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  • 12/03/99 - Artwork from New Langton Arts Available on eBay Great Collections
  • 12/07/99 - Respected Auction Executive Joins eBay-Butterfield Team
  • 12/14/99 - eBay Great Collections Hosts Sale of Antiques from Liberty of London
  • 12/16/99 - eBay Acquires Blackthorne Software
  • 12/20/99 - eBay Brings Last Minute Holiday Joy With Free Listing Event

 

Artwork from New Langton Arts' 15th Annual Auction Available Online on eBay Great Collections

eBay Great Collections Co-Sponsors Fundraising Event and Features Works From Bay Area and National Artists

SAN JOSE, Calif., December 3, 1999—eBay Great Collections, a premium collectibles category available on eBay® (NASDAQ: EBAY; www.ebay.com), the world's leading person-to-person online trading community, is co-sponsoring the 15th Annual Auction of New Langton Arts, a San Francisco nonprofit organization that provides professional support to contemporary artists As part of a week-long fundraising event, called Future Shock, local Bay Area and national artists are participating in New Langton Arts' auctions in live, silent and, for the first time, online auction formats, opening up the event to art enthusiasts outside of the Bay Area. More than 50 pieces of artwork are available on eBay Great Collections (www.ebaygreatcollections.com), beginning tonight at midnight and closing at midnight on December 10, 1999.

"We're thrilled that our sponsorship of New Langton Arts allows us to support local Bay Area artists and present their work to our growing community of art enthusiasts and collectors on eBay Great Collections," said Steve Westly, senior vice president and general manager of international and premium services.

For the first time, Future Shock artworks will be available online for interested bidders who live outside of the Bay Area or would like to participate from the comfort of their own homes. Future Shock Online includes a vivid sampling of Langton's auction artworks offered on eBay Great Collections, including work by such artists as John Alexander, Connie Hatch, and Scott Lifshutz, among many other notable artists. Computers will also be available throughout the week in Langton's Gallery for bidding online.

"eBay's involvement in Future Shock opens up an entirely new avenue of exposure for contemporary artists," said Susan Miller, executive director of New Langton Arts. "eBay Great Collections expands New Langton's visibility and audience."

"eBay Great Collections lets people outside of the Bay Area, such as a collector in New York, check out the New Langton artwork," said Terry Hoff, an artist featuring one of his paintings on eBay Great Collections. "People who live too far away to [have] bid in past New Langton auctions, now can."

Langton's Annual Auction attracts patrons, collectors, and holiday shoppers seeking exceptional artwork from well-known and emerging contemporary artists. Proceeds from Future Shock make up a considerable portion of Langton's annual budget. Future Shock is open to the public for previewing and online and silent bidding from December 4 through December 9, 1999 at Langton's Gallery.

The week's activities culminate on the evening of Thursday, December 9. Patrick Meade, president of Butterfield & Butterfield, one of the world's oldest and largest auction houses, which was acquired last Spring by eBay, will conduct the Future Shock live auction. The event begins at 6 p.m. with live music and food. Tickets and more information are available by calling 415-626-5416.

About New Langton Arts

The mission of New Langton Arts is to cultivate innovative contemporary artworks in the visual and media arts, music, performance, literature, and interdisciplinary projects while encouraging broad public appreciation and access to the art of our times. Our mission is achieved by providing professional support to contemporary artists from diverse economic, social, and cultural backgrounds though exhibitions, performances, readings, new works commissions, awards, and publications. Audiences benefit through direct experience of Langton's artist projects with the assistance of education, outreach, and audience development programs.

About eBay
eBay (www.ebay.com), the world's personal trading community™, pioneered person-to-person online trading. Founded in 1995, eBay has developed an efficient and entertaining trading site on the Web that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. eBay has more than 7.7 million registered users. Currently, there are more than 3.2 million items listed for sale. More than 400,000 items are added daily in more than 2,000 categories, including: antiques; books, movies and music; coins and stamps; collectibles; computers; dolls and figures; jewelry and gemstones; photo and electronics; pottery and glass; sports memorabilia; and toys.


Respected Auction Executive Joins eBay-Butterfield Team

San Jose, CA December 7, 1999—eBay® (NASDAQ: EBAY; www.ebay.com) the world's leading personal online trading community, today announced the appointment of Patrick Meade as president and CEO of Butterfield & Butterfield, which was acquired by eBay in April, 1999.

eBay also announced that John Gallo will become senior vice president of eBay's Great Collections, the company's new web site for fine art, antiques, and premium collectibles.

