So you thought the “eBay” Auction Site was an original?
Oh No! Auctions are so old and date so far back into history, no one really knows who invented this Unique Method of Marketing!
For instance, ancient Greek documents recorded by the scribes of the day, spell out that “women were auctioned off as wives as far back as 500 B.C.—In fact, the ancient Greeks considered it illegal for their daughters to be sold "outside of the auction" method!
Ouch! Where was the hope of love in all this activity?
It seems that young Grecian women were never consulted as to whom they fancied! Teen-age dating? Probably did not happen!
At the auction, the Auctioneer used a descending method of bidding (whereas eBay uses the opposite pay-scale!) beginning at the highest price decided by the seller.
The price was then lowered gradually until the first person to put in his “bid” became the actual buyer! This buyer was promised that he could then get “return money” (like a refund) if he and his “new wife” did not get along well! But unlike today’s “living together before marriage” trend, this new wife could not be“tried out” before that auction!
In Rome, italy, about the time of Jesus’ birth, the families of those who died would sell the deceased’s estate, along with war plunder they had captured. The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius covered his debts by selling his family furniture for months at the auction!
Roman soldiers also sold their war plunder at auction. The Auctioneer, know as the “MagisterAuctionarium” would drive his spear into the ground to begin the auction; today the auctioneer uses a gavel.
The Auction came to America in the 1600s and was the fastest and most efficient way to convert the Pilgrim’s assets into cash.
Auctions flourished during the Civil War and abounded up into the Great Depression when the method abated and did not rebound again until after World War II. During the 1950s, auctions began their regrowth.
Auctioneering Schools sprang to life, and the auctions became modern day businesses.
Through the 1990s into the 21st Century, auctioneering has become big business. With the birth of eBay in 1995, becoming the “online auction leader, other online auction houses began to spring into existence.
If you have never been to an auction, you can see them here at:
http://www.yourauctionhotspots.com
Come on in and enjoy!
Hey, Wadda Ya Give, Hey, Wadda Ya Give!
© Copyright 2007 by Kathlene R. Amerine
Angel Touches Publishing Co.
All Rights Reserved--International Copyright Secured
For additional up-to-date auction links in ANY category
you desire, please use the Search Boxes in the upper
right hand corner of these warehouse pages.
You will be quickly taken to EBay’s main pages!
About the author: Kathlene Amerine is a freelance educational
writer devoted to finding helpful resources for visitors to
her website at: http://www.4you2prosper.com To learn how to build your
own Auction Warehouse, travel to
http://www.4you2prosper.com/SalesAKA.htm
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