I stand by my previous comments, but I only intended to make them once!

Justa Picker's highly informed observations are clearly the voice of experience. It's funny about the 18 series (mahogany bodies), there are rather variable opinions among knowledgable collectors as to their general collectibility. There is no doubt that an old (50's or earlier) D-18 is the most desirable of the 18's, followed by a vintage 000. My all-time favourite guitar was a 1939 or so D-18 a friend of mine used to own. The single-O's are still undervalued in my opinion, they were made from the turn of the century until the mid-70's, a few hundred a year, and have been thought of as too small for current fashion in a dreadnought world, but I really think they are aesthetically exquisite and very comfortable to play. Mine's about due (1973) for the 20-year neck reset and a new bridge but it's still highly playable so won't get it for awhile.

D-28's with the rosewood body, are considered more desirable but they've never done much for me.

I guess the "collect it and put it away" notion bothers me particularly because all the vintage Martins in Canada have been going south rapidly since our dollar went down to 65c US. And the real high end ones seem to go to Japan.

Re: Wilma Lee Cooper, yup, that's the price range those D-45's are in. Elderly Instruments had one listed at 160,000 this past winter, they sold it pretty quickly when they dropped the asking to 140 grand. YEEEEOUUUUCH!

Willie-O