Got a bit goofy.... (1 Viewer)

[Drum]

on ebay.

A stupid born-again rookie bidding mistake and an all too timely telephone conversation with David Cowe are to blame for my ridiculously high bid (or so I have been telling myself).



Still, the hunt for my Imperial Productions version of the "Holy Grail" is complete and I will look forward to adding the Gordon painted version of Heritage Series 1 to the family collection as soon as I can get the funds to clear into my Paypal.


Anyway, here are a few pics from seller's auction listing.

As it happens, I have been able to chat with the seller on the telephone and have learned that he is a long time Imperial collector as well and we are planning to meet up in order to save this treasure from the vagaries of postage.

No matter the price, it is always very nice to get a chance to meet a fellow Imperial Productions fan. So far, they seem to be the very best sort of people.



D

 

[1879fanatic]

Drum,
Congrats on the find and the aquisition. Don't you just love the search and the hunt?
Where are you meeting the seller? When you do, just disregard the black van with tinted windows that parks next to you guys.
Mike

 

[Drum]

What? No black helicopters?


Seller is intrigued by our little town of Bethlehem and intends to drive here from Brooklyn for a little sight seeing soon.

And thanks for the kudos.

D

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Drum,

Was this the set recently on ebay? I was watching it off and on and saw the price went pretty high.

Even so congrats on the woderful acquisition!

All the best

Dave

 

[dkelly]

Drum knows my view on this. I think it was a very smart buy. To begin with, I understand there are maybe only 3 or 4 of these special sets in the world. More importantly, all this leaves Drum with to collect is the special Gordon HS 2 (showed up on Ebay earlier this year) and the card backing for set 4. That is just an incredible feat (granted, it was done over decades with major work by his late father and his mom). I don't think anyone else in the world has this kind of Imperial collection. They own basically every set that Cowe ever made. Wow!!!! Very cool. Hopefully, David will keep making some new sets to keep us all engaged in the collecting game.

 

[Drum]

Thanks to Dan and Rob and the others who have offered their help in alleviating my guilt. I have pretty much moved on. It is only money and there is (hopefully) always more of that out there. I am again at peace with myself.



My parents got this started back in the mid-eighties and thus did not have much back tracking to do before arranging to have one of each new set sent to them. It was not until after my Dad died and I began to catalog the collection that I discovered that we had missed a few sets along the line.

After that, I heard for the first time about the Officers and Men series and later about those deviant Gordon-painted HS sets.

I am fairly comfortable now that our comprehensive set list is one hundred percent up to date and complete. Research remains to be done, especially filling in the blanks regarding when sets were released and when they were discontinued. Alas, Mr. Cowe kept no records of this, so it will be up to us as collectors to figure this out.

One thing I can tell you is that I will not be adding the Gordon flavored HS2 set to the collection at anywhere near that price. I will be happy to leave the acquisition of that set as a project for my nephew during his stewardship of the collection.

[Babble mode off]

D

 

[4th Hussar]

I don't know what you paid for it but that is a unique set that captures what is best of the era and the artist. 15 or so years ago I passed up a similar set and regret it

 

[Dickbuttons]

Excellent acquisition -- not goofy at all -- a wonderful purchase and an outstanding addition to any collection.

Dick

 

[Oldboy]

I thought that winner id looked familiar....Congratulations & worth every cent... .Now,Gentlemen ,goof on this, eBay #200268220504 "Imperial 40pc Queen's Own GORDON Highlanders" Free Shipping ! Looks so good ,he may call them whatever he wants,ob

 

[Drum]

Yes, that is the same seller... he has cagily added the information that he picked up from me in his new auction listing.

I sure hope he doesn't expect me to run this one up. I have already pretty much decided that I only wanted the HS1 set anyway and I surely will not be committing any rookie bidding mistakes this time.

Something about the HS2 set, while typical of Imperial Productions quality and beauty, it has never "spoken to me" like the parading HS1.

D.

 

[Drum]

So anyway...

 

[Drum]

No... that was me.

 

[Oldboy]

'Zounds ! Now THIS is what I'd call goofy..the other Gordon's Heirloom set closed UNBID ! I'd have bid myself...but the Seller likely prefers PROMPT payment and I'm quite awash in toy soldier indebtedness...ob

 

[Drum]

Sorry to be so cryptic. That auction ended because I convinced seller to sell it to me directly.

He is bringing them both out to me from Brooklyn today.

 

[dkelly]

Congratulations to Drum. With the exception of the card backing for set 4, I believe he owns EVERY Imperial set ever made. Wow! What a collection. Now, if we could convince Drum to get us that catalog he is working on, we could all enjoy color pictures of all the sets in his fabulous collection. Drum, you guys buying a third cabinet to store all this stuff? I imagine the other two are full. Love to see pictures of the new displays too. Way to go!!!!! Great buy. You shouldn't have any regrets.

 

[Drum]

Darn that Vandilay if he did not remind me of one more set that we lack here in Bethlehem...



There is apparently an "official" alternative paint job for one of the Bengal Lancer sets. Rob has posted pics and I noticed the discrepancy. I have since learned that there are apparently a couple of these sets and that they were a special order of some kind, similar to the Gordon HS sets.

The hunt will continue...



Dan, to answer your questions, there is a suggestion that these oddball HS sets (which my Mom refers to as the "Disavowed sets") should be displayed, if at all, at my house.
All the rest of the collection is over at my Parent's place. Amusingly enough, I only have a few duplicates here with me. That said, I believe we still have a few lower and alas, darker shelves that are open.

 

[Drum]

Update, they are here and looking spectacular.

Aesthetically speaking, I think I like the kilt pattern of the original Cameron set better, but these are very nice. Such a sweet presentation with those New Zealand hardwoods boxes!

Anyway, I will post some pics once I set up the photo studio again for these.

Cheers and thanks for all the support.

D

 

[dkelly]

I don't remember what that other alternative Bengal Lancer set looked like? What color was it? What was it labeled?

 

[Drum]

I don't recall either, but I think it did not have it's own label. I seem to remember that it was primarily a difference of tunic color.

Rob will be along in a while to help us.

D

 

[vandilay]

Here is a couple of shots of one of the lancers , they came in a standard #50
box that was supposed to have a letter from imperial enclossed [although I didnt recieve that from the seller and never bothered chasing him for it].
I have since seen the same set listed once that also made mention of the
letter .[I guess its the same deal with the Gordons ?]