Global Auction Blog

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Philip Weiss
(516) 594-0731

PAIR OF ORIGINAL CHARLES SCHULZ “PEANUTS” STRIPS TOP $100,000, AND ORIGINAL X-MEN #99 COVER ART FETCHES $55,370 AT PHILIP WEISS AUCTIONS’ APRIL 26th SALE

(Oceanside, N.Y.) - A pair of original Charles Schulz “Peanuts” comic strips – one daily, one Sunday – sold for a combined $106,270, and original cover art by Dave Cockrum for the “X-Men” #99 comic book hit $55,370 at a multi-estate sale held April 26 by Philip Weiss Auctions. The Dave Cockrum piece was the top lot in a sale that saw about 750 items change hands and grossed $500,000.

“I know I sound like a broken record, but even in a sour economy if you offer top-quality, fresh-to-the-market merchandise, then people will come to your auctions and people will spend their money,” said Philip Weiss, “and that’s exactly what happened at this sale. Attendance was somewhat light at right around 50 in-house bidders, but Internet, phone and absentee bidding was very strong.”

Mr. Weiss said the online bidding component (via eBayLive and LiveAuctioneers.com) was particularly active, with about 4,000 registered Internet bidders comprising the vast bulk of the nearly 6,000 total bids submitted during the sale. “But the phones were ringing all day, too, for almost every lot,” he added, “and the absentee bids included 1,500 ‘left’ bids. It was just a great day overall.”

The “Peanuts” strips sold for similar amounts, even though the Sunday was 13 panels and the daily was only four. But the daily (signed by Schulz and dated 6-27-57) featured an early Snoopy in all four panels, plus Charlie Brown in the last panel. It sold for $52,110. The Sunday strip, dated 4-8-62, had a great baseball gag featuring Linus and Snoopy. After spirited bidding, it went for $54,160.

The Cockrum “X-Men” cover art was one of the noted illustrator’s finest efforts, a pen-and-ink drawing of an intergalactic battle scene in outer space. The piece – measuring 11-1/2” x 17-1/2” — was signed in the lower right by the artist. It was executed in 1976. Also, a lot of 21 original Spiderman sketches by John Romita, all from the 1960s and accompanied by a trace splash page, realized $27,120.

Following are additional sale highlights. All prices quoted include a 13% buyer’s premium.

Comic books were a hot commodity. A copy of “Journey Into Mystery” (#83), graded 6.5 and introducing the Mighty Thor (dated 8-13-62), hammered for $3,730; a giant-size (68-page) copy of “X-Men” (#1), graded 9.6 and featuring all the X-Men superheroes on the cover (Summer 1975), made $2,710; and a rare copy of “Sub-Mariner” (#32) from July 1949, graded 7.5, changed hands for $4,065.

A fabulous Apollo 11 Flight Plan, personally signed on the cover by 21 NASA astronauts for “Arlene” (who worked as a NASA hostess and entertained astronauts and their families in her home near Houston in the 1960s) blasted off for $8,190. The Flight Plan, housed in a three-ring binder, had the signatures of Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldren and Michael Collins (all of Apollo 11) and many others.

Animation art was led by a marvelous production cel from the classic 1930s Disney movie “Snow White,” depicting a wide-eyed Snow White and a rabbit on a Courvoisier background. The cel, framed and measuring 5” x 6-1/4”, achieved $4,802. Also, a complete, unused ticket to the Beatles’ concert at Shea Stadium in New York, dated August 23, 1966 (face value: $5.75), gaveled for $1,648.

Philip Weiss Auctions’ next big sale will be held on Saturday, May 17. It will be Part 2 of The Newport Stamp Collection. Part 1 made headlines when, on February 9, an unused 1869 24-cent inverted center U.S. stamp, #120b, certified Fine and one of only four unused examples know to exist, soared to $1.271 million. It was a new world record for a U.S. invert (the previous record: $825,000).

