June 3-6 Auction offering examples from The Brenda John Collection, including 1916 Double Die Obverse Nickel MS64

DALLAS, TX — A dazzling array of Buffalo nickels and Lincoln cents from The Brenda John Collection anchor the upcoming Heritage Auction Galleries U.S. Coin Auction, with floor sessions held June 3 – 4 in conjunction with the Long Beach Coin Expo in Long Beach, CA.

“Where do you start with a collection like this?” said Greg Rohan, President of Heritage Auction Galleries. “Incredible rarities in incredible grades… no Buffalo nickel or Lincoln cent collector will want to miss this auction.”

Many famous varieties are represented in The Brenda John Collection. Among the Buffalo nickels is the dramatic 1916 Doubled Die Obverse graded an astounding MS64 by NGC.

“The 1916 Doubled Die Obverse has the date boldly doubled, so much so that many early descriptions called it the 1916/1916,” said Rohan, “but the variety was not discovered until well after its release, and the survival of Mint State coins is a matter of chance. This MS64 example is one of the ‘best of the best.’”

Similarly important is a 1918/7-D nickel graded MS65 by NGC. Gem examples of this bold and popular overdate are extremely rare, and there are none in higher grades.

Among the very popular Lincoln cents is an off-metal error, a 1944-D cent struck on a steel planchet from 1943 graded AU55 by NGC, with another rare and impressive selection being a 1969-S Doubled Die Obverse cent graded MS64 Red and Brown by PCGS.

Important condition rarities in the collection include a 1909 VDB cent graded PR65 Red by PCGS, a 1917-S nickel graded MS67 by NGC, the sole finest coin known to NGC or PCGS, and Lot 420, a 1926-S nickel graded an astounding MS66 {star} by NGC.

Silver and gold collectors will find plenty of desirable coins to bid on as well. High on the list is a trio of Morgan dollars that traveled as part of the legendary PCGS Tour: an 1891-O dollar graded MS65 Deep Mirror Prooflike by PCGS with CAC attestation, an 1892-O dollar graded MS65 Deep Mirror Prooflike by PCGS, and an 1894 dollar graded MS65 by PCGS with CAC attestation.

“The PCGS Tour brought together some of the most amazing Morgan dollars known at the time,” said Rohan. “While nearly two decades have passed since then, some of these Morgan dollars remain the best of their kind. The New Orleans Morgan dollars, in particular, are nearly unknown in Deep Mirror Prooflike.”

Collectors of earlier U.S. silver are sure to be delighted a legendary Judd-7 1792 half disme graded Good 6 by PCGS.

“The 1792 half dismes appear on the borderlands between patterns and money,” said Rohan. “They were struck late in the year, after the Mint Act was passed but before the Philadelphia Mint building was in operation. While they have been collected as patterns in the past, the wear on many pieces like this lot would indicate that they served as money.”

Among the gold coin highlights a 1908 Indian quarter eagle graded MS67 by PCGS. It is one of just two 1908 Indian quarter eagles so graded by PCGS, and one of just four MS67 coins certified by that firm in the entire series.

Proof gold of the 19th century is also well-represented by an 1859 three dollar gold piece graded PR65 Ultra Cameo by NGC, an important early issue that is rarely found with Ultra Cameo surfaces. Also in the auction are a pair of pieces pedigreed to the famous Amon Carter Collection: an 1894 half eagle graded PR66 Cameo by NGC, and an 1883 eagle graded PR65 Ultra Cameo by NGC.

Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 500,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.

Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage Auctions? Get them as they happen at: Twitter.com/HeritagePress; Twitter.com/JimHalperin; Facebook: Heritage Auction Galleries. To view a compete archive of Heritage press releases go to: HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: HA.com/PR-1835.

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media contact
Noah Fleisher, Public Relations Director
310-492-8613; NoahF@HA.com

(Boston MA) Artfact Live! is pleased to announce the I.M. Chait Natural History Auction on May 16, 2010 is available for online bidding exclusively through Artfact Live! The auction offers over 350 lots including: gems, meteorite jewelry, zoology, fossils, natural gold nuggets, ancient Egyptian dynastic artifacts and more. If you can’t join the live auction action in Beverly Hills, CA, visit Artfact.com, or its sister site in the UK, Invaluable.com, to login or register free to bid live online at this exceptional auction. If you’re not ready to bid, simply watch the activity live from the auction floor using the Artfact Live! console. You can view the complete catalog on Artfact

