Morphy Auctions
2000 North Reading Road, Denver, Pennsylvania 17517
877-968-8880
About Auction House
Morphy Auctions in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and Las Vegas, NV has become one of the great success stories of the antiques auctions trade. Founded by Dan Morphy in 1997. Morphy’s has realized meteoric growth and set numerous world antique auction records in many categories, while attracting a global following of buyers that grows exponentially with each successive sale.Auction Previews & News
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseTake a break and refresh your collection at Morphy’s Soda Pop, Advertising & General Store Auction, Aug. 18-20
Featured: Premium-quality soda fountain and soda pop signage plus the largest-ever offering of extremely rare Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola bottles, including prototypes and unique examples Outstanding Coca-cola Porcelain Triangle Sign Ags 94. DENVER, Pa. – On August 18-20, Morphy’s will serve up the latest edition of a perennial collector favorite: their colorful Soda Pop, Advertising & General Store Auction. With a production timeline that starts in the late 19th century, the three-day lineup is highlighted by a tremendous selection of rare antique Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola bottles, and premier soda fountain memorabilia from a time when the local soda shop or drug store was the place where everyone gathered to socialize over light refreshment. In their earliest days, soda pop brands were fiercely competitive marketers, providing lavish ceramic syrup dispensers and vibrantly colorful advertising signs to establishments where their products were sold. Examples of those innovative promotional items – including more than 650 lots of Coca-Cola memorabilia – will be the objects of their own effervescent competition at Morphy’s, in a 1,780-offering that also includes signage publicizing ice cream, chewing gum and sweets; tobacco, alcoholic beverages, coffee and much more. Adding entertainment value to an already exciting array of goods, the sale also features 42 classic radios, including Bakelite and Catalin productions; and more than two dozen gum-vending machines. Bubbling to the top layer of auction highlights is a Hires Root Beer “Munimaker” salesman’s sample dispenser. It is realistically constructed from marble, glass and nickel, with a zinc liner and coils inside, just like its full-size counterpart. Its globe, which is emblazoned “Drink Hires / It is Pure,” is clean and undamaged. This incredible piece of soda pop history has been graded 8.75+ out of 10 and is estimated at $30,000-$60,000. Every Coca-Cola collector knows the circa 1914-1916 single-sided cardboard sign depicting a Dutch boy in wooden clogs, running with an oversize stick of Coca-Cola Peppermint Pepsin Gum cradled in his three-dimensional articulated arm. Morphy’s is pleased to offer a large-size version of this sign, measuring 24½ inches tall by 18¼ inches wide, and in Excellent 8.25 condition. Extremely desirable, this sign…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseOld Toy Soldier Auctions, beloved for decades by collectors of miniature figures, will march forward as part of Morphy’s Toys & General Collectibles auctions
Old Toy Soldier Auctions’ consignors will now be served by Morphy’s team of specialists, starting with a Nov. 12-14 toy sale, per the wishes of OTSA’s founder, the late Ray Haradin Ray Haradin DENVER, Pa. – With the recent passing of Ray Haradin, the visionary founder of Old Toy Soldier Auctions (OTSA), the antique toy hobby lost one of its most vigorous and respected advocates. However, because of Haradin’s foresight and benevolence toward his clients and fellow collectors, the globally-recognized OTSA brand will not be dissolved. In honoring Ray’s specific wishes, his auction business will instead “soldier on” under the watchful care of Morphy Auctions and its founder/president, Dan Morphy. Going forward, Morphy’s will accommodate OTSA’s loyal consignors and preserve the revered brand with a new, permanent section for toy soldiers and figures in its popular Toys & General Collectibles sales. The first selection of consignments from OTSA clients will be included in a November 12-14 auction at Morphy’s flagship gallery in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, with all remote forms of bidding also available, including live via the Internet. The new alliance between OTSA and Morphy’s has the blessing of