ATLANTA – At the beginning of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall delivers top auction highlights from around the United States and the world at large. Here’s his August 2021 edition of Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

1790 redware charger, $36,900, Pook & Pook, Inc.

A sgraffito redware charger, dated 1790 and attributed to George Huebner of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, sold for $36,900 at a sale of the estate of Joyce Bowes Collis, held June 24-25 by Pook & Pook, Inc. in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Also, a monumental Lancaster County, Pennsylvania walnut architectural shrank, circa 1770, made $34,440, and a large Charles II silk and metallic thread embroidery from the late 17th century, depicting royal figures in a landscape with birds and beasts, brought $29,520.

Copy of Avengers #1, $23,125, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A copy of Marvel Comics’ Avengers #1, published in September 1963, graded CGC 8.0, and featuring appearances by the Fantastic Four, Loki and Teen Brigade, sold for $23,125 at a Comic, TCG & Toy auction held July 10 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a copy of Marvel Comics’ Amazing Spider-Man #14 from July 1964 and graded CGC 9.0 brought $17,500, and a first edition factory-sealed booster box of Wizards of the Coast Pokemon Gym Challenge, published in 2000, rose to $17,500.

B. Farr sheriff badge, $22,420, Brian Lebel’s Old West Events

B. Farr’s early 19th century 14K gold presentation sheriff’s badge, an important piece of Colorado history, sold for $22,420 at the 31st annual Cody Old West Auction held June 26 by Brian Lebel’s Old West Events in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Also, Clint Eastwood’s film-worn hat from the 1972 Western movie Joe Kidd made $8,625; an oil on canvas original artwork for a Climax Tobacco advertising sign hit $9,775; and a hand-carved wooden bull head with real horns brought $12,650.

Alexander secretary bookcase, $11,875, Ahlers & Ogletree

A Theodore Alexander contemporary secretary bookcase (or bureau cabinet) in the George II style sold for $11,875 at a Summer Estates auction held July 18 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta, Georgia. Also, a pair of Chinese rooster motif hat stands brought $4,062; a Regency style giltwood convex mirror earned $2,812; a set of six Windsor continuous bow back dining chairs settled at $2,500; and an Edward Blowers mahogany case clock realized $2,812.

Pokemon uncut proof sheet, $234,171, Hake’s Auction   

A 1999 Pokemon Shadowless Holographic uncut proof sheet with 99 cards, including seven Charizard cards, formerly the property of a Hasbro employee who received the sheet as a gift in 1999, sold for $234,171 at a Premier Auction held June 29-30 by Hake’s Auction in York, Pennsylvania. Also, a 1979 Kenner’s Star Wars Boba Fett L-slot rocket firing prototype figure, graded AFA 85 NM+, brought $165,200, and original art for a Charles Schulz Peanuts Sunday comic page from 1955 reached $80,476.

Colt 1911 .45 ACP pistol, $18,000, Milestone Auctions

A Colt 1911 .45 ACP pistol, one of only 1,250 of its type shipped to the US Marine Corps’ Philadelphia depot on July 9, 1913, sold for $18,000 at a Premier Antique & Firearms auction held June 19 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a Walther World War II German K43 semiautomatic rifle manufactured in 1945 hit the mark for $11,700; a 1943 US FP-45 Liberator pistol realized $8,400; and a US Marine Corps 1903 Springfield rifle changed hands for $7,800.

Painting by David Bowie, CA$108,120, Cowley Abbott

An oil on canvas painting by the late music icon David Bowie, titled D Head XLVI, sold for $108,120 in an online International Art auction held June 24 by Cowley Abbott in Toronto, Canada. The work was part of a series of about 45 paintings Bowie did titled Dead Heads (or D Heads). It had been found by the consignor at a donation center for household goods in South River, just north of North Bay, Ontario. Bowie’s signature is what caught his eye. The price is in Canadian dollars.

Prince handwritten lyrics, $150,986, RR Auction

The handwritten lyrics to the late entertainer Prince’s song Nothing Compares 2 U, from the collection of Prince’s former assistant Therese Stoulil, sold for $150,986 in a Marvels of Modern Music auction held June 17-24 by RR Auction in Boston. Also, an Allman Brothers signed publicity photograph went for $81,515; Bob Dylan’s handwritten lyrics for Like a Rolling Stone realized $73,73,943; and a Buddy Holly and Richie Valens signed 45 rpm record made $20,140.

Civil War cavalry flag, $40,625, Cowan’s

The personal headquarters flag of Philip Henry Sheridan, used when he led the 2nd Michigan Cavalry in spring and summer 1862 during the Civil War, sold for $40,625 at an American Historical Ephemera & Photography auction held June 25 by Cowan’s (a Hindman company) in Cincinnati. Also, an archive of more than 200 letters related to Danvers, Massachusetts physician and statesman Dr. Samuel Holten, who was an officer in the Revolutionary War, rose to $46,875.

