Morphy’s Aug. 2-3 auction merges classic toys with pop culture memorabilia

BBCE-authenticated, unopened 1971 Topps NHL Hockey wax box containing 24 packs of 10 cards each, with a likelihood of gem-mint examples of Ken Dryden’s rookie card, or cards for HOFers like Orr, Howe and Hull included in the selection. Estimate $12,000-$24,000

DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s spring toy auction, which took in $3.1 million, made headlines worldwide with its phenomenal single-owner collection of factory-boxed Star Wars figures and a sports card selection that included an $873,300 Topps baseball wax-pack brick. No other event in Morphy’s 20-year history could top that one for the amount of social media buzz or the number of pre-sale inquiries from prospective bidders. The fun will resume on August 2-3, when Morphy’s presents its summer offering of Toys & General Collectibles featuring both classic toys and pop-culture favorites: vintage sports cards, comic books and early video games. Bid absentee or live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.

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Collectors of vintage video games play on another level

This Nintendo N64 (1999) Super Smash Bros game achieved $11,800 in November 2022. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
This Nintendo N64 (1999) Super Smash Bros game achieved $11,800 in November 2022. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.
This Nintendo N64 (1999) Super Smash Bros game achieved $11,800 in November 2022. Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions and LiveAuctioneers.

NEW YORK — It all started with a primitive video game called Pong and the Atari 2600 console for at-home gaming, which debuted in the 1970s. Though its games had simple graphics, Atari revolutionized the gaming industry. Video games are now light years better, smaller and more complex. Legions of players collect them, and anything related to them, driven by childhood nostalgia and the desire to preserve cultural touchstones. There is also profit to be made.

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Heritage sales exceed $1B in 2021 – a first for the Dallas-based auction house

J.C. Leyendecker, ‘Beat-up Boy, Football Hero,’ $4.12 million. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions.
J.C. Leyendecker, ‘Beat-up Boy, Football Hero,’ $4.12 million. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions.

J.C. Leyendecker, ‘Beat-up Boy, Football Hero,’ $4.12 million. Image courtesy of Heritage Auctions

DALLAS – Heritage Auctions recorded $1.4 billion in sales in 2021, marking the first time in its 45-year history the Dallas-based auction house has surpassed the billion-dollar mark. Heritage also set numerous auction world records during the past year, including ones for the world’s most valuable comic book, J.C. Leyendecker painting, video game, Michael Jordan jersey, Peanuts artwork, hockey trading card and Harry Potter book. And it did not take a magic wand to reach this extraordinary benchmark.

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