Ray’s wife of 33 years, Nancy Haradin, who explained, “Ray left a letter with instructions to reach out to Dan. That way, he knew the business would carry on and that it would be done to his standards.” Morphy Auctions’ founder and president, Dan Morphy, commented: “It’s an honor and a privilege for Morphy’s to be entrusted with perpetuating Ray’s legacy and his generous, highly-principled way of doing business. He was the backbone of the toy soldier market, and his auction company meant a great deal to him. For me, there’s also a personal connection that I take very seriously. Ray and I both grew up in Pittsburgh, and our families have known each other for 53 years. Ray was years ahead of me as a collector, and if it hadn’t been for his influence, I might not be in the business I’m in today.” While OTSA will continue to be family-owned, its consignors’ goods will receive exactly the same first-class…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMorphy’s appoints Kim Martindale, 50-year veteran in Western and Native American art-show production, to the position of chief event consultant
Martindale brings vast, specific experience to his new role and will focus on astutely developing Morphy’s Old West Show & Auction series held in Las Vegas and Santa Fe Kim Martindale, newly-appointed senior consultant in the Western & Tribal Arts department at Morphy Auctions DENVER, Pa. – Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, today announced the appointment of renowned Western art and antique show promoter Kim Martindale to the position of chief event consultant. Over the past several years, Morphy’s, an international firm headquartered in Pennsylvania, has magnified its presence in Western, tribal and ethnographic art with the acquisition of the Las Vegas Old West Show & Auction and the Santa Fe Old West Show & Auction. With his incomparable track record as a specialist event promoter, Martindale is infinitely qualified to advise and guide Morphy’s show production and marketing team as they scale and improve the company’s Western show series. Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, explained why the decision was made to approach Martindale about a senior-level consultancy. “With the Las Vegas and Santa Fe shows running at a robust pace, we felt the logical next step would be to identify and enlist a high-caliber industry insider with impeccable professional credentials and an advanced knowledge of show promotion and long-range show development. We found all of those qualities in Kim Martindale,” Morphy said. Based in Los Angeles and widely acknowledged as one of the art world’s premier experts in his chosen field, Martindale is no stranger to either top-tier Western art or ethical trade practices. He has, himself, established and produced some of the country’s most prestigious and successful specialty shows and is a founding and current Board member of the Antique Tribal Arts Dealers Association (ATADA). Martindale planted his roots in the Western art world at the age of 16, helping to launch the Whitehawk Antique Indian & Ethnographic Art show (Santa Fe, N.M.). By the time he was 18, he had taken over production of the event, which he would later acquire. Over the years to follow, Martindale insightfully divided it into…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseRoad trip ahead as collectors make plans to attend Morphy’s diverse July 16-17 Automobilia & Petroliana Auction
1,200+ lots include 650 gas and oil signs, including Musgo and Grizzly; 74 gas pumps, 87 gas globes, 64 product cans, plus railroadiana, motorcycles, license plates & general advertising Rare Musgo Gasoline Michigan's Mile Maker Porcelain Sign W Native American Graphic. DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions is revved up and ready for some high-octane competition at their July 16-17 auction, which is packed with 1,226 lots of fine automobilia and petroliana. Bidders can take their pick from 650 outstanding advertising signs, 74 gas pumps, 87 gas globes, 64 product cans, and hundreds of other vintage motoring-related items. Let’s pop the hood and see what’s waiting for collectors at Morphy’s Pennsylvania gallery. Topping the auction highlights is a sign that literally every motorhead dreams of adding to their collection: a round Musgo Gasoline “Michigan’s Mile Maker” double-sided porcelain sign with the image of a Native American chief. Exceptionally rare and sought-after, this sign was issued circa 1920s by the Muskegon