DENVER, Pa. – At every level of the antique firearms hobby, savvy collectors are guided by three non-negotiables when considering a purchase: impeccable provenance, genuine rarity and unimpeachable condition. They will find all three qualities in uncompromising abundance at Morphy’s April 11-13 Firearms & Militaria Auction. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.
YORK, Pa. – Hake’s served up a pop culture feast at their March 21-22 Premier Auction, with one exciting rarity after another eliciting pre-sale comments like, “I’ve never seen one of those in the marketplace before” or “I never even knew that piece existed.” Closing at $2,570,000 inclusive of buyer’s premium, the two-day event was led by heavy hitters from the baseball, political memorabilia, Star Wars, comic art and vintage toy categories. Many items powered past their high estimates, and some set new world auction records along the way.
DES MOINES, Iowa – Active Interest Media (AIM) announces the acquisition of Kovels Inc’s assets. AIM’s Antique Trader, coupled with Kovels, positions the newly combined brand as one of the longest-standing authorities in antiques and collectibles media.
LONDON – On March 29, Chiswick Auctions will host a Design & Modern Contemporary sale that includes a single-owner collection of beautiful contemporary glass. The 40 pieces, all created by renowned UK and international artists, were assembled by art glass enthusiast Ben Essex between 1978 and 2010. Some were specially commissioned.
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Sometimes lightning does strike twice in the same place. As the days grew closer to Milestone’s March 11-12 Premier Collectible Firearms Auction, company co-owner Miles King felt increasingly certain that the sale’s top entries might achieve the same sort of estimate-defying prices as those paid at the March 2022 edition of their Premier sale. His hunch was right on the money. The high-powered lineup of antique, military, sporting and civilian arms with a timeline spanning the Civil War through Vietnam era attracted a gung-ho field of bidders and closed the books at a hefty $2.5 million – exactly what Milestone’s March Premier sale had grossed one year ago. All prices quoted in this report include the buyer’s premium.
VINELAND, N.J. – Say hello to spring with the most anticipated auction of the season: Bertoia’s March 24-25 Signature Sale featuring two blockbuster collections and many additional high-end toy consignments. Rows of gleaming showcases at Bertoia’s New Jersey gallery are filled to capacity with exceptional mechanical banks and bell toys from the Rudd Trowbridge collection, and Phil and Joan Steel’s wonderful collection of French Martins and other tin windups. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.
LONDON – A rare 1960s wristwatch made for the BBC comes up for sale at Chiswick Auctions in London on March 22. Made by Lemania, the stainless steel manual chronograph was chosen by the British television network for its great accuracy. In the pre-digital era, program staff and producers relied on a good timekeeper during live broadcasts. The watch has the BBC initials engraved to the back and the BBC inventory number 4269. It is expected to bring £1,500-£2,500 ($1,810-$3,015).
DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s will be heading west this fall to re-establish its presence in Las Vegas as the premier auction house for antique coin-op machines and antique advertising. An October 27-28, 2023 auction will launch a new chapter in Morphy’s ever-growing Vegas endeavors, with the popular Westgate Resort and Casino serving as the fall sale’s permanent venue. The annual spring edition of Morphy’s Coin-Op, Gambling & Antique Advertising Auction will not be affected and will continue to be held at Morphy’s flagship gallery in Lancaster County, Pa.
DENVER, Pa. – On March 21-23, Morphy’s will continue the exciting year-long adventure of auctioning the Bobby Knudsen Jr Collection of World-Class Automotive, Gas & Oil and Soda Pop Advertising. The series debuted to rave reviews on September 30 of last year and continues this month with Part II of Bobby’s collection anchoring the sale on day one, and additional select consignments following on days two and three. It’s going to be a high-octane event with more than 1,600 lots, enough to ensure that every bidder has a great chance of landing something special from a highly pedigreed source. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.
YORK, Pa. – Hake’s Auctions, America’s foremost source of rare and expertly authenticated pop-culture and historical memorabilia, will launch into the 2023 auction season with a March 21-22 offering of more than 1,900 choice lots from 200+ collector categories. From Star Wars to sports, vintage toys to rock ‘n’ roll, there’s plenty to discover in the online catalog.