A platinum, 18K yellow gold, diamond and ruby dragon brooch, designed circa 1968 by Donald Claflin for Tiffany & Co. and depicting a Chinese dragon with pavé diamonds and rubies for the eyes and tongue, sold for $67,100 at a Fine Jewelry & Timepieces Sale held Nov. 30 by Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago. Also, an 18kt white gold, carved jadeite and lapis lazuli bracelet by Mauboussin fetched $43,920; and a Breguet 18kt yellow gold tourbillon wristwatch topped out at $48,800. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Pair of armchairs, $390,000, Rago
A pair of massive American Aesthetic Movement armchairs with missing panels and parts sold for $390,000 at an auction held Dec. 5 by Rago Auctions in Lambertville, N.J. The chairs, made in the 1880s or 1890s, had been left in a boiler room for 40 years. A visual historian said the armchairs were “almost certainly custom-made pieces crafted for an elite patron … several aspects of these chairs, including the glass inlay, are similar to furniture associated with or executed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.” The price includes a 22 percent buyer’s premium.
Map of Mississippi, $315,999, Neal Auc.
An 1858 map titled Norman’s Chart of the Lower Mississippi, after Marie Adrien Persac (b. France 1823, d. Louisiana 1873), sold for $315,999 at the annual Louisiana Purchase Auction held Nov. 21-22 by Neal Auctions in New Orleans, La. Also, an 1860 Bien Edition Folio of John J. Audubon’s Birds of America (1826-1838), by chromolithographer Julius Bien (New York, 1826-1909), commanded $271,999; and a socially provocative watercolor painting by Stephen Scott Young (Florida, b. 1957) hit $155,350. Prices include a 19.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Diamond brooch, $165,900, Skinner
An 18kt gold, colored diamond and diamond brooch designed as a cat on a safety chain leash sold for $165,900 at a Fine Jewelry Sale held in December by Skinner Inc. in Boston. The brooch was bezel set with oval and round brilliant cut colored diamonds. Also, a Tiffany & Co. fancy, intense yellow diamond and diamond ring, set with a radiant-cut yellow diamond weighing 7.06 carats fetched $137,460; and a platinum and diamond solitaire, prong set with a full-cut diamond weighing 9.96 carats, hit $118,500. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Photo of James A. Garfield, $4,068, Phillip Weiss Auctions
A rare, signed carte de visite of former President James A. Garfield, taken while he was a brigadier general during the Civil War, sold for $4,068 at an estates sale held Nov. 14-15 by Philip Weiss Auctions in Oceanside, N.Y. Also, a circa 1850 Smith & Wesson 320 revolving carbine and stock pistol with rifle butt feature hit $6,780; a U.S. legal tender 1923 $10 note in superb condition rose to $6,780; and a group of around 100 lots of ocean liner postcards from the Ken Schultz Collection made $31,000. Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.
Howard & Davis clock, $161,000, Fontaine’s
A Howard & Davis astronomical regulator clock sold for $161,000 at a cataloged auction Nov. 20-21 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Mass. It was a new world auction record for a Howard & Davis example and a drum-top clock. Also, an E. Howard & Co. no. 60 astronomical hanging regulator brought $109,250; an E. Howard Figure 8 no. 8 wall clock reached $18,400; a Howard & Davis no. 1 banjo clock realized $6,613; and an E. Howard & Co. no. 70 regulator wall clock hammered for $1,955. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Redfield painting, $221,500, Northeast
A New Hope scene by Pennsylvania Impressionist Edward Willis Redfield sold for $221,500 at an auction held Oct. 25 by Northeast Auctions in Manchester, N.H. Also, a set of six George II carved walnut side chairs attributed to Giles Grendey of London topped out at $63,180; a Southern Hepplewhite cherry linen press, possibly Kentucky, realized $60,840; a tall clock by Aaron Willard made $52,650; and a Rhode Island Federal mahogany and figured maple settee garnered $43,290. Prices include a graduated buyer’s premium.
