Sir Ed items hot property on TradeMe

Online auctions for items connected to Sir Edmund Hillary attracted serious bidding within hours of news breaking of his death.

Five dollar notes bearing the image of Sir Ed were hot items on TradeMe, with one note signed by the adventurer already up to $350 but still not at reserve price.

That auction started after Sir Ed's passing yesterday, with the auction listing reading "Rest in peace Sir Edmund you will never be forgotten". The seller obtained Sir Ed's signature at a Christchurch charity event.

A Dunedin seller was offering a framed and signed $5 note and three bidders quickly pushed the price up to $325, still short of the vendor's reserve price of $500.

Several other $5 notes signed by Sir Ed were also up for sale along with other items bearing Sir Ed's image or details of his deeds.

The most expensive item listed was an Italian-made ice pick signed by Sir Ed, with a starting bid of $5000. An ice axe signed by Sir Ed was offered with a buy-now price of $10,000.

Books on Sir Ed were also proving popular on TradeMe, with an Auckland-based vendor offering a signed copy of Sir Ed's work High Adventure. The book had gained three bids, pushing the price up to $310 but still below reserve.

The seller added a comment to their auction, saying they would make a donation to the Hillary Foundation if the reserve price was met. The vendor was also offering John Hunt's 1953 book, The Ascent of Everest, also signed by Sir Ed.

A collector's edition porcelain plate showing artist's impressions of Sir Ed on Everest had met the reserve of $50, a snip considering it was also autographed.

TradeMe spokesman Mike O'Donnell said items featuring Sir Ed's autograph or pertaining to his deeds had always been consistent sellers on the website.

However, he said the surge in interest in items relating to a notable person who had recently died was something new for the auction website.

"To be honest we haven't seen it before," said Mr O'Donnell. "But at the same time, one can't be too surprised."

While the auctions may seem in poor taste, Mr O'Donnell said for TradeMe the paramount concerns were that the items were genuine and legitimate, within TradeMe's rules, and the vendor had physical possession of the item.

"We don't necessarily think all of those (items) are in the best taste, but we provide a marketplace, and those are our three requirements."

Complaints regarding Sir Ed items would result in action from the website, he said.

Asked if the death of a personality increased the value of items sold on the website, Mr O'Donnell said "sadly, that seems to be the case".

Mr O'Donnell said it was "sadly entirely likely" TradeMe members would look to cash-in on Sir Ed's death by offering items related to him.

The US-based international auction website eBay.com featured auctions for numerous pictures of Sir Ed, but it was books on the mountaineer which were gaining most interest.

A sealed and signed leather-bound collector's edition copy of High Adventure had been the subject of intense bidding, with the price sky-rocketing from $US9.99 to $US127.50 ($NZ162) in 90 minutes.

A UK-based seller sought 130 (NZ$325) for an A4-sized picture of Sir Ed signed by him with Tenzing Norgay.

- © Fairfax NZ News