Last Sunday evening 77 lots closed with a little over 70% selling for a gross sales amount of $5,482.37.

The remaining lots will be rerun March 6th with any additional unsold lots that occur between now and then. The biggest total for a single cover was $275 for a stampless letter from Hudson NY to Clermont NY rated 6 cents. I have no idea why this cover brought more than some of the others that I would have valued higher.

The next best price went for one of the Civil War patriotic covers showing Uncle Sam Spinning Rope to Hang the Traitors which got $270. In contrast, the unused civil war patriotics brought prices between $10-20 each grouped in lots of 3-5.

I am happy with the results, and confident most of the unsold items will eventually sell. I'll bet several will sell at more than the minimum set the first time around. Time will tell.

Currently, I have the balance of the domestic stampless covers, the Free Franks including the presidential and the Wisconsin Postal History live on eBay. That's a total of 230 lots. I have adjusted my listing policy for this auction having lots close 1 minute apart instead of them all closing at the same time. Several bidders suggested this, and I think it will result in higher bids. With any luck it will help stir up some last minute bidding ferocity.

Later this week, the Fancy cancel collection will be offered. They are all queued and ready to go. I may add additional material, or hold everything else for the 21st. At that point everything from the Haertel estate should be up. Each auction is 10 days so I will probably rerun all the unsolds on March 6th.

I will eventually prepare a prices realized report, but may require people to join my newsletter to access it. Why not just join now, and enjoy my reports from the tundra. That way you can get the prices realized when it's published.

Send a blank email to stepsnewletter@aweber.com to join the weekly newsletter. You can quit at any time. Your email address will not be shared with anyone.

120 More Lots now Live on eBay Haertel Estate

The free franks, Wisconsin Territorial and DPO's, and the continuation of the stampless era from 1810-1850's are now live on eBAy. They will close on Sunday February 17th around 10ish EST.

Several potential bidders prevailed upon me to list items sequentially to permit them to bid on alternate items easier. I have listened and as a result listed items in each category at 1 minute apart. I move the initial starting time for the largest category, the stampless covers, up to 9:30 instead of my previously announced 10PM.

Easiest way to access the collecting is through my eBay store. Just look for the Haertel Auction Category to the bottom of my category list on the left of the page.

Don't forget the items launched last Thursday will close this Sunday. In this case they will all close at 10:00. Lots of lookers, few bids so far. I suspect a lot of sniper bids have been set. Thats fine with me, just be sure to have them launch early enough so an not to get frozen out.

I've had that trouble before with snipe I had placed to end only a few seconds before the auction ended. In more than one case, eBay would accept them because they came to close after another sniper bid or some such. Any way I've been told you need to set you snipe for 30 seconds to minutes before the auction ends or you may get frozen out. Just word to the wise, as there will be some heavy bidding on many of the offerings.

First Postal History Lens Done

I have finished adding covers to the Domestic Stampless FLS and Cover collection from the Haertel Estate. It is on a Squidoo lens. http://www.squidoo.com/etnpresentsPostalHistory

I think it can stand on its own as a basic primer in Domestic Postal History rates in the United States. I welcome your comments, and may at some point invite your submissions to flesh out any weak spots and build a true virtual reference collection online.

I also finished listing the fancy cancels, which will launch on Valentines day night at 10PM.

I hope to build a Fancy Cancel Lens soon. In the meanwhile, I've attached one to help you remember that Fancy Cancels launch on Valentines day. It's got a heart in a bold White Hall, NY star fancy cancel from 1867.

first 100 Postal History FLS on Squidoo.

Well, I've been busy again. The first section of 96 Postal History FLS from 1745 to 1832 have been put on a Squidoo lens.

I hope to add the additional covers as time goes on to preserve the collection I am now selling on eBay.

ETNPresentsPostalHistory

The Haertle Auction Begins Thursday

The first batches of lots will be launched on Thursday January 31st. This first segment will consist of 27 Civil War patriotic covers. These will include 17 postaly used patriotic covers and 10 lots of from 3-5 unused patriotics including at least one confederate patriotic.

<- This is one of the covers, a Cure for Rebellion, free franked in Washignton DC by J Buffington, who I take to be a member of Congress from Rhode Island although I did not check.

Free Franks Now Displayed on Squidoo

I have put up a Squidoo page today, displaying all the FREE Frank Covers that will soon be auctioned as part of the Charles Haertel estate.

The link is http://www.squidoo.com/ETNPresentsFreeFranks

There are

• 9 Presidential Free Franks
• 5 Vice presidential Free Franks
• 4 Presidential Widow Free Franks
• 9 Congressional Free Franks
• 6 Federal Officers & Others including Mexican War item
• 10 Post Office Free Franks including Fancy and Patriotic

Be sure to sign up for email notification as to when lots will launch. Send a blank email to
etnPresents@aweber.com to get put on the official email notification list.

I have just published a lens on Squidoo about the upcoming estate auction. There I have published images of 66 of the 650 or so lots that will be offered. It will give you a great idea of the caliber of material being offered. Check them out.

http://www.squidoo.com/ETNPresentsPublish Post