Hi,
Without seeing your October pictures, I would change the 1 ply to 2 ply yarn since most of these are 2-ply. However, I don't know if it is excellent or good condition based on this picture. For example, if there is any border loss at either end, or missing fringes, consider changing the condition to good.

Thanks for the input. When I posted this for identification, I did have 4 or 5 pictures of the rug. Funny thing is that when I took it to the flea market, the "rug buyers" were trying to tell me it is Indian or Pakistan. Glad I didn't sell it though. I was only asking a small fraction of what the estimator suggests.
Good points about using the estimator, I should probably have put in good rather than excellent. And about the 2-ply. Those changes only brought the price down a few hundred dollars though. Now, to find a good place to sell rugs.

Hi,
I can agree on the importance of condition. As for the age, another member ventured that opinion. Looking at the rug, it certainly seems possible. Here is a link to my original post which had more pictures attached.
http://forum.rugrag.com/...aspx?g=posts&t=3787
If you collect Sarouks, I welcome your opinion.
When I price an item for sale, I try to work off the retail value of the item, not simply multiply my costs. If I bought the item right, I might do more than double my costs. If I didn't or got stuck with a bunch of repair costs, I might be lucky to get out of it whole.
This rug is a bit dirty but I didn't find any other issues. Side cords and ends seem fine. When it gets warm enough to work outside, I am going to see about washing it. (Snowed last night)
I have sold a bunch of items on eBay, although not rugs. I don't think it is a very good place to sell rugs. How can the buyer tell condition? And how many of the sellers can be relied upon for their descriptions? But I have yet to find a good place to sell rugs. If I put them out at an antiques market, I mostly get a bunch of dealers looking for inventory cheap. And there are no auction galleries around here that I have any relationship with. If I did have anywhere to sell them at a reasonable percentage of retail, I could buy a lot more. As it is, I pass on most of the rugs I see.
Bruce

I am with Sharafiandco, it looks more like a Sharbaft / Ekbatan. Might not be as old as thought.

I guess I have a lot of points to consider. I haven't found many references to Sharbaft - Ektabans. So if anyone can point me in the right direction, it would be appreciated. From what I have found, is it a better quality rug from Hamedan? Which is more desirable, Sarouk or Sharbaft-Ektaban? More valuable? Thanks for any input.

Yes, here are the other photos I have of this piece. Kind of contrasty since it was afternoon sun when I took them. If you need more, just let me know and I can do it.

Having seen the back now I agree with Rugpro.

Shahrbaft means city weave or woven in the city, which is why sometimes they are given the old name for the city of Hamedan, which was Ekbatan. Majority of rugs associated with Hamedan were/ are woven in the surrounding towns and villages. However about 70 years ago the agent and buyer for Eastern Khayam started setting up looms in the city of Hamedan so they could have a more controlled and better quality production from the area. While the production was not large the quality was much better than the average Hamedan rug of the time.