Highlights of the sale include:
Lot 357 is the day’s spectacular top lot, a complete “duck-billed” Hadrosaurid dinosaur skeleton. This is one of the most complete specimens of the species Maiasaura peeblesorum ever to be offered to the public. The Maiasaur was one of the numerous “duck-billed” dinosaurs that roamed the plains of Asia, Europe and North America in massive herds during the Upper Cretaceous period 99-65 million years ago. The present example is a sub-adult, named “Cory,” and cuts a strikingly impressive figure, at over 15 feet long and with a superb woody patina to the bones. Mounted on a wheeled metal base in a highly life-like pose, this rare and unusually complete specimen has been prepared to the highest of standards. Bidding for this world-class specimen will begin at $250,000.

Lot 90 is a large gold nugget from Paraburdoo, north Western Australia. This gorgeous nugget has it all: huge size, bright color, lovely smooth burnished surfaces, deep depressions and caves, the protected areas display a delicate-looking brittle texture like crushed gold leaf. Of a fascinating folded, twisted form, it is attractive and evocative from any aspect, 4 5/8 x 3 1/4 x 2 inches, 5,965 Ct. (42.08oz). Bidding will open at $35,000.

Lot 356 is a large and rare partial pterodactyl skeleton. Pterodactyls, properly described as “pterosaurs”, flourished during the late Cretaceous Period of North America, and represent the first vertebrates to make the transformation to flight. With hollow bones and delicately lightweight construction, their preservation in the fossil record is scarce. This Pteranodon longiceps specimen was discovered in Custer Co., South Dakota. The skeleton comprises skull, rib and arm sections and three fingers with their distinctive curving claws. Lovely bone texture throughout is enhanced by a fine aged patina that stands out strongly from the dark gray matrix, presented on a pale gray plaster backing, approximately 96 x 64 inches. Minimum bid for this piece is set at $25,000.

Lot 343 is an exceptional gemstone ammonite. Gemstone ammolite is one of the rarest gemstones in the world, formed from the nacreous shell linings of Cretaceous ammonites in only one small area of North America. It is prized for its fantastic display of shimmering colors, created by impurities in the incredibly thin layers of aragonite. This specimen has a full covering of multi-colored iridescence on both sides, it also displays unusually large areas of the much rarer purple and electric blue colors. A superb specimen, it measures 20 1/4 inches wide. Bidding will begin at $20,000.

To research natural history items and view over 50 million auction price results visit artfact.com and search the industry’s leading auction database. Typing “dinosaur” into Advance search displays over 3,000 past auction price results.

Since the departure of eBay Live Auctions, Artfact Live! has taken the lead in the live auction arena by partnering exclusively with the world’s most prestigious auction houses to host their online auctions. As it continues to build the world’s most affluent and knowledgeable bidding community, Artfact offers free registration, offering unlimited access to Artfact Live! partner auctions and free searching of the past 12 months of price results in its auction records database. Artfact’s Advanced Search allows users to narrow searches by entering keywords, price range, auction date range, or auction house name.

About Artfact
Founded in 1989, Artfact is the largest global marketplace of fine and decorative arts, antiques, collectibles, and estate auctions. On January 1, 2009, Artfact launched Artfact Live! and Invaluable Live!, its proprietary live auction bidding platforms, enabling users to bid in real-time on auctions being held around the world by its prestigious auction house partners. Currently, over 1,000 fine auctioneers actively list their catalogues with Artfact.com and its U.K. sister site Invaluable.com, reaching the Artfact community of more than 10 million knowledgeable collectors and dealers worldwide. Artfact’s industry leading database includes more than 57 million complete auction results totaling more than $204 billion in value, including information on more than 500,000 international artists. In 2006, Artfact acquired RFC Systems, the leading provider of enterprise software developed specifically for the fine art and antique auction house industry. RFC helps prestigious aucti!
on houses around the world manage their businesses by automating their day-to-day operations.

Editor’s Notes
- Additional background information available.
- Interviews with Doug Ellinger, VP Marketing, dellinger@artfact.com, (617) 746-9882
- Complimentary media subscriptions to the Artfact database available.

Share your antiquing travel stories here!

Third Auction at our NEW LOCATION!

What could be more fum this Saturday than attending our spring art and estate auction? Whether you are attending online, or come on down to the Masonic Center, you will enjoy the array of regional art and a few estate items we will start the auction off with.

There are four ways to accommodate your bidding needs; In addition to in-person participation, we offer on-line bidding, absentee bidding, and phone bidding!