Oil Co., of Muskegon, Michigan. As most petroliana collectors would know, Musgo signs of this type started turning up several years ago after being discovered in use as lids on septic tanks. Most were seriously degraded from the effects of snow and damp earth, so it’s always exciting when a nice example comes up for sale. The sign offered by Morphy’s displays exceptional color and gloss with a clean central graphic on side one. Side two exhibits good color and gloss in the outer fields, and some septic-tank damage to the central graphic. Measuring 48 inches in diameter with sides graded 7.75/Damaged, it is estimated at $50,000-$80,000. Another collector favorite that’s expected to fly is a circa-1940s single-sided porcelain sign advertising Grizzly Gasoline. It has an excellent graphic of the company’s hulking brown bear mascot and the tagline “Dubbs Cracked.” Clean and glossy, its only faults are minor chips along the outer edges and minor chipping below and to the right of the mounting hole. All four original grommets are intact. Measuring 12 inches in diameter and graded a condition 8.5+, this anticipated crowd-pleaser could realize $10,000-$20,000. Another stellar entry is…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseAntique Italian sculpture sells for more than nine times high estimate at Morphy’s $2.7M Fine & Decorative Arts Auction
Tempting terracotta: a circa-1906 rendering of a chauffeur-driven car raced to $184,500 against an estimate of $5K-$20K, while a Villeroy & Boch Santa figure was bid to $79,950 Salesio Lugli (Italian, 1869-1936) DENVER, Pa. – The most exciting aspect of attending an auction is the suspense. Will any new trends emerge, will there be any surprising prices, and what will end up being the top lot of the day? At Morphy’s June 11-12 Fine & Decorative Arts Auction, which totaled $2.7 million, a total “dark horse” emerged from the more than 1,400 lots to cover all of those bases, not only crowning the overall prices realized but also leaving some to wonder how they could have missed its potential. Catching many off guard, the big winner of the day was a circa-1906 terracotta sculpture created by Italian sculptor Salesio Lugli (1869-1936). Measuring more than two feet long, the artwork depicted a 1905 automobile with figures (cast in the mold) of a chauffeur turning around to watch an elegantly-dressed woman passenger gather the folds of her evening gown and carefully step down onto the running board. Estimated at $5,000-$20,000, the genre sculpture attracted 65 bids before coming to a full stop at $184,500. It certainly qualified as the auction’s “sleeper,” but why it outdistanced the rest of the day’s luxe offerings was a lively point of discussion. It had size, fine artistic execution and wonderful attention to detail going for it, but Salesio Lugli is not a household name, so what else was there to know about it? Morphy Auctions’ founder and principal auctioneer, Dan Morphy, went straight to the heart of the matter when asked his thoughts. “It all came down to two bidders who decided prior to bidding that they wanted to own it. That’s all it takes at an auction for something to hammer an exceptional price.” As it turned out, the sculpture was not won by a person known primarily as a buyer of fine art. “It’s now with an automobilia collector in Europe,” Morphy confirmed, in a testament to the power of crossover bidding. Although it…
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Auction Result, Press ReleaseDebut offering of antique toys from the personal collection of the late Tom Sage Sr chalks up $2.6M at Morphy’s
Marklin boats, fine German autos, a Father Christmas car, and a circa-1904 Marklin Ferris Wheel that sold for $156K topped the luxe array of European and American toys and trains, many book examples Rare Marklin Cat. Ref. 1123 Hand-painted Ferris Wheel DENVER, Pa. – The extraordinary rarity, quality and condition reflected throughout the late Tom Sage Sr’s personal collection of antique toys and trains worked in concert to achieve remarkable prices at Morphy’s high-profile May 29 auction. The 295-lot lot session, which closed at $2.6 million, represented Part I of a premier assemblage of European and American toys amassed over a 50-year period by Sage (1939-2024), an acknowledged pioneer of the antique toy trade. The Allentown, Pennsylvania, native was widely known for his prowess at networking internationally and, if necessary, paying above-market prices to obtain the finest examples. His