Bertoia’s debut sale of Kaufman antique toy collection realizes $4.2M

With Jeanne Bertoia looking on, Philadelphia's Fox 29 TV affiliate interviews Don Kaufman for its news cast. Photo by Phil Dutton, courtesy Bertoia Auctions.
With Jeanne Bertoia looking on, Philadelphia's Fox 29 TV affiliate interviews Don Kaufman for its news cast. Photo by Phil Dutton, courtesy Bertoia Auctions.
With Jeanne Bertoia looking on, Philadelphia’s Fox 29 TV affiliate interviews Don Kaufman for its news cast. Photo by Phil Dutton, courtesy Bertoia Auctions.

VINELAND, N.J. (ACNI) – Long lamented as a bygone era, the days of toy collector kinship were revived with an electrifying spark as a global contingent of buyers convened at Bertoia Auctions on March 19-21 for the debut of the Donald Kaufman auction series.

Built over a period of nearly 59 years, the internationally renowned Kaufman collection’s initial outing rang the register at $4.2 million, setting a house record for Bertoia’s and sending a message of confidence about the toy-collecting hobby that was obvious to all in attendance. Real-time Internet bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com added $341,858.81 to the three-day gross.

“The return of the toy camaraderie we remembered so fondly from 15 or 20 years ago was an inspiring thing to see,” said Bertoia Auctions’ owner, Jeanne Bertoia. “What I heard from all the old-timers was, ‘It’s back.'”

The gallery’s stylishly modern décor, enhanced by vases of fresh orchids, lent a new sense of chic to the auction preview process. Thursday evening previewers sipped wine and noshed on gourmet hors d’oeuvres as they inspected the deluxe toys through floor-length wall-to-wall glass showcases and chatted animatedly in German, French or English with their soon-to-be auction competitors.

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Lincoln stamp trove scores nearly $2M at auction

DALLAS (AP) – A Georgia man’s collection of more than 10,000 Abraham Lincoln stamps has sold at auction in New York City for nearly $2 million.

Dallas-based Spink Shreves Galleries on Friday auctioned off the Lincoln-focused collection that took 67-year-old William J. Ainsworth of Roswell more than 30 years to amass. Officials said bids came from around the world.

The presale estimate for the collection was more than $2 million.

Among the collection’s highlights was a proof of a block of eight mint-condition 90-cent stamps of Lincoln with his image accidentally printed upside-down. The block is one of only two known and sold for $149,600.

A 90-cent vertical block of six Lincoln stamps from 1869 sold for $86,250.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

AP-CS-04-17-09 1921EDT

1917 artwork by Swiss folk artist commands $40,480 at Slotin’s

The top lot of the sale was this colored pencil on paper rendering by Adolf Wolfli ($40,480).
The top lot of the sale was this colored pencil on paper rendering by Adolf Wolfli ($40,480).
The top lot of the sale was this colored pencil on paper rendering by Adolf Wolfli ($40,480).

BUFORD, Ga. – A colored pencil on paper arwork created in 1917 by Swiss self-taught artist Adolf Wolfli (1864-1930) sold for $40,480 at a folk art auction held March 28 by Slotin Auction. The framed piece, titled Blatt Aus Heft #15 and inscribed throughout, measured 11¼  inches by 16¼ inches and was in excellent condition. It was the top earner of the sale.

“This was one of only a few Wolfli pieces we’ve ever offered at auction, and it made a very strong showing, probably stronger than a gallery sale,” said Amy Slotin who, along with her husband Steve, oversees what has become the premier folk art auction firm in the country. Twice a year, collectors mark their calendars and pour in from around the world to attend their sales.

The March 28 event was fairly typical, in that nearly 1,000 lots crossed the block. Not so typical, however, was the turnout. “Usually we start a sale with more staff than bidders,” Amy remarked, “but this time it was standing room only from the start, with every one of the 200 chairs filled. The room was overflowing. I had to double up on my orders for lunch and dinner.”

She continued, “People really did want to be part of this auction, despite the dismal economy. I did notice that where people used to bid on 30 to 40 items in the past, this time they were much more focused on their selections. But I really appreciate the fact that they are still in the game and enthusiastic about the genre.”

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Russian art, German guns and silver shine in Aberdeen’s sale

German silver and ivory tankard, late 17th or early 18th century, $11,163. Image courtesy Aberdeen Auction Galleries.
German silver and ivory tankard, late 17th or early 18th century, $11,163. Image courtesy Aberdeen Auction Galleries.
German silver and ivory tankard, late 17th or early 18th century, $11,163. Image courtesy Aberdeen Auction Galleries.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Aberdeen Auction Galleries had 118 registered bidders with LiveAuctioneers.com and another 45 registered inhouse for its online/absentee/phone sale of March 14. Auction house owner Alex Turchack had assembled 388 lots of excellent European art, antiques and money to offer to bidders.

The top lot of the sale was a 19½ by 24 inch oil on canvas signed by Alexei Petrovich Bogolubov (Russian, 1824-1896) and titled Night Seascape.

