1825 Tanner Atlas, $42,500, Cowan’s
An 1825 copy of the Tanner New American Atlas, containing maps of several states of the North American Union, prepared and drawn on a uniform scale (Henry S. Tanner, Philadelphia), sold for $42,500 at a Spring Western and Historic Americana Auction held June 5 by Cowan’s Auctions in Cincinnati. Also, a reverse glass panorama painting of the Chicago Rock Island & Pacific Railroad, 100” x 27.5”, mounted in the original frame, achieved $35,650; and a ghost dance shirt, dated 1891, worn by the Sioux Indians in the Dakotas and Montana, made $16,100.
Diana Cartridges box, $9,730, SoldUSA.com
An extremely rare California Powder Works “Diana Cartridges” 10-gage empty ammunition box sold for $9,730 in an Internet and catalog auction that concluded June 7-8 by SoldUSA.com, the premier hunting collectibles auction site based in Matthews, N.C. Also, a Winchester Rival 10-gage, 2-piece partial Christmas box, 100-count, soared to $10,797; a Winchester 1909 Grouse poster earned $6,175; a rare Early Peters Quick Shot 12-gage empty two-piece shell box hit $3,616; and a Liberty Cartridge Company 12-gage 2-inch empty box brought $3,205.
Arthur Parton painting, $13,800, Leland Little
An original landscape painting by New York artist Arthur Parton (1842-1914) sold for $13,800 at a multi-estate sale held June 14 by Leland Little Auction & Estate Sales, Ltd., in Hillsborough, N.C. Also, a North Carolina sampler (Gates County), signed and stitched by Sarah Riddick on Oct. 4, 1821, brought $9,200; a beautiful set of eight Louis XV-style open arm chairs (circa 1900) achieved $8,625; an Italian credenza from the late 17th or early 18th century made $4,600; and a five-piece Russian silver tea and coffee service (circa 1910) hammered for $4,140.
Astronomical regulator, $195,500, Fontaine’s
A magnificent E. Howard & Co. #61 astronomical floor regulator sold for $195,500 at a Spring Clock Auction held June 14 by Fontaine’s Auction Gallery in Pittsfield, Mass. It was the second highest amount ever paid for a Howard astronomical regulator. Also, a Seth Thomas Office #8 calendar clock chalked up $54,625 (a new world auction record); an E. Howard #7 Figure 8 weight-driven wall clock realized $42,550 (also a new world auction record); and a French industrial animated train clock with a bronze and brass locomotive (circa 1910) fetched $37,375.
Sandwich tulip vase, $14,690, Green Valley
A brilliant medium emerald green Sandwich tulip vase with wafer construction made by Boston & Sandwich Glass Co. (1845-1865) sold for $14,690 at the eighth annual Spring Auction of Glass & Lighting held May 16-17 by Green Valley Auctions, Inc., of Mt. Crawford, Va. Also, a rare Midwestern lacy covered rectangular colorless casket dish, probably Pittsburgh (1830-1840), rose to $11,300; a marked “J. & C. Ritchie” lacy window pane (1833-1866) made $11,300; and a pattern-molded checkered diamond pattern footed salt brought $10,170.
Titanic passenger list, $33,900, Philip Weiss
A second-class passenger list from the doomed ocean liner Titanic, produced by White Star Line and with the words “Titanic, First Sailing, April 12, 1912” handwritten on the cover, sold for $33,900 at a multi-estate sale held June 20-22 by Philip Weiss Auctions in Oceanside, N.Y. Also, an original pen-and-ink Sunday “Peanuts” strip from 1963, drawn by the cartoonist Charles Schulz, went for $61,020; and a lot of items relating to the race horse Ruffian and the filly’s legendary (and tragic) 1975 race against Foolish Pleasure crossed the finish line at $11,300.
Rosewood Belter bed,$33,350, Grand View
A beautiful laminated rosewood bed, made around 1850 by John Henry Belter and with the original finish, sold for $33,350 at a multi-estate sale held June 21 by Grand View Antiques & Auction in Roanoke, Va. Also, a Victorian four-piece half tester bedroom suite (circa 1880) from the Opulent Period soared to $21,275; an American Gothic Empire mahogany Mitchell & Rammelsberg bedroom suite (circa 1860) went for $10,925; and an American Renaissance Revival walnut bookcase (circa 1870), 92 inches tall and with the original finish, hit $14,375.
Copy of ‘The Federalist,’$262,900, Heritage Auction Galleries
An historic and rare first-edition copy of “The Federalist” — a series of articles designed to gather support for the ratification of the United States Constitution, written between October 1787 and August 1788 by James Madison, John Jay and Alexander under the pen name ‘Publius’ – sold for $262,900 at a sale of Rare Books & Manuscripts held June 4-5 by Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. Also, a collection of rare first-edition books by Edgar Rice Burroughs hit $95,600; and a copy of John James Audubon’s “The Birds of America” made $65,725.
Copy of the Declaration, $132,000, Swann
A rare facsimile of the Declaration of Independence on paper, engraved by William James Stone in 1823, sold for $132,000 at a sale of Printed & Manuscript Americana held June 5 by Swann Galleries in New York City. Also, a copy of the Aitken Bible (Philadelphia, 1781-82), the first printing of the complete Bible in English in America and the only Bible ever to be authorized by Congress, rose to $66,000; and a four page manuscript from 1762, titled “Articles of Agreement for the Salisbury (Conn.) Furnace,” signed by Ethan Allen, realized $57,600.
