Unsmoked Barling = $1,425

[misterlowercase]

This was quite an auction to watch, I didn't think it'd go that high.
Wow.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/UNSMOKED-PRE-TRANSITION-BARLING-YE-OLDE-WOOD-TALL-BILLIARD-English-Estate-Pipe-/400807720992?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2047675.l2557&nma=true&si=hTcDWzrClZGL8LfA%252ByzI5GMfPMo%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc
:

 

[mso489]

I don't know the market, but it looks like an extraordinary pipe, an unsmoked classic, that sold a little

high because someone had to have it, but in fact that may be right at market, for all I know.

 

[misterlowercase]

Yeah, I shouldn't really be surprised considering what a nice pipe it is,

and how rare it is to find such an unsmoked gem.
I'm just all nickels and dimes,

I briefly enjoyed jumping in this bidding war,

http://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=121491257101&_trksid=p2060778.m1431.l2765

...for some reason it amused me,

and I do like the pipe too.

 

[sablebrush52]

Actually, I was a bit freaked when I saw that price. I have been asked by a forum member to give some estimates of probable prices on a number of Barling auctions this week. This was one of those. I responded that a price of about $775 would be appropriate, but that it could go as high as $1400 if a duel broke out between collectors with more money than brains. Boy, was I a prophet.
Makes my unsmoked 1907 cased set seem like a real bargain.
There's another interesting auction for an unsmoked Barling Fossil Benjamin, in its original box with papers and provenance, that opened today. As I have an unsmoked Barling Fossil Benjamin in its original box, I'll be watching this one with interest.

 

[ssjones]

In the world where a smoked, 8-Dot Sasieni brings $800 plus, I'm not surprised. I wonder how often an early, unsmoked Barlings is offered on Ebay. Maybe once every five years? I watch a lot of auctions and in general, the number of Barlings listed in any condition is far less than Sasieni, Charatan, Comoys, Dunhill. etc. It is a beauty, too bad the stem stamping had to be compromised somewhat the the clean-up.

 

[sablebrush52]

I wonder how often an early, unsmoked Barlings is offered on Ebay. Maybe once every five years?

A lot more often than that. In fact, there have been a half dozen or so this past year and there's one from Tom Dunn's estate that Pipestud just posted which will probably go through the roof. Based on past prices, including pieces that I've bought, this "winner" was in cloud coo coo land.
Prices on unsmoked examples of rare and top quality makes may be going through the roof. My thanks to all of those who think that it's a pipe's destiny to get flamed. You're putting money in my pocket.

 

[misterlowercase]

Actually, I was a bit freaked when I saw that price. I have been asked by a forum member to give some estimates of probable prices on a number of Barling auctions this week. This was one of those. I responded that a price of about $775 would be appropriate, but that it could go as high as $1400 if a duel broke out between collectors with more money than brains. Boy, was I a prophet.
Makes my unsmoked 1907 cased set seem like a real bargain.
There's another interesting auction for an unsmoked Barling Fossil Benjamin, in its original box with papers and provenance, that opened today. As I have an unsmoked Barling Fossil Benjamin in its original box, I'll be watching this one with interest.

I though it was an incredible price - do you happen to know what the record price for a Barling is?

I'm just curious.
Your 1907 companion set is just amazing!

I did see the Benjamin Barling and it's pretty damn incredible with an interesting provenance too, y'know the old saying "ya don't smoke the nomenclature"? Well, sadly, I'm a sucker for nomenclature and that pipe ain't stamped Fossil so my heart can't really blast my brain into bidding crazy money and it'll prolly go for more than I'm willing to spend anyway --- likewise that damed *perfect* Oom Paul that has a blast for the ages and induces shivers down my spine, quivering lips and going gaga, oh me oh my is that a beauty!

I wonder how often an early, unsmoked Barlings is offered on Ebay. Maybe once every five years?

