what saddens me is not that it's on ebay at all (the stamp, they say was procured though a national park service auction), but that so many recognizable letterboxing names are bidding against each other on it. Maybe they like Mark and Sue are bidding on it so they can return it to it's owner or put it back into ciruclation as a HH. If so, then someone should communicate this so you will stop working against each other.

also, someone should set the record straight with that gallery that it is not martha's sig stamp, but something tells me since they know what a sig stamp is, they KNOW the whole back story behind the stamp anyway.

very sad.

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also, someone should set the record straight with that gallery that it is not martha's sig stamp, but something tells me since they know what a sig stamp is, they KNOW the whole back story behind the stamp anyway.

Yes that whole thing is very dodgy. I wonder where one finds auctions of NPS-confiscated NPS items--would be worth taking a look to see if there are other letterboxes.

Hello! How would the National Park Service get a stamp from Martha Stewart! This is soooooo bogus! Man, this is like the time the lunch lady confiscated a toy truck from my friend, and never gave it back to him. She gave it to her son instead. You know, shame on this seller, and shame on our NPS for not returning this, or at least not from profitting from it. BOGUS!

There are stranger things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

Knit Wit

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what saddens me is not that it's on ebay at all <snip>, but that so many recognizable letterboxing names are bidding against each other on it. Maybe they <snip> are bidding on it so they can return it to it's owner or put it back into ciruclation as a HH. If so, then someone should communicate this so you will stop working against each other.

I'm just bidding on it so we can 'own' a bit of letterboxing history! How often is one presented a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity such as this? It's much bigger than just the 'pink stuff' it's carved on..it's been loved, handled, oohed & ahhed over by so many letterboxers around the country...definitely left a lasting impression upon many of our hearts...it's obviously an item of great worth!!!

Wouldn't want this incredible investment opportunity to pass us by. I'M guessing if we lose the auction we could always CLONE a copy of it? ;)

Wonder if the lot number is 55170-054?

Are you serious, or is that was that a satirical post?

I don't want to create a market for this stuff!!! This sets dangerous precident in my mind. What is to stop someone from going out and pulling out a MapSurfer stamp, and putting it up for auction. It creates a monetary value on this stuff. Do you think the original carver of this (Legerdemaine?) would have wanted his stamp put up for auction?

Besides, if the seller of this item speaks the truth, then the NPS service pulled this box from its lands. Then they sold it. Thats dirty pool in my mind. I would prefer one of my boxes to be pulled and destroyed, then to see it pop up on ebay. Man, I just don't get why you would bid on this.

Who/What is Legerdemaine?

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I don't want to create a market for this stuff!!! This sets dangerous precident in my mind. What is to stop someone from going out and pulling out a MapSurfer stamp, and putting it up for auction. It creates a monetary value on this stuff. Do you think the original carver of this (Legerdemaine?) would have wanted his stamp put up for auction?

Besides, if the seller of this item speaks the truth, then the NPS service pulled this box from its lands. Then they sold it. Thats dirty pool in my mind. I would prefer one of my boxes to be pulled and destroyed, then to see it pop up on ebay. Man, I just don't get why you would bid on this.

I agree with Jackbear. This is not acceptable, you should not sell other people's property like this, either.

in addition, have you guys read the questions underneath the picture? Or, more specifically, the answers? Some of those are really horrible!

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Q:I'm lost without a clue! Can you help?
A:We're an art gallery, not an information kiosk... but here's a clue: Bid or get lost.

That's clearly someone just looking to make money off of some unsuspecting letterboxer. Hell, he spelled letterboxing wrong in his opening sentence!

-CQ

Legerdemaine is a fellow letterboxer, from what I understand, the fellow who carved that stamp.
Do a quick look here on AQ for his profile, if you want.

-CQ

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in addition, have you guys read the questions underneath the picture? Or, more specifically, the answers? Some of those are really horrible!

I have dealt with e-bay (and sellers)for quite awhile and I have never seen such sarcastic 'answers' as I have here.... makes you wonder...
Chunna

Yeah, "art gallery" my behind! If this was an "art gallery", what are they doing at NPS disposition sales?

This seller is so impolite, and definitely not a letterboxer. A letterboxer would have laughed at those questions....not said "get lost"

Is there a way to report a fraudulant sale on ebay?

This isn't a problem with letterboxing....this is a problem with capitalism!

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This isn't a problem with letterboxing....this is a problem with capitalism!

