Internet plays key role in Morphy Auctions’ $1.3 million debut sale

April 12, 2004

DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions, the newest player on the Pennsylvania toy auction scene, hit the ground running over Easter weekend, pulling in $1.3 million at its 1,160-lot debut event. Bidders participating online through LiveAuctioneers.com prevailed on 41.2% of the lots sold in the opening session on April 9, and 26.9% of the merchandise in the April 10 session, for a total of $188,010 in Internet sales. Innumerable additional lots were driven upward, the auctioneer said, by underbids coming in through LiveAuctioneers.

Observers from the antiques trade were watching the sale with interest, hopeful that a strong turnout for the fledgling auction company’s first sale would be an indication of continued momentum in a recovering marketplace. Clearly, this auction’s results were a very positive sign that collectors are not holding back.

Top lot in the opening session was an end of the day onionskin marble, which sold for $14,300, a new world record for a marble at auction. The Saturday session, highlighted by the esteemed George Wausnock automotive toy collection, was led by a rare Mickey Mouse “Smile Please!” bank and a Marklin live steam Pique torpedo boat, each ofwhich brought $23,100.

“The sale exceeded our highest expectations,” said the auction company’s co-owner, Dan Morphy. “Everyone was very supportive, including LiveAuctioneers, who were tremendously helpful. We were thrilled with the Internet bids and couldn’t believe how much of an impact it had on the sale total.”

Morphy Auctions will hold its second antique toy and advertising sale over Labor Day weekend, Friday and Saturday, Sept. 3 and 4. LiveAuctioneers.com will, once again, provide the Internet bidding facility.