Have faith. I received £780 for a missing bag that went AWOL in mid-June this year. The bag turned up four weeks ago, contents intact. Having said that, my bag was languishing indoors at CDG for much of those missing 4 months. You may not be so lucky. I think there is little chance in finding which auction house is flogging off the BA bags and even less chance of being at the auction house on the day your bag goes under the hammer. As regards value of contents versus compensation, there is always your own travel insurance (I will assume you did fly with travel insurance). BA have actually paid you the maximum amount or thereabouts they are allowed to pay out. I was told it was £750 maximum and anything above had to have managerial authorisation.