During a distinguished career at Christie's, Meade became one of the most respected executives in the auction industry. He will be responsible for setting Butterfield & Butterfield's strategic direction and guiding the world's fourth largest auction house into the Internet space.

"Patrick Meade has held prestigious positions in the auction world," said Steve Westly, eBay's senior vice president and general manager for Premium and International services. "Patrick's experience and talents make him uniquely qualified to lead Butterfield & Butterfield as the auction industry prepares for the historic changes created by the Internet."

Gallo is a 30-year Butterfield & Butterfield veteran having served as the company's president for the past ten years. As the senior vice president for eBay's Great Collections, Gallo will be responsible for establishing the Internet's most efficient online marketplace for premium art and collectibles.

"John Gallo was the first industry executive to recognize the value of the Internet," Westly commented. "He has personally moved Butterfield & Butterfield into the Internet space and he will play a critical role as we continue to open the world's great auction houses to the Internet."

Westly also announced expanded duties for chief operating officer John Fallini who will oversee Internet operations and marketing at the historic San Francisco auction house. Bernard Osher, who has served as Butterfield & Butterfield's chairman between 1990 and 1999, will assume the title of chairman emeritus.

About eBay
eBay (www.ebay.com), the world's personal trading community™, pioneered person-to-person online trading. Founded in 1995, eBay has developed an efficient and entertaining trading site on the Web that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. eBay has more than 7.7 million registered users. Currently, there are more than 3.3 million items listed for sale. eBay members add nearly 400,000 items to the site daily in more than 2,200 categories, including: automobiles; antiques; books, movies and music; coins and stamps; collectibles; computers; dolls and figures; jewelry and gemstones; photo and electronics; pottery and glass; sports memorabilia and toys.


eBay Great Collections Hosts Sale of Antiques from Liberty of London

Pewter, Victorian Jewelry and Eames Furniture Now Available Online

SAN JOSE, Calif. December 14, 1999—eBay Great Collections (www.ebaygreatcollections.com), the fine art, premium collectibles and rare antiques trading area on eBay® (NASDAQ: EBAY; www.ebay.com), today announced that Liberty—one of the most distinctive and innovative decorative retailers in London UK — has put unique items up for sale on eBay Great Collections. Merchandise listed includes rare English pewter, Victorian jewelry and a world-class collection of sixties' furniture from the masters of modern design, Charles and Ray Eames. Listing these items, Liberty also became an official dealer on eBay Great Collections.

"Liberty is world famous for its commitment to quality and design excellence and has made a unique contribution to the decorative arts," said Steve Westly, senior vice president and general manager of premium services at eBay. "eBay Great Collections offers the first chance for collectors in United States and around the world to bid on unique items that represent the best in design — from the Victorian era through to the 1960s."

"Liberty has an unrivalled reputation for innovative design and the older pieces have been carefully selected for their fine craftsmanship. Many were originally commissioned by Mr. Liberty himself from the finest designers of the era including Archibald Knox and Oliver Baker," said Andrew Thatcher, brand director of Liberty. "The furniture comes from a special gathering in our London store of the best of the sixties furniture — modern collectibles — and is a rare occasion to purchase sets of these items. The sixties were a time of great artistic creativity at Liberty and we are delighted to return to those times with these pieces."

The work of Charles and Ray Eames has become hot property since appearing on the set of popular NBC sit-com Frasier. Their work is being featured in an exhibition at the National Design Museum in New York and their chairs are now considered to be icons of the sixties. The auction will also include furniture by other influential designers such as Arne Jacobsen, Verner Panton and Robin Day.

Liberty pewter and silver was created during the late Victorian period, pioneered by artist Archibald Knox. His work spans both the Arts and Crafts and Art Nouveau movements and features enamel and turquoise inlays. His masterpiece, a silver rose bowl, is now part of the Brad Pitt Collection, currently touring Japan in the Liberty Style exhibition.

A collection of antique jewelry dating from the late 1800's completes this sale. The star piece from this collection is a stunning diamond, opal and pearl brooch c.1910. Other pieces include an original Liberty pendant c.1912.