Once again we are at our NEW LOCATION!

When: Saturday May 1, 2010 The Auction starts at noon; Preview Friday afternoon 3pm to 7pm and Saturday morning starting at 9am
Where: The Masonic Lodge
1150 Panorama Drive
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80904

Exit I 25 at Fillmore and go west about 1.7 miles. Large beautiful building located on your left. Plenty of close in parking!

NEW LOCATION!

Entire catalog available to print or view is located on-line at:

http://www.icollector.com/May-1st-Estate-Fine-Art-Auction_as17597

Or visit our website at: http://www.BestOfTheWestAuctions.com

Don’t forget we are at our NEW LOCATION ….. NOT the Norris Penrose event center!

Full color catalogs available. Online, absentee, and phone bidding is available.

Refreshments on site.

See you there or online!

Action #1 Court Copy, Jack Kirby’s bound Captain America Volume, 9.4 Zap Comix #1, all part of Heritage Auctions May 20-21 Comics event

Dallas, TX – Two bound volumes of Action Comics #1-24, the first two full years of the Superman saga that would change the world of Pop Culture forever, will anchor a deep lineup in the May 20-21 Signature® Comics and Comic Art Auction at Heritage Auctions, in-person in Dallas and live online at HA.com. The volumes are estimated at $200,000+.

“This has the potential to be one of the highest-dollar lots we’ve ever sold,” said Ed Jaster, Vice President of Heritage Auctions. “They’re surely the most desirable bound comic volumes in existence. Even more, these stand out not only because of which comics are inside, but because of their amazing condition. This is the comics equivalent of the Gutenberg Bible.”

To the seasoned collector the condition of these comics will come as a major surprise: the earliest and most valuable issues (#1-12) have consistent page quality right to the edges, along with superbly preserved covers that match or exceed the best individual copies of the same issues that Heritage’s World Class experts have seen to date.

“Consider the challenge of trying to assemble this run by pursuing individual copies with comparable eye appeal,” said Barry Sandoval, Director of Comic Auctions Operations at Heritage. “Even if the expense were no factor, issues such as 2, 5, 8, 10, and 13 are almost never offered for sale, and holding out for bright copies, with excellent eye appeal, is simply unrealistic.”

Another very significant copy of Superman’s first comic, the famed and intriguing Action Comics #1 Court Copy, follows close behind the top lot, and brings an absorbing history with it. It is estimated at $150,000+.

This comic is designated “the Court Copy” because it was used as evidence in DC Comic’s 1939 lawsuit against Fox and its character Wonder Man, claiming copyright infringement. When all was said and done, the judge did indeed issue an injunction “forbidding the further publication” of Wonder Man.

“This was a significant moment indeed, as future court battles were looming,” said Jaster, “above all, the one against Fawcett and the hugely popular and bestselling Captain Marvel. This lawsuit against Fox was also notable for underscoring the fact that there was money to be made publishing comics, and not just with established characters, but also with a new creation such as Superman, then in print less than a year.”

One of the most special lots in the entire auction is Jack Kirby’s own Bound Volume of Captain America #1 and #3-10, with great original drawings in it by The King himself. Gracing the front and endpapers of this volume are four outstanding drawings featuring Steve Rogers; Cap, Bucky, and the Red Skull; Cap and Hitler; and Bucky, respectively. The Cap and Hitler drawing was used as the cover of The Jack Kirby Collector #12.

“No comic fan could fail to love seeing art by the King at the peak of his powers, together with key early published work by the Simon and Kirby team,” said Sandoval. “Combine that with the fact that Kirby obviously owned the book at one time, and you’ve got one of the more fascinating lots in the auction.”

The Detective Comics series is, of course, most famous for its 27th issue, the first appearance of “The Batman,” but the earlier issues are highly prized by advanced collectors. Those same collectors will have a rare chance in this auction to bid on and possibly acquire the first two issues of this famed series, Detective Comics #1 and Detective Comics #2, both unrestored and both estimated at $25,000+.

Heritage set the record price for an Underground comic in 2009 when it sold a CGC 9.2 Zap Comix #1 for more than $13,000, a record that is almost certain to fall when Heritage offers a CGC NM 9.4 graded Zap Comix #1, First Printing – Plymell Edition (Apex Novelties, 1967). It is estimated at $20,000+.

“The record price for this historic Underground will be shattered again, as this is the nicest copy Heritage has had the pleasure of seeing to date,” said Jaster. “This comic is the one that launched the Underground Comix movement, and it features Robert Crumb stories, cover and art.”

