6 Most Historic Sales On eBay
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"Whatever it is, you can get it on eBay."
You may be wondering: Was it always like this?
Check this out:
Sep 1995: Broken Laser Pointer
That was the year eBay was born. As AuctionWeb. An internet marketplace.
The very first item it ever sold? A laser pointer. Belonging to founder Pierre Omidyar himself.
He'd bought it barely a couple of weeks ago. For $30. It broke while he was using it to play with his cat. Making it chase the red dot. All around his apartment. :)
Pierre listed it at a starting price of $1. Mentioning "Doesn't work. Even with new batteries."
Ended up selling it for $14.83. The buyer? Canadian Mark Fraser. Who has, since, gone on to make more than 2000 purchases on eBay!
Mark's still holding on to the laser pointer. As a souvenir.
Wouldn't you too? :)
May 2001: Antique Levi's Jeans
The world's oldest known pair of Levi's denim jeans. Actually denim waist coveralls. With an additional side pocket for tools. Manufactured some time between 1880 and 1885. At Levi's Amoskeag Mill. In Manchester, New Hampshire. Priced between 75c and $1.25 back then.
Dug out in a Nevada mining town in 1998. Auctioned by The History Channel and Butterfields. On eBay.
Sold to Levi Strauss & Co themselves. For $46532! Part of the company's vintage museum now. "Piece of history."
So the jeans returned home after all! :)
Aug 2001: Gulfstream II Business Jet
Sold by Texas-based dealer Tyler Jet. On eBay.
To an African chartered flight service. For $4.9 million.
Expensive? Wait till you read the next one. :)
Apr 2006: Super Yacht A
A luxury giga-yacht. 405 feet long. From bow to stern. Max speed 20 knots. Steel-hulled. Designed by naval architect Frank Mulder. Yet to be built!
Complete with helipad. Ski boat. Collapsible elevator. Spa. Swimming pool. Gym. Cinema theatre. Salon. Business centre. The works.
Auctioned by Craig Timm. President of brokerage firm 4Yacht. From Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On eBay. Supposedly to Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. Although never revealed officially. For $168 million! With a 50% upfront deposit. $85 million. Because eBay’s auction software could only handle bids up to $99,999,999! :)
How could anyone beat that?
Aug 2014: Superman Action Comics #1
An extremely well-preserved copy. Almost as good as new. Of DC Action Comics #1. The debut issue that introduced Superman's character. To the world. Cape, colours and all. Originally printed in 1938. Priced at 10c then.
Appraised as original. And its crisp condition awarded 9.0/10. By Paul Litch. Primary Grader of Florida-based Certified Guaranty Company (CGC). An independent grading service for pop culture collectibles.
Sold by Darren Adams. On eBay. For $3.2 million. Adams contributed 1% of the proceeds directly to the Christopher Reeve Foundation.
And finally ...
Jun 2012/2019/2022: Power Lunch with Warren Buffett
Power of One Lunch with Warren Buffett. An annual charity auction. By San Francisco-based nonprofit social service organisation GLIDE. Originally conceived by the late Susie Buffett.
The winning bidder is allowed up to 7 guests at these sit-down lunches. Permanent venue: Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse, New York City. One of Buffett's favourites. The restaurant itself donates $10000 every year. To host the lunch.
2012: Auction fetched $3.46 million! Winner chose to stay anonymous.
2019: Sold for $4.57 mill. To 28-year-old Justin Sun. Then CEO of BitTorrent. And Founder of Bitcoin platform Tron.
2022: The online hammer fell at a record $19.0 million! Winner remains anonymous.
"Buy it. Sell it. Love it."
Personally, I found the Levi's jeans story the most interesting.
Which of these is your favourite? Let us know in the comments below.
Until next time! :)
Sources: Many around the web. Including:
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