Part 2 of the sale promises to be just as enticing for collectors. Highlights will include U.S. singles and great rarities such as August issues #55-62; Continental and American special printings, complete #’s 167-177, 180-181, 192-204, 205C, 211D and J8-J14; 1857 and 1861 reprints, complete #’s 233A and 314A mint pair (Ex. Cromwell and Engle, one of only six such pairs known to exist). Also:

316 line pair; 318 pair; 321 pair; 322 pair; 356 line pair; an Orangeburg Coil used single; 4C and 8C blue papers; 485 double error; 544 used; 594 mint; 596 pre-cancelled; O94; PR47; R157 and R158; Hawaii #12; and many more. To learn more about the second component of this fabulous collection, click on the Philip Weiss Auctions website as sale day approaches: www.prwauctions.com.

Also on May 17, 200 other stamp, coin and paper money lots will also be sold from various collections, to include: The Chesapeake Collection featuring 50+ Scott specialty albums loaded with foreign mint sets and singles; British Colonies; four stamp collections now being broken down; and the “Silver Salt Cellar” recovered from the treasure ship Atocha (appraised value: more than $300,000).

The following day, Sunday, May 18, another blockbuster sale will be held, featuring about 200 lots of Civil War photos, ribbons, letters and many identified carte de vistes (CDVs); a collection of Jack London first-edition books and other important first-editions; 150-200 lots of better Americana, literature and illustrated books; three Charles Schulz “Peanuts” strips; and two Kentucky Long Rifles.

May 18 will also feature sports memorabilia, to include a signed Babe Ruth photograph; examples of the rare and coveted T-206 baseball cards; and more. Also slated to cross the block will be a collection of rare Russian propaganda posters from the 1930s; movie posters; post cards; and more. Check the website for more lot listings as the May dates approach. Click on www.prwauctions.com.

Looking a little further into the year, Philip Weiss Auctions also has sales planned for June and September (times and dates to be announced). Already secured for June is a beautiful, fresh-to-the-market oil-on-canvas painting by the Spanish artist Emilio Grau Sala (1911-1975). The September auction will feature a military collection that, according to Mr. Weiss, “must be seen to be believed.”

Philip Weiss Auctions conducts its sales in a spacious showroom facility, located at #1 Neil Court, In Oceanside, N.Y. (on Long Island). The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, estate or collection, you may call them directly, at (516) 594-0731, or e-mail them at phil@prwauctions.com. To learn more about the firm, click on www.prwauctions.com.

Popularity: 30% [?]

This shows how Google has become an important part of marketing auction sales on the Internet. To give you an example of what it can do for you when done properly, Global Auction Guide received over 100,000 organic referrals from Google in the past 30 days .

From the Satellite ProLink Blog

The Certified Auctioneers Institute, 2008 Class III, listens as Julie Carter, Satellite ProLink, (pictured to right of the screen) explains how people are finding auction information using Google. Also discussed were Web Ad Placement programs, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) as auction marketing tools. http://www.satelliteprolink.com/02b.php

Popularity: 25% [?]

From the Incredible Ebay Resource Site

By Ina Steiner
AuctionBytes.com

Small-business owner Barry Fallon was scheduled to appear before the Pennsylvania State Board of Auctioneer Examiners on May 12, 2008, to face charges of conducting an auction on eBay and operating an auction house without a license. Fallon sold his consignment drop-off store in 2007 after regulators required him to get an auctioneer’s license to operate the store, which operated as an iSold It franchise.

“It would be wonderful if a lot of Pennsylvania eBay Trading Assistants and Power Sellers could attend this hearing in support of all of us,” Fallon said. “A show of strength might help sway their decision. If I am convicted everyone else in the state will be next. Any promotion of such mass show of support would greatly be appreciated.”

Fallon said he would be defending himself since a lawyer would cost over $10,000. He faces fines of at least $2,000.

Fallon is not alone in facing government officials who want to regulate eBay sellers. Last year, AuctionBytes documented eBay license requirements of all 50 states ( http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y07/m05/i17/s04).

The research showed that some states require drop-off stores to hold an auctioneer’s license, while others required stores to comply with rules for pawnshops or consignment shops. Other states have no regulations in place specifically dealing with drop-off stores, though some local law-enforcement agencies have interpreted existing laws written for pawnshops and consignment stores to apply to drop-off stores.

