There are now a number of online auction houses. My personal favorite is ebay, which has an enormous selection of goodies, both modern and antique. The system is simple and easy to use. You do have to register to participate, but you don't have to give a credit card number or anything like that. To bid on an item, you enter your user ID, password, and the maximum you are willing to bid. Don't worry; if the previous bid is $5, for example, and you say you're willing to spend $10, you'll only be charged, say, $5.50 if yours is the highest bid. If someone else gives a maximum bid of $6, your bid will automatically be increased to $6.50. The system notifies you by e-mail if someone else bids more than your maximum. If you then decide you want to go higher, you can go back and put in a new maximum. At the end of the auction period (typically a week), the system notifies the seller and the high bidder, who are responsible for contacting each other to arrange for payment and shipping.
So, what's in it for me?
So, what does ebay have to offer the opera lover? Here are just a few items I found during a recent search. (Note: These particular items may no longer be available; this is just to give you an idea.)
- A complete vocal score for Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel
- An 1888 libretto of La Traviata
- Autographs from Rosa Ponselle, Frederica von Stade, and other greats
- A signed photograph of Rossini
- A number of pairs of opera glasses
- A Chinese opera mask
- Mozart's Il Re Pastore and Gilbert & Sullivan's The Mikado on LP
In short, all kinds of things! I've found the sellers I've dealt with to be honest and responsive, but online auctions do have the downside that you can't really see the items before you buy them. (Many listings include photos, but that's not really enough.) So, go take a look, but, as always, caveat emptor!
Go To Page: 1
