Hi MMD,  There is another factor not yet mentioned that I believe
is a major factor in the high prices paid at the Milhous auction.
Throughout history when monetary systems collapse the wealthy put
their money into commodities, like precious metals, art objects and
material objects that will at least hold some of their value.  You
have to be living in a cave not to realize that our fiat money system
is collapsing.

I suspect that at least some of these buyers had little or no idea
what they were buying.  These auctioned items were attractive,
expensive and allowed the buyer to convert cash which will soon be
worthless into something that will at least retain some of its value.
I sure would like to know who these buyers were.  I suspect that it
would reveal them to be some of the wealthier citizens in the USA.

Tom Hutchinson