Fallon said eBay has not supported his case, and wished it would file a friend of the court brief to explain to the board why he is exempt from the licensing requirement.

eBay spokesperson Kim Rubey said eBay has been in regular contact with Fallon since this issue first came up more than 15 months ago.

“We continue to believe that the Auctioneers Board is incorrectly reading the statute and that people selling on eBay are not conducting an auction under Pennsylvania law. In this case the Auctioneer Examiners Board has set the rules and is acting as the judge of those rules. We believe that is grossly unfair and look forward to a full legal review of the Board’s actions.”

Rubey said eBay is not a party to the hearing so will not be attending. “We will be watching the results carefully and will determine next steps, if any, following the decision of the Auctioneers Board,” she said.

eBay has lobbied legislators in Pennsylvania to pass legislation that would exempt eBay sellers from auctioneer’s licensing. The licensing board had agreed to wait for legislation to pass before taking action against him, but Fallon said legislators are dragging their feet and the board got tired of waiting.

Pennsylvania had also charged a home-based eBay Trading Assistant with failing to get an auctioneer’s license, but that case became an embarrassment to officials when newspapers picked up on the “heart-tugging” story ( http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/224400). The Trading Assistant ran an eBay consignment business so she could stay at home with her ill child. Fallon claims the board dropped charges against her when it caught wind that “Dr. Phil” was going to feature her on his popular television show.

eBay created a program called eBay Main Street to help its members stay informed about regulatory issues and published its position on Auctioneering Regulation on the site ( http://www.ebaymainstreet.com/state/auctioneering-regulation).

Earlier this year, eBay put new requirements in place for its Trading Assistant program, prohibiting TAs from using the term “auction” or “auctioneer” in their business names, signage and marketing materials, unless they are licensed auctioneers. It also requires drop-off stores to have comprehensive public liability insurance, casualty insurance, bailee’s insurance, a $25,000 bond to protect sellers’ checks, business interruption insurance, and Internet insurance ( http://www.auctionbytes.com/cab/abn/y08/m01/i17/s01).

Fallon’s hearing before the Auctioneer Examiners Board had been scheduled to take place on Monday, May 12, but on May 2nd was continued (postponed), with Fallon finding out just hours before press time. AuctionBytes will continue to follow this story in the daily Newsflash newsletter.

You can hear an interview with Barry Fallon conducted last week on the Ecommerce Industry Soundbytes podcast:
http://podcast.auctionbytes.com

About the author:

Ina Steiner is Editor of AuctionBytes.com and author of “Turn eBay Data Into Dollars” (McGraw-Hill 2006). She has a background in marketing and research in the high-tech and publishing fields. If you have story ideas, comments or questions, send them to ina@auctionbytes.com.

Popularity: 27% [?]

From the News-antique.com Press Release service

Dallas, Texas: The best copies known to exist of some of the most beloved comics of the Baby Boomer generation will be sold at auction May 22-23 by Heritage Auction Galleries as part of the David N. Toth collection, valued at over $300,000.

The first appearances of the Justice League of America, Supergirl, Batgirl, and the Legion of Super-Heroes are among the key issues to be auctioned. Most date from 1957-1963.

“Condition is everything to the comic collector,” said Jim Steele, Chief Comic Cataloger for Heritage. “You can find these comics in average shape pretty easily, but some of these had never been reported in true Near Mint condition before, as comics weren’t typically seen as ‘collectible’ until the mid-1960s. Back in the late 50s/early 60s, they were primarily entertaining - and disposable - reading for kids.”

“Most of these comics come to auction with some frequency, but to have the best copy we’ve ever seen of each, together in one collection, is truly awe-inspiring,” Steele said. “High-grade books from this period are extremely hot right now, so we expect quite a bidding frenzy to take place as soon as this auction opens!”

Highlights of the collection include:

The Brave and the Bold #28 (DC, 1960) CGC Near Mint- 9.2

First appearance of the Justice League of America; second-highest grade ever assigned

Estimate: $25,000 - up

Action Comics #252 (DC, 1959) CGC Very Fine/Near Mint 9.0.

