posted 07-19-1999 07:17 AM            

The seller's first response is what follows.

quote:

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Date: Fri, 9 Jul 1999 14:26:06 EDT
From: Bobbie7770@aol.com
To: S. Martin

hi scott,

thanks for writing, at least you signed your name thus my reply....some others just "honked" w/o name so heck with them.....these things were made in upstate new york who specialized in early new york silver mostly dutch pieces, about 15 years ago i bought from his son many early silver....about a dozen tankards (no hype) beakers, porringers, tea pots, coffee, and the like.....old man was an established collector from the twenties but decided to make things of his own by actually raising and hammering out pieces, he put together many a rare piece by putting together parts....guess them things were available in the early days, some english some continental some american combined to make things.....well, i had sold those questionable pieces all to dealers in upstate new york and i am sure they have sold all to saratoga area collectors.....i sold as fakes and they sold as real.....this doctor was also a superb engraver as most of the tankards and pots had coat of arms.....what you suggest is fine with me as they did not meet the reserve yet but i will not take them off ebay once the reserve has been met, gotta be fair to the bidders you know, bobbie

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He/she didn't remove them from eBay. The subsequent e-mails (total of 8) don't really add anything of interest and concluded with an abrupt go away type message. A few days later, I was pleased to see the auction eventually end without the reserve being met.