X-Men, Pokemon wizards, baseball royalty appear at Bruneau, Aug.8

Copy of Marvel Comics’ X-Men #1 from September 1963 featuring the origin and first appearance of the X-Men and Magneto, graded CGC 3.5, estimated at $8,000-$12,000
Copy of Marvel Comics’ X-Men #1 from September 1963 featuring the origin and first appearance of the X-Men and Magneto, graded CGC 3.5, estimated at $8,000-$12,000

CRANSTON, R.I. – A copy of Marvel Comics’ X-Men #1 from September 1963, two Pokemon booster boxes from 1999, Goudey baseball cards for star players from the 1930s, and original cover art for Drift Marlo #1 from 1962 will all come up for bid in Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ Summer Pop Culture auction, slated for Tuesday, August 8, beginning at 4 pm Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Continue reading

Battle Cat ride-on toy could bounce to the top at Bruneau, March 11

1985 Wonder Masters of the Universe Battle Cat ride-on spring bouncer, estimated at $800-$1,200
1985 Wonder Masters of the Universe Battle Cat ride-on spring bouncer, estimated at $800-$1,200
Wonder Masters of the Universe Battle Cat ride-on spring bouncer toy dating to 1985, estimated at $800-$1,200

CRANSTON, R.I. – Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ Winter Comic, TCG (Trading Card Games) & Toy auction is slated for Saturday, March 11, beginning at 10 am Eastern time. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers. Bruneau’s Director of Pop Culture Travis Landry described it as “certainly the most diverse sale we have ever had for the department.”

Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

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.

Continue reading

Hake’s Nov. 2-3 auction led by Capt. America shield screen-used by Chris Evans

Captain America shield screen-used by Chris Evans in ‘Avengers: Endgame.’ Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions

YORK, Pa. – After two consecutive auctions that broke existing house records, Hake’s is back with a blockbuster November 2-3 Premier Auction that could push the pop culture giant’s 2021 gross beyond the $10 million mark. Between the red-hot state of the vintage collectibles market and an influx of new, investment-minded collectors coming into the hobby, new records are likely to be set not only by the November auction as a whole, but also in a number of pop-culture subcategories, said Hake’s president Alex Winter.

Continue reading

Fantastic Four, Pokemon enliven Bruneau’s Sept. 25 auction

Marvel Comics’ Fantastic Four #1, est. $15,000-$20,000
Marvel Comics’ Fantastic Four #1, est. $15,000-$20,000
Marvel Comics’ Fantastic Four #1, est. $15,000-$20,000

CRANSTON, R.I. – Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers’ Comic, TCG & Toy auction slated for Saturday, September 25, is shaping up as one of the firm’s best ones yet. It’s bursting with more than 450 lots of Pop Culture treasures, pulled from prominent collections across the United States. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.

Continue reading

Gallery Report: 18th-century redware charger claims $36,900 at Pook & Pook

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. Here’s his August 2021 edition of Gallery Report. All prices include the buyer’s premium, except where noted.

Continue reading

Pokemon 1999 first-edition booster box is ‘caught’ for $384K

Pokemon First Edition Base Set Sealed Booster Box, $384,000
Pokemon First Edition Base Set Sealed Booster Box, $384,000
Pokemon First-edition Base Set Sealed Booster Box, $384,000. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

DALLAS – A Pokemon First Edition Base Set Sealed Booster Box (Wizards of the Coast, 1999) drew 115 bids before it sold for $384,000 to lead Heritage Auctions’ Trading Card Games Auction to $3,473,102 in total sales July 24-25. The event was the first of its kind, and exceeded pre-auction expectations, with perfect sell-through rates of 100% by value and by lots sold, and with 1,445 bidders from around the globe.

Continue reading

Vintage comic books and Pokemon cards triumph at Bruneau

Marvel Comics Avengers #1 (Sept. 1963), graded CGC 8.0, which sold for $23,125
Marvel Comics Avengers #1 (Sept. 1963), graded CGC 8.0, which sold for $23,125

Marvel Comics Avengers #1 (Sept. 1963), graded CGC 8.0, featuring the debut of the Avengers, which sold for $23,125

CRANSTON, R.I. – A copy of Marvel Comics’ Avengers #1 from September 1963 sold for $23,125, a copy of Marvel Comics’ Amazing Spider-Man #14 from July 1964 brought $17,500, and a first-edition, factory-sealed booster box of Wizards of the Coast Pokemon Gym Challenge from 2000 made $17,500 at a pop culture auction held July 10 by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers.

Continue reading