First appearance of Supergirl; highest grade yet assigned

Estimate: $8,000 - up

Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #1 (DC, 1958) CGC Very Fine- 7.5

Considered one of the most difficult 1950s comics to find in high grade

Estimate: $3,500 - up

The Flash #123 (DC, 1961) CGC Near Mint 9.4.

The Flash of the 1960s meets his predecessor from the 1940s; Highest grade yet assigned.

Estimate: $15,000-up

Heritage’s Vintage Comic and Comic Art auction will be held May 22-23, 2008, in Dallas, Texas. For more information, please visit www.HA.com.

Prospective consignors and sellers of Comics and Comic Art are invited to www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email Ed Jaster at EdJ@HA.com, or call 1-800-872-6467, ext. 1288.

Popularity: 25% [?]

By Rich Shur  of Shur Success Auction Services - Colorado’s Onsite Auction Experts

I know, it sounded weird to me too. But here’s the deal. Our good friend and auctioneer Linda Tegtmeier has an incredible green thumb, and is very active with the Front Range Organic Gardeners (FROG). This Denver-based gardener group is hosting an auction and sale on Thursday, May 15, 2008, at the Denver Presbytery Hall at 1710 S. Grant Street, Denver, CO 80210.

There will be more than 60 varieties of tomatoes (I didn’t know there were 60 varieties of tomatoes) for sale. There will be vegetables, herbs, berries, even flowers, vines and ground covers. Now here’s the neat part – it’s all organic! ALL of the plants and vegetables were either seed-started by these Organic Gardeners, or were divided from their own organic gardens.

The sale will start at 6:30 pm, and the auction will start at 7:30 pm. Want to see something different and get some wonderful veggies at the same time? Don’t miss out. Contact Linda for more details. You can email Linda at frogardeners@comcast.net or call her at (303) 744-7871.

You can also check out the Colorado Garden Clubs website.

Popularity: 27% [?]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 17, 2008

ELDER’S FINE ART & ANTIQUES AUCTIONS
NOKOMIS, FL
SALE OF FEBRUARY 18 - MARCH 3, 2008

CONTACT: DON ELDER
(941) 488-1005

Extraordinary Chinese white jade vase with cover and interior chain, bearing Qianlong mark, sells for $291,600.

NOKOMIS, FL – The nine inch tall, exquisitely carved vase was acquired in 1926 from S. & G. Gump Co. of San Francisco by self made American millionaire and collector William Boyce Thompson. The vase, featured in the two week online sale ending March 3 hosted by iGavel, came with the original receipt. According to the receipt, “This vase is made of the finest quality of clear perfect white water jade, possessing remarkable luminosity.” The vase was also distinctive for its 35 link, 13½in interior chain linking the cover to the vase.

This lot established a new single lot record for both Elder’s and iGavel. Auction owner Don Elder said, “I knew this piece was going to go through the roof. It was that good.” From the opening bid of $7,000 the lot moved smartly up the chart garnering 41 bids before reaching the hammer price. A private Chinese collector was the winner. Elder’s Fine Art & Antiques was a charter member when Sotheby’s began online sales in 2000 and was also a charter member when iGavel was formed in 2003.

Most of the Oriental ceramics and porcelain in the 400 lot sale belonged to a collector in North Florida and had been acquired in the 1960s and 1970s while living in Thailand, Burma, Japan and China. The collection was well received with 78 percent of the lots selling, many for far more than the pre sale estimate. A three section 19th century Thai gilt bronze with Buddha seated on a lotus throne, closed at $9,300 against the estimate of $1,000/$1,500. A 4in wide gourd form celadon water scoop, Chinese 18th century, with three gourd form feet and a fitted rosewood stand closed at $7,800 (est. $2,000/$3,000) and a pair of Qing Dynasty cinnebar table screens depicting courtyard life on the fronts and birds and blossoming flowers on the reverse with rosewood stands sold for $7,446 (est $600/$800). A woodblock print, “Village at Night,” by Kawasae Hasui (Japanese 1883-1957) eclipsed the $200/$300 estimate to close at $2,040 and six Han Dynasty gray pottery tomb attendants ranged from $1,000 to $1,624. Elder noted that while many of the oriental lots sold offshore a few were staying stateside.

