VINELAND, N.J. – The second and final installation of the late Sam Downey Jr.’s prized toy and train collection crowned three days of heated competition at Bertoia’s November 14-16 Annual Fall Auction, which totaled $2.28 million. The revered multigenerational collection was established by pioneer toy collector Samuel Downey Sr., and eventually was bequeathed to Sam Jr., who expanded the holding considerably with carefully chosen, premium-quality pieces acquired over several decades.
MONROVIA, Calif. – Moran’s Dec. 10 Luxury, Couture & Accessories auction was a success with only three lots going unsold. Staple pieces and statement pieces alike were being snatched up just in time for the holidays. Absentee and Internet live bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.
NEW YORK – LiveAuctioneers, the world’s leading online marketplace for auctions of fine art, antiques and investment-grade collectibles, has been named “One of the Best Places to Work in New York City” by Crain’s New York Business for 2019. It is the fourth consecutive year that LiveAuctioneers has been selected for the coveted honor.
LOS ANGELES – One of the most recognized superhero costume pieces of all time – an original cape worn by Christopher Reeve in his iconic role as the Man of Steel in Superman (Warner Bros., 1978) – soared at Julien’s Auctions on Monday, selling for $193,750 and setting a new world record as the most expensive superhero cape sold at auction. Julien’s Auctions held its blockbuster auction event Icons & Idols: Hollywood on Dec. 16 in Beverly Hills.
DALLAS – A rare encryption machine used by Nazi German forces to communicate without interception and translation by the Allies sold for more than four times its opening bid to end at $106,250. The cipher device was offered at an auction of historic World War II artifacts in Heritage Auctions’ Historic Flags of World War II Auction Dec. 14.
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NEW YORK – The earliest corkscrew patents issued were for a simplistic yet effective T-shaped design, comprising a rod/spike attached to a bar/handle. Over the years, corkscrews and their handles became highly decorative, taking the form of everything from female nudes and ships to animals. Bar collectibles are big business with unusual and striking corkscrews chief among them.