Star Wars and sports cards land in the winners circle at Morphy’s smash $3.1M auction

Unopened 1952 Topps baseball brick of eight factory-sealed 5-cent wax packs, with each pack containing five cards. Extraordinarily rare and most likely from Topps’ first series. Authenticated by Steve Hart, owner of Baseball Card Exchange. Sold above high estimate for $873,300 to a private collector

DENVER, Pa.- Star Wars fans and diehard sports buffs called the shots at Morphy Auctions’ February 1-3, 2023 auction, which attracted head-spinning prices and closed the books at nearly $3.1 million. The sale featured both a phenomenal single-owner collection of early Star Wars action figures and a vintage sports card selection that included one of the most sought-after treasures of the “unopened” realm: an intact 1952 Topps baseball wax-pack “brick” that sold for a staggering $873,300. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.

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100+ Basquiat/Warhol collaborations at center of Fondation Louis Vuitton exhibition

Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, ‘OP OP,’ 1984. Acrylic on canvas, 287 by 417cm. Collection Bischofberger, Mannedorf-Zurich / Bischofberger collection, Mannedorf-Zurich. © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, licensed by Artestar, New York; © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by ADAGP, Paris 20. Photo credit: Courtesy of Bischofberger collection, Mannedorf-Zurich
Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, ‘OP OP,’ 1984. Acrylic on canvas, 287 by 417cm. Collection Bischofberger, Mannedorf-Zurich / Bischofberger collection, Mannedorf-Zurich. © Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat, licensed by Artestar, New York; © The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, Inc. / Licensed by ADAGP, Paris 20. Photo credit: Courtesy of Bischofberger collection, Mannedorf-Zurich

PARIS – In 2018, the Fondation Louis Vuitton presented Jean-Michel Basquiat, a career-spanning exhibition of the artist’s work, which was a massive success and drew an estimated 700,000 visitors during the exhibition run. In 2023, the Fondation will continue its exploration of the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat, revealing, this time, his collaboration with Andy Warhol. “Basquiat x Warhol, painting 4 hands” will open on April 5 and continue through August 28.

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Alderfer’s Feb. 23 ‘Art for a Cause’ auction to benefit NJ library

Arthur Roy Mitchell painting, estimated at $2,000-$3,000
Arthur Roy Mitchell painting, estimated at $2,000-$3,000
Arthur Roy Mitchell painting, estimated at $2,000-$3,000

FLEMINGTON, N.J. – Join Alderfer Auction for a one-of-a-kind day of art and giving in support of the Hunterdon County library in Flemington, New Jersey. The proceeds from this exciting online art auction, taking place Thursday, February 23 at 10 am Eastern time, will go directly to the library, providing access to educational resources and a love of learning for the community. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Sarasota Estate Auction promises to fill your bookshelves, Feb. 12

William Morris, ‘Tale of King Coustans,’ Kelmscott Press 1894, shortly after rebound by the Ulwar, India bookbinders Qari Abdurrahman’s Sons, estimated at $500-$1,000
William Morris, ‘Tale of King Coustans,’ Kelmscott Press 1894, shortly after rebound by the Ulwar, India bookbinders Qari Abdurrahman’s Sons, estimated at $500-$1,000
William Morris, ‘Tale of King Coustans,’ Kelmscott Press 1894, shortly after rebound by the Ulwar, India bookbinders Qari Abdurrahman’s Sons, estimated at $500-$1,000

SARASOTA, Fla. — Sarasota Estate Auction will hold an Important Fine Book & Manuscript Auction on Sunday, February 12. Headlining this 140-lot sale will be letters written and signed by the Marquis de Lafayette, a Lord Nelson portrait and letter from 1801, and books from Charles Dickens’ own library, featuring his bookplate and his library plate. Also included are first editions by Charles Dickens, George Cruikshank, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and wonderful paper ephemera. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Medal for 1952 Nobel Prize in Chemistry sells for $180K

Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Archer Martin in 1952 for co-inventing partition chromatography, £150,000 (about $180,000). Image courtesy of Noonans
Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Archer Martin in 1952 for co-inventing partition chromatography, £150,000 (about $180,000). Image courtesy of Noonans
Medal for Nobel Prize in Chemistry awarded to Archer Martin in 1952 for co-inventing partition chromatography, £150,000 (about $180,000). Image courtesy of Noonans

LONDON – The Nobel Prize medal awarded to chemist Archer Martin in 1952 was sold by Noonans February 2 in an auction of Coins and Historical Medals for a hammer price of £150,000 (about $180,000). It was consigned by his family and was bought by a private collector in Europe, who was bidding via the telephone.

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Phoenix Art Museum explores self-expression through photography and fashion

Dennis Feldman, ‘Man with Reflective Glasses,’1969-1972. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: gift of the artist. © Dennis Feldman
Dennis Feldman, ‘Man with Reflective Glasses,’1969-1972. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: gift of the artist. © Dennis Feldman
Dennis Feldman, ‘Man with Reflective Glasses,’ 1969-1972. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: gift of the artist. © Dennis Feldman

PHOENIX – This spring, Phoenix Art Museum (PhxArt) presents Fashioning Self: The Photography of Everyday Expression, a new major photography exhibition organized by PhxArt and the Center for Creative Photography (CCP) in Tucson. It will be on view from March 8 through November 12 in the Doris and John Norton Gallery for the Center for Creative Photography at Phoenix Art Museum.

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