Hake’s to auction incomparable pop culture memorabilia, March 15-16

James M Cox/Franklin D Roosevelt jugate button, 1.25in size, one of only six known in 1.25-inch size and one of only three known in this design; the first of its type to reach the marketplace in 40 years. Considered the ultimate political button, on par with a Honus Wagner T206 baseball card or ‘Action Comics’ #1. Estimate $100,000-$200,000

YORK, Pa. – Pop culture fans reacted with stunned disbelief, then excitement, last November when Hake’s sold a Captain American “hero-prop” shield used by Chris Evans in the 2019 film Avengers: Endgame. The pristine star-emblazoned shield commanded $259,540, the highest price ever paid at auction for a Marvel movie prop and the top price recorded in any sale of Hake’s record-setting $10 million year. However, America’s oldest collectibles auction house is not one to rest on its laurels, as the jaw-dropping lineup just announced for their March 15-16 auction clearly shows.

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Morphy’s offers 4 centuries of rare firearms & militaria, March 15-17

Lot of two consecutively serial-numbered Winslow Arms Co. (Osprey, Fla.) Crown Grade bolt-action rifles in production between 1962-1983. Very ornately carved and inlaid with images of striding and trotting deer, respectively. Each fitted with Bausch & Lomb Balvar 2.5-8x scope. Lot estimate $7,000-$10,000

DENVER, Pa. – Nearly 1,200 lots of rare and high-quality firearms and militaria, including edged weapons and World War II/Third Reich relics, will cross the auction block at Morphy’s, March 15-17. The expertly curated three-day event offers extraordinary variety and buying options, with a huge list of highlights that incorporates flintlock, drilling/combination and percussion revolvers and rifles; plus bolt-, lever- and slide-action rifles. Other spotlight categories are: semiautomatic pistols and rifles; over-under and side-by-side shotguns; prop guns, modern handguns, Civil War swords, cannons, armor; and hard-to-find ammunition, some still packaged in the original factory boxes. Bid absentee or live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.

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Paintings by Muhl, Carlin rose to top at Bruneau sale

Original painting by Roger Muhl, $9,375
Original painting by Roger Muhl, $9,375

CRANSTON, R.I. – An original still life painting by the French artist Roger Muhl (1929-2008) climbed to $9,375 and an interior genre painting by John Carlin (American, 1813-1891) brought $7,500 in an online-only Estate Fine Art & Antique auction held February 21 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers. More than 350 lots from estates and collections across New England came up for bid.

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Jasper52 hosts Fashion Fights Cancer benefit auction, March 8

Idris Habib, ‘Globetrotter W,’ est. $25,000-$30,000
Idris Habib, ‘Globetrotter W,’ est. $25,000-$30,000
Idris Habib, ‘Globetrotter W,’ est. $25,000-$30,000

NEW YORK – Jasper52 will host a benefit auction titled Fashion Fights Cancer on Tuesday, March 8 to raise funds for the charity of the same name. The start time is 6pm Eastern. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Message in a bottle: exhibit takes a look at examples from long ago

A woman named Krissy threw this bottle in a river at California, Kentucky in November 2008 and included an envelope, a stamp, and a few dollars in case postage costs had increased by the time it was found. Her message in a bottle was discovered in 2010. Image courtesy of Nauticus
A woman named Krissy threw this bottle in a river at California, Kentucky in November 2008 and included an envelope, a stamp and a few dollars in case postage costs had increased by the time it was found. Her message in a bottle was discovered in 2010. Image courtesy of Nauticus

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) – When you hear of a message in a bottle, perhaps the term calls to mind faraway images of someone stranded on a remote island or penning love letters centuries ago. But they turn up more often – and closer – than you might think.

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Aquamarines: The March birthstone is always in a blue mood

A natural 3.48-ctw aquamarine and diamond ring in 14K white gold sold for $710,900 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2021 at World Jewelry Auctions. Image courtesy of World Jewelry Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
A natural 3.48-ctw aquamarine and diamond ring in 14K white gold sold for $710,900 plus the buyer’s premium in September 2021. Image courtesy of World Jewelry Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — The birthstone of March, the aquamarine, is well named, drawn from the Latin words for water, aqua, and the sea, marina. The gemstone’s coloration, which can range from the palest blue to a dark blue, certainly evokes the colors of the sea. Aquamarines are popular in jewelry and can be cut into a variety of shapes. Emerald, round or brilliant cuts are most commonly used to bring out the stone’s beauty.

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