Description - Collectors Gallery High Price for Rare Trifari Pin A collector called us about an exciting auction in August. While posting her own costume jewelry item, she saw an "exquisite Trifari bird of paradise clip" sell for $4,150. We contacted the seller. She told us she bought the clip (which is identified as a stork in the book Jewels of Fantasy) at a Midwest auction and expected to sell it on a well known auction website for $200-$300. The bidding started at $25 with no reserve and soared to $800 on the first day. But don't think that the seller didn't work hard for her reward. During the 10-day auction, a bidder contacted her several times to attempt to negotiate the terms of the auction. In the end, the seller spent another 2 weeks haggling with the same person (who turned out to be the high bidder) over the phone. We have heard from other "auctioneers" who have similar stories. She also sold a Boucher set for $200. Another seller sold a Boucher rhodium-plated flower pin with rhinestones for $1,231. Most of the auction listings we saw while browsing the costume jewelry section either weren't so successful. Many were selling for $25-$100 and many more had no bids at all.