Alphonse Mucha poster,
$96,000, Poster Auctions Int’l
A poster by Alphonse Mucha titled Fox-Land Jamaica Rum (1897) sold for $96,000 at Rare Posters Auction #87 held July 12th by Poster Auctions International in New York City. Also, a poster by an anonymous artist titled Buffalo Bill’s Wild West / I Am Coming (1906) changed hands for $26,400; Leonetto Cappiello’s La Caisse Simon / Huîtres Exquises (1901) rang up $10,200; and Jules Chéret’s Folies-Bergère / Miss Lala (1880) went to a determined bidder for $7,200. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Presidential presentation set,
$17,500, Bruneau & Co. Auc.
A set of presentation items sent to Eleanor Roosevelt following the death of FDR in 1945, from King Abdul Aziz al-Saud of Saudi Arabia, to include a traditional Arabian robe, headdress, scarf, dagger and belt sold for $17,500 at a Historic Arms & Militaria auction held July 21st by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers in Cranston, R.I. Also, a World War II USMC Johnson Model 1941 rifle and bayonet (missing the scabbard), circa 1941, .30-.06 caliber, hit the mark for $9,038. Prices include a 20.5 percent buyer’s premium.
Queen Anne style secretary,
$25,000, Andrew Jones Auctions
A 20th century Queen Anne style parcel gilt ebonized Chinoiserie decorated secretary bookcase sold for $25,000 in an At Home auction held July 17th by Andrew Jones Auctions in Los Angeles. Also, a French first standard silver 6-piece tea and coffee service with two-handled tray (Fanniere Freres, Paris, 1868) settled at $18,750; and an English lacquered cabinet on a giltwood stand, the cabinet first quarter 18th century and the stand late 17th century, also gaveled for $18,750. Prices include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.
Colt .41-caliber Army revolver,
$19,800, Milestone Auctions
A pearl-handled Colt .41-caliber Army Special revolver sent in 1909 as a shipment of one to J.B. Crook & Co. (N.Y.), with engraving by Cuno Helfricht’s shop, sold for $19,800 at a Premier Collectible Firearms Auction held June 17-18 by Milestone Auctions in Willoughby, Ohio. Also, a Colt Model 1861 Navy Revolver, manufactured in 1863, brought $18,600; and a replica Colt 1851 Navy .44-caliber gun used by Clint Eastwood in the Western film The Outlaw, Josey Wales hit $17,400. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Tiffany ‘Poppy’ table lamp,
$541,200, Morphy Auctions
A rare, circa 1905-1910 Tiffany Studios ‘Poppy’ leaded-glass table lamp sold for $541,200 at a Fine & Decorative Arts Auction held June 8-10 by Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa. Also, a pair of circa 1920s Cartier Art Deco platinum and diamond drop earrings in the original display-case box, with a total diamond weight of 4.68 carats, fetched $98,400; and a circa 1780 Connecticut Chippendale cherry slant-lid secretary went to a determined bidder for $41,820. Prices include a 23 percent buyer’s premium.
Colt No. 5 Paterson revolver,
$38,188, Rock Island Auction
A cased Colt No. 5 squareback “Texas” Paterson percussion revolver hit the mark for $38,188 at a Sporting & Collector Firearms Auction held June 22-24 by Rock Island Auction Company in Rock Island, Ill. Also, a U.S. Ainsworth inspected Colt Cavalry SAA revolver nearly doubled its high estimate, finishing at $10,575; and a U.S. Rock Island Arsenal model 1903 sniper rifle also surpassed estimate to achieve $10,575. Overall, the auction grossed $7.059 million. Prices are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Staffordshire platter,
$14,580, Jeffrey S. Evans
A Staffordshire American historical transfer-printed ceramic platter featuring the Arms of Pennsylvania sold for $14,580 at a Premier Americana Auction held June 23-25 by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mt. Crawford, Va. Also, a blown-molded GII-6 deep bowl in an unusual brilliant yellow green, probably made in Kent, Ohio around 1830, realized $39,487; and a pair of Charles Peale Polk (American, 1767-1822) portraits of Gerard and Margaret Briscoe from 1799 rang up $72,900. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Islandia map by Ortelius,
$12,650, Old World Auctions
A 1585 map titled Islandia by Abraham Ortelius, with images of sea monsters, sold for $12,650 in an online auction held in June by Old World Auctions in Richmond, Va. Also, a 1735 world atlas with 99 maps in contemporary color by Covens & Mortier fetched $19,925; a World War II persuasive map with images of Hitler, Stalin and Churchill by Antonio Soares (1941) made $8,625; and A New Sectional Map of Florida (1923), published by Matthews-Northrup Co., rose to $11,500. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Sitting Bull’s Winchester rifle,
$132,000, Cowan’s Auctions
A Winchester 1st Model 1876 rifle believed to have been taken from Sitting Bull’s cabin on the day of his death in 1890 during a botched arrest attempt by U.S. Indian Police, with documentation, sold for $132,000 at a Frontier Firearms auction from the collection of Larry Ness held June 8th by Cowan’s Auctions in Cincinnati. The rifle, along with other weapons recovered that same day, were turned in to Standing Rock Reservation Indian Agent Major James McLaughlin. The price includes the buyer’s premium.
