I might recommend setting a reserve for Bells rather than start the bidding so high. That is a truly valuable record and is just the kind of thing reserve was made for. If the item really is of great worth and scarcity, then you will not have a problem attracting bidders. I've seen rare Beatles records start out under $20 and go for thousands. Mr. Gould is right, I think: auctions that start lower just do better. I think this is because it gives people time to bid. If you start say, an OOP 6-LP Mosaic set at $220, you might sell it and you might not. If you do, there will be very few bids, maybe even just one. But if you start it at $19.99, there may be a dozen or more bids and you'll still sell it for that or more.