The artist’s history is a fascinating one. After joining the Russian navy, Bogolubov attended the St. Petersburg Academy of Art and became a noted landscape painter by the mid-19th century. He traveled widely in Europe, settling in Paris in 1873. When he died in 1896, he left his entire fortune, around US$6 million, to the Russian Museum and its painting school in St. Petersburg. The school was then named in his honor. This seascape, estimated at $5,000-$8,000, sold for $12,330 to a Massachusetts collector bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com. All prices quoted are inclusive of a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.

Another oil on canvas, a winter scene with skaters by Morel Jan Evert Sr. the Elder (Dutch 1766-1808), sold for $2,360. The 6 by 8 inch canvas was enclosed in an ornate 14 by 16 inch frame.

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Antique surveyor’s compass points to success at Leland Little

Rare North Carolina surveyor's compass, made in the late 18th century by Camm Moore ($28,750). Image courtesy Leland Little.
Rare North Carolina surveyor's compass, made in the late 18th century by Camm Moore ($28,750). Image courtesy Leland Little.
Rare North Carolina surveyor’s compass, made in the late 18th century by Camm Moore ($28,750). Image courtesy Leland Little.

HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. – A rare North Carolina surveyor’s compass, made around the late 18th century by Guilford County artisan Camm Moore (1755-1845) soared to $28,750 at a quarterly cataloged auction held March 21 by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales Ltd. It was the final sale held in the firm’s South Nash Street location. Next month, the firm moves into new digs, at 620 Cornerstone Court.

“With the success of this cataloged auction, we were able to end on a very positive note at our present address,” said Leland Little, owner of the firm, “but we very much look forward to our move in April into a 10,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that is ideal for our needs.” An inaugural sale is slated for Saturday, April 11, and the next cataloged auction will be held the weekend of June 13-14.

The surveyor’s compass was in working order, with an untouched natural patina. It had a silver (or silvered brass) dial, engraved with “Made by Camm Moore, Guilford” around the center ring. Four quadrants were marked “0-90” and the compass was set in a brass housing, with a lid and two hinged sighting posts. Moore was primarily known as a silversmith, but he also made surveying instruments.

Leland Little estimated about 250 people packed his showroom to participate in the final sale of a 10-year run on South Nash Street. “It was standing room only all day long,” he said. “As usual, it was a strong collaborative effort that carried the day. We have a wonderful team and support staff.” Also, about 1,000 pre-bids were recorded via phone, absentee and online through LiveAuctioneers.com.

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Bravo, Tim Seery – teen pays $3,500 for Western art in Russell sale

GREAT FALLS, Mont. (AP) – A high school student who’s an aspiring artist paid $3,500 for a painting that an art expert says is by the late Western artist C.M. Russell.

Tim Seery, 16, is a sophomore at C.M. Russell High School in Great Falls, has volunteered at the city’s C.M. Russell Museum and has attended Great Falls’ annual Russell auction for the past five years or so.

With release of the catalog for the 2009 auction, Seery spotted an opportunity: the Matador Dance Program. It is a small, mixed-media painting of a matador. Unsigned, the piece comes with a certificate of authenticity from Ginger Renner, a leading authority on Russell art.

Seery, who has been saving money from odd jobs, said that when he saw the matador piece in the catalog he contacted another Russell expert “to see whether it might be in my price range, which was very limited.” With encouragement from that person, Seery registered for a bidder’s card and awaited last Friday’s auction.

He had competition; three other people were interested in the painting. Bidding stalled at $3,000 and auctioneer Bruce Brock sought $4,000.
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Skinner Fine Jewelry auction glitters with nearly $1.8M in sales

Art Deco diamond, onyx, jadeite and coral brooch by Boucheron Paris, sold for $189,600. Image courtesy Skinner Inc.
Art Deco diamond, onyx, jadeite and coral brooch by Boucheron Paris, sold for $189,600. Image courtesy Skinner Inc.
Art Deco diamond, onyx, jadeite and coral brooch by Boucheron Paris, sold for $189,600. Image courtesy Skinner Inc.

BOSTON – Skinner Inc. today announced the results of its March 17, 2009 Fine Jewelry sale. The auction achieved its overall high estimate, grossing $1,768,021.

A number of the top-selling lots came to Skinner from the family of William and Henry Waters, who established Baltimore’s Waters Art Museum. The star of the show was a stunning Renaissance Revival long chain (lot 530) that sold for $402,000.  It was estimated at $75,000-$125,000.

Another eye-catching lot, an archaeological Revival gold and glass bead fringe necklace, circa 1880, sold for $67,545.50.
 
Additional highlights included an Art Deco diamond, onyx, jadeite and coral brooch by Boucheron Paris (lot 514), which sold for $189,600.00, and a Renaissance Revival enamel, sapphire and diamond brooch (lot 529) that achieved $71,100.