I did a quick search on Worthpoint and quite a few showed up, which was a little surprising, most of them were either cased or in their original boxes, like a gift somebody just put in their closet and never smoked I guess, and not counting the pipes that were unsmoked but not listed that way, it would seem a good number of them is out there floating around...
...this was the most unusual example I found in my brief search:

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/barlings-make-eb-wb-pipe-barling-465762381
And this is the one that I'd most like to have in my hands!

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/early-barlings-make-yow-pipe-eb-wb-416299104
YOW TVF FTW!

 

[sablebrush52]

I remember both of those auctions. The pipes went for pretty good money, though nothing close to this one. And this isn't an early Barling, though it is a Barling Special.
I have no idea what the record price is for an unsmoked Barling. A couple of years ago, a beautiful companion set from the mid 20's, in a crocodile case, went for $2400 on eBay. Figure that $500 was for the mint case. Outside of the 1907 set, the most I've spent for an unsmoked Barling is in the neighborhood of $275.
I've seen some amazing pieces in private hands, stuff that will never show up on eBay or any other public trading space. And I've been quoted some pretty impressive prices, including $7500 for a very unique giant from 1909. A bit above my pay scale.

 

[graydawn]

Pretty incredible prices but nice to see these pipes out and moving. While I would have enjoyed adding to my collection, I am glad that most of my estates were either purchased before the market shifted or more recently just good fortune to find some special buys that came my way. While knowledgeable collectors will tend to shy away from these bidding wars, those that do want to get in and have the incredible experience of old British/English wood are either going to have to pay the price or rely on some helpful mentoring to steer them through the maze of eBay etc. where a pipe of value and quality can be difficult to sort out.
Richard

 

[okiescout]

Interesting to see the action of the auction on such awesome pipes. At this point in my life they are above my wallet, but I envy those who can afford them.

 

[saltedplug]

Other than the long-cured Algerian? briar, what makes this pipe so costly? Some Dunhills go for $2500, so I guess in that vein a Barling for $1500 is acceptable; but at this altitude, it sounds to me like funny business.

 

[owen]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/111515723634?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

this pipe also went for big money $1,025

 

[mso489]

If I'd been in on that bidding, I'd rather have bought two of peck's Dunhills.

 

[sablebrush52]

Other than the long-cured Algerian? briar, what makes this pipe so costly?

The desperate spiritual emptiness of the bidders.
It was a standard '40's era production run Barling in a Special grade. That is slightly higher than YOW, but not a Guinea Grain, much less a straight grain grade, or birdseye grade. HALF the amount would have been reasonable. There being no reason present, something else is at work.

 

[graydawn]

Jesse, you a just too good. I'm thinking that the more we talk about Barlings the more the prices go up and up. Since the WCPS there have been a number of estate and unsmoked Barlings posted for sale. Coincidence? I think not.
Richard

 

[crazypipe]

The price is nuts :roll:

 

[cfreud]

First off, I appreciate Sablebrush's commentary on Barlings/Barling's(es). (What is the plural there, especially if you're into pre-transition?) As a Barling collector myself, thanks for your contributions.
Where I am different than some collectors is that I buy a pipe to smoke it. If collecting old, unsmoked pipes for the history of it is your thing, be my guest. (It's a big world, and there's room for all of us.) I actually get bummed when I see smokingpipes.com or another listing for an estate pipe is "new" because it bumps up the price. Anyway, as nice of a Barling as the above is, there's no point in my buying it (even if it weren't out of my price range) because I'd kill its value by lighting a match. Oh well.

 

[sablebrush52]

Hi cfreud
I'm with you on that, though I do have a couple that I will not smoke, like the 1907 set. Talk about an expensive match! But I generally do not buy unsmoked pipes for the simple reason that I smoke 'em if I've got 'em. So I'm safe from longing for any of the pretty virgins that get posted from time to time. I look for the least used pipes that I can find, or ones that I believe that I can return to a pristine condition for smoking. I have put the match to a few unsmoked Barlings, but they weren't unique specimens, or historical rarities, just regular production pipes that I bought for the same amount as a used pipe.