But Elder’s Fine Arts had more to offer than oriental art in this sale. A Cartier jadeite, platinum, diamond and enameled 18K gold necklace sold for $13,440. Another Cartier piece, a gold folding travel clock with ribbed decoration on the body and a 15 jewel Swiss movement more than doubled the estimate at $4,440. On a more whimsical note an American Folk Art whirly-gig with four action figures sold for $1,500.

The sale also included 18 works by American painter Ben Wilson (1913-2001). Wilson was among the little recognized painters of the Abstract Expressionist school of the 1930s through the 1960s and was a veteran of the WPA. His best work in the sale, an oil on masonite entitled “Memories of Present” gathered 18 bids to close within estimate at $4,560.

Elder’s Antiques offers Asian, American and European antiques including fine art, furniture and objects d’art in a series of auctions held throughout the year. For more information contact Don Elder at (941) 488-1005 or visit the website at http://www.eldersantiques.com/. Elder’s is located at 901 Tamiami Trail (US 41) South, Nokomis, Florida 34275.

Written by:
Fred Taylor

http://www.furnituredetective.com/
800-387-6377

PHOTO CAPTIONS FOR ELDER’S FINE ART & ANTIQUES

This white jade vase with 34 link interior chain set anew record for both iGavel and Elder’s Antiques , closing at $291,600.

A 19th century gilt bronze Thai Buddha sold for $9,300.

A multi gem and gold necklace from Cartier in the 1950s closed at $13,440.

Another Cartier piece, a diaper pin with a coral head and three platinum inset diamonds brought $3,720.

This woodblock print by Kawasae Hasui went for $2,040.

The painted wood whirly-gig with painted blades that make a man chop wood and a lady wash clothes on a washing board. Two men on horses to either side. This atop a pole seated in a painted boxwork frame on a small green painted stool. It sold for $1,500.

Popularity: 23% [?]

CONTACT: Jay Kielstock
(561) 477-0008
J.K. GALLERIES
Boca Raton, FL
Sale May 25, 26, 2008

J. K. Galleries of Boca Raton will host these and many more famous names on Memorial Day weekend May 25, 26

(BOCA RATON, FL) – Beginning Sunday May 25, Jay Kielstock, owner of J. K. Galleries in Boca Raton plans to dazzle his audience for two days with an offering of works by brand names seldom seen in these quantities in South Florida.

Opening day will feature a huge helping of art, primarily European, ranging from Old Masters to contemporary. Setting the table for the feast will be over a dozen sliver flatware sets including Grand Baroque, Tiffany and Jensen accompanied by a rare Jensen lady’s sterling compact and multiple lots of holloware from all makes and periods. That will be followed by a shower of American and European art glass with labels like Loetz, Lalique, Moser, Daum, Mt. Washington, Wavecrest and Sandwich. Included will be a rare mid-century Vatican micro mosaic plaque of Madonna and Child.

For desert Kielstock will present a Handel Bedouin Nomad with camel lamp, a Handel Parrot lamp, Pairpoint lamps, Continental porcelain including Meissen, Old Paris, Sevres, Herend, Chantilly, artist signed Limoges, Royal Bayreuth and KPM. That will be topped off with fine jewelry including twenty four watches by such famous names as by Rolex, Cartier and Patek Phillipe and single stones from 2 ct to 6 ct. On the block also will be Championship watches and rings from the 1986 Boston Celtics and cufflinks from the 1958 New York Yankees.

Monday May 26 will be Art Pottery Day with over 500 lots of Newcomb, Teco, Saturday Evening Girls, artist signed Rookwood, Van Briggle, Weller and Roseville including a Pine Cone Trophy vase, a pair of Pine Cone vases, Baneda vases, Sunflower vases and a rare Roseville dealer sign plus 25 lots of Roseville Futura including a green Rocketship. The Weller selection will include an entire Mammy set plus Majolica, a Blackberry jardiniere and pedestal and Stangle birds.