Art glass tall vase,
$10,620, Bodnar’s
An art glass tall vase initially believed to have been made by Duran but later found to be by Fenton, sold for $10,620 at an estate auction held June 23rd by Bodnar’s Auction in Monmouth Junction, N.J. Also, an electrified oil lamp made in the style of Tiffany changed hands for $7,965; a 14kt gold Burmese ruby and diamond bracelet realized $3,068; a platinum tanzanite and ruby diamond ring made $3,068; and a Louis C. Tiffany art glass lamp shade went for $2,124. Prices are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Rare 1992 Chinese gold coin,
$576,000, Heritage Auctions
A rare 1992 People’s Republic of China gold proof “Completion of the Lunar Cycle” 2000 Yuan (Kilo) coin, graded PR69 Ultra Cameo NGC, sold for $576,000 at a World & Ancient Coins Platinum Session & Signature Auction held in Hong Kong on July 7-9 by Heritage Auctions, based in Dallas. Also, a Republic Yuan Shih-kai silver Pattern Dollar Year 3 (1914), MS64 NGC, ended at $564,000; and a Kuang-hsu Dollar ND (1908), MS67 PCGS, went for $528,000. Prices are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.
Sally Michel painting,
$26,250, John Moran
An oil painting by American artist Sally Michel, titled Deserted Beach (1975) sold for $26,250 at a Post-War and Contemporary Art + Design auction held June 21st by John Moran Auctioneers in Los Angeles. Also, a 1941 painting by Milton Avery, titled Girl on Balcony, realized $24,700; a painting by Thomas Nozkowski, Untitled (8-50), earned $23,750; a colorful print by Frank Stella, titled The Monkey Rope, rose to $23,750; and an untitled ceramic by Doyle Lane hit $7,500. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Faulkner painting,
$18,900, Doyle
A painting by Kentucky-born artist Henry Lawrence Faulkner (1924-1981), titled Proud Cock, sold for $18,900 at a Fine Art auction held July 14th by Doyle in New York City. It was a new world auction record for the artist. Also, a color screenprint by Andy Warhol from the Pop Artist’s Space Fruit series, titled Apples, achieved $17,640, a new world auction record for the print; and a painting by Nicola Simbari (Italian, 1927-2012), titled Artificial Flowers (1967), went for $10,080. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Nikola Tesla letter,
$51,651, RR Auction
A four-page letter penned by innovator Nikola Tesla, dated July 14, 1899, handwritten from his “Colorado Springs Experimental Station”, in which he insists his wireless technology is superior to Marconi’s, sold for $51,651 in an online auction held June 24-July 13 by RR Auction, based in Boston. Also, a Benjamin Franklin signed document from 1786 made $24,079; a Pope Francis signed baseball brought $17,125; and a George Washington signed document from 1795 hit $18,750. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Marilyn Monroe gown,
$218,750, Julien’s Auctions
A gown and headpiece Marilyn Monroe wore in the film There’s No Business Like Show Business sold for $218,750 at a Hollywood Legends auction held July 15th by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills, Calif. Also, Chris Evans’s Captain America original hero prop “Vibranium” shield used in The Avengers went for $200,000; an original Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope stormtrooper helmet fetched $192,000; and a Harry Potter “Nimbus 2001” broomstick flew away for $76,800. Prices are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.
1987 Hermes handbag,
$8,125, Crescent City
A circa 1987 Hermes Kelly Sellier handbag, in natural black box calf leather with gold hardware, sold for $8,125 at a Summer Estates Auction held July 15-16 by Crescent City Auction Gallery in New Orleans, La. Also, a watercolor on paper by Alberta Kinsey (La., 1875-1952), titled Still Life with Roses, signed and framed, brought $2,250; and a limited-edition Louis Vuitton Jeff Koons Masters Van Gogh MM Neverfull printed coated canvas bag with leather accents made $4,375. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Signed Gibson guitar,
$16,800, Potter & Potter
A Gibson Lucille electric guitar signed by B.B. King, Eric Clapton and some members of King’s original band, part of King’s 70th birthday tribute concert held in Memphis in 1995, sold for $16,800 at a Pop Culture, Disneyana & Collectibles Sale held June 16th by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago. Also, a James Bond Secret Agent Shooting Attaché Case with the original box brought $3,840; and a card inscribed by Bob Marley with accompanying backstage photos rose to $3,360. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Sargent charcoal on paper,
$72,000, Thomaston Place
A charcoal on paper portrait of Sir William Headworth Williamson, 10th Baronet, by John Singer Sargent (Mass./U.K./Italy, 1856-1925) sold for $72,000 at an auction held July 8-10 by Thomaston Place Auction Galleries in Thomaston, Me. Also, Andy Warhol’s iconic image of Marilyn Monroe, one of a series of ten serigraphs from a 1967 portfolio, finished at $93,750; and a profile bust portrait oil painting of a young woman by Norman Rockwell (N.Y./Mass., 1894-1978) realized $25,000. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
Buzz Aldrin’s jacket,
$2.8 million, Sotheby’s
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin’s flown Apollo 11 in-flight coverall jacket, worn during the historic 1969 mission to the moon and back, sold for $2.8 million at an auction held July 25th by Sotheby’s in New York City. It was the most valuable American space flown artifact ever sold at auction, and the most valuable jacket ever sold at auction. Aldrin’s name (as “E. Aldrin”) was printed above the Apollo 11 mission emblem. Also showing was a U.S. flag and the NASA “meatball” logo. The price included the buyer’s premium.
William Herbert Dunton oil,
$1.2 million, Coeur d’Alene
An oil on canvas by William Herbert Dunton (1878-1936), titled Treed (circa 1915), signed lower left and 40 inches by 30 inches (sight, less frame), sold for $1.2 million at a Coeur d’Alene Art Auction held July 23rd at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nev. It was a new auction record for the artist. Also, Philip R. Goodwin’s work Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea realized $968,000 (also a record); and Charles M. Russell’s Mexican Vaqueros Roping a Steer (1925) hit $544,500. Prices include the buyer’s premium.
