual increments

pjbuk007 you don't need to go on a course!! we have all the answers ;) (current feedback 1777 ;D)
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Tony55 on Monday 10 September 07 22:14 BST (UK): Ah thanks for that Jamie...guess i've a lot to learn. :)

I hope you noticed my earlier post reguarding items that would interest Rootschatter's! if ever there's anything that would be of interest to geneologis't that you can't shift via Ebay then give us a shout on here....someone's sure to help out! ;)

(i guess that could only happen if an item didn't reach it's reserve though....if there's no reserve i guess you have to let things go for next to nothing if there's few bidder's! )

Tony
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Monday 10 September 07 22:57 BST (UK): If Jamie gives us a yell first we can make an offer or if he just lets us know hes putting something on e-bay we can all have a bid

Though it might be a good thing if we let each other know we're bidding lol

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: jamiecussans on Monday 10 September 07 23:01 BST (UK): The only thing I've got that might be of interest is a small collection of letters from a British officer in the First World War trenches writing to his sister back home. Quite interesting as one letter describes a German plane crash landing in a nearby field!
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Monday 10 September 07 23:18 BST (UK): You will have to let us know the names Jamie and we'll see what we can come up with

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Lydart on Monday 10 September 07 23:32 BST (UK): Congratulations Jamie ... guess we know who is a happy bunny tonight !

Hard luck Tony ... its what they call a learning curve for you I suppose.

Jamie ... were you permited to email the winner with all our interest, so that perhaps he/she joins RootsChat and we do get to see some of the stuff a bit closer ?
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: pjbuk007 on Monday 10 September 07 23:37 BST (UK): Have a look at my post in the Common Room WINDLE, FOX interesting items

I think berlin-bob has a point. Maybe we should just keep looking ourselves. Although I have been all through "ephemera" which has taken hours! There are many other names of wonderful finds such as ration books, in memoriam cards and more. And that ignores the family bibles which are in another listing. I realise that the chance of anything relating to a rootschatter being in one of those tasty lots is slim. I was thinking of some way to alert people, but now realise that chances of success are small. And only the most obsessional of us will keep looking regularly.

Perhaps we should have a sticky saying "Remember to look on ebay". So that everyone has a trawl through the listings now and then.

It is so frustrating as someone whose relatives chucked EVERYTHING out and whose father's family bible was nicked in the 1950s, it exercises me greatly to have so little!
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Lydart on Monday 10 September 07 23:42 BST (UK): Slightly off topic ... but pjbuk's remark about having so little reminded me that when my mother died, I found a huge box full of every single letter I had ever written to her in about 50 years or so ... right from when I was a child, and including 100's of letters I'd written to her from Africa, which were a wonderful replacements for all my Africa diaries that I lost ...

Which of our children will have such a collection, in the days of emails ??
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: bel_jon68 on Monday 10 September 07 23:46 BST (UK): PJ - I sympathise with you entirely - my late grandfather had great stories to tell about WWII - such as the time he was one of only three survivors of a sunken ship, and spent 48 hours in the water (which is why he hated trips to the seaside and would always stay in the car) - and someone threw out his medals and all his other war memorabilia, plus cine films of me as a toddler with my grandmother (who died before I was 3). It's so frustrating!

Now that I'm doing my family history for my kids, I won't throw anything away!
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: pjbuk007 on Tuesday 11 September 07 00:07 BST (UK): Thanks for the sympathy, both!

I do tend to hoard things. But I am realising that I should be more coherent about how I file them.

I recently helped a bereaved friend and her sisters (whom I have known for >50 years) clear out the house which I have been visiting for 45 years. The pile I insisted that they keep grew and grew - her Dad had kept his log books from scout camps in the thirties, all in his own hand!

Not to mention that he had a beautifully written and framed family tree. That is what comes from having a family with professional (artist) antecedents going back generations!

My lot were right at the bottom of the heap until the mid 20th century, so there is not much on record. But I love them just as much.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Ruskie on Tuesday 11 September 07 00:17 BST (UK): Wow, I've just logged on this morning to read what a commotion I missed last night!

What a price. Jamie you must be thrilled!

I really hope that the lucky winner will consider contacting the rootschatters so they can solve the mysteries contained in the box. It's fairly unlikely that the letters and photographs themselves will have much monetary value and I assume they either collect the programmes etc or plan to sell them on.

