On September 15th Swann will hold the first of three planned auctions offering historic material from the personal collection of Eric C. Caren, under the title “How History Unfolds on Paper.” This first sale crosses the boundaries of Swann’s regularly scheduled auctions. Although most of it could be described as Americana, dozens of lots are in the realm of English history, with a few from continental Europe, Australia, and Japan. The formats go well beyond our usual books and manuscripts, including newspapers, posters, broadsides, photographs, and maps.

On September 15th Swann will hold the first of three planned auctions offering historic material from the personal collection of Eric C. Caren, under the title “How History Unfolds on Paper.” This first sale crosses the boundaries of Swann’s regularly scheduled auctions. Although most of it could be described as Americana, dozens of lots are in the realm of English history, with a few from continental Europe, Australia, and Japan. The formats go well beyond our usual books and manuscripts, including newspapers, posters, broadsides, photographs, and maps.

Event features Modern art, American historical ephemera and Part II of photographer Alfred Cheney Johnston’s nude portraits

MERIDEN, Conn. – Over the summer months, Ryan Brechlin’s team at Nest Egg Auctions has had the opportunity to visit numerous estates and collections around New England, with contents ranging from Modern art to American political and historical ephemera. On Saturday, Sept. 24, the Connecticut-based company will conduct a mixed Estate & Antiques Auction featuring a premier selection gathered from those various sources.

World War II Japanese Naval archive: signal flag from Battleship Nagato, Imperial Naval field cap, samurai sword, U.S. soldier’s capture papers with additional grouping of six medals. Est. $3,000-$5,000. Nest Egg Auctions image.

Among the strongest categories to be offered is historical and military memorabilia. A key lot consists of a red and yellow signal flag that came from the World War II Japanese Battleship Nagato, grouped together with an Imperial Navy field cap and samurai sword from a non-commissioned officer on the ship.

“The Battleship Nagato was the lead ship at Pearl Harbor. When U.S. forces captured the ship, their men ‘liberated’ – or pillaged – the ship,” Brechlin explained. “What makes this lot so special is that it comes with the capture papers belonging to Robert B. Dippold, the soldier who liberated the items. His family even decided to include a group of six medals from Robert Dippold’s estate, which makes it an even more attractive selection of militaria.” The group lot is estimated at $3,000-$5,000.

Another important American historical item in the auction is a 1903 photo print of the Wright Brothers’ first flight, signed by Orville Wright. The 4½- by 6¼-inch photo is captioned “First Man-Flight, December 17, 1903 / Kitty Hawk, N.C.” Estimate: $800-$1,200.

A nostalgic relic from New York’s Coney Island is the wooden subway platform sign painted white with a red directional

Original Coney Island subway platform sign, 48 by 12 inches, painted wood. Est. $500-$1,000. Nest Egg Auctions image.

arrow and the message in bold letters: “TO CONEY ISLAND.” Measuring 48 by 12 inches, the memory-stirring marker could make $500-$1,000 on auction day.

Three lots of maps will be sold, including an 1846 Augustus Mitchell Atlas containing six maps in a bound folio with intact front and end papers. The maps represent mid-19th-century New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York City and Philadelphia. A rare edition, the atlas is expected to fetch $500-$1,000.

James Rosenquist (American, b. 1933-), Windscreen Horizon, 5/6, printer’s proof, pencil signed, 23 by 40 inches. Est. $300-$500. Nest Egg Auctions image.

The Modern art section of the sale is led by a wonderful collection of 18 lithographs by American pop art pioneer James Rosenquist (b. 1933-). Some of the artworks are artist’s proofs, while others are printer’s proofs; most are pencil signed by Rosenquist.

A presentation proof of Robert Motherwell’s “Elegy,” measuring 37 by 25 inchess is artist-signed and has an impressed monogram at lower right. The thought-provoking artwork suggestive of a Rohrschach inkblot is estimated at $3,000-$5,000.

The auction will also feature Part II of a collection of photographic nudes from the Estate of Alfred “Cheney” Johnston, with 125 photos apportioned into 60 lots.

“Our first selection of Cheney Johnston photos, which was the center of attention in our April 16th auction, brought terrific prices. There were individual photos that made as much as $3,600, and a group of negatives went for $28,000. Johnston was the premier American celebrity photographer of celebrities in the Art Deco era, and his work is greatly respected,” said Brechlin.

The second of three installments (the third to be auctioned next year), the Johnston photos in the Sept. 24 sale include beautiful nude portraits of dancer/choreographer Martha Graham, actresses Clara Bow and Barbara Dean; Metropolitan Opera star Mary Lewis and film and television star Barbara Stanwyck.

A fine array of decorative art has been handpicked for the sale, including Chinese and Japanese porcelain; an exquisite

Phanomen glass vase signed ‘Loetz Austria,’ 7¼ inches tall. Est. $1,000-$3,000. Nest Egg Auctions image.

71-piece set of hand-painted Haviland Limoges, and a coveted 7¼-inch signed Loetz Phanomen iridescent glass vase in tones of cobalt blue, peacock blue/green, yellow and rose. Estimate $1,000-$3,000. Another prized inclusion is the Royal Vienna convex oval plaque with a finely painted depiction of “the Expulsion of Hagar.” The piece measures 16 by 13 inches, has the requisite beehive mark and is impressed “CF 23.” In excellent condition, it carries a $1,000-$3,000 estimate.

