Here's an interesting auction violating eBay policy:  You're supposed to sell what's in the picture, not the seller's choice from what's in the picture:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Circa-1650-1750-Dutch-Glass-Trade-Beads-10-Feet-X-5ft_W0QQitemZ190058228028QQihZ009QQcategoryZ3811QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Meanwhile,

YOU ARE BIDDING ON 10 FEET CUT FROM THIS MUCH LONGER STRAND OF  BEADS. THESE BEADS ARE 2MM-5MM WIDE AND ARE GUARANTEED ORIGINAL AND GENUINE 1650'S-1750'S DRAWN GLASS DUTCH TRADE BEADS TRADED UP AND DOWN THE AMERICAS.

THESE ARE FOUND ON AN ISLAND OUTSIDE OF THE RUINS OF AN OLD DUTCH FORT IN SOUTH AMERICA.  [Which island in South America?] FAMILIES SIFT THE SANDY SOIL DURING THE DRY SEASON TO SUPPLEMENT THEIR MODEST INCOME AS FISHERMEN. THE DUTCH OCCUPIED THIS ISLAND FOR QUITE A NUMBER OF YEARS AND THEY USED THESE BEADS AS PAYMENT FOR THEIR NEEDS SUCH AS FRESH FISH AND GAME, FRUIT AND VEGETABLES AS WELL AS MANUAL LABOR.  [Any serious references to support these claims?]

Meanwhile, the beads here look a lot like other piffle-driven BS auctions preying on buyers' weakness for stories.  Look at this auction for comparison:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Authentic-old-trade-beads-arrowheads-relics-artifacts_W0QQitemZ140058898479QQihZ004QQcategoryZ715QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

These are obviously crap auctions.  We'll bet both sellers get the same modern beads from the same Gambians.  If these beads were from the ground, they would show some decomposition, now wouldn't they?

The second seller, in particular, has profited handsomely with this fraud for a long time.