Kielstock is running additional phone lines to encourage bidder participation. The Gallery can be reached at (561) 477-0008. The sale will also be carried live online by LiveAuctioneers.com. Log on to http://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/15742 to register for the sale, view the catalog as it is posted and to place early bids. Absentee bids are also encouraged and welcomed. Send absentee bids to the Gallery address at J.K. GALLERIES, INC., 8221 W. Glades Road, Suite #13, Boca Raton, FL 33434. Preview begins at the Gallery on Thursday May 22 and will continue to sale time on Sunday at 1:00PM. The Gallery has seating for 200 and seats can be reserved by phone, mail or email. The email address is jkgalleries@bellsouth.net.

Written by:
Fred Taylor
http://www.furnituredetective.com/
800-387-6377

CAPTIONS FOR JK GALLERIES MAY 25,26

Handel Nomad with Camel lamp, est. $20,000/$25,000.

Mid century Vatican micro mosaic, est. $10,000/$12,000

Rape of the Sabine Women, O/C, est. $8,000/$12,000.

The tea pot from a six piece Mammy set from Weller.

Selection of Roseville

One of four artist signed Limoges plates.

Popularity: 21% [?]

By Rich Schur of Schur Success Auction Services - Colorado’s Onsite Auction Experts

Colorado Springs. Tuesday, April 29, 2008

To those of you who showed up on Monday to the Cold Stone Creamery Auction for the Department of Revenue – we’re sorry. Sometimes, auction dates and schedules do change, especially with Dept. of Revenue or Self Storage Auctions. People have the option to pay their debts right up to the minute the sale is scheduled to begin. Because this does happen, auctions may be cancelled.

We can’t speak for other auctioneers, but we make every effort to keep our website current with cancellations and changes. It’s a wise practice to check the website before you attend any auction, especially these kinds of sales. Most consignment auctions, or auctions held for reasons other than tax liens, usually go as scheduled. But if you’d like to save yourself a trip, check the website before you leave. Check OUR website – we keep it as current as possible. There are many other websites that carry our auctions, but we don’t have control over them. Our site will always have the most current data.

When in doubt, feel free to call us at (866) 290-2243. We’ll gladly tell you if there’s been a schedule change.

To those of you who came to the Cold Stone Creamery in Colorado Springs on Monday. We understand that there was mention of the sale in the press (on radio, TV, and the papers). We supplied updated press releases to those outlets with the changes, but not every press release gets picked up. We posted a sign in the window with the correct date, and of course our website was updated. We’re sorry you didn’t get the word before you made the trip. We’ll do everything possible to prevent that from happening again.

In this particular case, the State had to move the auction date to comply with notification rules to the taxpayer. We’ll see you on the 6^th for the Cold Stone Creamery Auction – and of course, you’ll check our website the night before.

Popularity: 17% [?]

Antique Trader posed the question to their readers, and did they ever get a big response.

It is well worth the read to see all the different opinions people had of Ebay Live Auctions.

Go Here to read the comments

Popularity: 18% [?]

For anyone not familiar with the history of the Global Auction Guide Media Group , the original website was launched in 2001 as I could not find farm auctions in an easy searchable and sortable format. I thought that if I was having trouble there was likely others having trouble finding the same info. On Feb 1st 2001 the website at www.farmauctionguide.com was turned on and we had 200 visitors the first day by leveraging our traffic from www.prairielinks.com . We were using the auction listings supplied by our local auctioneer (and guinea pig) Bill Klassen .
 Within a year our several hundred auctioneers were clamoring for us to give them exposure to their non-agricultural auction sales and we were relaunched as the Global Auction Guide Media Group with websites designed and optimized for specific industries

• Global Auction Guide
• Farm Auction Guide
• Real Estate Auction Guide
• Antiques Auction Guide
• Transport Auction Guide
• Industrial Auction Guide
• Collectibles Auction Guide
• Construction Auction Guide

That was 2002, I’ll fill you in on the next phases of our success another day…….Dwayne

Popularity: 19% [?]