Star Wars and sports cards land in the winners circle at Morphy’s smash $3.1M auction

Unopened 1952 Topps baseball brick of eight factory-sealed 5-cent wax packs, with each pack containing five cards. Extraordinarily rare and most likely from Topps’ first series. Authenticated by Steve Hart, owner of Baseball Card Exchange. Sold above high estimate for $873,300 to a private collector

DENVER, Pa.- Star Wars fans and diehard sports buffs called the shots at Morphy Auctions’ February 1-3, 2023 auction, which attracted head-spinning prices and closed the books at nearly $3.1 million. The sale featured both a phenomenal single-owner collection of early Star Wars action figures and a vintage sports card selection that included one of the most sought-after treasures of the “unopened” realm: an intact 1952 Topps baseball wax-pack “brick” that sold for a staggering $873,300. Absentee and Internet live bidding was facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.

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Popeye the Sailor: an action man on land and at sea

A rare unpainted original casting of a Popeye Patrol motorcycle originated in Hubley’s Lancaster, Pennsylvania factory and was later professionally painted in the correct color palette for the toy. Note anchor tattoos on Popeye’s arms. Sold for $1,800 plus buyer’s premium at Morphy Auctions on Dec. 10, 2016. Image courtesy of LiveAuctioneers and Dan Morphy Auctions.

NEW YORK — Among the most beloved characters to emerge from a comic strip is Popeye the Sailor Man, who transcended the printed page to become a pop-culture icon. A star of the comics page, a television cartoon series and a 1980 movie starring Robin Williams, Popeye is famous for his love of spinach and his lanky girlfriend, Olive Oyl, as much as his intolerance for bullies.

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