Trying to Locate Photo Album Sold on Ebay Naval Aviator WWII & Family Photos Lt. Commander Melhorn

[pmelhorn]

Hello  - I'm trying to track down a family photo album that was sold on Ebay on

June 13, 2017.  It was a photo album featuring the photos of Lt. Commander Charles Melhorn - US Naval Aviator.  The album was sold for $129.50  under the title:

PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM U.S. NAVAL AVIATOR USS PHILIPPINE SEA

original photograph Album Naval Aviator Lt. Commander Charles Melhorn. Family photographs mixed in with military. Highlights Caterpillar club membership card. Invitation and photographs Aly Khan & Rita Hayworth

This album originally belonged to my uncle Charles Melhorn and I would love to buy it from the person who purchased it on Ebay.  This item is VERY meaningful to me. Unfortunately, I do not have the name of the seller.  Hoping someone can help me track this down.  

Thank you very much!

Pamela

[bubbleman2010]

Their uncle was part of a very small elite group of men most notable member was the late President Bush...

[emerald40]

You have to assess that buyer.

I give the personal touch like the old days.  Some love it, others do not want any part of it.  Send them their item and then go away.

So I guess it would depend on how I remembered that buyer if he would want me to contact him or would consider it an intrusion.

[berserkerplanet]

I found nothing other than the Worthpoint stuff. That is you only lead.

You can sign up for the free Worthpoint trial and extract whatever info is available there. I don't know if they provide the eBay seller name, which would be ideal and your best bet, but if not, the eBay item number would be the next important piece of info, which if you get lucky, might allow you to pull up the eBay listing for the sold item, and from that get the seller name to contact the seller.

Most eBay listings disappear 60-90 days after completion, which means the album listing is long gone, but there are exceptions. I've recently pulled up my own completed listings and purchased item listings by item number from Fall of 2017, and just a few days ago, a_c_green posted that he was able to resurrect one of his listings from June 2013!  https://community.ebay.com/t5/Selling/What-s-the-oldest-listing-you-ve-ever-pulled-up-for-relisting/...

If you have the item number, you can try https://www.ebay.com/itm/[ITEMNUMBER]  where [ITEMNUMBER] is the 12 digit eBay item number for the eBay listing.

The Worthpoint photos have a 10 digit number in their URLS that looks like an eBay item number, but looks like last 2 digits are missing (eBay item numbers are always 12 digits - at least these days). That number (1872525917) could be a Worthpoint catalog number though.

Good luck.

[bubbleman2010]

I'm not going to assess any buyer I'm going to email them and say I've been contact by a family member that is interested in the item I sold you and would you like to communicate with them or not. Pretty simple yes or no question some people have compassion some don't its not that comlicated...

[pmelhorn]

Thanks very much, bubbleman2010!  I was a little suprised by some of the responses, but then... a lot gets lost via electronic platforms.  Sometimes tone seems harsher than intended.  It was more of a personal/family photo album that showcased his military career, so I think you are probably right... if it was purchased by a military reseller, it's not likely I'd ever find it in it's original condtion.  I appreciate your kindness. 

[bubbleman2010]

pmelhorn I love solving things and connecting dots.  The cat. certicate that was in the scrapbook is very rare and the pin that goes with it is even rarer. Here is a link to their club contact them because the collector probably didn't get the pin in the scrapbook and may have contacted them to see if they would issue another one and they may be able to provide you with some info....    http://www.merkki.com/caterpillarclub.htm

[pmelhorn]

Thanks very much, this is very helpful information.  I truly appreciate your thoughtful reply, and will be sure to check out the U.S. Military Forum, per your suggestion.

Take care.

[r2a2t2_2]

My Uncle was part of a small elite group too, trained in Naval artillery, he was a heavy weapons specialist of his day. He could man any weapon on the island. If Bush 41 had been there, he could have been his rear gunner as he was also trained in all Naval aviation gun mounts both fixed and aircraft, he could shoot anything! When he wasn't on a gun crew, he was helping the Marine Corps medics. There were only 70 sailors in his group, he volunteered to go on the island to help the Marines. After everyone at Wake was captured, he and his brothers spent the entire length of WW II in two prison camps, first in China, where he witnessed the historic beheading of a handful of U.S. servicemen as a warning before being off loaded. He would later testify at the war trial of the Officer that carried out the killing of our people. He spent the end of the war at Osaka's main prison camp. Work on the coal barrages ruined his lungs. One of his buddies was their last casualty there, killed by a drum of supplies dropped by a B-29 trying to help the P.O.W.s. A Great Generation that we'll never forget.

[pmelhorn]

Thank you very much!  I so appreciate the information and the time you took to craft such a thoughtful reply! 

[a_c_green]

Obviously, once the seller is found, it's perfectly reasonable to ask him or her to pass on a message to the buyer, and the buyer is free to reply or ignore it as they wish. I'm not saying that as a blanket statement, and I don't think I'd cooperate (as a seller) if the message was something like, "I wanna buy that widget from you. Please contact me at (etc.)," but in a situation such as what the OP is describing here, sure.

I once sold a hand-carved WWII-era Navy Seabees wooden plaque on eBay, after the family that had owned it sold it at an estate sale, but I also had a veteran friend use his connections to try to contact Seabee veterans' organizations to make them aware of it as well. 

(Incidentally, simply Googling "Lt. Commander Charles Melhorn" brings up a lot of other interesting information on him...)

[emerald40]

I am buried deep in my categories.  I rely on past buyers to remain customers.

I am very careful who and how I approach them.

[pmelhorn]

Oh, wow, thanks very much!!  I admit, I had to research the Caterpillar Club.  Membership is very special! 

[pmelhorn]

Thanks very much for your reply!  Yes, both he and his father (a Rear Admiral) had very interesting careers!  

[bubbleman2010]

If worst comes to worst you can always order the pin and wear it so you'll always remember...

[pmelhorn]

That's a really nice idea, thank you!