The Three Stooges, Godzilla, and Magic: The Gathering shares the stage at Hake’s March 19-20

YORK, Penn. – Hake’s Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20 auction features 1,928 lots ranging from original comic-book art to a Dave Grohl handwritten Nirvana set list. Both Day 1 and Day 2 catalogs are now available for preview at LiveAuctioneers.

The sale is led by the original teaser poster artwork for Wes Craven’s 1984 slasher classic A Nightmare on Elm Street. Created and consigned by Duncan Eagleson, the poster has never been offered for public sale. Eagleson’s airbrushed acrylic painting is a tranquil depiction of a suburban neighborhood at dusk, with one significant difference. Ominously positioned overhead is a huge triple-bladed metal claw that has violently ripped through the sky, a portent of what was to come. Eagleson sized the artwork to suit a 27 by 40in poster, but it was not used as the final U.S. movie poster – Matt Peak created that particular artwork, which features four, not three, blades. Eagleson’s art appeared in a pre-release newspaper ad campaign and on posters issued in Europe. To his surprise, it was even featured on the 20th anniversary release of NOES in 2004. His absolutely unique original artwork, signed and dated ’83, is the seminal visual for what would become a long-running film franchise. It is offered at auction with a $20,000-$35,000 estimate.

A sealed booster box from Wizards Of The Coast’s 1994 Magic: The Gathering Legends edition contains 36 packs, each with 15 cards, or 540 cards in total. It represents the third expansion set for Magic: The Gathering and is the first to include playing cards with multiple colors. The lot is estimated at $20,000-$35,000.

A complete 1959 Fleer The Three Stooges master set of 99 collector cards is CGC graded, with the set graded 5.53 overall. The cards feature full-color photo fronts with images from various Stooges shorts. Additionally, cards #1, #2, and #3 feature portrait photos of Curly, Larry, and Moe, and both the standard and highly sought-after ‘checklist’ version of cards #16, #63, and #64 are included. The original wax wrapper adds the finishing touch, which was formerly part of the John Grossman collection. Its estimate is $10,000-$20,000.

The 1980s was the decade in which Mattel unleashed its medieval-sword and sci-fi media franchise Masters of the Universe. Building on its original 1982 action-figure line, Mattel followed with scores of toys and minicomics, including the fantasy-fueled extravaganza all collectors covet: the 1986 Mattel Masters of the Universe Eternia Series 5 playset. In its March sale, Hake’s will unveil one of the highest of all AFA-graded examples of this set (AFA 80 NM). “When introduced, it was a very expensive toy, so not many parents bought it. Today, it’s a great rarity,” Hake’s Alex Winter said. It carries an estimate of $10,000-$20,000.

From Aurora’s Golden Age of model kits comes a boxed, never-built Godzilla’s Go Kart. The zany box art for this kit, copyrighted 1966, depicts the Japanese monster charging downhill on a go kart with a license plate that reads ‘People Beware.’ Due to its small original production run and very limited distribution, the Godzilla kit is beyond rare. In fact, it is the only boxed example Hake’s has handled in 57 years of operation. From the Janusey Brothers collection, it is estimated at $10,000-$20,000.

Magic: The Gathering card sells for record-setting $615K at Heritage

A Magic: The Gathering Artist Proof Black Lotus card, signed by its artist, Christopher Rush, set a new world auction record March 24 when it earned $615,000 at Heritage Auctions. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions, ha.com
A Magic: The Gathering Artist Proof Black Lotus card, signed by its artist, Christopher Rush, set a new world auction record March 24 when it earned $615,000 at Heritage Auctions. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions, ha.com
A Magic: The Gathering Artist Proof Black Lotus card, signed by its artist, Christopher Rush, set a new world auction record March 24 when it earned $615,000 at Heritage Auctions. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions, ha.com

DALLAS, — A Magic: The Gathering Artist Proof Black Lotus signed by its artist, Christopher Rush, sold March 24 at Heritage Auctions for $615,000. That card, graded Near Mint/Mint+ 8.5 by Certified Guarantee Company, is now the most valuable Magic: The Gathering card ever sold at auction.

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Complete 1993 Magic: the Gathering Beta set commands $120K at Weiss

Detail from a complete Magic: The Gathering Beta card set from 1993, $120,000
 Complete Magic: The Gathering Beta card set from 1993, $120,000

Complete Magic: The Gathering Beta card set from 1993, $120,000

LYNBROOK, N.Y. – A complete Magic: The Gathering Beta card set from 1993, just the second set for MTG, with a print run of 3,200 cards, sold for a staggering $120,000 in an online-only Comics, Comic Art, MTG Booster Boxes & More auction held October 19 by Weiss Auctions.

