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Thread: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

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    Default Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    To me it looks like a Petite. I've seen nicer Platignums go for £20-40. But over £100...?
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274184023209?_trksid=p2471758.m4704

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    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    It is a bit hard to explain, that's for sure. Nice example, worth all of £25. One bidder seems to have set a ridiculously high price and another has nibbled his way up to it, then bidder one raised his price again. When I used to sell in eBay I always hoped for a bidding war.
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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    Quote Originally Posted by top pen View Post
    To me it looks like a Petite. I've seen nicer Platignums go for £20-40. But over £100...?
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/274184023209?_trksid=p2471758.m4704
    Agreed, too much, it even has a Warranted steel nib, fresh from the 8th level of Hell.

    eta, just noticed it has 18 bids and £122, crackers.
    Last edited by Fermata; January 14th, 2020 at 12:42 PM.

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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    That's the original Platignum 1st Quality nib. A collector would want it to be original...
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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    It's weird. Two people really wanted it. That's the only explanation. As Deb says, a seller always hopes for a bidding war, and that seller got one.
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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    People want what they want. Sometimes when a niche item goes high, I often think that it may be a person with a specific collection/mini-collection that was down to one last example, and they just found it. "Not letting it get away" can be a powerful incentive.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Senior Member Deb's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    Surprising though it may seem, those 30s Platignums do have a collector base. Mostly it's the colourful sets that they go for but this pen is quite attractive. Even allowing for that, the price is incredible - and I think I see a crack across the threads. I hope that wasn't this week's rent money.

    Jaosis is a big pen seller. And every one comes from his own collection. He's not too careful about which nibs go with which pens. Clips likewise.
    Last edited by Deb; January 14th, 2020 at 04:53 PM.
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    Senior Member Jon Szanto's Avatar
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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    Quote Originally Posted by Deb View Post
    Surprising though it may seem, those 30s Platignums do have a collector base. Mostly it's the colourful sets that they go for but this pen is quite attractive. Even allowing for that, the price is incredible - and I think I see a crack across the threads. I hope that wasn't this week's rent money.
    Yeah, but you know the drill: people with too much money get a wild hair up their bum and they will throw piles of cash at virtually anything. It means nothing to their bottom line. I've seen it in my niche area searches. It only takes one rich clown.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    Agreed, Jon, but there's excessive spending and then there's just plain foolishness: £122 for a Platignum.
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    Jon Szanto (January 14th, 2020)

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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    Seeing this has made me finally re-sac my Petite. I only paid £12 for mine with two other more modern Platignums. Looks Like I got a bargain in comparison.


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    amk (January 15th, 2020)

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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    Quote Originally Posted by Deb View Post
    Agreed, Jon, but there's excessive spending and then there's just plain foolishness: £122 for a Platignum.
    Hon, don't you remember Beanie Babies? Humans will buy anything for $tupid.
    "When Men differ in Opinion, both Sides ought equally to have the Advantage of being heard by the Publick;
    and that when Truth and Error have fair Play, the former is always an overmatch for the latter."

    ~ Benjamin Franklin

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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    ...maybe the last missing color in a mini-collection?

    (Once I also payed way to much for a Waterman's 52V in Rose Ripple just to complete my collection.)

    Life of a collector...

    C.

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    Jon Szanto (January 16th, 2020)

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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    This is why I always use a snipping application. I judge what a pen is worth, and bid the highest amount I'm willing to pay. Then leave it.

    A bidding war is nuts, except for the seller. Ebay is not an auction.

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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    On a side note I picked up this beauty today for £15. I know Platignums aren't highly regarded but It did surprise when I learnt things like my Petite existed and I hope to add a few more.


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    Chrissy (January 16th, 2020)

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    Default Re: Can anyone explain this? Platignum pen going for over £100?

    Quote Originally Posted by top pen View Post
    On a side note I picked up this beauty today for £15. I know Platignums aren't highly regarded but It did surprise when I learnt things like my Petite existed and I hope to add a few more.

    Nice one, a more sensible price.

    I only have one Platignum from around this period, 1935, it was given to my grandmother by her school for the George V Silver Jubilee. I wanted to use this pen when it was given to me but the nib was horrible, a steel Warranted, I swapped this out for a soft gold nib and its a good useable pen.

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