This will be expensive: New-in-box IBM M15 hits eBay

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In October two IBM M15 keyboards were available on eBay, one of which sold for $850 and another that broke $1600 after a bidding war. An M15 (13H6689) was just listed that has the potential to go for more than the two combined.
What makes this IBM model M15 ergonomic adjustable keyboard so potentially expensive? First of all it’s new-in-box. That’s right, it’s in the original box, complete with all the manuals and accessories, just as it was when it left the factory in 1994. That fact is important because a) collector’s will pay top dollar for the original box/gear and b) it means the keyboard and its delicate adjustment mechanism are both in perfect working order.
Those details would be enough to make this keyboard more desirable than the $1625 listing, but then there is this. The keyboard is being sold by Clicky Keyboards, the most respected name in IBM Model M reselling. Clicky not only included an excellent photo gallery, which will boost the price, but the site also has perfect eBay feedback. (I’ve dealt with them through their online store in the past and had a great experience.)

Curious about why the M15 is going for so much these days? It’s all about scarcity. From the keyboard’s page:
Very limited item. We have been selling model M keyboards online for 8 years and have sold more than three thousand, five hundred new and refurbished keyboards since our first sale in 2002. This is only the 14th model M-15 keyboard that we have had access to.
That page also notes that the keyboard was listed in response to this article at Slashdot. I’m guessing that the recent explosion in the price of these keyboards might have helped as well.
The only downside to this offering is the lack of the optional numberpad, but the inclusion of the original rubber palm rests will more than make up for this.
The M15 is currently selling for $641 after 9 bids. It has had just 287 pageviews (if the counter is to be trusted) and has 6 days and 7 hours left before the auction is complete.
 
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