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Bruneau delivers choice comics, MTG cards and more, Oct. 15

Copy of Marvel Comics’ ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #31 from Dec. 1965, graded CGC 8.5, featuring the first appearance of Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn, estimated at $2,000-$3,000
Copy of Marvel Comics’ ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #31 from Dec. 1965, graded CGC 8.5, featuring the first appearance of Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn, estimated at $2,000-$3,000
Copy of Marvel Comics’ ‘Amazing Spider-Man’ #31 from Dec. 1965, graded CGC 8.5, featuring the first appearance of Gwen Stacy and Harry Osborn, estimated at $2,000-$3,000

CRANSTON, R.I. – A 1993 factory-sealed Magic: The Gathering Beta Edition starter deck, a copy of Marvel Comics’ X-Men #1 from 1963 graded CGC 5.0, and an estate-fresh collection of 73 1929 Kashin Publications R316 baseball cards, including Babe Ruth, will all come up for bid in Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ Fall Comic, TCG & Toy auction on Saturday, October 15. The 246-lot auction will begin at 10 am Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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Magic: The Gathering cards – everyone can be a wizard

A still-sealed Alpha set made $70,000 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2021. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
A still-sealed Alpha set of Magic: The Gathering cards achieved $70,000 plus the buyer’s premium in April 2021. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — Magic: The Gathering is strictly a childhood amusement for many, but others retain their passion for it well into adulthood, honing their collections of these trading cards and hunting for valuable examples.

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1990s kids are grown-ups now, bidding on childhood faves

A 1999 Pokemon shadowless holographic uncut proof sheet containing seven Charizard cards achieved $234,171 including the buyer’s premium in June 2021. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
A 1999 Pokemon shadowless holographic uncut proof sheet containing seven Charizard cards achieved $234,171 including the buyer’s premium in June 2021. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK  — The 1990s was a heady decade: the Internet became available to the public, Nelson Mandela was elected president of South Africa, Prince Charles and Princess Diana divorced and several nations joined forces to wage war in the Persian Gulf. In the realm of pop culture, Nirvana conquered the music charts with their anthem Smells Like Teen SpiritFriends debuted on TV, and the first Harry Potter book was published. Like every decade, the 1990s had its share of now-iconic toys, which ’90s kids — now adults — want to buy back. And that’s why 1990s toys are hot now.

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Gallery Report: Clementine Hunter’s ‘Fish Fry’ sizzles at Crescent City

ATLANTA – At the beginning of every month, ACN columnist Ken Hall delivers top auction highlights from around the United States and the world at large. We at ACN hope you enjoy the April 2022 edition of his Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Clementine Hunter, Fish Fry, oil, $7,680, Crescent City Auction Gallery

An oil-on-board painting by Clementine Hunter (American, 1887-1987), titled Fish Fry, sold for $7,680 at an Important Spring Estates Auction held March 18-19 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans. Also, a 20th-century French Art Deco style ormolu mounted carved walnut sideboard realized $4,375; a pair of early 20th-century Oriental patinated bronze figures reached $8,750; and a ladies’ 18K rose gold link and diamond bracelet hit $14,080.

Anniversary ring with 4.61-carat diamond, $118,750, Ahlers & Ogletree

A 4.61-carat platinum and diamond anniversary ring given by the late Coca-Cola company president Robert W. Woodruff (American, 1889-1985) to his wife Nell sold for $118,750 in an online-only auction of items from the Woodruff estate held February 26 by Ahlers & Ogletree in Atlanta. Also, a portrait painting of George Washington by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower went for $50,000, and a charcoal on paper portrait of Robert Woodruff by Norman Rockwell (American, 1894-1978) realized $43,750.

Magic: The Gathering card, $45,000, Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers

A Magic: The Gathering Beta Block Lotus trading card from 1993, graded CGC 9 Mint, sold for $45,000 at a Winter Comic, TCG (Trading Card Game) & Toy auction held February 26 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, Rhode Island. Also, a 1993 “MTG” Alpha Ancestral card graded CGC 9.5 Gem Mint achieved $38,750, and a copy of Detective Comics #359 (Jan. 1967), graded CGC 8.0, with the origin and first appearance of Batgirl, hit $4,000.

San Francisco Mint .999 silver ingot, $7,320, Holabird Western Americana Collections

A San Francisco Mint silver ingot, .999 fine, weighing 6.61 oz. and showing the pre-World War II logo of the Mint of San Francisco, sold for $7,320 at a Western Trails & Treasures Premier Auction held Feb. 24-28 by Holabird Western Americana Collections in Reno, Nevada. Also, five pieces of Philippines travel ephemera from the first half of the 20th century earned $10,938, and an 1853 directory for residents of Marysville City (California) reached $9,150.