About Liberty
Sir Arthur Lasenby Liberty founded Liberty in 1875 as a department store carrying exclusive items for the home. He traveled extensively in the Orient to find the unique and original. He was a leading member of the English Arts and Crafts Movement and his influence was strongly felt in the development of Art Nouveau. He printed fabrics for the home and for apparel and Liberty fabrics are still today a byword for luxurious colorful designs. Liberty's department store in London's Regent Street is still a marvelous treasure trove of unique items for the home and ladies' fashion. Its fabrics are exported all over the world. More information on Liberty is available on its "About Me" page on eBay (http://members.gc.ebay.com/aboutme/liberty-of-london).

About eBay
eBay (www.ebay.com), the world's personal trading community™, pioneered person-to-person online trading. Founded in 1995, eBay has developed an efficient and entertaining trading site on the Web that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. eBay has more than 7.7 million registered users. Currently, there are more than 3.3 million items listed for sale. eBay members add nearly 400,000 items to the site daily in more than 2,200 categories, including: automobiles; antiques; books, movies and music; coins and stamps; collectibles; computers; dolls and figures; jewelry and gemstones; photo and electronics; pottery and glass; sports memorabilia and toys.


eBay Acquires Blackthorne Software

Software Products Automate Merchandise Listing Process for eBay Sellers

San Jose, Calif., December 16, 1999 — eBay® (NASDAQ: EBAY; www.ebay.com) today announced that it has acquired Blackthorne Software (www.blackthornesw.com), a leading provider of software that automates the management of listings for eBay's sellers.

"Blackthorne Software has developed a premier set of products for auction management, including AuctionAssistant," said Jeff Jordan, vice president and general manager of eBay Services. "This acquisition will allow us to work closely with the leader in the category, providing our sellers with the tools they need to trade more effectively."

Blackthorne Software specializes in products designed to help people sell merchandise on the web. The company's first product, AuctionAssistant, was primarily designed to help automate the eBay merchandise listing process for both casual and serious users. The product proved to be so popular that Blackthorne developed AuctionAssistant Pro, which helps sellers format and post their merchandise on eBay, as well as integrating email and invoicing functions.

"We are very excited about the opportunities presented to us by this acquisition," said John Slocum, founder of Blackthorne Software. "By teaming with eBay, we can more tightly integrate our products with the eBay site, allowing us to more fully automate the auction management process and offer eBay sellers new levels of service."

The terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

About eBay
eBay (www.ebay.com), the world's personal trading community™, pioneered person-to-person online trading. Founded in 1995, eBay has developed an efficient and entertaining trading site on the web that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. eBay has more than 7.7 million registered users. Currently, there are more than 2.8 million items listed for sale. eBay users add more than 375,000 items to the site every single day in more than 2,900 categories, including: antiques; books, movies and music; coins and stamps; collectibles; computers; dolls and figures; jewelry and gemstones; photo and electronics; pottery and glass; sports memorabilia and toys.


eBay Brings Last Minute Holiday Joy With Free Listing Event

Sellers Invited to List Millions of New Items for Last Minute and Post Holiday Purchases

SAN JOSE, Calif., December 20, 1999 — eBay® (NASDAQ: EBAY; www.ebay.com), the world's leading person-to-person online trading community, today announced a 24-hour free listing event that will take place beginning midnight Monday, December 20 and continue until Monday evening at 11:59 PM PST. Insertion fees will be credited to eBay sellers who list items during that period. With millions of new items expected to be listed by sellers, eBay buyers should have a huge selection of last minute gifts to choose from or treat themselves to the gift they really want this holiday season.

Close to Christmas and the New Years celebrations, listings on eBay have historically declined as sellers take a well-earned break from their eBay businesses, before rebounding after the holiday season.

"Once the gifts are unwrapped and the new computers are turned on, we hope that people will soon find their way to eBay," said Brian Swette, eBay's COO. "As friends and family gather for holiday festivities, conversations may turn to the Internet and to eBay. Thanks to the sellers who take advantage of today's free listing event, buyers will be able to bid on millions of new, interesting items."


About eBay
eBay (www.ebay.com), the world's personal trading community™, pioneered person-to-person online trading. Founded in 1995, eBay has developed an efficient and entertaining trading site on the web that is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. eBay has more than 7.7 million registered users. Currently, there are more than 2.8 million items listed for sale. eBay users add more than 375,000 items to the site every single day in more than 2,900 categories, including: antiques; books, movies and music; coins and stamps; collectibles; computers; dolls and figures; jewelry and gemstones; photo and electronics; pottery and glass; sports memorabilia and toys.


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