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 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 ReleasePremier 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…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMorphy’s chosen to auction private collection of influential antique toy dealer the late Tom Sage Sr
Between 500 and 600 extremely rare and fine European and American toys and trains will be divided between two sales to be held on May 29 and in late October Tom Sage Sr. and his son, Tom Sage Jr., appeared together on the cover of the August 1995 issue of Antique Toy World magazine. They are shown examining an early-20th-century German tin toy car at an outdoor antique show. Image courtesy of Antique Toy World and the Sage family DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s has won the right to auction the private collection of legendary antique toy and train dealer/collector Tom Sage Sr, who passed away in November 2024. Under instruction from Tom Sage’s heirs, the 500- to 600-piece collection of rare and important European and American toys will be offered in two parts, with the first session to be held May 29 and Part II to follow in latter October. Both sales will take place at Morphy’s southeastern Pennsylvania gallery, with all forms of remote bidding available. In addition to being an astute collector since 1967, Sage was also amongst the earliest entrepreneurs to develop a business around the buying and selling of antique toys. He was a ubiquitous presence at antique shows – and later, auctions – both in the United States and Europe, and had a name that was synonymous with quality, trustworthiness and a superior knowledge of the categories in which he specialized. Dan Morphy, president of Morphy Auctions, remarked, “Tom Sage was known worldwide for chasing and collecting some of the finest European tin and American toys ever made. He also had a very good eye for identifying exceptional antique advertising, fine and decorative art; and folk art pieces. His collection of Tiffany lamps and other artworks will be featured in our Fine and Decorative Art sales later this year.” Slipcased hardcover catalogs will be available for both toy auctions, and the fully-illustrated online catalog for the May 29 session is expected to publish online in March. Watch for updates on Morphy’s website at www.morphyauctions.com. For condition enquiries or to reserve a line for phone bidding,…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMorphy’s $1.9M Old West Auction was a bidders’ battleground where White Bull’s historic Lakota storybook charged to $270,600
Other noteworthy highlights: spectacular 1930s Bohlin silver and gold parade saddle, $233,700; Henry Model 1860 rifle with Rideout provenance, $41,820; massive Qualey Bros. silver spurs, $29,520 Breathtaking Edward H. Bohlin "Machris" Parade Saddle LAS VEGAS – Morphy’s January 24 auction of Western and Native American art, relics and memorabilia held at the Westgate Casino & Resort in Las Vegas drew an engaged roomful of bidders, each intent on claiming a piece of authentic cowboy history. In the end, the annual specialty event rounded up a robust $1.9 million, with top-lot honors going to a unique and historically important book documenting Lakota Sioux tribal history. Created and maintained by Chief Sitting Bull’s nephew White Bull (1849-1947), the 162-page historical ledger and storybook was specifically intended to document Indian battles in the West. Consisting of 120 narrative pages, 33 illustrated color pages, and 28 additional pages that were either blank or faced drawings, the ledger was both visual and informative. “What made it especially unique was that it was a personal and original biographical account of battles, coups, combats and even included winter population counts of the Sioux,” said Dan Morphy, president of Morphy Auctions. “White Bull claimed to have killed General Custer – which may or may not have been true – but the book does record what appears to be his fight with Custer, in addition to many other battles in which he was personally involved.” Mike Cowdrey, a respected author of books on Native American topics, observed that, in terms of Lakota historiography, White Bull’s ledger/storybook is “comparable in importance to the diaries of Thomas Jefferson – a unique and irreplaceable resource.” Its importance certainly did not go unnoticed, as it was bid competitively to $270,600, more than twice its high estimate. A sensational showpiece, an Edward H. Bohlin sterling silver and gold parade saddle in 100% original condition had been custom-made in the late 1930s for a noted equestrienne, Louise Cottam of Santa Barbara, California. Ms Cottam chose the saddle for her appearances at numerous horse shows, parades and other events. Morphy’s catalog noted that its design was…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseNeon signs will light up a first-class selection of automobilia and petroliana at Morphy’s Las Vegas auction, Feb. 21-22
Also featured: Rare vintage gas and oil signs, pumps, globes, product cans, thermometers, service station product display and point-of-purchase racks, much more Ok Used Cars Complete Porcelain Dealership Neon Sign. LAS VEGAS – Collectors have come to expect next-level quality and service at all of Morphy’s Automobilia & Petroliana auctions, events that consistently attract enthusiasts from all over the Western United States. Motorheads certainly won’t be disappointed at the February 21-22 edition of this popular series, which will be held at the company’s Las Vegas gallery. The 830-lot selection of high-condition rarities will leave them wondering whose elite garage or man cave Dan Morphy and his team have visited lately. Let’s lift the hood and take a look at some of the top entries in Morphy’s first gas- and oil-related advertising sale of the new year. Colorful neon signs will be casting a warm glow over the proceedings. This super-popular category is growing by leaps and bounds, and as always, collectors want rarity and condition. They’ll find both in a massive circa-1950s double-sided porcelain neon sign for “OK Used Cars Authorized Dealer.” It would be difficult to fault this fine example, which retains its original bullnose edges and shines brilliantly on both sides. In 9.0 condition, the 111-inch-wide sign is expected to sell for $20,000-$40,000. Another coveted beauty is a circa-1930s double-sided porcelain neon sign advertising a Pontiac dealership. The focal point is the car manufacturer’s iconic company logo, which shows the legendary 18th-century Ottawa tribe’s war chief Pontiac in profile. The sign illuminates nicely and has its original bullnose. Both sides display excellent condition – 8.25+ on side 1 and 8.0 on side 2. Its crated size is 83 by 29 by 51 inches, and its pre-sale estimate is $12,000-$20,000. Andy Warhol might have described a striking circa-1930s single-sided porcelain Shell Service neon sign as “pop art.” It really makes a statement with its extra-vivid color, high gloss and strong 9.0 condition. The sign has a newly-added transformer and electrical componentry, so it’s ready to light up its new owner’s collection brightly and flawlessly. The crated size is 58…
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Auction Result, Press ReleaseBidders were in a holiday mood at Morphy’s stylish $2.6M Fine & Decorative Arts Auction
Top lots included very rare Tiffany ‘Venetian’ art-glass lamp with Macklowe Gallery provenance, $114K; and a grand gilt-bronze mermaid-theme centerpiece by Francois-Raoul Larche, $69K Rare Tiffany Studios Venetian Leaded Glass Table Lamp DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s December 17-19 Fine & Decorative Arts Auction made the holiday season merry and bright for discerning gift-buyers and collectors with its opulent selection of luxury goods that totaled $2.6 million, inclusive of buyer’s premium. The 2024 edition of the Pennsylvania company’s popular pre-Christmas sale featured a stunning array of jewels and watches, silver, European art pottery and antiques; and more than 40 outstanding Tiffany Studios lamps. One of the most desirable of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s creations, a rare and extraordinarily beautiful Venetian table lamp claimed top-lot honors at the upscale gallery event. Although diminutive by comparison to other Tiffany lighting, the 19-inch-tall lamp was one of the New York firm’s most expensive productions in the early 20th century. This was due to the time and painstaking effort it took to create the breathtaking Venetian pattern from a profusion of small, delicate pieces of glass. Both the shade, which retained its attractive original “gold” heat cap, and its correct filigreed and jeweled “gold” base were signed. In excellent condition and with provenance that included a 2003 purchase from the prestigious Macklowe Gallery, it sold for $114,000 against an estimate of $60,000-$80,000. A fine example of a Tiffany Studios Turtleback desk lamp consisted of a bronze base encircled with gleaming Favrile glass balls and a single-socket shade with two stunning iridescent-green Turtleback tiles. Signed beneath the base with Tiffany Studios New York 9949 and the number 408, this excellent example showing no cracks or dents was bid to $19,680 against an estimate of $9,000-$12,000. Another lovely Tiffany Studios desk lamp that swept past its estimate was a harp-style model in the Pine Needle pattern. Eye-catching with its streaked green leaded glass panels and patinated bronze overlay of bronze “pine needles,” the lamp was signed Tiffany Studios New York 4019 on its underside and graded “excellent” by Morphy’s experts. Against an estimate of $2,000-$4,000, it lit up…
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Auction Result, Press ReleaseMorphy’s ‘lured’ collectors of antique fishing baits to $900K+ sale of Wayne Edens collection, Part I
Extremely rare lures, many of them boxed, included one of eight legendary frogs hand-carved in 1898 by James Heddon and displayed at Heddon factory, plus many other seldom-seen examples One Of The 8 James Heddon Hand-carved Frogs DENVER, Pa. – The water was fine and the bidders were biting at Morphy’s December 9 auction of the Wayne Edens collection of antique and vintage fishing lures, Part I, which tallied more than $900,000. The 622-lot sale was singularly focused on treasures from the Edens collection, the largest, most comprehensive and historically-important collection of its type ever to come to the public marketplace. As predicted, the top lot of the day was an all-original Heddon frog lure (or “bait”) personally crafted by James Heddon, founder of the Heddon Company. One of eight created and subsequently exhibited on a display board at the Heddon plant in Dowagiac, Michigan, the frog was formerly the property of Dudley Murphy (1940-2022), co-founder of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club. Murphy had obtained the lure directly from the Heddon factory. In addition to its unbroken line of provenance, Edens’ frog lure was definitively photo-matched to one of the original eight “board” examples. It made its first-ever auction appearance on December 9 at Morphy’s and sold within estimate for $30,750. An extremely rare Heddon special order 1309 Black Sucker in a five-hook configuration dazzled with its spectacular white saltwater color, glitter finish and solid amber-glass eyes. Graded Excellent Minus to Excellent, it reeled in a winning bid of $22,200. A Heddon 707 Dowagiac Musky Minnow bait with a sienna crackleback finish was of a type first marketed in 1909. Sturdy and sizable at 5-3/8 inches long, it was one of the finest of those few known to have survived. On top of that, it was accompanied by its oversize introductory box. It landed within its pre-sale estimate range at $20,910. Among other exotic Heddon lures that met with success on auction day was an 8-inch 7602 Musky Vamp produced around 1925. With red eyes and tail, a shiny finish and perfect glass eyes, it was graded Excellent and…
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Auction Result, Press ReleaseMorphy’s chalks up $3.7M at Las Vegas auction of coin-ops and antique advertising featuring Rich and Sharon Penn collection
Dec. 5-7 event was led by circa-1905 Ray-O-Lite rifle game, $319,800; Anheuser-Busch Bevo boat auto, $172,200; 1927 Ahrens-Fox fire engine, $129,150; and drug store mortar & pestle sign, $51,550 Rare Automatic Target Machine Co. "Ray-o-lite" Rifle Arcade Game LAS VEGAS, Nev. – Part I of a fabulous personal collection of antique advertising and coin-operated machines amassed over several decades by Rich and Sharon Penn was the special highlight of Morphy December 5-7, 2024 auction in Las Vegas, which grossed $3.7 million. Acknowledged experts within the collecting world, the Penns founded Rich Penn Auctions, an Iowa business that forged a partnership with Morphy’s in May when Rich assumed a key role there as Market Development Officer. The Penns’ private collection was described by Morphy Auctions’ founder, president and principal auctioneer Dan Morphy as “unquestionably one of the finest of its type. Every item Rich and Sharon acquired was handpicked with an emphasis on high condition, rarity and eye appeal. Based on what we heard after the debut auction this month, there’s a lot of excitement and speculation about what might be offered in the next installment of antiques from their collection.” The December event included music, arcade and gambling machines, as well as rare antique and vintage signs promoting a wealth of products from the late-19th and early 20th centuries. Both floor and phone bidders were particularly active during the sale. The 3-day series was led by a prized holding from the Penn collection: a circa-1905 battery-operated Ray-O-Lite rifle game made by Automatic Target Machine Co. It was an early, especially-rare version powered by a dry-cell battery. Later revamps introduced by William Gent in the 1920s were AC-powered. The auction example had nine unique target features, was in all original condition and retained its additional cord extension. Against an estimate of $100,000-$200,000, it shot to a final price of $319,800. Two offbeat transportation lots rolled to six-figure prices at the sale. A 1930 Cadillac “Bevo Boat” manufactured for Anheuser-Busch for promotional purposes and named for its non-alcoholic beverage called “Bevo” is believed to be the only survivor of eight that were…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseMorphy’s unveils elegant holiday selection for Dec. 17-19 Fine & Decorative Arts Auction
Featured: 195 art-glass lamps, including very rare Tiffany ‘Venetian’ with Macklowe Gallery provenance; platinum & diamond jewelry, gold watches, art pottery & glass, Black Forest clock Rare Tiffany Studios Venetian Leaded Glass Table Lamp DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s most-loved sale from its always-busy calendar of events, the annual pre-Christmas Fine & Decorative Arts Auction, consistently delivers luxury, rarity and peerless quality to discerning collectors and holiday gift-givers. This year’s edition, which will be held on December 17-19, is brimming with superior jewels and watches, art pottery, silver, coins and dazzling Tiffany Studios lamps. “In our Fine & Decorative sales, we always make an extra effort to include lamps that are genuinely exceptional,” said Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions. “In the December sale, there are more than 40 Tiffany productions, as well as designs by Handel, Duffner & Kimberley, Pairpoint, Wilkinson and many other sought-after brands.” No one has ever understood how to fuse color and light quite like Louis Comfort Tiffany, and today, more than 140 years after the introduction of his first Tiffany Studios lamp, collectors remain mesmerized by his designs. Unquestionably, one of the most desirable Tiffany masterworks is the “Venetian” lamp, an example of which will be auctioned on December 18. A rare and extraordinarily beautiful Venetian table lamp is diminutive (19 inches tall) by comparison to other Tiffany lighting, yet it was one of the New York firm’s most expensive lamps in the early 20th century. This was due to the time and painstaking effort it took to create the breathtaking Venetian pattern from a profusion of small, very delicate pieces of glass. Both the shade, which retains its attractive original gold “heat cap,” and its correct filigreed and jeweled “gold” base are signed. The lamp is in excellent condition, and its provenance includes a 2003 purchase from the famed Macklowe Gallery. Estimate: $60,000-$80,000 At Morphy’s pre-Christmas auction, good things have always come in small packages. This year’s ultimate stocking stuffer is a ladies’ platinum and diamond line necklace consisting of 66 natural, near-colorless emerald-cut diamonds with a total weight of 21.50cts. The…
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Auction Industry, Press ReleaseJoin Morphy’s in Vegas for Dec. 5-7 auction of coin-ops & antique advertising with highlights from Rich and Sharon Penn collection
Featured: 1905 Ray-O-Lite arcade rifle game, $100K-$200K; naïve circa-1910s John Deere Plows sign, $40K-$70K; Anheuser-Busch 1930 Cadillac ‘Bevo Boat’ and circa-1927 Ahrens-Fox fire engine, each $50K-$150K Very rare circa-1905 Ray-O-Lite rifle game made by Automatic Target Machine Co., possibly the only surviving example with its original target cabinet - $100,000-$200,000 LAS VEGAS – This holiday season, visitors to bustling Las Vegas will have their pick of world-class entertainment of all types. Hotels on the glittering “Strip” will be showcasing Shania Twain, Cirque du Soleil, David Copperfield, and classic rockers REO Speedwagon and the Eagles, to name but a few of the A-list headliners. But that’s not the only form of entertainment to enjoy in Vegas in the run-up to Christmas. From December 5-7, Morphy’s will be hosting a big Coin-Op & Antique Advertising Auction brimming with music, arcade and gambling machines, as well as fabulous antique and vintage signage promoting everything from barber shops to beverages and candy to coffee. The atmosphere at these special Las Vegas events is always light-hearted 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. All items offered in the Saturday session (Dec. 7) come directly from the prestigious Rich and Sharon Penn collection, including a very rare circa-1905 Ray-O-Lite rifle game made by Automatic Target Machine Co. It is especially desirable because it is dry-cell-battery-operated, as opposed to the later revamps introduced by William Gent in the 1920s, which were AC-powered. The auction example has nine unique target features, is all original and in VG working condition with an added cord extension. An extraordinary buying opportunity and fresh-to-the-market from a legendary collection, it is possibly the only surviving example with its original target cabinet. Its presale estimate is $100,000-$200,000. Another top prize from the Penns’ holdings is an original circa-1910 5¢ Mills Dewey upright slot machine with original music, presented in its original-finish quartered oak cabinet with the original back door. The front glass is an older replacement featuring lustrous lettering and a colorful tin-litho wheel. Fully functional, in VG…