World War II poster, $3,750, Fairhill Auction

An American World War II poster titled This is the Enemy, with artwork by Karl Koehler and Victor Ancona, sold for $3,750 in Vintage Poster Auction #105, held online March 10 by Fairhill Auction, based in Elkton, Maryland.

Portrait by Ryusei Kishida, $294,400, Nye & Company Auctioneers

A 1921 portrait of Kondo Tsugushige, the Japanese scientist and co-founder of the Japan Surgical Society, painted by Ryusei Kishida (Japanese, 1891-1929), sold for $294,400 at an Estate Treasures Auction held March 2-3 by Nye & Company Auctioneers in Bloomfield, New Jersey. Also, two colorful floral screenprints by Andy Warhol went to the same American bidder for $104,550 and $92,250, respectively; and a circa-1930 crayon on paper work by Marsden Hartley (American, 1877-1943), titled Mountains, hit $17,200.

R.S. Prussia bowl, $24,000, Woody Auction

The only known example of an R.S. Prussia Spring Season bowl in the Carnation mold sold for $24,000 during an auction of the David and Marlene Howard collection held March 19 by Woody Auction in Douglass, Kansas. Also, a Regina upright music box, fully operational with good sound, brought $15,400; a signed Daum Nancy French cameo art glass vase rang up $3,450; and a table lamp by Pairpoint, featuring a Venice shade, lit up the room for $7,700.

Edison Class M phonograph, CA$35,400, Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.

An Edison Class M cylinder phonograph sold for $35,400 in an online Music Machines, Toys & Advertising sale held March 19 by Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., in New Hamburg, Canada. Also, a 1960 Rock-Ola Tempo II Model 1478 jukebox, nicknamed the Windshield for its 1950s car-like look, finished at $8,260; and an early 20th-century J. & E. Stevens North Pole-themed mechanical bank hit $76,670. Prices are in Canadian dollars.

Boba Fett prototype figure, $204,435, Hake’s Auctions

A Kenner 1979 Star Wars Boba Fett rocket-firing prototype action figure, J-slot, version 2, sold for $204,435, a new world auction record for a Star Wars action figure, during a sale held March 15-16 by Hake’s Auctions in York, Pennsylvania. Also, a 1920 James M. Cox / Franklin D. Roosevelt jugate campaign button, one of only six known, realized $185,850; and the original cover art for Incredible Hulk #283 (Marvel Comics, May 1983), with art by Ed Hannigan and inks by Al Milgrom, rose to $33,315.

Art Deco-style lamp, $5,120, La Belle Epoque Auction Gallery

An Art Deco-style bronze figural table lamp, made after a model by Pierre Le Faguays (French, 1892-1962), sold for $5,120 on February 5, during the first-ever auction held by La Belle Epoque Auction Gallery in New York City. Also, a 20th-century Mexican sterling silver charger rose to $1,525; a late 20th-century Charles and Ray Eames for Herman Miller bookcase rose to $1,280; and an oil on canvas painting of two women by Charles Levier (French, 1920-2003) made $2,050.

1657 map of Brazil, $181,250, PBA Galleries

An oversize map of Brazil by Georg Margraff, published by Joan Blaeu in the mid-17th-century, one of perhaps five known, sold for $181,250 at Platinum Sale 754, held February 10 by PBA Galleries in Berkeley, California. Also, a manuscript royal order authorizing the colonization of the Californias, dated 1705 and signed by Philip V of Spain, climbed to $175,000; and George Vancouver’s A Voyage Discovery to the North Pacific Ocean (1798), in three volumes, plus an atlas, made $28,125.

1779 Ethan Allen book, $78,000, Potter & Potter Auctions

A second printing (1779) of a book written by Ethan Allen, titled in part A Narrative of Colonel Ethan Allen’s Captivity … sold for $78,000 at a Books & Manuscripts auction held February 26 by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a book by Richard Hakluyt, titled in part The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries of the English Nation … achieved $48,000, and a folio containing materials relating to the Treaty of Ghent changed hands for $38,400.

Glass cabinet vase, $13,860, Doyle 

A Galle acid-etched and engraved glass cabinet vase sold for $13,860 during Auction of Color & Light: The Collection of Dr. Thomas Chua, held March 2 by Doyle in New York City. Also, a KPM painted porcelain plaque changed hands for $13,860; a Louis XVI-style gilt-bronze mounted onyx jardiniere hammered for $13,230; a Galle mold-blown cameo glass water lily vase went for $12,600; and a Daum Art Nouveau mold-blown cameo glass forest sunset landscape vase made $12,600.

