ATLANTA – At the beginning of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall delivers top auction highlights from around the United States and the wider world. Please enjoy the July 2022 edition of his Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.
17-star United States flag, $46,740, Morphy Auctions
A 17-star, 17-stripe U.S. flag from descendants of American naval hero Stephen Decatur Jr. (1779-1820), who famously risked his life to avenge the death of his brother, Lt. James Decatur, following an 1804 U.S. attack on Barbary pirates’ ships in Tripoli harbor, sold for $46,740 at an Early Arms, Militaria & Extraordinary Firearms auction held May 17-18 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania. The flag dated to 1804-1812, which coincides with Decatur’s service time in the US Navy.
Marvel Mystery Comics #9, $40,000, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers
A copy of Timely Comics Marvel Mystery Comics #9 from July 1940, graded CGC 4.0, sold for $40,000 at a Spring Comic, Toy & Sports auction held May 21 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a copy of Marvel Comics Fantastic Four #1 from Nov. 1961, graded CGC 2.0, realized $18,750; a copy of Marvel Comics Amazing Spider-Man #1 from March 1963, graded CGC 1.8, brought $10,938; and a Madame puppet used by entertainer Wayland Flowers made $7,812.
1971 Chevrolet Impala, $31,250, EstateOfMind
A 1971 Chevrolet Impala convertible that had been sitting, undriven, in a heated garage for 30 years sold for $31,250 at a two-session estate auction held May 21 by EstateOfMind in Middletown, New York. Also, a Louis Vuitton trunk found a new owner for $6,562; a pair of 19th- or 20th-century Italian Carrara marble guardian angels finished at $6,250; and a 1945 painting of a World War II float plane by Eric Sloane (American, 1905-1985), earned $4,625.
Sam Gilliam collage, $67,650, Neue Auctions
An abstract acrylic on canvas collage and enamel on aluminum by African American artist Sam Gilliam (1933-2022), titled Pantheon #5, sold for $67,650 in an online-only May Modern auction held May 28 by Neue Auctions in Beachwood, Ohio. Also, a paper collage by Victor Vasarely (French and Hungarian, 1906-1997), titled Kontosch-C, realized $15,990; and a 1984 bronze sculpture by Clement Meadmore (Australian and American, 1929-2005), titled Open End, hit $10,455.
288-pound meteorite found in China, $4,125, Holabird Western Americana Collections
A 288-pound iron-nickel meteorite found in China in 1958 and believed to have fallen to Earth in the year 1516 sold for $4,125 at a Minerals Galore & Western Americana auction held June 2-5 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, a Wells Fargo Company (Omaha, Nebraska) stock certificate #647 for 100 shares, issued in 1870 to Henry Wells, one of the co-founders of American Express, attained $2,875; and a U.S. commemoratives stamp album that spanned 1900-1975 brought $3,750.
Boba Fett L-slot prototype action figure, $236,000, Hake’s Auctions
A Boba Fett L-slot rocket-firing prototype action figure, predecessor to the Boba Fett figure in Kenner’s popular 1979 Star Wars toy line, sold for a world record price of $236,000 at a Star Wars Special Event Auction held June 2 by Hake’s Auctions in York, Pennsylvania. Also, a 1978 Star Wars Jawa 12 Back-A action figure with vinyl cape rose to $40,887; and a Hungarian bootleg Return of the Jedi Boba Fett figure, AFA 50 Q-VG, went for a record price of $20,768.
Apollo 11 astronaut’s wristwatch, $765,000, Heritage Auctions
A circa-1969 gold Omega Speedmaster wristwatch, No. 19, one of only 28 made and presented to Apollo 11 moon mission astronaut Michael Collins, sold for $765,000 at a Fine Watches & Timepieces Signature Auction held June 1 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a circa-1971 Rolex Oyster Cosmograph Paul Newman Panda dial chronograph, Ref. 6263, hit $250,000; and a Kari Voutilaunen platinum wristwatch with retrograde date, No. 8/10, finished at $112,500.
Egyptian mummy mask, $175,000, Hindman
An Egyptian gilt cartonnage mummy mask sold for $175,000 at an Antiquities & Ancient Art: A Study auction held May 26 by Hindman in Chicago. Also, an Egyptian bronze cat, cast in bronze and depicted in a conventional seated position, realized $125,000; a faience female figure rang up $107,500; a Roman marble portrait head of Antisthenes achieved $100,000; and two Cycladic marble sculptures depicting female figures earned $81,250 and $31,250 respectively.
Fern Coppedge landscape, $252,000, Freeman’s
A large-scale view of Lambertville by Philadelphia Impressionist Fern Isabel Coppedge (1883-1951), titled Winter Decoration, sold for $252,000 at an American Art and Pennsylvania Impressionists auction held June 6 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, a Saturday Evening Post cover illustration by Sarah S. Weber (American, 1878-1939), titled Three of Us, reached $119,700; and a striking portrait by Emma Fordyce MacRae (American, 1887-1974), titled Melina in Green, changed hands for $63,000.
Saltillo Revival serape, $10,625, John Moran Auctioneers
A late 19th- or early 20th-century Saltillo Revival serape textile sold for $10,625 at an Art of the American West auction held May 24 by John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, a Santa Clara Pueblo blackware vessel by Nancy Youngblood (Native American, b. 1955-) climbed to $5,525; an early 20th-century (Dine) Navajo double saddle blanket settled at $4,875; and a mid-20th-century hand-tooled saddle and bridle by D. Hulbert of Arboles, Colorado changed hands for $4,375.
