This eBay purchase would have been a bombshell

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 03:52:11 am

One of my collections that started out philatelic and has gone everywhere including into the esoteric is the 1939 Royal visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother...although Elizabeth II and her sister Margaret were along for the ride as well I believe).

I'm always trawling eBay looking for new acquisitions. I have pretty much all there is covers and cancels (I remember selling some duplicates to a collector who said he was building a study of time date slugs in the canceller, something I hadn't really noticed), so its in the realm of 'tat' that I now go, picking up commemorative plates, cups and the like.

So then I came across this:

Quote:

ORIGINAL BOMB SHELL OF:
"THE THIRD GUN OF THE ROYAL SALUTE
FIRED BY 2nd MONTREAL REGIMENT RCA
(Royal Canadian Artillery)
ON THE ARRIVAL OF KING GEORGE AND QUEEN ELIZABETH
AT MONTREAL
18th MAY 1939"

I was sure I had it, then, boom, was sniped 6 seconds before end of auction, and wasn't counting down as I was busy at work. Final bid, $228 USD.

iomoon · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 04:16:04 am

You'll have to shell out more, the next time you see one.

gavin-h · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 05:48:29 am

I bet you said "Blast!!!" when you realised you'd lost it :lol:

Eric Casagrande · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 05:58:49 am

Imagine using it as part of a stamp exhibition. :lol:

jumet · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 08:05:39 am

I can just imagine asking my dealer for a mount for that!

petercollects0 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 09:56:04 am

Best to avoid it - looks like it's been regunned

muruk · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 13:43:05 pm

Militaria is making good prices on ebay these days ... not hard to get 30 watchers and a dozen bidders.

Philanthropist · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 15:07:32 pm

You can bet that there is a good "slug marking" on the base :roll:

aethelwulf · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 00:34:39 am

This was the second time lately I've missed out on a really good piece...the last was a cover with an unusual postmark date, having the original contents, and best of all, addressed to someone in my hometown. At least the winning bidder was forced to pay a dear price. :mrgreen: