October Jackson Rooms Auction:

Oct 20th & 21st 2010  9:30 am

Toys & Collectibles Auction:

Oct 22nd 2010  9:30 am

Oct Auction This Weekend!

Auction:

Oct 15th 2010  6:30 pm

Oct 16th 2010  11:00 am

Oct 17th 2010  12:00 pm (NOON)

Auction Oct. 17th beginning at 10am

Includes, Fine Art, Rugs and Carpets, Furniture and Decorative Art and Silver

Auction Oct. 18th beginning at 10am

Includes, Toys and Collectibles, Asian Works of Art

Swann Autograph sales feature Presidents, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, military figures, statesmen, royalty and nobility, writers, scientists, artists, musicians, and entertainers. We are pleased to talk with you about your area of Autograph collecting interest.

This auction includes two autograph inscriptions signed by Thomas Edison declaring Abraham Lincoln his favorite American hero.

DENVER, Pa. – In the field of graphic design, Chicagoan David Hirsch is known as the man with the golden eye. A founding partner of David Hirsch Design Group and later Hirsch O’Connor, he was the mastermind behind the artwork that branded a legion of commercial entities and products. And while it may be possible for many professionals to leave their work at the office, it has never been an option for Hirsch, who cannot view life through anything but an artistic lens, 24/7. The allure of illustrative imagery has always been a fascination to Hirsch, on or off the job, and it was his love of design that launched and perpetuated the phenomenal collection of antique advertising tins, signs, store displays and other promotional items he amassed over 40 years with his wife, Marcia. That collection, in its entirety, will be auctioned Nov. 19-20, 2010 at Morphy’s.

Opia Cigars reverse-on-glass sign with embossed flowers and gold-foil lettering, near mint, 10 inches by 9 inches, estimate $1,000-$1,500. Morphy Auctions image.

With the extended preview period currently under way, visitors to Morphy’s are being treated to a visual feast representing every color of the rainbow. The gallery walls and showcase shelves are laden with incredible signs of glass, tin, porcelain and paper; extraordinarily rare tins, many with paper labels that pre-date chromolithography; countertop and floor-model store displays, and every other imaginable form of packaging adorned with advertising.

Well over half of the articles to be offered in the 1,435-lot sale pertain to tobacco, with as many as 500 of them associated with cigars. There’s a 4-foot reverse-on-glass Ben Bey Cigars sign with porcelain store-counter lighter, a commanding 8-foot reverse-on-glass sign advertising Chancellor Cigars, and several signs featuring beguiling beauties of the late-19th and early 20th centuries. Among them is a stunning reverse-on-glass sign for Opia Cigars that features an ethereal woman surrounded by poppies and stars. Hirsch said he finds it curious that there is no manufacturer’s identification anywhere on the sign. “Considering it’s called ‘Opia’ and decorated with poppies, I can’t help wondering if the product might have had more than just tobacco in it,” Hirsch joked. The collection also contains both a tip tray and a change receiver with advertising for Opia.

Many items in the sale are as close to factory fresh as anyone could hope for. A pre-1900 Sweet Lavender Tobacco sign still has its original tobacco-theme cabinet cards attached to it, while a superb 24-inch-diameter Bull Durham charger is complete with its original ornate frame and shipping frame.

Derby Smoking Tobacco sign, late 19th century, embossed lithographed cardboard with horseracing image, 14¼ inches by 9 inches, estimate $900-$1,200. Morphy Auctions image.

A late-19th-century embossed and lithographed cardboard sign for Derby Smoking Tobacco, with the image of a jockey on a racehorse, could cross the finish line at $900-$1,200. Also very desirable are a Lillian Russell store counter lighter and an early Chicago Motor Club Cigars lighted display with original cigar tin.

Collectors will be spoiled for choice with the array of tins to be auctioned. One of only a few known examples, a Home Run Cigar tin features images of baseball players on a field and is expected to make $8,000-$12,000. Another baseball-oriented item – a pocket tin for 3-Strikes Granulated Cut Plug Tobacco – features the image of an old-time baseball player. Still housing its contents and believed to be one of only a handful in existence, it is expected to cross home plate at $5,000-$8,000. With a crossover comic character theme, a Buster Brown Cigar tin retains its original tax stamp and could make $2,000-$3,000.

Containers sized for small cigars include an unopened St. Leger Little Cigars tin with full tax stamp and a band indicating a silk novelty is included in each package; and an Intermission Little Cigars tin complete with a boxing card for pugilist Joe Jennette.

Kennebec Havana Cigar tin store bin with image of Indian chief on three sides, estimate $2,000-$4,000. Morphy Auctions image.

Metal bins once used to hold cigars for consumers to access in stores are extremely desirable. Among those in the Hirsch collection are an example for Kennebec Havana Cigars, with a beautiful image of an Indian chief on three sides, estimate $2,000-$4,000; and a circa-1910 Moa cigars tin store bin with an appealing image of an emu-like bird, estimate $2,000-$4,000.

A 7-foot-tall circa-1880s museum-quality heavy paper sign for Sweet Caporal has a military theme and advertises a tobacco manufactured by Kinney Bros. in New York. According to Hirsch, it is the only known example. Because it is possibly unique and has no past auction record for comparison, it has been given a wide estimate range of $3,000-$10,000.

While the Hirsch collection presents an incomparable panorama of tobacciana, it also includes a wealth of exceptional coffee tins, early marshmallow tins, spool cabinets, display cabinets, Ever-Ready razor displays, lozenge and medicinal canisters, and counter displays and signs for a huge variety of other products.

Sweet, Orr & Co. Overalls lithographed heavy paper advertising sign, 19th century, with United Garment Works of America label in center, only known example, estimate $2,500-$10,000. Morphy Auctions image.

“Just about anyone who collects antique advertising knows Dave and Marcia Hirsch, and recognizes the impeccable taste they have,” said Morphy Auctions CEO Dan Morphy. “For many years Dave did the design work for the Antique Advertising Association of America’s award-winning quarterly newsletter, which is the best club newsletter I’ve ever seen. It’s not surprising that the same aesthetic carried through to the magnificent collection Dave and Marcia built over 40 years.”

All forms of bidding will be available for Dan Morphy’s Nov. 19-20 auction of the David and Marcia Hirsch antique advertising collection, which will be held at the Adamstown Antique Gallery, 2000 N. Reading Rd., Denver, PA 17517. For additional information, call 717-335-3435 or e-mail dan@morphyauctions.com. View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid online at www.morphyauctions.com or www.liveauctioneers.com.

Auction: Dec 8th and 9th 2010  London

Highlights Exhibition:

Oct 29th – Nov 9th 2010  New York

Nov 15th – 18th 2010  Paris

Nov 26th – 30th 2010  Amsterdam

Do you remember when 1 cent would actually buy you a piece of gum in the gumball machine at the grocery store?  A little before my time there was also penny candy.

It’s been years since those copper colored coins meant much to anyone. I remember in high school seeing them on the ground and walking past them.  My friends and I thought “Find a penny pick it up..” but instead of the “and all day you’ll have good luck” part of the line – we said eh….keep walking….

The penny (or at least this one) has found a way to show everyone that a vintage penny can certainly shine again.  This particular coin was actually a mistake.  It was struck in a copper alloy in 1943 and is the only known “mistake of this kind” out there.

It was sold by a New Jersey coin dealer, Legend Numismatic (www.legendcoin.com) for $1.7 million dollars.  And to show a penny can still be lucky, the proceeds went to charity.

In 1943, zinc coated steel was being used for pennies instead of copper. Copper was being used for war efforts.

The collector who purchased the penny noted he has searched for this coin for a very long time. He began collecting coins as a teenager and at one point, thought he had found the elusive penny but learned it was a fake.  Now, he has an example of every mint 1943 bronze cent produced.

What do I mean by every mint?  Apparently there were copper pennies produced in Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.  It is estimated that less than 20 were struck in San Francisco and Philadelphia, and this coin being the only one known from Denver.  (I would be willing to bet another will surface after this publicized sale)

I would strongly suggest you check your pockets daily to see what coins might have been given to you throughout the day.  There are numerous websites that will offer pricing on coins for free. It could certainly be worth your while to investigate that spare pocket change which might be worth YOUR weight in gold.

Impressionist & Modern Art in New York will feature some of the finest examples of European Masterwork from the late 19th and early 20th century, including innovative Impressionist canvases by Monet, Pissaro and Renoir, dynamic sculpture renderings in bronze by Matisse, Giacometti, Marini and Bugatti, vibrant landscapes by German Expressionists and powerful canvases from the final years of Picasso’s career.

Auction November 2nd & 3rd, 2010

Auction: Oct 18th 2010  8:00 am

Includes a selection of fine furnishings, modern art and modern furnishings.  There will also be pieces from private collections as well as estate pieces.

The Eleventh Annual Sewickley Antiques Show  will be held on October 15th, 16th, and 17th, 2010 at the Edgeworth Club in Sewickley, Pennsylvania.  This show is regarded as one of the premier antique shows in Southwestern PA with twenty-seven exhibitors from eight states.

Kicking off the Antique Show is the Preview Party held on Friday evening, October 15th. The Preview Party runs from 6:30pm to 9pm with an after party following from 9pm to 11pm. The cost for this exclusive event that includes a weekend show pass, entertainment, a drink voucher, and hours d’oeuvres is $65.00 per person.

The Show will run from Saturday October 16th, 10:00am to 5:00 pm., and Sunday October 17th, 11:00am to 4:00pm EST. The cost for the show pass is $10.00, valid all weekend. Proceeds benefit Child Health Association of Sewickley.

For more information, send us an email or call Jack Squires at 724-992-1290.  Click here for directions to the Edgeworth Club in Sewickley.

Dealers

Susan’s Antiques
New Cumberland, WV

J and M Antiques
East Amherst, NY

Sweets Antiques
Gowanda, NY

Candlewood Antiques
Ardara, PA

Timeless Treasures
Pittsburgh, PA

Paul Fisher Antiques
Indianapolis, IN

Jack Squires Antiques
Grove City, PA 16127

Peter Chillingworth
Scenery Hill, PA

Spencer Antiques
Granville, OH

Frank and Mary Ann Brandt
Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Jane Langol Antiques
Medina, Ohio

Bedford on the Square Antiques
Pittsburgh, PA 15206

Malcolm McFarland
Chagrin Falls, Ohio

John Kroeck
Leetsdale, PA

Brill’s Antiques
Newport News, VA

VanWhy’s Antiques
Zelienople, PA

East End Galleries
Pittsburgh, PA

Fern Larking Kao
Bowling Green, OH

Kevin T. Ransom Bookseller
Amherst, NY

Martines Antiques
Chagrin Falls, Ohio

Johanna Antiques
Kingsville, MD

Sandra Rutan
Warren, Ohio

White & White
Skaneateles, NY

Moir Galleries
Chagrin Falls, OH

Whimsy Antiques
Harmony, PA

Steve Levine Antiques
Alexandria, VA

Joseph Hayes Antiques
Columbus, OH