Hillary items fetch inflated prices online
Singed $5 notes on sale for $3000
Amy Williams
The death of New Zealand mountaineering hero Sir Edmund Hillary has spurred
a spike in prices for books and banknotes carrying his signature, NBR Online
reports.
While the nation mourns the man whose profile adorns our five dollar note,
traders have gauged the market and launched a heavy trade in goods signed by
Sir Edmund.
And bidders are willing to pay hundreds of dollars for the items.
A signed first edition book, Ascent of Everest by John Hunt and Sir Edmund,
is listed on TradeMe and bidders have pushed the price up to $1000.
Another seller has listed five $5 notes, all signed by Sir Edmund, with a
reserve of $3000.
Mainly Fiction rare book trader Ray Patterson told NBR Online there was some
emotion fuelling the high prices.
Mr Patterson said a first edition signed The Ascent of Everest would have
sold for hundreds, rather than a thousand dollars, before Sir Edmund's
death.
"He was such an obliging person that there must be thousands of books out
there signed by him.
"Some people don't know that and there will be an initial surge in prices,"
he said.
TradeMe spokesman Mike O'Donnell told NBR Online there had been a surge in
the number of Sir Edmund-signed items selling on the site.
Mr O'Donnell said an average 10 items were posted each week, but that had
increased to 178 items this week.
Full story go to http://www.nbr.co.nz/hillary
ENDS