foresight was amply validated on auction day, as one fabulous toy after another sailed past its high estimate and moved on to its next chapter of stewardship. As predicted, the day’s top lot was the auction catalog’s cover piece, a magnificent 1904 Ferris Wheel made by the revered German firm Marklin. One of only three or four of its type known to exist, it was likely the nicest of that elite handful of survivors, retaining its six original gondolas, attractive stained glass, and original figures. It had passed down through the family of a gentleman who had worked for a Brooklyn department store and received the toy when the business closed down sometime before World War I. Sage purchased the Ferris Wheel at Sotheby’s in 1994 and, according to his son, toy authority Tommy Sage Jr, he thought so highly of it, he displayed it in his bedroom. Its unusually complete provenance conveyed with the toy in the form of paperwork, copies of circa-1910 photos of its then-owner (a relative of the original owner) holding the Ferris Wheel; and Sage’s 1994 Sotheby’s tag and receipt. It ended its bidding run at a buoyant $156,000. Sage loved his Marklin boats and owned many extremely fine productions. Several carried the prestige of appearing…
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Auction Result, Press ReleaseRare Mormon gold coins and Morgan Silver Dollars were hot commodities at Morphy’s record-setting $3.2M Premier Coins Auction
Boutique event was highest-grossing coin sale in Morphy’s history, topped by Kellogg & Humbert Assayers 48.70oz gold bar, $160K; and 1900 NGC $20 PF Ultra Cameo gold coin, $104K Kellog & Humbert Assayers 48.70 Oz Gold Bar DENVER, Pa. – At Morphy’s May 19 Premier Coins Auction, all that glittered was not gold, but it was a dazzling gold bar from California’s Gold Rush days that rose to the top of prices realized and capped a highly successful $3.2 million event for the Pennsylvania company. “We were ecstatic with the results. It was the highest-grossing coin sale in our history,” said Dan Morphy, who founded the eponymous auction house in 2003 and serves as its president and principal auctioneer. The boutique sale of 187 lots exclusively featured a single-consignor collection that was the source of not only the gold bar but also a unique grouping of high-grade Morgan Silver Dollars and the largest offering of rare Mormon gold coins ever to come to public auction. “Nothing in the sale had a reserve,” Morphy said. “We were very confident that collectors would recognize the rarity and exceptional quality of everything in the collection and that they would bid accordingly.” The 48.70oz gold bar that led the boutique array of rare coins and currency was issued by Kellogg & Humbert Assayers, a highly-regarded San Francisco firm that operated from 1855 until around 1860. Embossed with the firm’s name as well as the stamped markings No. 491, 871 FINE and the price $876.85, the bar combined intrinsic mineral value with historical importance from California Gold Rush era, making it irresistible to many collectors. It prompted numerous enquiries prior to the sale and on auction day was chased to a final price of $160,000, the exact high estimate that had been assigned to it. The auction’s highest-priced coin was a 1900 $20 gold coin described as PF64 Ultra Cameo. The term “Cameo” refers to the contrast between the design – whether raised or recessed – and the background field, which renders a frosted appearance with a polished, mirror-like background. An Ultra Cameo, like the…
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Auction Result, Press ReleasePart II of renowned Wayne & Lori Edens collection of antique & vintage fishing lures reels in $863K at Morphy’s May 17 auction
Top lot: One of very few known brown-spotted Wilcox Wigglers, graded Near-Excellent with clear solid-glass eyes and beautiful hardware, sold with its equally rare Wiggler Mfg. Co. box for $39,600 Rare Brown Spotted Wilcox Wiggler In The Box DENVER, Pa. – There wasn’t a fishing pole in sight, but it was clear that guests who gathered at Morphy Auctions’ gallery on May 17, 2025 were there to land the catch of the day. It was time for Part II of Wayne and Lori Edens’ acclaimed collection of antique baits to cross the auction block, and no serious collector of fishing paraphernalia was going to miss it. Five months after Morphy’s debut sale of selections from the Florida couple’s extraordinary assemblage of lures (12/9/2024, total $900,000), interest was just as high for the follow-up offering, which rang the register at $863,000. The top lot of the day was also one of the rarest combos in the Edens collection – a brown-spotted Wilcox Wiggler graded Near-Excellent with clear solid-glass eyes. One of few of its type ever found, it came with an equally rare VG-condition paper label box from The Wiggler Mfg. Co., Elmwood, Indiana, with its extremely rare paper insert still intact inside the lid. Its hardware was noteworthy, as it appeared that it probably had never seen water. The lure claimed a winning bid of $39,600 against a pre-sale estimate of $10,000-$20,000. Another popular entry was a brown and gold Enterprise Mfg. Co. (Pflueger), Akron, Ohio, Trory Minnow. A very early model dating to 1900 or 1901, at the latest, its details included large, blemish-free glass eyes, a crudely-formed wooden tail, gold perch bars on a natural brown body with dark back, and a silver belly with fine hand-painted gill marks on either side. This lure had been discovered in a tackle box in the Canton, Ohio area and presented in Excellent Minus condition. Against an estimate of $6,000-$12,000, it proved its merit with a $23,400 selling price. A Heddon Introductory Model 155 all-brass Dowagiac Minnow, graded Excellent with solid yellow paint and black gill marks, featured perfect white iris…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMorphy’s June 11-12 Fine & Decorative Arts Auction is crowned by luxury watches, Tiffany lamps, American art, rare Amphora pottery
Featured: Ulysse Nardin Royal Blue Mystery Tourbillon limited edition platinum, diamond and sapphire wristwatch; Monumental carved Black Forest clock with five bears; Chiparus bronze, James Bard painting Ulysse Nardin Royal Blue Mystery Tourbillon L/E #1/99 Platinum Diamond Watch W/B&P. DENVER, Pa. – Those entering the preview area at Morphy’s flagship gallery in Pennsylvania can almost hear the roars coming from one of the June 11-12 Fine & Decorative Arts Auction’s most eye-catching attractions. Standing 79 inches tall and capturing its well-deserved share of attention is a monumental two-panel Black Forest clock whose case is meticulously carved with the images of five bears. Composed of linden wood, a soft wood from Germany’s natural forests that is ideally suited to carving, the clock might very well be described as a masterpiece of its genre. The motif is a visual delight, with four differently-modeled fully-dimensional bears climbing a pine tree as a fifth bear who has reached the tree’s pinnacle gazes down at them. Throughout, the artist’s attention to detail is obvious, with the trunk and branches fastidiously “grained,” the leaves minutely detailed, and the bears themselves realistically represented with furry coats, painted red tongues and white teeth. In excellent condition, the clock comes to auction with a $10,000-$20,000 estimate. The Clocks & Watches category shifts from Bavaria to picturesque Switzerland with a boutique selection of coveted Swiss-made timepieces. Leading the group is an exceptionally rare and important Ulysse Nardin Royal Blue Mystery Tourbillon limited edition platinum, diamond and sapphire wristwatch, Ref. No. 7990093. Only 99 watches of its type were made, and the auction example is identified as No. 1 of those 99. “Ulysse Nardin has been producing timepieces since 1846. Their watches are fit for kings and known to be favored by many high-profile entrepreneurs, athletes and celebrities,” said Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions. “Ulysse Nardin is part of the exclusive circle of Swiss watchmakers called the Fondation Haute Horlogerie. Their watches are unique in that they combine cutting-edge technology with a unique heritage of marine chronometry. Collectors of luxury watches know the cachet that comes with the…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMorphy’s secures high-quality pieces from advanced collections for a finely-curated June 4-5 Toys & General Collectibles Auction
Featured: J&E Stevens mechanical banks ‘Race Course’ & ‘Girl Skipping Rope;’ Portrait Jumeau doll in Dior ensemble; Target Robot, Popeye & OliveOyl Tank; Jordan rookie card, Star Wars figures; marbles. Race Horse Mechanical Bank W/ Original Box DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions is known throughout the collecting hobby for its consistent ability to secure premier examples of antique and vintage toys, banks and quality collectibles for its sales. While some of their auctions focus on a single, high-profile collection, others present a varied selection of expertly-curated pieces from many different sources. Their next multi-consignor Toys & General Collectibles auction, numbering 1,253 lots, will be held on June 4-5 at Morphy’s flagship Pennsylvania gallery, with all remote forms of bidding welcome, including live online via Morphy Live. Antique cast-iron mechanical banks are among the top-estimated items and are led by two outstanding designs by J & E Stevens, a legendary Cromwell, Connecticut company founded in 1843 by brothers John and Elisha Stevens. The first of the two highlight banks is known as “Race Course” and presents in bright original paint. This bank, which has a sophisticated action and horseracing theme, is accompanied by its original box with a replacement label bearing a realistic image of the bank. In Near Mint condition, it is estimated at $25,000-$30,000. Following closely behind the Race Course bank is an Excellent Plus example of Stevens’ “Girl Skipping Rope” bank assessed as being in 100% original condition. When activated, the girl jumps “rope” more than 15 times. The bank is accompanied by a period key that is well suited for winding although not exactly like the key originally issued by the manufacturer. Representing one of the all-time favorites from Stevens’ broad money-box production range, this bank could command $15,000 to $30,000. A spectacular all-original Jumeau French fashion (or “Portrait Jumeau”) bisque doll comes to auction with prestigious museum provenance. Near-life-sized at 36 inches, the elegant doll wears a dress said to have been specifically designed for it by French couturier Christian Dior. Its neck is incised 12 and bears red artist’s check marks. Additionally, the face features…
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Auction Result, Press ReleaseRare penny arcade machines and top-quality antique advertising drew a packed house of bidders to Morphy’s $3.5M auction in Las Vegas
Circa-1904 Mills ‘Lion Lung Tester,’ one of only two known and with a documented line of ownership going back 50 years, led prices realized at $184,500 1¢ Mills Novelty Co. “Lion” Lung Tester Arcade Machine LAS VEGAS – Morphy’s April 30-May 3 Coin-Op & Antique Advertising Auction in Las Vegas offered collectors nearly 2,000 lots of high-quality arcade, music and gambling machines, and exceptional antique signs from businesses and products of a bygone era. The lively, well-attended sale totaled more than $3.5 million, inclusive of buyer’s premium. The king of the jungle also became the king of Las Vegas during the highlight-packed third day of the series, as a circa-1904 Mills “Lion Lung Tester” made its formidable appearance on the auction block. Standing 103 inches tall, the iconic coin-op machine distinguished by its deeply-carved three-dimensional image of a lion with a fearsome expression and mouth agape was well known to collectors. Twenty-four years ago, it was chosen to grace the front cover of the inaugural issue (March 2001) of the Coin Operated Collectors Association’s COCA Times magazine. The machine’s action is thrilling to watch. When a penny is deposited, the giant cat’s eyes illuminate, and when a patron blows into the tester, the beast emits a spine-tingling roar. A continuously-running clock displays how many seconds each player can keep the lion roaring, hence an assessment of how strong their lungs are. The auction example is believed to be one of only two surviving machines of its type, with a line of documented ownership going back more than 50 years. It made its auction debut in fine style, selling within its lofty estimate range for $184,500. Rare and magnificent, a circa-1900 Mills Novelty Co., Violano Virtuoso was described in the auction catalog as one of fewer than 20 known to exist. Presented in its beautiful quartered-oak cabinet with handsome tiger-striping and a wonderful Art Nouveau bow-front window, this musically-gifted entertainer had been fully restored at some point in its past. It conveyed with all of its keys and six musical rolls, selling within its estimate range for $79,950. Anyone who has…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMorphy’s finest-ever Premier Coin Auction slated for May 19, includes fresh-to-market high-grade Morgans, largest selection of Mormon gold ever auctioned anywhere
Featured: Stunning Kellogg & Humbert 48.70oz gold bar, $120K-$160K;1893-CC Morgan Silver Dollar PCGS MS65, $60K-$90K; 1850 Mormon $5 coin NGC AU55+, $40K-$60K Kellog & Humbert Assayers 48.70 Oz Gold Bar DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions has had a decades-long involvement in the world of rare and antique coins, and on May 19, the Pennsylvania company will mark a milestone with its 187-lot Premier Coins Auction. The sale exclusively features a prestigious single-consignor collection that includes a unique grouping of high-grade Morgan Silver Dollars plus the largest offering of rare Mormon gold coins ever to be publicly auctioned. Seasoned coin collectors would immediately recognize the contents of this fresh-to-the-market trove as being choice and highly unusual. Each and every lot from the collection, which is valued at more than $3 million, will be offered with no reserve. “There’s no way I can overstate how thrilled we are to be representing this phenomenal legacy collection. We’re deeply honored that we were chosen to handle its sale,” said Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions. “We’ve had a strong involvement with rare coins since first opening our doors and have held many dozens of sales over the years, but this will be, by far, the most important coin auction we’ve ever conducted.” The array of fabulous Morgan Silver Dollars – named after their designer, US Mint Assistant Engraver George T Morgan – includes exceptional specimens going back to 1878, their first year of production. “Morgans were a popular currency, especially in the American West,” Morphy noted. “They were produced at several mints, including the legendary frontier mint in Carson City, Nevada. The Carson City mint was intentionally located near the rich Comstock Lode, which served as their sole source of silver and gold ore.” A top entry within the Morgan lineup is an 1893-CC Silver Dollar that was struck during the Carson City Mint’s final year of operation. Morphy explained: “By 1893, the Comstock vein had been completely exhausted. The small Carson City Mint no longer had access to its ore supply, so there was no other option but to close down.”…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseHistorically-important antique and vintage fishing lures await bidders at Morphy’s May 17 auction of the Wayne & Lori Edens Collection, Part II
Top-estimated lot: the first American wooden minnow bait representing the link between late-1890s plugs and the first commercially offered minnows from just after the turn of the 20th century The Historic First American Wooden Minnow DENVER, Pa. – Fans of antique fishing lures found the waters more than inviting at Morphy’s December 9, 2024 auction of Wayne and Lori Edens’ antique and vintage fishing lure collection, Part I. The highly anticipated debut selection of treasures from the Edens trove surpassed $900,000 and left bidders eager for more. On Saturday, May 17, Morphy’s will auction Part II of the storied collection, which is widely regarded to be the largest, most comprehensive and most important collection of its type ever to come to the public marketplace. In all, 680 ultra-rare lures – or “baits,” as they are known to fishing enthusiasts – will be presented at the exciting gallery event, with all forms of remote bidding invited, including live online through Morphy Live. For historical value alone, it would be hard to beat the first American wooden minnow that characterizes the link between the rotary and cedar plugs of the late 1890s and the first commercially offered minnows from just after the turn of the century. The auction example is the actual bait that was famously found in the tackle box of Twin Lakes, Ohio, resident Hiram C Rice. A hand-shaped bait with natural wood grain and a dark back, it features slightly curving gill marks, striking copper-colored “perch” stripes, and a golden belly. The “File Maker” spade-shaped props are original and identical to those on a similar bait seen in an Arlan Carter reference book, and the prop bearings appear to be original and unchanged. When found, the bait’s right eye was cracked but still intact, and the left eye was missing. In the interim, a pair of reddish decoy-style eyes was inserted. Its glass eyes and added side hooks are easily removable, should that be the new owner’s preference. This wonderful antique minnow is one of the most significant and desirable objects in angling history and is the best representative predecessor…
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Auction Industry, Press Release
Premier personal collection of antique toy expert and international dealer Tom Sage Sr to be auctioned May 29 at Morphy’s