Exactly right, comrad!
Don

HA! Did I just start the next Red Scare! LOL!

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eah, "art gallery" my behind! If this was an "art gallery", what are they doing at NPS disposition sales?

This seller is so impolite, and definitely not a letterboxer. A letterboxer would have laughed at those questions....not said "get lost"

Is there a way to report a fraudulant sale on ebay?

Personally, I hope that the only bids that have been on this item so far are by letterboxers trying to get the stamp back, because anyone else should NOT be buying from this person after those questions.
I would never in my life give money to someone who said things like 'Bid or get lost' or 'Are you going to stop babbling and bid'?

*shakes head*

-CQ

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This isn't a problem with letterboxing....this is a problem with capitalism!

Exactly right, comrad!
Don

Funny how Kapitalism works in reverse for buyers on Ebay. Usually Kompetition drives down prices for the buyers involved. In this case, the limited supply is driving up demand, thus driving up the price (and the gain for the seller). I'll take Kapitalism over govt-Kontrolled 'business' anyday. I remember seeing absolutely NO fruit for sale in the markets in East Germany--throughout the entire year. Even know people who waited 7 years for a car--a lousy Trabant (now a collector's item--that is, of course, if the compressed-cardboard body survived the latest rainstorm or layer of fog, for that matter).

If the seller wants to be a jerk and you, fully cognizant of his/her lacking interpersonal skills, still opt to bid on the item, then the joke's on you. Freedom's a splendid thing, ain't it?

This is such a sad state of affairs. Sue & I bid on this stamp twice so we could return it to its rightful owner.

Who will be next? This really makes me upset.

Mark

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Yeah, "art gallery" my behind! If this was an "art gallery", what are they doing at NPS disposition sales?

This seller is so impolite, and definitely not a letterboxer. A letterboxer would have laughed at those questions....not said "get lost"

Is there a way to report a fraudulant sale on ebay?

This isn't a problem with letterboxing....this is a problem with capitalism!

Just remember... on E-Bay (as in latterboxing), things are not always as they may seem at first sight.

SpringChick

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Is there a way to report a fraudulant sale on ebay?

I don't think this is a fradulent sale. If the info is right, the stamp was legally obtained and the seller can legally sell it. On the other hand, there may be a sleight ethical violation, but no laws are being broken.

Hmmm, I'm no lawyer, that's for sure. But if I said the painting I was selling is a Picasso, and it wasn't, isn't that fraud?

I'm not sure what you mean SpringChick...what isn't as it seems here? Do you know this seller? I see you placed a bid, do you have insider information? Do tell...

jackbear

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Hmmm, I'm no lawyer, that's for sure. But if I said the painting I was selling is a Picasso, and it wasn't, isn't that fraud?

Nope, he's covered that by saying 'We belive it to be authentic, but we cannot authenticate it.'

He's saying that HE believes it to be authentic, and still covering by saying that he can't prove it.

*shrug*

-CQ

I don't see Legerdemaine listed on eiher AQ or LBNA. Was he pre-web?

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I don't see Legerdemaine listed on eiher AQ or LBNA. Was he pre-web?

He used to be there. I wonder if he upped and deleted his account once he learned that his famous Kmartha stamp was being pawned off on Ebay without his permission?

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I don't see Legerdemaine listed on eiher AQ or LBNA. Was he pre-web?

Hmm, that's odd, i thought I saw him here on AQ.
Oh well.
That's a good question. I DO know i've seen many posts by the Pepe's about him, though.

-CQ

Yeah, I guess he has, so its buyer beware. I hope some dumb dope doesn't buy this thinking its real.

Wait, we should email Martha herself and tell her about this, bet she won't like someone selling something with her name on it if she isn't getting a cut!!!

Legerdemaine is a LB carving god!!! Yes, one of the first carvers way back in the day, I believe. The only image in my logbook I would save in case of fire is the imprint from his America's Castle stamp from the Biltmore House in Asheville, NC.

Knit Wit

While looking at the info for this item, I noticed that the end date for this auction is April Fool's Day. I don't have much experience w/ ebay. Is it possible that this is someone's April Fool's Day joke? I hope it is & someone's stamp is not really up for auction!

Mumma & BB =D

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Hmm, that's odd, i thought I saw him here on AQ.

You did. Look again....

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You did. Look again....

Oh, good, i thought I had!
Don'tcha love it when you think you're goin' crazy? :D

-CQ

What? I don't see it on AQ, am I spelling it right...
Legerdemaine