COLUMBUS, Ohio – Fleischer’s Auctions will host its Summer Premier Sale on Saturday, August 5. Boasting more than 400 lots, the auction offers a wide selection of material from the breadth of American history, particularly material from the abolition movement, the Civil War, African American history, Lincolniana and gems of historic photography. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
ATLANTA – As each month begins, ACN columnist Ken Hall gathers the most notable auction highlights from the United States and across the world. His Gallery Report for July 2023 delivers a bounty of intriguing results. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.
N.C. Wyeth painting, $2.45 million, Freeman’s
A painting by N. C. Wyeth titled Jetty Tree (Port Clyde, Maine), a landscape depicting the Maine coast, sold for $2.45 million at an auction held June 4 during America Week by Freeman’s in Philadelphia. Also, Henriette Wyeth’s Portrait of Peter Hurd topped out at $138,600; a winter scene by German-born American wildlife artist Carl Rungius, titled After the Storm (Tundra), finished at $453,600; and Morgan Colt’s painting A Glorious Day earned $126,000.
Dale Chihuly bowl basket, $5,227, Michaan’s Auctions
A shapely art glass Macchia Bowl Basket by Dale Chihuly sold for $5,227 at a Luxury Auction held May 19 by Michaan’s Auctions in Alameda, Calif. Also, an Edith Baretto Stevens Parsons figural bronze fountain settled at $7,995; a Bosendorfer concert grand piano attained $46,125; a Van Cleef & Arpels ruby, enamel, diamond and 18K gold terrier brooch commanded $7,995; and a Buccellati sterling silver soup tureen went to a determined bidder for $6,765.
Frank Herbert’s Dune, $22,500, PBA Galleries
A first edition copy of Frank Herbert’s Dune sold for $22,500 at a Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror auction held June 1 by PBA Galleries in Berkeley, Calif. Also, the Dark Tower series by Stephen King brought $22,500; The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin rose to $10,000; Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein realized $11,250; the Foundation trilogy by Isaac Asimov secured $15,000; and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick made $13,750.
Japanese incense burner, $250,000, Heritage Auctions
A massive Japanese dragon-form incense burner containing almost 45 pounds of pure silver sold for $250,000 at a Fine Silver & Objects of Vertu Signature Auction held May 16 by Heritage Auctions in Dallas. Also, a Tiffany & Company partial gilt water pitcher finished at $35,000; a circa-1870 Gorham partial gilt figural punch bowl with the original ladle realized $35,000; and a Gorham Martele six-piece Blue Lily motif tea and coffee set left the room for $20,000.
Mandarin court robe, $39,060, Sarasota Estate Auctions
A Qing dynasty Mandarin court robe sold for $39,060 at a two-day sale held May 20-21 by Sarasota Estate Auctions in Sarasota, Fla. Also, a blanc de chine Buddha statue with a spiritual symbol made $25,200; a pair of Han warriors finished at $7,560; a Tang white pigment prancing horse trotted off with $6,930; an oil on canvas portrait attributed to Rembrandt Peale (1778-1860) went for $19,530; and a Modernist sculpture by Aurora Canero (Spanish, b. 1940-) brought $7,560.
Rolex Big Red Daytona watch, $65,000, Jones & Horan
A Rolex Big Red Daytona watch, ref. 6263, sold for $65,000 at a four-hour auction held May 7 by Jones & Horan in Manchester, N.H. Also, a Patek Philippe Perpetual Calendar watch, ref. 3940, achieved $49,000; a Rolex Small Red Daytona watch, ref. 6265, brought $32,000; a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Explorer II watch, ref. 1655, went for $16,500; a Patek Philippe Ricochet watch by Gilbert Albert hit $16,500; and a Rolex Kermit Submariner watch, ref. 16610LV, hopped away with $13,500.
Masudaya Target Robot, $34,440, Milestone Auctions
A Masudaya (Japan) 15in battery-operated Target Robot from the Gang of Five series with a dart gun and two darts, plus the original box, sold for $34,440 at a Spring Premier Toy Auction held May 27 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a Yonezawa (Japan) 13in battery-operated 8 Man Walking Robot with its original box claimed $8,400; a Yonezawa battery-operated Jupiter robot finished at $20,400; and a Nomura (Japan) battery-operated Walking Batman earned $12,915.