Carol Channing costume, $23,740, Abell Auction Co.

Actress Carol Channing’s stage-worn Dolly Levi costume from the iconic Harmonia Gardens scene in the Broadway play Hello, Dolly! sold for $23,740 in an online auction of the late performer’s southern California estate held June 17 by Abell Auction Company in Los Angeles. Also, Channing’s 1964 American Theatre Wing Tony Award realized $28,125; a Carol Channing Hello Dolly! annotated script sold for $13,750; and an Al Hirschfeld drawing of Channing earned $11,250.

Pablo Picasso painting, $186,000, John McInnis Auctioneers

A mixed-media painting attributed to Pablo Picasso that had spent the last 50 years in a closet in a house in Maine sold for $186,000 at an auction held June 26 by John McInnis Auctioneers in Amesbury, Massachusetts. The painting, titled Le Tricorne, is believed to be a study for the stage curtain Picasso painted for a ballet of the same name that debuted that year in London. An attempt is underway to authenticate the work.

1823 Copy of the Declaration of Independence, $4.42 million, Freeman’s

Signer Charles Carroll’s copy of the Declaration of Independence sold for $4.42 million at a single-lot auction held July 1 by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. It was the second-highest price ever paid at auction for a copy of the Declaration, and the most ever paid at auction for an American document printed in the 19th century. It was a copy of William J. Stone’s 1823 printing and was originally presented to Carroll, the last surviving signer of the original document.

Tom Thumb daguerreotype, $18,000, Potter & Potter Auctions

A quarter-plate daguerreotype of General Tom Thumb from the late 1840s, showing the performer standing on a table, sold for $18,000 at a Circus, Sideshow & Oddities Sale held June 19 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a collection of about 500 35mm slides of mid-century American circus beauties and other performers earned $12,000, and a large We Expose the Fakes banner, illustrated with a full cast of circus sideshow performers, changed hands for $11,400.

Richards gouache on board, $36,270, Thomaston Place Auction Galleries

An 1878 gouache on board painting by William Trost Richards, depicting a rocky coastline, sold for $36,270 at a Splendid, Part I sale held July 9-11 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Maine. Also, a graphite on paper by Charles Burchfield, titled Study for Church Bells Ringing on a Rainy Night, made $30,000, and an oil on canvas still life painting by Severin Roesen went for $28,080.

Mia Hamm rookie card, $34,440, Goldin Auctions

A rookie card of U.S. soccer legend Mia Hamm sold for $34,440 in an online Premium Card and Memorabilia auction held in June by Goldin Auctions, based in Runnemede, New Jersey. It was the most ever paid for a trading card featuring a woman athlete. Also, a Lionel Messi rookie card rose to $344,400; an unopened box of 1961-62 Fleer Basketball cards went for a record $461,250; a Kobe Bryant NBA Logo Mania autographed card realized $555,960; and an Erling Haaland card brought $442,800.

Patek Philippe watch, $53,750, Lark Mason Associates

A Patek Philippe 18K white gold Nautilus wristwatch, circa 2009, with the original certificate and box, sold for $53,750 in an online auction by Lark Mason Associates in New York City. Also, an 18th century Bodhisattva finished at $4,000; a Female Nude by Emile-Louis Foubert realized $18,750, and two paintings by Swedish-American artist Birger Sandzen, Snow and Mountain (1925) and Twilight (1941), went for $30,000 each.

Tim Kent painting, $11,340, Doyle

A boldly-colored, oversized acrylic on paper depiction of a red Mercedes-Benz car by the American artist Tim Kent sold for $11,340 in an auction of items from a New York apartment decorated by Miles Redd, which was held July 15 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a Regency style black and white painted wood convex mirror realized $10,080; a faux horn painted and leather upholstered tester bed earned $10,080; and a Venetian style blue glass mounted framed mirror achieved $10,080.

LeBron James high school jersey, $512,000, Julien’s Auctions

LeBron James’s Sports Illustrated “The Chosen One” magazine cover photo-matched high school basketball jersey sold for $512,000 at a Sports Legends auction held July 17-18 by Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles. It was the largest sum offered at auction for a high school jersey, besting the $192,000 paid for Barack Obama’s jersey in a previous Julien’s sale. Also, a Michael Jordan 1986-1987 Fleer #57 basketball rookie card, graded PSA Gem Mint 10, finished at $384,000.

Elton John’s piano, $915,000, Heritage Auctions

Elton John’s circa-1972 Steinway Model D grand piano, signed by the Rocket Man on the gilded cast-iron frame (along with the sentiment, “Enjoy this as much as I have, Elton John”), sold for $915,000 at an Entertainment & Music memorabilia auction held July 17 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. The buyer was Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, and the seller was Curtis Schwartz, a longtime music engineer. John used the piano on tour from the 1970s through the 1990s.