300 European and American toys and trains of extraordinary rarity include coveted Marklin productions: 1904 Ferris Wheel, 45in Amerika oceanliner, Gefion battleship, many ‘book’ examples & sole survivors Rare Marklin Cat. Ref. 1123 Hand-painted Ferris Wheel DENVER, Pa. – On Thursday, May 29, Morphy’s will auction Part I of the lifetime personal collection of European and American antique toys amassed by the late Tom Sage Sr (1939-2024) of Allentown, Pennsylvania. Widely acknowledged as a pioneer of antique toy dealing and collecting, Sage was known for his encyclopedia knowledge of toys and a well-cultivated international network of industry contacts with whom he conducted business for more than 50 years. While buying and selling rare toys was his full-time occupation, Sage also had a mental wish list of toys and trains he personally wanted to own. Over several decades, he astutely filled the slots on that list, and it is those very special pieces that will be offered in the May 29 sale. While literally every toy in the collection is a showstopper, the auction catalog’s cover photo suggests the top seller may very well end up being Sage’s magnificent 1904 Ferris Wheel made by the revered German firm Marklin. One of only three or four of its type known to exist, it is likely the nicest of that elite handful of survivors. In researching his father’s toys, Tommy Sage Jr, who heads Morphy Auctions’ Toys & Trains department, related that he had found copies of circa-1910 photos taken in Brooklyn of the Ferris Wheel’s then-owner sitting with his son and holding the actual auction toy. “The Ferris Wheel can be traced back to the gentleman’s relative who worked for a Brooklyn department store and who received the toy when the store closed down before World War I. Dad purchased it at Sotheby’s in 1994. It was one of his finest toys, and he thought so highly of it, he kept it in his bedroom,” Sage said. The Ferris Wheel will convey to its new owner with paperwork, the aforementioned copies of 1910 photos, and a Sotheby’s tag and receipt. The pre-sale…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseJoin Morphy’s in Las Vegas for a lively April 30-May 3 auction of coin-ops & antique advertising
Featured: Iconic 1904 Mills Lion Lung Tester, $150K-$300K; 1905 Ray-O-Lite rifle arcade machine, $75K-$150K; Mills Violano Virtuoso, $60K-$130K; Campbell’s Tomato Soup thermometer sign, $20K-$30K 1¢ Mills Novelty Co. “Lion” Lung Tester Arcade Machine LAS VEGAS – Four days of not-to-be-missed bidding opportunities are on the agenda for Morphy’s April 30-May 3 Coin-Op & Antique Advertising Auction in Las Vegas. Nearly 2,000 high-quality lots will take the spotlight, including premier music, arcade and gambling machines, plus a bumper crop of exceptional antique and vintage signage touting everything from tobacco and alcoholic beverages to the various goods that would have been sold at general stores 100+ years ago. The atmosphere at these very special Las Vegas events is always upbeat and welcoming, but those who cannot attend in person can still join the fun by bidding absentee, by phone or live online through Morphy’s bidding platform. The superlative selection of well-provenanced rarities is led by the king of all penny arcade machines a circa-1904 Mills Novelty Co., “Lion Lung Tester” that stands 103 inches tall. This machine, which is dominated by a deeply-carved three-dimensional lion with a fearsome expression and mouth agape, is so iconic it was chosen for the front cover of the inaugural issue (March 2001) of the Coin Operated Collectors Association’s COCA Times magazine. When a penny is deposited, the giant cat’s eyes illuminate, and when a patron blows into the tester, the beast emits a spine-tingling roar. A continuously-running clock displays how many seconds a given player can keep the lion roaring, hence a measurement of how strong their lungs are. The auction example’s line of documented ownership goes back more than 50 years. It is one of only two known specimens and has never before appeared at auction. Strong competition is expected, and a pre-auction estimate has been set at $150,000-$300,000. Another top prize is a rare circa-1905 “Ray-O-Lite” 1-cent rifle arcade machine made by the Automatic Target Machine Co. This improved model operates like the earlier lollipop-style iteration with a cast-iron target pedestal and bull’s-eye target, but the difference is that it employs a dry cell…