Donald Duck Sheet, $75,000, Hake’s
The first Donald Duck model sheet, created for the Walt Disney cartoon “The Wise Little Hen” in 1934, sold for a record-breaking $75,000 at the Hake’s Americana & Collectibles unit of Geppi’s Entertainment Publishing & Auctions. The 9-1/2” x 12” sheet of animation paper, with four peg holes along the top margin, was completed in pencil in advance of Donald’s first appearance. The model sheet is the first known drawings of the character. “The Wise Little Hen” was released on June 6, 1934, as part of the “Silly Symphonies” series of short cartoons.
Jean Dufy painting, $32,670, A.G.O.P.B.
An original gouache painting titled “Paris Scene” by the French artist Jean Dufy (1888-1964) sold for $32,760 at an Art Auction held May 19 by Auction Gallery of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Fla. The work came with a Certificate of Authenticity from Leandre Guesnel (Paris, April 16, 1985) and measured 18-1/4” x 25-3/4”. Also, an oil on canvas work titled “Place de la Madeleine” by Constantine Kluge (French, 1912-2003) rose to $17,550; and “Phenomena Prism Mirror” (1985) by Paul Jenkins (American, b. 1923) went for $16,380.
1905 Lewis & Clark coin, $14,000, Burchard
A 1905 Lewis & Clark $1 gold coin, graded PCGS MS64, sold for $14,000 at a multi-estate sale held June 22 by Burchard Galleries, Inc., in St. Petersburg, Fla. Also, a 1904 Lewis & Clark $1 gold coin with a similar grade hammered for $7,250; a Panama Pacific 1915-S $2-1/2 gold piece, graded PCGS MS64, brought $5,750; a 1913 $5 Gold Half Eagle, graded MS64, went for $5,000; a 1932 $10 Indian Gold Eagle, MS64, realized $4,000; and an abstract oil on canvas by Piero Ruggieri (Italian, b. 1930), titled “Le Lampade 1956,” changed hands for $11,500.
Ted Williams jersey, $29,220, R&R
An original signed road jersey, worn by Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams in the 1940s and later presented to the Ted Williams Museum in Hernando, Fla., sold for $29,220 in an online auction held in June by R&R Enterprises (rrauction.com), based in Amherst, N.H. Also, a 1917 letter from Albert Einstein to a bitter rival, dismissing his point of view on the Theory of Relativity as “untenable,” fetched $16,979; and a 1962 check, written by President John F. Kennedy and made out to the U.S. Air Force just prior to the Cuban Missile Crisis, hit $12,756.
A. Thuillier doll, $52,000, Theriault’s
A 13-inch petite kid bodied bebe doll, marked “A.T.” by the French doll maker Thuillier, sold for $52,000 at an antique doll auction held May 31 in Chicago by Theriault’s, based in Annapolis, Md. The auction was titled “A Fine Pretending Tea.” Also, a poupee doll made by Adelaide Huret (circa 1857-1865), one of only 200 made and with a wooden body and original costume, changed hands for $20,000; and a 1930s-era Japanese Shyunsai doll, still in the original wooden box and with a superb robe printed with images of flying red-headed cranes, made $6,250.
Grandfather clock, $22,800, Rago
A grandfather clock sold for $22,800 at a Summer Estates Auction held June 14 by Rago Arts & Auction Center in Lambertville, N.J. Also, a Symphonium music-box played a sweet tune for $15,600; a Steinway & Sons piano changed hands for $10,000; a St. George icon hammered for $8,400; a diamond platinum engagement ring slipped on a new finger for $7,800; a Gibson mandolin achieved $3,900; a Persian Bakshaish crossed the block at $6,600; an unmounted Tourmalines garnered $2,280; and a Tiffany & Company gold evening bag soared to $5,100.
Cloisonne sculptures, $45,937, I.M. Chait
A pair of cloisonne enamel phoenix-like model sculptures, rendered as candlesticks and showing birds more than five feet tall, with their heads cocked to one side, sold for $45,937 at an Asian & International Fine Arts Auction held June 29 by I.M. Chait Gallery in Beverly Hills, Calif. Also, a boldly colored 18th-century Qianlong period doucai enameled dragon jar, a porcelain fantasy of dragons, clouds and Buddhist symbols, soared to $36,750; and a celadon crackle glazed Yongzheng Guan-type vase of archaic bronze crossed the block for $29,400.
Billy the Kid badge, $115,000, Greg Martin
An historic gold, engraved and presentation sheriff’s badge, inscribed to the killer of the legendary outlaw Billy the Kid from a famous judge (“To Pat Garrett, with the best regards of A.J. Fountain, 1881”), sold for $115,000 at an auction held June 16-17 by Greg Martin Auctions in San Francisco. Also, a U.S. Model 1883 Gatling Gun, with U.S. Inspector markings “D.F.C.” (David F. Clark), achieved $172,500; and a J.H. Dance & Brothers Confederate Dragoon revolver, owned by Pvt. Mile C. Bell of the Texas Cavalry, commanded $57,500.
“Palladium of Novogrod,” $103,500, Cincinnati Art
A Russian icon known as the “Palladium of Novogrod” — once part of the Russian Imperial Exhibit and from the personal collection of the Czarina Alexandria Feodorovna, the last Russian czarina and the granddaughter of Queen Victoria — sold for $103,500 at an Art Glass 2008 Sale held June 7-8 by Cincinnati Art Galleries, LLC, in Cincinnati, Oh. Also, a Rookwood Standard Glaze with full-length portrait of a Native American by Grace Young brought $42,250; and a studio portrait of Tsar Nicholas II, in a Faberge attributed frame, fetched $35,650.
Ken Hall is a former business writer now based in Atlanta, where he is with Star Printing & Publishing, parent company of Southeastern Antiquing & Collecting magazine. In 2002 Ken began syndicating three antiques and collecting-related columns: Ken’s Korner, The Celebrity Collector, and Gavels ‘n’ Paddles. His collecting interests include coins, records, autographs and art.