Mathilde Poulat necklace, $5,312, John Moran Auctioneers

An elaborate Mathilde Poulat Matl sterling silver filigree necklace sold for $5,312 at a Made in Mexico auction held February 15 and February 17 by John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, a Spratling First Design Period silver and rosewood necklace, featuring six carved delicate rosewood hands, achieved $4,375; a group of Antonio Pineda mother-of-pearl and silver foliate design jewelry reached $4,062; and an untitled 1992 pastel drawing by Roberto Gil De Montes earned $4,062.

Banksy mural, $500,000, Julien’s Auctions

A circa-2003 aerosol mural executed by the British graffiti artist Banksy on the wall of the Parisian art studio Surface to Air, titled Bomb Middle England, sold for $500,000 at a Street, Contemporary, Pop & Fine Art auction held March 16 by Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles. Also, Damien Hirst’s Beautiful, Struggling to Consume and Times to Overwhelm Potential Painting achieved $128,000, and KAWS’s black four-foot companion cast vinyl figure rang up $62,500.

Baird Coca-Cola clock, $17,010, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

A Baird Chicago-era Coca-Cola advertising store clock sold for $17,010 at a Winter Americana Auction held March 2-5 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. Also, a folk art paint-decorated cloth doll by Izannah Walker (American, 1817-1888) brought $14,580; a Staffordshire transferware medallion portrait series ceramic vegetable dish realized $10,327; and a hand-sewn silk Civil War-era 11-star Confederate Bible/parade flag went to a phone bidder for $17,010.

Andrew Clemens sand bottle, $800,000, Hindman

A sand bottle by the 19th-century Iowa artist Andrew Clemens, with a label reading, “Pictured Rock Sand, Put Up By Andrew Clemens, Deaf-Mute, McGregor, Iowa,” sold for $800,000 at an American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts auction held March 10-11 by Hindman in Chicago. Also, a circa-1860 Gothic Revival astronomical regulator by E. Howard & Co. of Boston hit $68,750; and a 126in Renaissance Revival regulator clock made for J. S. Townsend brought $50,000.

Charles “Shang” Wheeler duck decoys, $216,000, Copley Fine Art Auctions

A pair of carved wood ducks by Charles “Shang” Wheeler (American, 1867-1956) made $216,000, a new record for the artist, at a Winter Sale held March 4-5 by Copley Fine Art Auctions, LLC in Hingham, Massachusetts. Also, the only known Dodge wood duck in original paint hailing from the J. N. Dodge Factory achieved $108,000; a raised-wing canvasback pair by A. Elmer Crowell (American, 1862-1952) topped out at $102,000; and a hollow golden plover by Lew Horton flew away for $108,000.

 

View top auction results on LiveAuctioneers here: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/pages/recent-auction-sales/

Magic: The Gathering cards cast powerful spell at Bruneau

Magic: The Gathering Beta Black Lotus card, graded CGC 9 Mint, $45,000
Magic: The Gathering Beta Black Lotus card, graded CGC 9 Mint, $45,000

CRANSTON, R.I. – Magic: The Gathering (MTG) trading cards dominated the list of top lots in Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ Winter Comic, TCG (Trading Card Games) & Toy auction held February 26. The top five offerings – all MTG cards from 1993 – combined to bring a total of $123,750.

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Scarce Magic: The Gathering cards in play at Bruneau, Feb. 26

Magic: The Gathering Beta Black Lotus card, graded CGC 9 Mint, est. $40,000-$60,000
Magic: The Gathering Beta Black Lotus card, graded CGC 9 Mint, est. $40,000-$60,000

CRANSTON, R.I. – Anyone who doubts the soaring popularity of Magic: The Gathering (MTG) trading cards should look no further than Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ Winter Comic, TCG (Trading Card Games) & Toy auction slated for Saturday, February 26, starting at 10 am Eastern. The top five lots – all MTG cards – have a combined high estimate of $135,000. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

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After 18 months in business, CGC grades its one-millionth trading card

A Japanese Pokemon Scyther from 1998 became the millionth card graded by CGC Trading Cards since the service debuted in July 2020. Shown here are the front and back of the Pokemon card, which received a grade of 10, indicating it is pristine. Images courtesy of CGC
A Japanese Pokemon Scyther from 1998 became the millionth card graded by CGC Trading Cards since the service debuted in July 2020. Shown here are the front and back of the Pokemon card, which received a grade of 10, indicating it is pristine. Images courtesy of CGC

SARASOTA, Fla. – CGC Trading Cards™ announces it has now graded more than one million trading cards. It achieved this milestone within less than 18 months. The one-millionth card is a 1998 Japanese Pokemon Scyther card graded CGC Pristine 10.

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