Heritage is also presenting an item much scarcer than even Action #1 or Detective #27 in Shadow pulp #1, 1931, a pulp magazine as influential as any of the two aforementioned comics and certainly much harder to find. It is estimated at $10,000+.

“This condition of this book is pretty hammered, but it’s still the first we’ve ever had,” said Jaster. “This is an item that even some of the world’s most elite collections lack.”

Original comic strip art collectors have already sat up and taken notice of two originals of Gary Larson’s The Far Side, one of the most beloved daily comics of the 20th century, which are notoriously tough to come by because Larson kept almost all of his art. They both feature Larson’s signature wit and inimitable style and are estimated at $5,000-$10,000 apiece.

Other highlights of the auction include the Gary Keller collection run of Adventure, great art by Frank Miller, Todd McFarlane, Michael Golden, Neal Adams, Dick Sprang, Robert Crumb and much more.

Heritage Auctions, headed by Steve Ivy, Jim Halperin and Greg Rohan, is the world’s third largest auction house, with annual sales more than $600 million, and 500,000+ registered online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and gain access to a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.

The next great Dublin show will take place on Sunday May 23rd, 2010 in Clontarf Castle Hotel , Clontarf, Dublin 3. From 10 am to 4pm

http://www.DUBLINTOYANDTRAINFAIR.COM

BRIANKELLY-1@HOTMAIL.COM

“Picking” seems to be the hot new word in the collecting world. A lot has to do with The History Channels new hit series, “American Pickers”.

The definition of a picker is actually one that travels around the countryside, knocking on doors, visiting county auctions and hitting flea markets buying antiques and vintage items to sell to antique dealers. Similar to what you see the guys doing on the show.

I’m sure most of you are not randomly knocking on doors hoping to find that diamond in the rough, but I’ll bet many of you have stories to tell of great finds in the field. (In fact I’m hoping you’ll share them here!)

My first venture into the world of yard sales was more like an accident than an intention. I went to drop off some things at a neighbor’s sale when something caught my eye. Let me back up here a minute by noting I was about 21 years ago, and had never been to a yard sale much less conducted one. I always thought it was just junk… you know, used clothing and broken toys.

I saw a watch in a box that I thought was pretty. I had a watch, and this one was similar in that it was silver and gold, but it was thinner and looked (to my inexperienced eye) a little classier than the one I currently owned. It had a name on it that I didn’t recognize (but would later) and I asked how much it was. $5.00

The catch was it didn’t work. Hmm, a friend of mine’s dad worked on watches and I thought maybe he could fix it. If he couldn’t – I was only out $5 – but if he could, I had a pretty snazzy looking watch for very little money.

To make a long story short, the watch was a Tissot, and the reason it didn’t work was because the battery was dead. A few days and $2 later, I had a beautiful ladies Tissot two-toned watch for $7. Beat that.

It only takes winning one of those scratch off lottery tickets to get you hooked; and boy was I. Still am, all these years later.

Each week, we’ll talk about items to look for in your travels, collectibles on the rise, or recently in the news. I look forward to hearing about your latest picks, and if you’re willing, please share some of your favorite places to find treasures in the rough – or just treasures!

Happy Hunting!

Reyne

Catalog Now Online
Made in California: Contemporary Art
May 3, 2010
San Francisco

Catalog Now Online
April SoMa Estate Auction
Featuring 20th Century and Contemporary Designer Furnishings
April 18, 2010 10am
San Francisco

It’s preview party time for the Detroit Area Art Deco Society as the mid-century enthusiasts open up the Michigan Modernism Exposition on April 23, 7 – 10 p.m. The annual art deco affair allows guests first dibs on some of the best 20th century antiques and fine arts from the international market while enjoying live music by Sarah Grogan and the SG Ensemble. This year Macy’s Lakeshore Grill will be presenting a delicious variety of passed hors d’oeuvres along with select wines.

For the second year, the show features a special exhibition featuring student photography of some of the most famous Art Deco structures in Metropolitan Detroit. The exhibition, which is a collaborative effort with Oakland Community College, was coordinated by DAADS Board Members Gary Spondike and historic preservation consultant Rebecca Binno Savage.

The Michigan Modernism Exposition is located at the Southfield Pavilion.
Preview party tickets are $50 in advance and can be purchased now at www.daads.org,
at select retailers listed on the Web site or by calling 248-582-3326.