Several excellent musical instruments round out the auction inventory, including four violins – one of them a hand-made working miniature example. A 1945 C.F. Martin & Co. tenor guitar Model 0-18T with solid spruce top and mahogany back, sides and neck could strum up a bid of $500-$1,000.

Nest Egg Auctions will conduct its Sept. 24, 2011 auction at the company’s gallery located at 30 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450, commencing at 2 p.m. Eastern time. Preview hours are 12-5 p.m. on Sept. 22 and 23; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on auction day. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com.

For additional information, call 203-630-1400 or tollfree 800 448-0692; or e-mail ryan@nesteggauctions.com. View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com. The catalog may also be viewed on Nest Egg’s website: www.nesteggauctions.com.

Wire-wrapped glass Christmas ornament replicating a beetle, pictured in two reference books, est. $800-$1,500. Morphy Auctions image.

DENVER, Pa. – Snow-covered belsnickels and whimsical veggie folk will come together for a festive Holiday Auction at Morphy’s on Saturday, Sept. 17th. The 483-lot auction contains a very nice single-owner collection, select additional consignments of Halloween and Christmas antiques; and a small but choice array of vintage Easter goods.

The auction will open with a variety of Christmas ornaments, including rare examples made of glass, chalk and cotton. An unusual wire-wrapped glass beetle ornament pictured in John Lightner’s reference book “Christmas Rarities” could command $800-$1,500.

Ever-popular Dresdens will be offered, as well. An ocean freighter with cotton “smoke” billowing from its masts is

Dresden Christmas ornament of a freighter with billowing smokestacks, est. $2,000-$3,000. Morphy Auctions image.

expected to make $2,000-$3000; while a horseless carriage with driver is estimated at $1,500-$2,500.

Chosen as one of the auction catalog cover images, a superb 22½-inch-tall belsnickel Santa candy container is swathed in a blue robe heavily adorned with sparkly mica. The bearded figure of monumental size holds a miniature Christmas tree with red ball ornaments. Estimate: $6,000-$8,000.

A beautiful 19-inch bearded Father Christmas candy container is “dressed” in a blue hooded robe with fur and holly trim, and holds a tiny tree. In excellent condition, it is entered in the sale with a $5,000-$8,000 estimate.

Belsnickel holding decorated fir tree and wearing mica-laden robe, 22½ inches, est. $6,000-$8,000. Morphy Auctions image.

Another rare, fully robed belsnickel stands 21 inches tall, has a composition face with pious expression, composition hands, rabbit-fur beard and distinctively decorated hat. It is estimated at $6,000-$8,000.

“This sale contains a lot of very desirable figural and small chalk ornaments, as well as some candy containers I’ve never seen before,” said Dr. John Morphy, head of Acquisitions & Appraisals for Morphy Auctions. “An example would be the Halloween rooster witch in a black boot candy container with baby chicks peeping out of the side and toe. It’s extremely rare and might sell for as much as $4,000 at auction.”

Other unusual items Halloween items in the sale include a Victorian oil painting with a skeleton and jack o’ lantern theme, est. $3,000-$5,000; and a very rare Halloween Fortune Teller game that was chosen for the cover of the book “Halloween in America.” Estimate: $2,000-$4,000.

Another prized catch is the heavy composition witch and veggie man dancing toy. Both

Heavy composition witch and veggie man wind-up dancing toy, est. $4,000-$6,000. Morphy Auctions image.

figures are on a mechanical platform. When wound up, they move around in circles as though dancing. An early toy that is very seldom seen, it is cataloged with a $4,000-$6,000 estimate.

All forms of bidding will be available for the Sept. 17 Holiday Auction, including live at the gallery, by phone or absentee, and live via the Internet through Morphy Live (sign up at www.morphyauctions.com) or LiveAuctioneers.com. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern time.

For further information on any lot in the auction, call Morphy’s at 717-335-3435 or

e-mail serena@morphyauctions.com. View the fully illustrated catalog and all other auction information online www.morphyauctions.com.

On September 15th Swann will hold the first of three planned auctions offering historic material from the personal collection of Eric C. Caren, under the title “How History Unfolds on Paper.” This first sale crosses the boundaries of Swann’s regularly scheduled auctions. Although most of it could be described as Americana, dozens of lots are in the realm of English history, with a few from continental Europe, Australia, and Japan. The formats go well beyond our usual books and manuscripts, including newspapers, posters, broadsides, photographs, and maps. The chronological scope is broad, with a few 16th-century items, and lots covering every decade from the 1640s through the 1970s. Caren has been a tireless collector of paper Americana since early childhood, and is probably best known through his company RetroGraphics Publishing. These sales represent just a small portion of his large and ever-growing collection.

Sotheby’s Modern and Contemporary South Asian Art sale this fall features a unique and diverse group of works drawn from private collections and fresh to the market. Highlights include significant paintings by leading modern artists M. F. Husain, Jehangir Sabavala, S. H. Raza and Jagdish Swaminathan amongst others.

Responding to the ever-growing demand for quality works in this field, Sotheby’s New York Classical Chinese Paintings Department is dedicated to providing our global clients a market alternative outside of Asia. The September sale consists of 83 diversified works from the Ming and Qing dynasties, as well as a few modern and contemporary works that were executed clearly in the classical manner.