AU.S. World War I medal group attributed to Albert L. Schlesinger, which included a Purple Heart, a Bronze Star, a French Croix de Guerre and French veterans’ medals, sold for $1,840 at a World at War Auction held Feb. 22 by Cowan’s Auctions in Cincinnati. Also, a World War II German SS side cap and M-43 wool cap hammered for $1,380; a lot of four U.S. World War II theater-made Air Corps wings realized $1,380; and an archive pertaining to Vietnam-era U.S. Marine Lt. Col. John Kadlecik hit $1,610. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Robert Crumb items, $16,950, Philip Weiss
An archive of material pertaining to counterculture cartoonist Robert Crumb, which included a pair of original hand-drawn personal greeting cards and a 13-page sketchbook, sold for $16,950 at an estates sale held March 4-6 by Philip Weiss Auctions in Oceanside, N.Y. Also, a single-owner collection of over 525 rare and vintage T206 baseball cards from the early 1900s – not including the rare Honus Wagner card – soared to $18,080; and a production cel from the 1940 film Fantasia showing Mickey Mouse climbed to $7,345. Prices include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.
Buck Rogers patch, $4,300, Morphy’s
A 1936 Buck Rogers Space Scout patch sold for $4,300 at a Toy Auction held Jan. 29 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa. Also, a 1950s set of Cherilea die-cast generic spacemen, rocket ships and other figures realized $3,162.50; a lot of 10 Britains Buck Rogers mail-in premium figures also went for $3,162.50; a circa-1939 Popsicle advertising sign breezed to $2,070; a child’s Buck Rogers uniform with helmet topped out at $2,185; and a set of Buck Rogers comic strip cards commanded $2,587. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Lalique chandeliers, $12,650, Don Presley
A pair of identical Lalique chandeliers (one shown), bronze with French crystal and frosted-pearl drops, each decorated with six cherub figures, sold for $12,650 at an on-site sale of the remaining inventory of Steven-Thomas Antiques and Interiors, held Feb. 5-6 by Don Presley Auctions in Santa Ana, Calif. Also, a bronze and onyx table with gilt griffins forming the base realized $11,500; and a French Neoclassical 12-light bronze chandelier with crystal and bronze chains went for $11,500. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Elizabeth Catlett bronze, $108,000, Swann Galleries
A nearly life-size untitled bronze sculpture, depicting a standing black woman, by Elizabeth Catlett, sold for $108,000 at a sale of African-American Fine Art held Feb. 17 by Swann Galleries in New York. It was among the top prices ever paid for a work by the artist at auction. Also, a collage of various papers and mixed media with religious symbolism by Romare Bearden, titled Tidings (circa 1973) brought $96,000; and a 1968 oil painting by Beauford Delaney, titled Le Balayeur, made $96,000. Prices include a 20 percent buyer’s premium.
Archie Comics No. 1, $167,300, Heritage
ACGC-certified 8.5 copy of Archie Comics No. 1 from 1942 sold for $167,300 at a Vintage Comics & Comic Art Auction held Feb. 24-25 by Heritage Auction Galleries in Dallas. Also, an original artwork for Scrooge McDuck, done by his creator Carl Barks and titled Business as Usual (1976), climbed to $179,250; a copy of Marvel Comics No. 1 (Timely, 1939), graded CGC FN 6.0, made $71,700; and a production proof page for Detective Comics No. 27, page 3 (the first appearance of “The Bat Man”) hit $19,120. Prices include a 19.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Louis Vuitton trunk, $20,000, Doyle New York
A small Louis Vuitton trunk, 22 inches tall by 24 inches wide and inscribed “Lena Horne Hayton,” sold for $20,000 at a sale of the estate of the legendary performer and civil rights pioneer Lena Horne held Feb. 23 by Doyle New York in Manhattan. Also, an original abstract oil on canvas painting by African-American artist Charles Henry Alston (1907-1977), signed, realized $20,000; and an oil on canvasboard by David Burliuk (Russian/American, 1882-1967), titled Fishing, went for $12,500. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
Marked Henry rifle, $25,875, Rock Island
Amartially marked Henry rifle with 24-inch octagonal barrel and 15-round integral magazine sold for $25,875 at a Regional Firearms Auction held Feb. 19-20 by Rock Island Auction Co. in Moline, Ill. Also, two Supermatic Trophy semiautomatic pistols with extra barrels garnered $8,050; a Winchester Model 1866 lever-action rifle with factory letter brought $5,175; a Chicago Firearms protector palm pistol realized $5,463; and a percussion musket with Confederate lock and bayonet hit $3,450. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium./p>
Jimmy Carter painting, $150,000, Carter Center
An original painting by former President Jimmy Carter sold for $150,000 at a Winter Weekend Auction held Feb. 26 by The Carter Center (based in Atlanta) in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The auction went to benefit the not-for-profit Center’s initiatives to advance peace and health worldwide. Also, a fly fishing fantasy vacation went for $70,000; a chance to spend a day with former Secretary of the Navy John Dalton brought $50,000; and a rare Truman newspaper made $47,500. Prices were hammer; there was no buyer’s premium.