M. C. Escher print, $59,850, Doyle New York
An iconic 1938 print by the Dutch artist M. C. Escher, titled Day and Night, depicting tessellation, or the tiling of a plane, sold for $59,850 at a Modern & Contemporary Furniture, Art & Design auction held June 8 by Doyle in New York City. Also, two works by Sharon Ellis, titled Air and Fire, both from 2002, went for $47,250 and $31,500, respectively; and a walnut cabinet by George Nakashima, featuring a live edge and three pandamus cloth sliding doors, realized $40,950.
Movie prop from The Matrix, $78,000, Potter & Potter Auctions
A lightning rifle prop from the movie The Matrix, made out of resin, rubber and foam, sold for $78,000 at a sale titled Enter the Matrix: The Wachowski Collection held May 12 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a 43in concept maquette from The Matrix for the Nebuchadnezzar, the hovercraft captained by Morpheus, who was played by Laurence Fishburne, made $36,000; and a Sentinel autonomous machine concept maquette from The Matrix hit $14,400.
Japanese reproduction ink drawings, $225,000, Roland Auctions NY
A set of eight Japanese reproduction ink drawings sold for $225,000 at a sale of Asian art, Asian decorative items and antiquities held May 20-21 by Roland Auctions NY in Glen Cove, New York. Also, an Imperial pale celadon Mei Ping vase soared to $187,500; a peach-shaped Chinese cinnabar-lacquered bridal box from the Qianlong period (1736-1795) achieved $125,000; and a circa-1689 chinoiserie harpsichord played a sweet tune for $68,750.
1959 Corvette convertible, CA$82,600, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.
A powder blue, fully restored 1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible sold for $82,600 in an online-only Petroliana, Railroadiana & Advertising auction held June 18 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a restored 1937 Ford Model 78 Deluxe convertible sedan achieved $32,450; and a restored 1972 GMC 1500 Custom pick-up truck rose to $30,680. Prices in this entry are in Canadian dollars.
Richard Prince collage, $687,500, Abell Auction
Untitled (Kate Moss), an unsigned acrylic and printed paper collage on canvas from 2008 by Richard Prince (American, b. 1949-), sold for $687,500 at an auction held May 22 by Abell Auction in Los Angeles. Also, a drawing by Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978), titled The Checker Game, one of four Rockwells in the auction, brought $30,000; a 1948 Desoto car sped away for $39,600; and a 1966 paper collage by Betye Saar (American, b. 1926-), dubbed Untitled (The Window), made $162,000.
Edgar Allan Poe-signed letter, $154,958, RR Auction
An Edgar Allan Poe letter, signed and dated Aug. 24, 1846, in which he offers his condolences to a fellow writer, sold for $154,958 in an online auction held April 15-April 22 by RR Auction in Boston. Also, a George S. Patton typed manuscript and letter, discussing combat, its history and its cause, hit the mark for $29,475; a John Lennon typed letter with a self-portrait sketch went for $24,129; and a Mary Blair concept painting of Alice from Alice in Wonderland made $22,500.
Luke Skywalker action figure, $100,252, LCG Auctions
A Star Wars 1978 Double Telescoping Luke Skywalker production action figure, graded AFA 90 and one of only two examples graded at that level, sold for $100,252 at a Spring Premier Auction held June 12 by LCG Auctions in New Orleans. Also, a 1984 Soundwave Transformer, graded AFA 85+, settled at $20,713; a 1985 Star Wars Yak Face figure, graded AFA 85, reached $22,206; and a G.I. Joe Dreadnok Ground Assault vehicle went to a determined bidder for $9,418.
Raimonds Staprans painting, $187,500, Clars Auction Gallery
A 1990 painting by Raimonds Staprans (American and Latvian, b. 1926-), titled Blue Boats, sold for $187,500 and a world auction record for the artist at a Modern + Contemporary Art + Design Auction held June 17 by Clars Auction Gallery in Oakland, California. Also a 1959 painting by Leonor Fini (Argentine and French, 1908-1996), titled Zorniga, earned $187,500; and a 1983 screenprint in colors on peche soleil signed by Yayoi Kusama (Japanese, b. 1929-), titled Pumpkin, achieved $87,500.
Babe Ruth rookie card, $244,489, Leland’s Auctions
A 1916 Babe Ruth blank back #151 rookie card sold for $244,489 in a Spring Classic Auction at Leland’s Auctions in New York City that concluded on June 11. Also, a 2000 Playoff Contenders Championship Ticket #144 Tom Brady autographed rookie card, graded BGS NM 7, achieved $513,102; LeBron James’s first-ever Los Angeles Lakers 75th anniversary City Edition game worn jersey from Dec. 3, 2021 brought $120,076; and a Michael Jordan-signed 1986 Fleer rookie card hit $70,940.
Waltham pocket watch, $100,000, Jones & Horan
A Waltham pocket watch, Crystal Plate, serial #12, model 1872, with free-sprung balance and original display case, sold for $100,000 in a four-hour auction of watches, coins and jewelry held May 1 by Jones & Horan in Manchester, New Hampshire. Also, a 1961 Patek Philippe Antimagnetic wristwatch with the original midcentury cases made $39,000; a Charles Oudin pocket watch with a cloisonne case brought $18,500; and a Rolex Oyster Panda Daytona watch finished at $40,000. Prices are hammer, exclusive of a buyer’s premium.
View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/
Art courtesy of ZHA