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Gun auction featuring Joseph Murphy’s Colt collection earns $11.4M

Engraved and gold-inlaid Colt single-action army revolver known as Sears & Roebuck Cowboy Special, sold for $747,500. Image courtesy James D. Julia Auctioneers.
Engraved and gold-inlaid Colt single-action army revolver known as Sears & Roebuck Cowboy Special, sold for $747,500. Image courtesy James D. Julia Auctioneers.
Engraved and gold-inlaid Colt single-action army revolver known as Sears & Roebuck Cowboy Special, sold for $747,500. Image courtesy James D. Julia Auctioneers.

FAIRFIELD, Maine (AP) – A two-day auction of high-end firearms and memorabilia generated sales totaling nearly $11.4 million.

About 100 bidders and spectators showed up Tuesday, March 17, for the final day of the sale at the James D. Julia Inc. auction house in Fairfield.

A highlight was the sale of 40 lots from the Colt firearms collection of Pennsylvania businessman Joseph A. Murphy.

Julia said the collection is the finest, gun for gun, ever to come to auction. Two other auctions that will include rare pieces from Murphy’s collection are scheduled for October 2009 and March 2010.
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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

AP-ES-03-18-09 1410EDT

Bertoia’s breaks house record with $4.2M Kaufman debut

Marklin Fidelitas clown caravan, sold for $103,500 on March 19, 2009 at Bertoia's. Image courtesy Bertoia Auctions.
Marklin Fidelitas clown caravan, sold for $103,500 on March 19, 2009 at Bertoia's. Image courtesy Bertoia Auctions.
Marklin Fidelitas clown caravan, sold for $103,500 on March 19, 2009 at Bertoia’s. Image courtesy Bertoia Auctions.

VINELAND, N.J. – The March 19-21 no-reserve sale premiering the Donald Kaufman Antique Toy Collection rang the register at more than $4.2 million and set a new house record for its producer, Bertoia Auctions. The high-energy event, which was the opener for an ongoing series of sales to disperse the massive Kaufman collection, reminded many of the great auctions of 20 years ago. The three-day gross slightly surpassed Bertoia’s previous house record – also in the range of $4.2 million – which had been set in 1998 when the New Jersey company auctioned the Stan Sax bank collection.

Toy industry veterans at the red-carpet preview and sale concurred that the affair was the “best-attended toy auction ever.” Bidders were quick to reserve seats in the main saleroom, which overflowed into the adjacent gallery. Additional competitors worldwide kept the phone bank and Internet console buzzing with bids. Online bidders through LiveAuctioneers.com added more than $341,000 to the final tally.

The sale’s grand-prize winner was a rare circa-1909 Marklin Fidelitas clown caravan measuring 37½ inches long. A stunning hand-painted toy made by prewar Germany’s premier toy manufacturer, it had been estimated at $30,000-$40,000 but well exceeded expectations with a selling price of $103,500 (inclusive of 15 percent buyer’s premium). The buyer was a private collector from Europe.

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Neal Auction sells New Orleans’ Spanish Custom House for $1.045M

The Spanish Custom House, built in 1784 in New Orleans' historic Bayou St. John neighborhood, sold at Neal Auction Company's Feb. 10, 2009 absolute auction for $1,045,000. Image courtesy Neal Auction Co.
The Spanish Custom House, built in 1784 in New Orleans' historic Bayou St. John neighborhood, sold at Neal Auction Company's Feb. 10, 2009 absolute auction for $1,045,000. Image courtesy Neal Auction Co.
The Spanish Custom House, built in 1784 in New Orleans’ historic Bayou St. John neighborhood, sold at Neal Auction Company’s Feb. 10, 2009 absolute auction for $1,045,000. Image courtesy Neal Auction Co.

NEW ORLEANS – The Spanish Custom House, built in 1784 in New Orleans’ historic Bayou St. John neighborhood, sold at Neal Auction Company’s Feb. 10, 2009 absolute auction for $1,045,000. Neal Auction, whose services include fine art auctions, appraisals and marketing of tangible and real assets, was contracted by the sellers last November to handle the sale. 

The auction took place on site, where registered bidders and their guests were encouraged to tour the home one last time while listening to live music, enjoying French King Cake and sipping mimosas. The 36 bidders, who were required to submit $50,000 in certified funds before participating in the auction, came from all over the region, including Alabama, Mississippi and Texas, and from as far away as Arizona, Georgia, Illinois, New Hampshire, and New York. 

One bidder, an architect who flew in from Atlanta, commented via email after the sale that Neal Auction “made me feel so welcome and comfortable. The whole experience was quiet enjoyable! Thanks for everything.”

With 36 competing bidders, the Spanish Custom House sold within 20 minutes to a gentleman from Houma, La., for $1,045,000. 

The event’s presiding auctioneer, Neal Auction Company’s president and co-founder Neal Alford, started the bidding at $100,000 and quickly proceeded upward from there. Competition was widespread throughout the room up to $750,000. At $750,000, only three contenders for the historic structure remained active; at $800,000, only two. From $800,000 to the final hammer price of $950,000, bidding was tense, with only two bidders left to compete for the property. To much applause, the auction closed at $950,000, with the gentleman from Houma being declared the winning bidder. A 10% buyer’s premium is added to the final bid price to arrive at the total contract sale price of $1.045 million.

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