Are Gibson RDs really that rare?

[stevieg]

As I've posted elsewhere, I scored an RD Artist for $350.00 in 1898.
I bought it from a Pennsylvania shop via e-bay.
One of my co-workers sent me an e-mail that I needed to check this bass out. I looked at the photos and sent him an e-mail to the effect of "Oh great, another weird Gibson bass". I was the proud owner of a Gibson T-bird at the time. That's what I'm playing in my pic.
Anyway he called me and said, "Don't argue with me. Just buy it!!!" He had previously owned one.
So I bought it and have never regretted a moment of owning it.

Ah 1998 that is. I'm not that old!

 

[Aberdumbie]

I bought mine shorty after the civil war in 1879. Still have it.

 

[M.R. Ogle]

That explains the weight of 'em... PETRIFIED WOOD!