Hopefully the seller will at least give rootschatters the chance to try to find any living relatives of these people.

Mind you, if someone contacted me saying that a box of my ancestor's personal items had just been sold on ebay for X hundreds of pounds, I don't know how I'd feel .....
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: brendam on Tuesday 11 September 07 01:13 BST (UK): I'll probably end up way off topic here, but ... I've been following these posts with great interest like everyone else. This would have been an amazing box to win, but like most, way out of my price range.

To the seller (Jamie, is that you). Congratulations on a good sell and thank you for making these items available to interested parties.

To the buyer (whoever you might be). I really hope you share your good fortune with all of the rootchatters who are so interested in family history. If the items are related to your family, you have a treasure. If not, let all the helpful and knowledgeable people at Rootschat be helpful in getting this history together with the family. The people on this site are interested in their own family history, but so important, they are interested in helping others find their roots.

We were all taught history in school ... this event happened on this day. Behind the events are the people and families. So many of us are struggling to find any history we can on our families and treasures such as 'the box" are priceless. A letter written many years ago (or even yesterday) can provide so much information, it is amazing. A photo of someone that you've never seen, but you know there must be one out there - priceless.

Family history from a stranger on ebay is a good find. Now my 'off topic' grumble ...

We have all had deaths of immediate family members. I would rather pay a 'stranger' on ebay than pay an immediate family member for a photo for a dearly loved one. Like an instance where a photo was sent of a close family member by another, than after saying thank you, an outrageous bill will sent for the photo. That's my grumble for the night!
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: KathMc on Tuesday 11 September 07 01:50 BST (UK): Fantastic thread. I have read with interest all the posts. I long to find something like this regarding my family, but also dread it as i could never pay that price. it is a double-edge sword. I hope the buyer is interested in letting rootschatters find a real home for the family stuff.

kath
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Jeanette H on Tuesday 11 September 07 06:57 BST (UK): Hello To All RootsChat Members,

Now that all the excitement has died down, I for one feel that I must get my thoughts back on to my own research. This escape has been enjoyable and very exciting. Also an eye-opener to what lengths people will go to, in paying for such things.

I stayed up till end of auction, reading 16 messages from other members, then I went to bed. When I got up today there were 31 more messages in my inbox.

Such an 'Astonishing' and 'Outstanding' amount for the final bid! No Way! Could we afford such an outlay, as I am sure most other members on 'RootsChat' are in the same boat.

We will all have to put our 'Research' and 'Personal Collectables' and 'Mementos', under lock and key, or in a bank vault or similar. Can you imagine the temptation to other people, who have no real Personal Interest in all these things?

I am going to be even more careful from now on, so as to safe-guard all that we hold of personal value.
That includes every aspect of our 'Research'!

See everyone, elsewhere on 'RootsChat'.

Jeanette H.
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: angi0 on Tuesday 11 September 07 09:55 BST (UK): H all

My partner is also a stamp dealer although not to the same level as Jamie.. (well done Jamie) when we saw this lot My partner alerted Jamie to the interest that the item had created but also got us to thinking we had received some documents in a box of stamps which we never intended putting on ebay I have made a post with regard to the items if anyone feels they can help find family members I have made the following post..

http://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php/topic,254349.msg1413648.html#msg1413648

ha all the census information in that I can gleam for the family...

Angie
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: fek33 on Tuesday 11 September 07 11:02 BST (UK): I too have followed this thread with interest and do hope that the new owner will let rootschatters find a home for the family items.

I was interested in looking at the photographs of the items, but also found it very sad :'(

I shall be interested to see what happens :-\

FEK 33
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: Willow 4873 on Tuesday 11 September 07 13:44 BST (UK): Thank you Angi0

Thats just the spirit we need - hope someone comes forward to claim them

Willow x
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: fred1951 on Wednesday 12 September 07 20:10 BST (UK): Hi Jamie

Can't wait to see the WW1 letters you have ;D

ps I have tried to PM you but it keeps saying you have reached your PM limit ???
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: fred1951 on Wednesday 12 September 07 20:52 BST (UK): Hi Jamie

Just found out from another member that you need to clear out the messages from your In and Out boxes, as your space is very limited due to the number of posts you have made. :)
Title: Re: Somebody's life in a box on e-bay.....
Post by: KathMc on Thursday 13 September 07 11:24 BST (UK): What a great thing to learn. I better go do that now. Yikes.

Kath

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