Bronty

The interview is easily searchable on google. A) #3 appears to have been out at the time of the interview; B) the rest is ambiguous due to the word choices in the relevant interview; C) the piece in question doesn't seem to appear in the interview. There is a Raphael image in the interview but this is not it. Perhaps it was published elsewhere in the book but that does seem unlikely off hand. D) Clearly they haven't done enough diligence on this description and they do make mistakes sometimes. I'll leave it to others to determine if that's criminal. Strikes me as a strong word choice but this also seems lacking on their end.

that's where I figure it - just over six figures; 100-125k. At the end of the day I would rather have Mandel's scorpion page that just sold. This has got a lot going for it, but no spidey really kicks it in the nads.

That's where my head went to when I first saw it as well. Its an appealing image.

in practice things aren't that smooth. People watch their stuff decline month after month after month, they start to get scared. There's no longer any urgency to buy anything because it will be cheaper next month. Everybody closes their wallets. Since everybody closes their wallets, everyone puts their good art away. Things stagnate. Some people leave the hobby. Some that are forced to sell do so at extreme losses. As fun as it is to imagine a decline in prices leading to buying opportunities, I think in general the reality of it kinda sucks.

I have a different approach as well in that I really don't care what the percentage is. I'm more concerned with having enough value outside of collectibles that retirement will be comfortable. After that, the remainder can be in collectibles if I choose. So I look at it more like... there's a minimum amount of 'real world' assets I want to have. After that, its a free for all. So, I look at it more in absolute dollar terms than percentage terms. Sure, a percentage falls out of that, but the percentage is in no way part of my thought process.

You keep going back to this idea that the guy has money, so its just a done deal that he can convince a dealer to act as fiduciary. Let's say that's the case. It may not be in Bouvier's best interest to agree to that. Only a sucker is going to make 10% as an agent if he can instead make 50% as a dealer. IMO, you assume way too much about who does or doesn't have leverage here. We don't know. I imagine Bouvier is not poor, not dumb, and has dealt with many strong personalities and strongarm tactics in the past. Yet he's weathered those storms and risen to the top no? To deal at that level, he's no rube, and forcing him into a corner he doesn't necessarily want to be in cannot be assumed. And now, the fork! Its done.

Thanks! You clearly know the market better than I do, but I'll guess it does better than that due to the issue 1 page 1 effect as you said. It will be fun to see where that one falls out.

Ehh, I'm putting a fork in this. Deleted.

I didn't speak to whether it was express or implied. At the end of the day, I imagine a lot of these transactions rely on trust and confidence between the parties, no different than our corner of the hobby world. If you are transacting privately for large amounts, you have to be able to trust the other person. I've dealt for what are very significant sums to me without a contract - essentially on the basis of trust. I would suggest many people have dealt privately in art at sums that really probably DO warrant contracts, without one. I don't imagine its much different here. Yeah, you can ask for a contract, but it does change the relationship. Both in good ways (easier to sue) and in other ways that maybe aren't so great (I might not get the art I want). If I'm an art collecting junkie and I am lusting after material a dealer holds, I don't necessarily have the leverage to start making demands. Forget the sums being nine or ten figures and imagine that you are dying for Romita Spideys. Can you make Burkey subject to a contract, express or implied? He's just as likely to tell the collector to get stuffed.

Great looking page yes. I am not too familiar with Camelot 3000 although I like the covers. What is your guess on price for this splash?

Well then we are talking past each other. Of course it was ADVISABLE to have a contract, but that doesn't answer the question of whether one ACTUALLY EXISTED. Per your earlier quote, it seems there was no contract actually in place, so the horse has left the barn on the advisability of a contract.

I can afford a lawyer. Should I unilaterally draw up a contract requiring you to dance naked in Times Square? That's what you said isn't it? That the Russian is a billionaire and can afford a lawyer, so he should draw one up to his liking. As though the other party (also a billionaire..) has no say in the matter?

There are definite themes. - Xenozoic Tales/ Schulz - Archie covers - Don Simpson - Eisner etc

I would venture you've got a case of jpg confusion! That prelim might look the same size as a cover on the computer, as a jpg. In real life, side by side, its going to be much smaller and you're going to much prefer the final.

You’re overthinking it IMO. Not every significant piece is going on a wall. Some people have more 100k pieces than wall space they want to hang art on. Some pieces have value than wall power. Etc etc. there’s all sorts of reasons why something may or may not be on a wall, and using your reasoning or your situation (or any one person’s situation) and trying to apply it across the broad spectrum of collectors doesn’t really work IMO.

That’s good information but I was just responding to the idea that “well he can afford a lawyer so he should just draw it up to his advantage, which is ridiculous on its face. It also doesn’t really answer the question of whether or not Bouvier was in fact an agent here.

You know, both parties have to sign a contract. Just because you draw up a contract you like and bring it to me doesn't mean I won't tape it to a urinal and use it for target practice.

I’m sure that one surprised everybody. Seems like way too much but as long as the buyer is happy, I’m pretty certain the seller is too.

Ehh I take that back. It matches to the printed book.

probably some sunfade.

Well, It’s an ASM 1 not an AF15. 3m would have been shocking. 1 and change makes sense .

Prices so far don't seem stratospheric to me.

Yeah perhaps.

well, I guess that book is expensive enough that you might need the lubricant! congrats!