New Haven Arms carbine, $23,500, Rock Island Auction Company
A factory-engraved New Haven Arms Company Volcanic carbine rifle sold for $23,500 at a Sporting & Collector Auction held June 21-23 by Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island, Ill. Also, a Colt Paterson Second Model ring lever rifle hit the mark for $16,450; a Winchester Model 1866 lever action rifle doubled its high estimate to bring $11,163; and an engraved silver-plated Colt Hartford English dragoon revolver made $8,813. Overall, the sale grossed more than $6.5 million.
1880 silver ingot, $42,175, Holabird Western Americana Collections
An 1880 Mathey, Kustel & Riotte silver ingot with documented information, the only known example, with logo punch and weighing 4.97 troy ounces, sold for $42,175 at a High-Grade auction held June 15-18 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nev. Also, one of a few known copies of De Groot’s original third edition map of the Washoe mines of Nevada, published in 1860, brought $15,000; and a remarkable archive from a legal Nevada prostitute went for $5,750.
David Hockney lithograph, $47,795, Ahlers & Ogletree
A 1979 color lithograph on paper of a tropical scene by David Hockney (British, b. 1937-), titled Bora Bora, sold for $47,795 at auctions held June 15-17 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, a 1909 pastel on medium light brown paper by Thomas Wilmer Dewing (American, 1851-1938), titled Study in Orange and Rose, realized $39,325; and a 1910 oil on canvas, Portrait of Lady with Pitcher, by William Worcester Churchill (American, 1858-1926) attained $39,325.
First edition, first issue Great Expectations, $24,000, Potter & Potter Auctions
A first edition, first issue, three-volume copy of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, printed by Chapman and Hall, London in 1861, sold for $24,000 at a Fine Books and Manuscripts sale held June 1 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a copy of H. P. Lovecraft’s The Outsider and Others settled at $11,400; a first edition copy of Henry Roth’s Call It Sleep achieved $9,000; and a copy of Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father went for $6,000.
Flora Danica table service, $118,750, Andrew Jones Auctions
An extensive service of Royal Copenhagen Flora Danica porcelain tableware that was offered in 24 lots totaled $118,750 at an auction held June 18 by Andrew Jones Auctions in Los Angeles. Also, an 89-piece Puiforcat first standard silver Royal pattern flatware service achieved $18,750; a Chinese gilt and black coromandel lacquer eight-panel screen secured $11,875; and a group of seven Buccellati sterling silver clad shells and a shell-form footed dish garnered $11,875.
Wurlitzer Model 71 jukebox, CA$14,750, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.
An American circa-1940-1941 Wurlitzer Model 71 tabletop jukebox, restored and on a Wurlitzer model 810 stand, sold for $14,750 in an online-only Petroliana, Advertising & Coin-Op auction held June 10 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd. in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a Canadian 1900 Kuntz Park Brewery Waterloo beer tray served up $12,980, and an American 1924 Globe Amusement Lighthouse grip strength tester fought its way to $12,980. All prices in this entry are in Canadian dollars.
Vacheron Constantin watch, $100,800, Doyle
A circa-2012 wristwatch by Vacheron Constantin, created to celebrate the Opera National de Paris sold for $100,800 at an Important Jewelry auction held June 22 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a Bulgari ring featuring a Fancy Intense blue-green diamond flanked by two Fancy Intense pink diamonds slipped onto a new finger for $1.059 million, and a circa-1930 Raymond Yard Kashmir sapphire and diamond ring changed hands for $289,800. Overall, the sale grossed $4.139 million.
Caldwell bronze figures, $10,625, Roland Auctions
A pair of circa-1900 Caldwell & Co. gilt and patinated bronze figures mounted on green marble bases, since transformed into lamps, sold for $10,625 at a Multi-Estates Sale held June 2-3 by Roland Auctions in Glen Cove, N.Y. Also, a still life of flowers in a vase by Yanoucher Yektai (1921-2019), signed and dated 1969, brought $15,000; and a signed watercolor landscape of a hillside by Richard Mayhew (American, b. 1924-) went for $10,625.
