Scott Davis calls into question the honesty of my advertisement
for a certain copy of "Archie's Little Black Book 1959". That
must be answered.
Mr Richardson wrote a personal message in some copies
acknowledging the addressee's part in a committee that
conducted an international goodwill correspondence team
championship for boys under 19. There were six members of the
committee. Since Archie was himself one of them, and would
hardly have been likely to write a thank-you to himself, that left
a maximum of five such copies.
This can be expressed as
6 - 1 = 5.
Q. E. D.
As to the reference to membership in ATFS - so what? Was that
any worse than having been a member of the Communist Party,
which some now respectable people were at one time? Many of
us have committed youthful indiscretions and been trying to live
them down for the next 50 years or more. To drag up somebody's
past after all that time is hitting below the belt, isn't it?
===========================
On Mon, 04 Nov 2002 12:58:01 -0800
Scott Davis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote to t-and-f list:
Subject: Re: t-and-f: Even RARER books for sale
I was quite disappointed to get this message from you. First, I need to
correct your information. You are incorrect when you say that Archie
signed all of his books. This is completely flase. In fact, of the
some odd 40-50 of his books that I have bought and sold over the years,
at least 75% of them were NOT signed. Also, your statement about the
1959 edition is not right. I currently have two of the copies and you
claim to have a third; I would be interested in hearing from the other
TWO people who own a copy. The book is quite scarce but there are more
than five available, I assure you.
I am quite offened by your statement which indicates you will not sell
to scalpers, implying that I may be one. You should know that I have
bought and sold some of the largest libraries and collections available
in the US and world wide over the past 25 years, including the Amos
Alonzo Stagg collection, the Maxwell Stiles collection and the holdings
from the Robert Kaiser estate. I am well familar with the scarcity of
certain items and their associated value. I sell material to true track
fans at very reasonable prices. I have always worked on the theory that
if I can buy something at a very reasonable price then I will sell it at
a very reasonable price. As an example, and I have not yet advertised
this book, I have a copy from Don's collection of the 1912 Swedish
Olympic report. This is a scarce book to say the least. I purchased
my copy of this book in Stockholm some years back for 350 US dollars.
It is well worth 500-600 US dollars at this time. However, I will sell
Don's copy some day for right around 150-200 US dollars once I find a
fan who is truly interested in having the copy once owned by the
maestro.
Again, regarding the Potts material, you should know that I am trying to
place as many of these of these items in the hands of true track fans
who appreciate the fact that they were once owned by Don. The money is
going to the Potts family, not to me. I am taking only my expenses for
postage and shipping cartons. And I am putting very low prices on these
items for those very reasons. If you want to sell your copies of the
Little Black Book for a penny each, that is totally up to you. But your
implications of what I am trying to do with Don's copies are simply
unacceptable.
Finally, since you are a former ATFS member and someone who knew Don, I
am saddened that you would think I would dishonor his memory by selling
off his material for his family at "scalpers" prices.
Sincerely,
Scott Davis
Secretary General - ATFS, President - FAST
