I've long wanted to sign up at worthpoint, but I'm a cheapskate LOL
If you had all that info going back a good ways, you'd be able to accurately gauge pricing trends, I'm sure a few astute collectors have been doing this on their own for a while, but I've only been in the game a couple of years.
I'd like to chart Sasieni, just because I'm curious as to exactly when they started getting the super big bucks...
http://www.worthpoint.com/inventory/refineSearch?currencyCode=USD&query=sasieni&categories={}&channels={}&max=100&sort=Price&absoluteMax=&layout=grid&saleLocation=US&datasource=&datasourceName=&sourceUrl=&_img=&img=on
I watch quite a few auctions, but I don't take formal notes.
It's amazing just how many pipes are out there floating around in the world, and the prices willing to be paid for scarce or desirable examples.
Whenever I find myself lusting after a particular pipe that starts reaching the upper limits, instead of going along and up the price ladder, I tell myself, hey slow down, you're a pipesmoker, be patient, an even better specimen will pop up sooner or later...
...but of course, sometimes they don't.
I really like Parkers. I once passed one over that was a wartime patent and it didn't even get beyond $50, another similar pipe has yet to surface.
Sometimes rarity will dictate my budget and what I'm willing to spend, I've learned that the Merchant Service Bing style pipes rarely surface, and if a good one pops up in the future, I will fight for it more vigorously.
And prices tend to be all over the map, for instance I once got a '67 Dunhill shape 40 lovat for $5, which is unheard of on ebay, although it's well-worn and the white dot had fell out of the stem, that thing is a great smoker, also had one of the best ghosts I've ever encountered in an estate, the previous owner I suspect smoked Balkan Sobranie because it was obviously a very fine Lat mix that had been smoked in it for years, I dedicated it to BlackHouse --- I've seen some very very ratty Dunhills sell for ridiculous prices.
Bill Taylor era Ashtons seem to keep climbing.
The market for the old British stuff seems to be very intense right now, even the 2nds because everybody is looking at them for a more economical alternative to the highly sought-after top grades.
Many sellers seem to be getting "more hip" to how much some of these old pipes can fetch, and doing the proper research to represent their auction, easily found fingertip with a few keystrokes nowadays, even for the obscure stuff, but often the sellers info is grossly incorrect or misinterpreted.
It's been great fun getting deep into the pipe-collecting thing, but I try not to let "acquisition fever" overshadow the more important aspects of my pipesmoking, sometimes it's a struggle, because I'm always seeing pipes that I'd love to have!
LOL