Chinese Export clock, $34,375, John Moran Auctioneers
A Chinese Export French-style automaton clock, signed Cheon S’Nag Comton to the mechanism, sold for $34,375 at a Traditional Collector sale held April 25-26 by John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, a 1738 red-and-white chalk drawing by Francois Boucher, titled The Vegetable Vendor: A Sheet of Studies, achieved $81,250; Sally James Farnham’s New York City Mounted Policeman in the Rain strode to $34,375; and a Francois Linke gilt-bronze mounted armoire realized $11,250.
Kentucky Derby trophies, $317,000, Julien’s Auctions
A group of five Lemon & Son brand sterling silver engraved Kentucky Derby trophies, won between 1957 to 1969 by renowned horse jockey Bill Hartack, sold for $317,000 at a Sports Legends auction held June 23 by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, Calif. Also, a training jersey signed by basketball star Michael Jordan commanded $104,000; a pair of Converse shoes signed by Jordan brought $104,000; and a tournament jersey from 1968 signed by soccer star Pele secured $16,250.
Daguerreotype of gold miners, $37,800, Hindman Auctions
A half-plate daguerreotype of three miners, looking resolute behind their lit cigars, sold for $37,800 at an American Historical Ephemera & Photography auction held June 15-16 by Hindman Auctions in Cincinnati. Also, a circa-1855 quarter-plate daguerreotype of Fort Mackinac, Mich., possibly the earliest image of the important military outpost, brought $31,500; a quarter-plate daguerreotype of photographer Andrew Joseph Russell (1830-1902) earned $28,350; and a photograph of Lincoln’s second inauguration in 1865 reached $18,900.
Click to view top auction results on LiveAuctioneers: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/
CINCINNATI – On June 15-16, Hindman’s summer American Historical Ephemera & Photography auction saw passionate bidding for early photographs and material relating to America’s westward expansion. A half plate daguerreotype of three gold miners realized $37,800, five times its estimate. The image of the three men epitomizes the gold rush itself, as their somewhat haggard appearance is offset by supremely resolute expressions behind their lit cigars. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.
CINCINNATI – Hindman will present two days of manuscripts, archives, early photography and artifacts spanning the entirety of American history in its June 15-16 American Historical Ephemera & Photography auction. The June 15 session will focus on American conflicts including the Civil War and Indian Wars, as well as African Americana and early photography, while the second day is devoted to politics, Native American history and the settling of the American West. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
RENO, Nev. – For the first time, two numismatic companies that are giants in their field – Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC and Finest Known, LLC – will join forces to hold a sale titled Treasure Trove of Rarities: Coins & Treasure Shipwreck Auction on Saturday, April 29. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
CLEARWATER, Fla. – America’s rich cultural history is laced with heroes and scalawags, blue-blooded entrepreneurs and immigrant achievers who rose from the humblest beginnings. All who contributed to the colorful tapestry of our 246-year-old nation – whether saintly or scurrilous – are part of our nation’s story, which serves as the backdrop for Blackwell Auctions’ March 18 event titled “The American Sale.” Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
RENO, Nev. – The second and final auction of never-before-offered, historic California Gold Rush artifacts recovered from the 1857 sinking of the fabled Ship of Gold, the S.S. Central America, will be held on Saturday, March 4, and Sunday, March 5 by Holabird Western Americana Collections LLC. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
CINCINNATI – A collection of Civil War-era broadsides and ephemera from respected collector James Milgram, M.D., sent Hindman’s American Historical Ephemera & Photography auction to a $793,755 total across the two days of the sale. Held November 3 and 4, the auction featured more than 630 lots spanning the breadth of American history from the earliest days of European colonization to the modern day.
NEW YORK – A newly published book titled LOVE IMMORTAL (Harper Design 9780063204294; $25.99) presents for the first time more than 200 photographs from the private collection of longtime antiques collector, dealer, and appraiser Anthony Cavo. This artfully designed collection of Daguerrotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes, cartes de visite, and sepia and black-and-white images includes an entertaining mix of historical anecdotes, true stories, superstitions, excerpts from literature, letters, quotes, and fun facts that are sure to make this book irresistible to dog lovers and to those with an interest in photography.
RENO, Nev. – After a century and a half on the ocean floor, nearly a thousand historic California Gold Rush-era sunken treasure items from the 1857 sinking of the fabled Ship of Gold, the S.S. Central America, have been brought together again, cataloged and conserved for upcoming public displays. Many of them will be shown for the first time at collectors’ shows across the country, then offered in public auctions planned for October and November by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC.