on ebay, the word "rare" has no meaning at all. It's a bit like a swear word on a dockside, it's used so often, it has no power or meaning.
To me, "rare" is only trustworthy, when it's from a known and trusted source. It's deciding which ones are the trusted sources, that causes difficulties.
Even then, "Rare" only means "There aren't very many available", which may be for many reasons. It doesn't necessarily mean "desirable".
"Rare" could be because there were not many made, such as a high quality, hand-made such and such, or "rare" because there aren't many of them left, such as a very early 1st batch instrument from a manufacturer. There may not be many available, as they've all been thrown away due to being rubbish - a 1981 Skoda Estelle car is definitely "rare", but do I really want one?
To some collectors of things, "rare" means "desirable", as it artificially inflates the price of certain items, so they hold their monetary value. I'd only really want it, if it still does it's original job very well.
Now, the "Sun Dog" which occurred around here the other morning, (a rare dual vertical rainbow, either side of the sun, a rare atmospheric effect) .....Now that was a short-lived, delicate, rare and valuable thing of beauty, and yet it has no monetary value at all. Just the way I like it. Others though, couldn't care less. I guess we all apply our own value onto the "rare", and it's meaning.
