On Thu, 11 May 2023 at 13:38, Warner Losh wrote: > > > On Thu, May 11, 2023 at 11:26 AM segaloco via TUHS wrote: > >> Howdy folks, I was perusing old copies of ;login: and came across a note >> about the BSTJ UNIX issue in the August 1978 newsletter: >> https://archive.org/details/login_august-1978 >> >> What I find particularly amusing is that all UNIX licensees at the time >> of that publication allegedly were provided a copy free of charge. The >> text goes on to indicate additional copies can be purchased for a measly >> $1.50. >> >> Fast forward to today and I typically don't see this copy pop up on >> auction for less than $100. Still, amazing how something was being just >> tossed out to anyone who wanted one and now here 45 years later, it's a mad >> scramble to find the same. Then there's this listing: >> https://www.ebay.com/itm/134212722284?hash=item1f3fb39e6c:g:9VEAAOSw8HtjCp2H&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA4IPDo14%2B7%2BCT30D5MvU1f9BJm77l1XWLxt2ojhau503DpckIGbEgDyGAtPFQgj8m5y9CebRCho1Y9INzCsMX72UaQy96ent8gqtgFWH5MY3kpSNzkYBKgrjnVDMiom2HOuqHiy5H%2FzRjvpdv0BE7tKJ7tJv4BRuCeSEPoqd2U%2FdfuKVuvOTdG%2B28JSWuPcN764AWcg3EbpeU7LUiGEELwjxL0FTsCQ%2F2wK5AuuwK8E9E7WFVuZzsm07jesQcjq75A7t5fM0ggrRX2Mn9cO9%2BHRAP7KcOYhGJ1BqIYz1P1FzL%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR_bFmL2BYg >> >> $3000 dollars...quite shocking, although perhaps they're banking on the >> uniqueness of that little sleeve, I've never seen one of those with a BSTJ >> issue before. Was that some sort of packaging the issues were delivered >> in? It has the Bell Logo in the little window on either side, so I want to >> believe it's original and not something someone threw together after the >> fact. >> >> In any case, I suspect part of the low pricing is due to Bell anti-trust >> stuff, as they really moved on nickle and diming on documentation once they >> were legally able to. In any case, I'm always shocked to see how much I >> paid for something in my archival efforts and then I find a price sheet >> only to find out someone bought a book back in the day for the cost of a >> burger and fries. While I'm pursuing documents for research purposes...I >> may be inadvertently building myself quite the value store without even >> meaning to... >> > > I bought mine in the couple of years for like $20. I think $3k is > delusional. They range from $25-$250 in the last year for 'offered' price, > mostly in the < $100 range for the ones that sell... > Indeed, something is only worth what someone will pay for it. That auction could sit on eBay for a long time and until it sells it's worth nothing; the site is packed to the brim with delusional pricing. -Henry