John Wayne, Gene Autry and Gary Cooper’s guns headline at Cowan’s, May 3

Winchester 1892 large loop saddle ring carbine movie gun from John Wayne's production company BATJAC, estimated at $20,000-$25,000
Winchester 1892 large loop saddle ring carbine movie gun from John Wayne's production company BATJAC, estimated at $20,000-$25,000
Winchester 1892 large loop saddle ring carbine movie gun from John Wayne’s production company BATJAC, estimated at $20,000-$25,000

CINCINNATI – Iconic actors from Old Hollywood will be spotlighted through an impressive selection of arms this spring at Cowan’s Auctions. Premiere firearms from revered names including John Wayne, Kirk Douglas, Gene Autry and Gary Cooper will anchor Cowan’s Wednesday, May 3 biannual live auction. This sale will present a strong display of the arms of choice of legendary actors, and the weapons that shaped the culture of the Old West and the films they appeared in. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Sitting Bull’s rifle prevailed at Cowan’s frontier firearms auction

Winchester 1st Model 1876 rifle, believed to have been owned by Sitting Bull, $132,000
Winchester 1st Model 1876 rifle, believed to have been owned by Sitting Bull, $132,000
Winchester 1st Model 1876 rifle, believed to have been owned by Sitting Bull, $132,000

CINCINNATI – The Frontier Firearms from the Lifetime Collection of Larry Ness sale at Cowan’s Auctions on June 8 achieved more than $929,000. A Winchester 1st Model 1876 rifle believed to have been taken from Sitting Bull’s cabin on the day of his death was the showstopper of the sale, emerging as the top lot of an auction that saw strong engagement throughout.

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Superlative Native American-used frontier firearms offered at Cowan’s, June 8

Percussion plains rifle by Samuel Hawken, est. $40,000-$60,000
Selection of frontier firearms from the collection of Larry Ness

Selection of frontier firearms from the collection of Larry Ness

CINCINNATI – On June 8, Cowan’s Auctions will offer one of the largest and most complete collections of Native American-related and -used firearms in its Frontier Firearms from the Lifetime Collection of Larry Ness auction. Ness spent five decades assembling this carefully curated collection that meticulously tracks the development of firearms from the earliest days of western expansion by American settlers to the dawn of the 20th century. This auction provides an opportunity for collectors of historic arms to acquire truly unique and historically significant items that are not often brought to market. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Civil War-era cavalry flag flew to $40K at Cowan’s, June 25

Personal headquarters flag of Philip Henry Sheridan, which sold for $40,625
Personal headquarters flag of Philip Henry Sheridan, which sold for $40,625
Personal headquarters flag of Philip Henry Sheridan, which sold for $40,625

CINCINNATI – On June 25, Cowan’s, a Hindman company, held an American Historical Ephemera and Photography auction. It realized more than $705,000 and saw active and competitive bidding throughout. The sale presented an outstanding selection of 18th to early 20th century material and reflected important historical periods including the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Indian Wars, World Wars I and II, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Women’s Suffrage Movement.

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Mid-19th century American artifacts elevate June 25 Cowan’s auction

Half plate daguerreotype of firefighter Walter Van Erven Dorens, estimated at $15,000-$25,000
Half plate daguerreotype of firefighter Walter Van Erven Dorens, estimated at $15,000-$25,000
Half plate daguerreotype of firefighter Walter Van Erven Dorens, estimated at $15,000-$25,000

CINCINNATI – On June 25, Cowan’s, a Hindman company, will present its American Historical Ephemera and Photography auction, which will offer an impressive selection of 18th to early 20th century material. Important time periods including the Revolutionary War period, the Civil War, the Indian Wars, World Wars I and II, the Civil Rights Movement, the Women’s Suffrage Movement, and late 19th to early 20th century Christian movements, and remarkable figures such as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant, James A. Garfield, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy, and George Custer will be reflected throughout the sale. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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See here: WWII binoculars lead Cowan’s $1.1M arms & armor sale

U.S. Navy WWII ship's bridge binoculars, which sold for $22,800
U.S. Navy WWII ship's bridge binoculars, which sold for $22,800
U.S. Navy WWII ship’s bridge binoculars, which sold for $22,800

CINCINNATI – Cowan’s kicked off a new era of Arms and Armor on May 25 with a two-day sale that saw a fresh-to-market collection drive the auction well past its high estimate to a total of $1.1 million. The first auction under new Director of Arms, Armor, and Militaria Tim Carey received significant interest with nearly 1,000 bidders participating in the auction and selling 97% of all lots offered.

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Cowan’s Native American art auction nears $1M mark

Edith Claymore (Miniconjou, 1858-1910) attributed Cheyenne River pictorial tobacco bag that sold for $100,000
Edith Claymore (Miniconjou, 1858-1910) attributed Cheyenne River pictorial tobacco bag that sold for $100,000
Edith Claymore (Miniconjou, 1858-1910) attributed Cheyenne River pictorial tobacco bag that sold for $100,000

CINCINNATI – Cowan’s April 16 Native American Art auction achieved a price of $997,265, beating its presale estimate by more than $250,000. The sale offered a wide selection of Native art and artifacts from every region of North America and spanning prehistory through the 19th century.

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Cowan’s and Hindman boost Arms & Armor department with new team

Closeup image of vintage firearm
Tim Carey, Tim Prince and Ashley Hlebinsky of the Arms & Armor department. Image courtesy Cowan's
Tim Carey, Tim Prince and Ashley Hlebinsky of the Arms & Armor department. Image courtesy Cowan’s

CINCINNATI – Cowan’s and Hindman Auctions have announced a new era in Arms and Armor with the addition of three new arms historians. Tim Carey has been appointed as the new Director and Specialist of the department, while long-time Cowan’s consultant Tim Prince will formally join the team, along with Ashley Hlebinsky, as Senior Specialists. Continue reading

Cowan’s March 9-10 auction nets nearly $800K across four collections

Alonzo Chappel (American, 1828-1887), 'George Washington at Princeton, 1777,' $35,200. Image courtesy Cowan's and LiveAuctioneers.com
Alonzo Chappel (American, 1828-1887), ‘George Washington at Princeton, 1777,’ $35,200. Image courtesy Cowan’s

CINCINNATI – On March 9 and 10, Cowan’s, a Hindman company, saw tremendous engagement in its American Furniture, Folk and Decorative Arts auction and realized more than $790,000. Online bidding was provided by LiveAuctioneers.com; click for March 9 results; click for March 10 results. Prices include buyer’s premium. Continue reading