Morphy Auctions’ Labor Day weekend sale tops $2 million

Sept. 5, 2005

DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions, a Diamond International Galleries company founded less than two years ago, grossed $2,020,000 in its Sept. 1-3 Labor Day weekend sale. “All categories were strong across the board,” said the company’s co-founder, Dan Morphy, “with 25 percent of the lots and 17 percent of the gross value of the auction selling via LiveAuctioneers and eBay Live.”

Top lot of the sale was an extremely rare 1906 Caille Bros. cast-iron Mickey Finn figural Tug-o-War strength tester. Estimated at $30,000, it drew 13 bids and finished at a mighty $46,750 (inclusive of 10 percent buyer’s premium).

Two cast-iron doorstops broke the existing world auction record for that particular specialty. A Judd West Wind Girl estimated at $3,000-4,000 flew to $23,520; and a Littco Products Halloween Girl more than doubled the former world record with a winning bid of $39.200.

Powerful prices were achieved across the board for comic character toys, highlighted by entries from the esteemed Gary Selmonsky collection. A Hoge Popeye in the Rowboat with near-apocryphal original box garnered $28,000; while a 1930s Distler (German) tinplate Mickey and Minnie Mouse Hurdy Gurdy made $13,440.

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