Russian silver casket, $256,750, Weschler’s
ARussian silver gilt cloisonné and en-plein enamel casket, made by artisan Antip Ivanovich (Kuzmichev, Moscow, 1896-1908) sold for $256,750 at a sale of European & American Furniture & Decorations and Asian Works of Art held Feb. 12 by Weschler’s in Washington. Also, an American gilt and patinated metal 8-light chandelier attributed to Cornelius & Baker (Philadelphia, circa 1860) realized $22,325; and a pair of 19th-century Venetian architectural works in the manner of Francesco Guardi made $16,450. Prices include a 17.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Portsmouth chest, $314,000, Skinner
Arare Federal Portsmouth serpentine front chest with book-matched flame birch veneer and high French feet sold for $314,000 at an Americana Auction held March 7 by Skinner Inc., in Boston. The winning bidder was dealer William Samaha. The chest came out of a house on Casco Bay, Maine. Also, an 1853 original oil painting by artist William Bradford, titled The Whaleship Speedwell of Fairhaven Outward Bound off Gay Head, went to a determined bidder for $248,000. Prices include an 18.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Stoneware memorial jug, $138,000, Crocker Farm
An American stoneware memorial jug, crafted for a potter who had drowned, sold for $138,000 at a Stoneware & Redware Auction held March 5 by Crocker Farm in Sparks, Md. The jug, consigned from the Los Angeles area, had an estimate of $20,000-$30,000. Also, an important Pennsylvania redware heart-shaped inkstand topped out at $28,750; a Thomas Commeraw stoneware jar, Coeurlears Hook, N.Y., coasted to $25,875; and a John Bell redware pottery dog figure fetched $19,550. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Stoneware inkwell, $12,075, Castner’s
An early 19th century stoneware inkwell with blue decorations and two incised flowers sold for $12,075 at an auction held Jan. 15 by Castner’s Auction & Appraisal Service in Branchville, N.J. Also, an original oil on board by Jack B. Yeats, measuring 15 inches by 10 inches, climbed to $6,325; an original oil on canvas work by F.H. Shepleigh, titled Red School House, Milton, NH, changed hands for $4,315; a red sponge painted lift-top blanket chest brought $2,070; and a Sheraton sugar chest rose to $1,035. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Japanese incense burner, $7,800, John Moran
AJapanese silver koro (incense burner) from the Meiji period, featuring a hinged feather panel and gold and copper eyes, sold for $7,800 at an Antiques & Decorative Arts Auction held Jan. 11 by John Moran Auctioneers in Pasadena, Calif. Also, a group of nine silver musician figures by German maker Ludwig Neresheimer garnered $5,700; a model of a sickle bar mower commanded $4,800; and a George III brass, iron and mahogany flintlock tinder lighter pistol, signed G. Jones, scored a bull’s-eye at $2,400. Prices include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Roman door handles, $9,875, Estates Unlimited
Apair of first-century Roman bronze door handles with lions’ head decorations sold for $9,875 at a sale titled Curio Auction No. 6 held Jan. 29 by Estates Unlimited in Cranston, R.I. Also, a saber-toothed tiger skull from the Miocene period, 23-25 million years old, brought $9,875; a Japanese friendship doll made in 1927 by Hirata Goyo II realized $6,038; a 19th-century (or earlier) Tibetan necromancer’s apron made of human bone rang out at $4,600; and a taxidermy example of a duck-billed platypus breezed to $2,185. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium.
