Morphy Auctions presents historical Susquehanna Collection, Jan. 16

Exceptional and important pair of American Revolutionary War flintlock officer’s pistols, each inscribed for its original owner: ‘Robert Roberts 1775.’ Ex collection of R.H. Coleman, president of Remington Arms Co. Extensive documentation. Estimate $50,000-$100,000

DENVER, Pa. – On January 16, Morphy Auctions will launch its 2020 roster of high-profile events with the 220-lot sale of an extraordinary Pennsylvania collection. Dubbed “The Susquehanna Collection,” the unique assemblage of furniture, decorative and fine arts, Kentucky long rifles, powder horns and accoutrements was astutely amassed by a private collector over a period of 40 years.

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Egypt draws ire with artifacts’ move to busy Tahrir Square

Traffic congestion in Cairo contributes to a major pollution problem in the city. Photo by The Erica Chang, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license

CAIRO (AP) – Egypt’s recent decision to transport ancient Pharaonic artifacts to a traffic circle in the congested heart of Cairo has fueled fresh controversy over the government’s handling of its archaeological heritage.

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Right at home: It’s that ’70s (and ’80s) show in home decor

You’ve probably noticed it in clothing stores: racks and shelves full of high-waisted flares, rib-knit turtlenecks, acid green sweatshirts and disco ball metallics. It’s that ’70s — and ’80s — show, in real life. The influence of these two decades has worked its way into home decor as well.

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Film exploring Henry Ford’s complicated legacy awarded grant

DETROIT (AP) – A film exploring the significant, complicated legacy of Henry Ford has received a financial boost from a Detroit nonprofit that supports the region’s automotive and labor history.

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Step right up for circus sideshow banners

Snap Wyatt’s “Freaks Alive,” circa 1945 banner, 100½ by 342 inches, sold for $9,500 in November 2018 at Potter & Potter Auctions. Photo courtesy of Potter & Potter Auctions and LiveAuctioneers

NEW YORK — Handpainted on canvas, vintage circus sideshow banners — some measuring up to 30 feet in width — were designed to titillate and shock circus-goers. A form of on-site advertising, they offered entry (for an additional fee, of course) to view sword swallowers, knife throwers, and fire eaters, as well as any number of hoaxes, such as “Alligator Girl” or P.T. Barnum’s infamous “Fejee Mermaid.”

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Jan. 16 auction features items signed by Lincoln, Hemingway, Beatles

Abraham Lincoln signed carte de visite, PSA/DNA encapsulated and graded Gem Mint 10, after an Alexander Gardner portrait, signed by Lincoln circa August 1864 (est. $50,000-$100,000)

WESTPORT, Conn. – A book and a carte de visite photograph both signed by Abraham Lincoln, a matador outfit owned by Ernest Hemingway and later gifted to his best friend and biographer A.E. Hotchner, and a Second Congress document signed by Thomas Jefferson are just a few of the expected top lots in University Archives’ next big auction, slated for Thursday, January 16. Bid absentee or live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.

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Hundreds of rare coins set auction records in 2019

1885 Trade Dollar Proof (obverse view), graded NGC PF 66. Sold by Heritage Auctions on Jan. 10, 2019 for $3,960,000. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

TEMECULA, Calif. – The emphasis in the United States rare coin market in 2019 was again on superb quality and exceptional rarity with hundreds of record prices reached at major public auctions, according to a year-end tabulation by the Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG). The PNG is a nonprofit organization composed of many of the country’s top rare coin and paper money dealers.

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Hope for Honolulu Chinatown revival via building restoration

Wo Fat Building, 115 North Hotel St., Honolulu, Hawaii, in the heart of the Chinatown Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Photo by Joel Bradshaw

HONOLULU (AP) – A restoration of the iconic Wo Fat Building could serve as a catalyst in a makeover of Honolulu’s Chinatown, developers said.

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Monument to ‘Star Trek: Voyager’ captain set for May debut

Screenshot of Star Trek: Voyager character Kathryn Janeway from the episode “Prophecy.” Fair use of low-resolution copyrighted image used for identification of, and commentary about, the fictional character “Kathryn Janeway”

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) – Captain Kathryn Janeway is coming home. A group working to create a monument to the lead character in “Star Trek: Voyager” has met its crowdfunding campaign goal of $12,500. The Captain Janeway Bloomington Collective will receive matching funds from the Indiana Housing & Community Development. That gives them enough to build it.

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New record store openings support solid trend for vinyl

The Jimi Hendrix Experience, MCA, eight LP discs in original purple velvet covered box with 40-page booklet. Jasper52 image

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) – Despite constant innovations in music streaming, vinyl records have shown real staying power over the years. Through the eras of Napster, iTunes and Spotify, older generations helped keep vinyl alive, and millennials are discovering the joy of endlessly sifting through records at a store and the experience of finding sounds of a different era.

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