DALLAS – Spider-Man’s debut appearance is now the most world’s most valuable comic book.
Spider-Man leaps over Superman, claims world auction record
HGTV’s Cash in the Attic to feature Willow Auction House in 6 episodes
LINCOLN PARK, N.J. – After 11 years, HGTV has given the go-ahead for six new episodes of its popular series Cash in the Attic. Retooled to highlight collectible items relevant to today’s audiences, the latest iteration of the series stars Courtney Tezeno, a passionate collector, and her team of expert appraisers, including Elyse Luray, Jean David Michel and Marvin Jules, who sort through homes looking for classic toys, vintage comics, original video games and other valuable pop culture treasures. The items are then sold at Willow Auction House in Lincoln Park, New Jersey, with proceeds enabling homeowners to fund life-changing dreams, such as a down payment on a new house or a once-in-a-lifetime vacation.
All-stars celebrate the ‘Pelegacy’ of Pele at Sept. 22 auction
LOS ANGELES – Julien’s Auctions announced that Pelegacy: An Auction Benefiting the Pele Foundation, will take place September 22 at Mall Galleries in London.
Freeman’s to offer premier Alexander Hamilton collection in October
PHILADELPHIA— Freeman’s is honored to present The Alexander Hamilton Collection of John E. Herzog, a single-owner sale of Alexander Hamilton material, in an October 25 auction.
Rago/Wright announces merger with LA Modern Auctions
LAMBERTVILLE, N.J. – Rago/Wright expands to the West Coast to merge with LA Modern Auctions (LAMA), bringing together the three strongest, independently owned design brands in the auction industry. All three houses will continue to work under their individual names while sharing technology, expertise and marketing efforts. The newly-merged entity will host its first auction with LAMA in October.
Hindman to auction philanthropist Michelle Smith’s couture collection
CHICAGO – Hindman Auctions is pleased to present A Life in Couture: The Collection of Michelle Smith, Washington, D.C. on September 21. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers. This offering from the collection of renowned Washington, DC philanthropist Michelle Smith will include garments by top designers including Christian Dior, Halston, Stephen Burrows, J. Mendel, and Ralph Rucci, and will illustrate Smith’s carefully curated selection of outstanding designs, a majority of which were custom made for her.
Pokemon 1999 first-edition booster box is ‘caught’ for $384K
DALLAS – A Pokemon First Edition Base Set Sealed Booster Box (Wizards of the Coast, 1999) drew 115 bids before it sold for $384,000 to lead Heritage Auctions’ Trading Card Games Auction to $3,473,102 in total sales July 24-25. The event was the first of its kind, and exceeded pre-auction expectations, with perfect sell-through rates of 100% by value and by lots sold, and with 1,445 bidders from around the globe.
LeBron James high school basketball jersey sells for record $512K
LOS ANGELES – Julien’s Auctions held Sports Legends, the world-record breaking auction house to the stars’ sports event of the year on July 17 and July 18th in front of an international audience.
The most highly anticipated moment of the auction was the sale of LeBron James’ St. Vincent – St. Mary’s high school jersey which he wore for his iconic Sports Illustrated “The Chosen One” cover of the February 18th, 2002 issue. It realized at $512,000 and set a new world record for the highest selling price for a high school jersey sold at auction.
Heritage sets consecutive video game auction records within 48-hour stretch
DALLAS – On July 11, Heritage Auctions sold a 1996 copy of the beloved Nintendo video game Super Mario 64 for $1.56 million – a new world auction record for any video game cartridge.
Baa baa bid: Flock of Lalanne ‘Moutons’ headed to auction
PHILADELPHIA — Freeman’s is honored to present for the first time at auction a private collection of seven sculptures by celebrated artist Francois-Xavier Lalanne in its November 17 Modern and Contemporary Art auction. Anchored by a set of five of Lalanne’s iconic epoxy stone and bronze sheep, or “Mouton de Pierre,” each sculpture in the collection was acquired directly from the artist in the late 1980s and has remained in the same home ever since. The collection, coming from a prominent Washington, D.C. family, includes five Mouton de Pierre of consecutive numbers from a 1988 edition of 250 (estimate: $100,000-$150,000 each), a patinated bronze, Rhinoceros III (estimate: $60,000-$80,000), and a patinated bronze, Elephant (estimate: $40,000-$60,000).