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Auction Industry, Press Release
Wayne Edens’ peerless collection of antique fishing lures will hook new owners at Morphy’s Dec. 9 auction
Antique lures of extraordinary rarity – many of them boxed – include one of eight frogs hand-carved in 1898 by James Heddon and displayed at Heddon factory in Dowagiac, Michigan One Of The 8 James Heddon Hand-carved Frogs DENVER, Pa. – Fishing lure enthusiasts from coast to coast will be angling for the catch of the day on Monday, December 9 at Morphy’s live gallery auction of the Wayne Edens collection. The incomparable assemblage of lures – said to be the largest, most comprehensive and historically-important collection of its type ever to come to the public marketplace – is brimming with ultra-rare gems, not the least of which is one of the eight celebrated Heddon “factory board” frogs hand-carved in 1898. The all-original Heddon frog lure (or “bait”) was personally crafted by James Heddon, founder of the Heddon Company. It was subsequently exhibited on a display board at the Heddon plant in Dowagiac, Michigan. In 1977, Clyde A Harbin Sr, an outdoorsman, author and fishing lure archivist known as “The Bassman™,” was invited by Heddon to visit the company’s factory and declutter the display board, removing any baits that were not Heddon productions. The eight frogs were present on the board both before and after the assortment was thinned out, and were photographed many times. Harbin would later write a book titled Heddon Historical Footprints in which he details where each of the eight frogs ended up. Today, it is believed that one of them is held in the Bass Pro Shops corporate collection, a few others are privately owned, and yet another may be in an aquarium’s collection in Oklahoma. The frog lure in Wayne Edens’ collection was acquired from Dudley Murphy (1940-2022), co-founder of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club. Murphy had obtained the lure directly from the Heddon factory. In addition to its unbroken line of provenance, Edens’ frog lure has been definitively photo-matched to one of the original eight “board” examples. It will make its first-ever auction appearance on December 9 with a $30,000-$80,000 estimate. The revered Heddon brand is amply represented in the sale. A…
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Auction Result, Press ReleaseClassics joined contemporary favorites in the top 10 at Morphy’s $1.1M+ Toys & Collectibles Auction
Nov. 6-7 sale highlights: Ty Cobb 1914 Cracker Jack baseball card, $34,440; Rooster sulfide marble, $22,140; Buddy ‘L’ Outdoor Railroad, $13,530; Set of 4 Popeye ‘hoppers,’ $11,685 Very Rare No. 30 Ty Cobb 1914 Cracker Jack Baseball Card DENVER, Pa. – Good things came in small packages at Morphy’s Nov. 6-7 Toys & General Collectibles Auction, which closed the books at more than $1.1 million. The Pennsylvania company’s last major toy auction of the year featured a diverse mix of popular collecting categories within its 1,600+ lots, and when all was said and done, it was an antique baseball card and the smallest of handmade artworks – marbles – that made the biggest impression. A mesmerizing 2-1/8-inch teal-blue sulfide marble with a nicely-detailed, well-centered rooster had a lot to crow about. It boasted 9.8 condition and earned high praise from Morphy Auctions’ president and longtime marble fancier Dan Morphy, who described it as “one of the best sulfides we have ever seen.” Against an estimate of $8,000-$12,000, it rolled confidently to a winning bid of $22,140. Another diminutive beauty, a painted china marble with pink pinwheels at each end, was adorned with images of a lady holding a rake, a house and trees against a desert scene. The artful 1-15/16-inch orb in 9.7 condition ultimately sold for $7,995. Another prized item requiring only minimal shelf space was a very rare No. 30 Ty Cobb 1914 Cracker Jack baseball card graded SGC2. Its striking image showed the legendary “Georgia Peach” against a scarlet background, suited up in his Detroit Americans uniform and holding a bat. The card attracted 24 bids before rounding the bases and landing at the top of prices realized for $34,440. A sought-after sports treasure, it far exceeded its $10,000-$20,000 estimate. Sports cards of a later era also found favor with bidders. A 1962 Topps Baseball 3rd-Series cello pack with a San Francisco Giants team card visible on top was graded PSA 7, Near Mint. It rose to the midpoint of its estimate, settling at $5,658. From a galaxy far, far away came an unopened 1977 Topps Star…
