I know I said I was done but I can't resist since now there are TWO people who are missing my point entirely!!
First, I said I UNDERSTAND the reasons for private auctions in Sotheby's or Christies where the prices can and most times are in the SIX or SEVEN figure range!! What I SAID was you can't compare THESE auctions and PRICES to the chips and tokens we auction on ebay or anywhere else for that matter.
Second, in these MAJOR auctions as you say, the BIG PLAYERS will not bid in these auctions unless they can bid anonymously. There is an understanding between the auction house and the bidders and sometimes even before the auctions, the bidders will REQUEST this. What I said, is that the private auctions on EBAY are SELLER initiated only!!! I'm sure the winner would have bid if the auction was private or not. If this was a concern in our hobby, auctions would probably cease to exist for only on ebay (as far as I know) do we run private auctions and using your logic, high-end chips would never sell in any other auctions as admitting who you were would be a "security risk".
I'm not disagreeing with your statements on WHY these type of auctions exist, I'm just stating my opinion as to why they are not needed at the present time in our hobby and that the reason they are probably run this way has nothing to do with either of your statements about these type of auctions.
Now I'm done........... !!!!