Hulk no. 1 comic, $125,475, Heritage
A CGC Near Mint 9.2 graded copy of The Incredible Hulk no. 1, one of the most difficult Silver Age Marvel comics to find in a high grade, sold for $125,475 at a Vintage Comics & Art Auction held Nov. 19-21 by Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. Also, a CGC Near Mint 9.4 unrestored copy of Human Torch no. 2 realized $92,612; a CGC Near Mint 9.0 copy of Showcase no. 22 Green Lantern rose to $59,750; and a Peanuts Sunday comic strip by Charles Schulz from June 25, 1961, featuring Snoopy, made $53,775. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
World Series ring $65,175, Legendary
Lou Brock’s 1967 St. Louis Cardinals World Series ring sold for $65,175 at an auction that featured the Lou Brock Collection, held Nov. 29 by Legendary Auctions in Lansing, Ill. Also, a 1979 LeRoy Neiman original painting of Brock sliding commanded $35,550; a Franck Chance 1911-12 Chicago Cubs game-used home jersey went for $62,213; a 1911 T208 Cullivan’s Fireside Eddie Plank baseball card (PSA VG 3) made $62,213; and a 1911 T208 Cullivan’s Fireside Eddie Collins card rose to $47,400. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Michael Jackson glove, $420,000, Julien’s
Michael Jackson’s iconic white glove that he wore when he premiered the “Moonwalk” to the world at his historic 1983 Motown 25 performance sold for $420,000 at an auction held Nov. 21 at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City by Julien’s Auctions. Also, the jacket Jackson wore on his “Bad” World Tour went for $270,000, Johnny Cash’s Wilkanowski & Sons Airway “Fiddle” guitar fetched $37,500; and Elvis Presley’s jacket from the movie Speedway realized $20,480. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium
Two Pony Express letters, $632,500, Robt. A. Siegel
The only known Pony Express-originated letter addressed to Switzerland and one of only two known surviving Pony Express letters that originated from Hawaii (shown) each sold for $632,500 at an auction held Dec. 5 by Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries in New York. It was a new record for Pony Express items sold at auction. Also, the finest of only three known surviving stamped covers postmarked on the first day of the legendary Pony Express service (April 3, 1860) deliverd $460,000. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Shepard Hardware bank, $52,875, RSL Auctions
A Shepard Hardware Picture Gallery vintage toy bank sold for $52,875 at a Bountiful Harvest Sale held Oct. 17 by RSL Auctions in Timonium, Md. Also, a circa-1905 Kenton Hardware Mama Katzenjammer bank, considered one of the finest examples known, also climbed to $52,875; a Hubley painted cast-iron Calliope Wagon from the Royal Circus series, with the original box, crossed the block at $22,235; and a painted cast-iron Uncle Sam bust-style mechanical bank attributed to Ives, Blakeslee made $17,625. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.
William Porter pitcher, $27,600, Crocker Farm
A rare William Porter presentation pitcher with an applied and blue washed eagle decoration sold for $27,600 at the 15th American Stoneware & Redware Pottery Auction held Oct. 31 by Crocker Farm at the York Fairgrounds in York, Pa. Also, an incised and blue decorated water cooler attributed to Boynton, Albany, N.Y., 15 inches tall, realized $26,450; and a rare double jug, or gemel, made in New Haven, Conn., and with a rare and incised decoration of pheasants on a branch with a floral sprig went for $24,725. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
J.B. Gregory portrait, $184,000, McInnis
A 19th-century folk art portrait of Henriette Josepha Myers, signed “J.B. Gregory/artist,” sold for $184,000 at an auction Nov. 7 by John McInnis Auctioneers in Amesbury, Mass. Also, a Venetian view with gondoliers by Rubens Santoro went to a buyer on the phone for $80,500; a portrait of Stonington, Conn., sea captain John P. Rice by Isaac Sheffield topped out at $66,125; a 19th-century Chinese lady’s robe went to an online bidder for $10,350; and a still life of fruit by Bryant Chapin hit $4,025. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
George Mikan rookie card, $218,550, SCP Auc.
A 1948 George Mikan rookie card, graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA and regarded in the sports card-collecting world as the most important and valuable basketball card known to exist, sold for $218,550 in a privately brokered sale held Dec. 13 by SCP Auctions in Laguna Niguel, Calif. The iconic card was issued by the Bowman Gum Co. as part of what was the first basketball-only series of cards ever produced. The Mikan card is often called “the T206 Honus Wagner of basketball cards.” The price includes a 20 percent buyer’s premium.