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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
16 Results-
Auction Industry, Press Release
Morphy’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 Release
Morphy’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 Release
Neon 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 Release
Bidders 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 Release
Morphy’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 Release
Morphy’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 Release
Morphy’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 Release
Join 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 Release
Classics 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…
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Auction Industry, Press Release
Extraordinary antique breweriana collection of former Anheuser-Busch exec on tap at Morphy’s, Nov. 13-15
Jim and MaryBeth Fischer collection presents visual history of how 19th/20th-century American breweries promoted their products through exquisite signage designed by fine artists Anheuser-busch Beer Reverse Glass Corner Sign DENVER, Pa. – Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, takes pleasure in announcing the November 13-15 auction of one of America’s most exceptional private holdings of antique breweriana: the Jim and MaryBeth Fischer collection. Amassed over 50 years, the couple’s assemblage of rare and unique advertising and merchandising artifacts spans a significant 100-year period that began in the late 1800s, when fine artists and skilled craftsmen combined their talents to create pieces of incomparable and enduring quality. The 1,416-lot auction is highlighted by many items that are either exquisitely rare or the only known examples of their kind. In addition to breathtaking antique signs of every imaginable variety from obscure, smaller breweries and great legacy brands, the auction lineup casts a wide net across many other types of beer-related collectibles. There are lithographs, chargers, serving trays, calendars, steins, clocks, historical awards and medals; and a fantastic variety of company-branded jewelry and premium items. The lifetime hobby that culminated in the Fischers’ awe-inspiring collection of antiques closely parallels Jim’s own career, which included many years in an executive role at the Anheuser-Busch brewing company in St Louis. It was there, Jim said, that his passion for collecting was taken to a whole new level. Later, when he moved on to establish his own software-development firm, there was no question as to how the walls of his corporate offices would be decorated, since the couple’s collection had already grown to the point that it adorned all three floors of their spacious home. But then the unexpected happened. COVID arrived on U.S. shores. “The pandemic caused the closure of my physical corporate offices and we had to move much of that part of our collection to a commercial storage facility,” Jim said. After that, he and MaryBeth made the decision to send their collection to auction so that, in Jim’s words, “others could enjoy these great items as much as we have.”…
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Auction Industry, Press Release
The band played on as Morphy’s Coin-Op & Antique Advertising Auction reaped a $4.2M payday
Top lots: Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Model ‘A’ music machine, $221,400; Caille Bros. Roulette 5¢ floor-model slot with 7-way roulette wheel payout, $135,300; Mills Deluxe Violano-Virtuoso, $49,200 Hupfeld Phonoliszt-violina Piano-violin Model "A" DENVER, Pa. – Antique European and American music, slot and fortune-telling machines took a well-deserved bow at Morphy’s October 17-19 Coin-Op & Antique Advertising Auction, where 1,913 lots cashed out at a robust $4.2 million. As is always the case at the Pennsylvania company’s popular Coin-Op sales, there were plenty of “sleepers” that quietly simmered below the surface prior to auction day, only to end up eclipsing all expectations once the bidding wars began. The top-10 list was crowned by a superb example of a circa-1912 Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Model “A,” arguably the most successful automatic violin and piano-playing machine ever made. It is also one of the most spectacularly complicated of all music machines, with mechanisms that reproduce violin expression, bowing, vibrato and staccato, as well as piano expression replicating a very high standard of human touch and sensitivity. Restored in 1986 and again in 2014, it was acquired in 2012 by its present owner from Sanfilippo Place de la Musique in Barrington, Illinois. The business’ owner, Jasper Sanfilippo, obtained the German-made unit in 1983 from a restaurant in France. An undeniable superstar, it sold in the auction’s third session for $221,400. Also ready for primetime, a circa-1920 Mills Deluxe Violano-Virtuoso, comprised of two violins that play elegantly and simultaneously, had undergone a scrupulous 36-month restoration. Housed in a Brazilian mahogany cabinet, the sophisticated entertainer achieved a high distinction in its day when the U S Government named it “one of the greatest scientific inventions of the age.” As fine an example as any collector could ever hope to own, it sold within estimate for $49,200. An enticing selection of 145 rare slot machines was led by a circa-1904 Caille Bros (Detroit) Roulette 5¢ floor-model slot with a 7-way roulette wheel payout. Resplendent in its rare Honduran mahogany cabinet with ornate copper-flashed and plated iron castings, this desirable machine was fully restored and described by Morphy’s antique coin-op experts as…
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Auction Industry, Press Release
Morphy’s hosted the October Hershey crowd at a lively $2.1M Automobilia & Petroliana Auction
Motivated new bidders battled Morphy regulars for high-end rarities: Husky porcelain service station sign, $59,040; Sinclair ‘Dino’ curb sign, $52,800; Grizzly Gasoline ‘tombstone’ sign, $25,830 Husky Service Porcelain Service Station Shield Sign W/ Husky Dog Graphic. DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s October Automobilia & Petroliana Auction has become an annual tradition for motorheads who gather in central Pennsylvania for the Eastern National Fall Meet of the Antique Automobile Club of America. Better known as “Hershey” because of the city where it takes place, the massive car show and flea market attracts thousands of car enthusiasts from around the world. This year many show attendees decided to warm up their buying skills by heading over to Morphy’s October 6 pre-Hershey auction. The colorful gas and oil advertising sale was stocked with 652 lots of wonderful rarities that chalked up nearly $2.1 million. Estimate-defying prices were paid for many of the vintage signs, service station pumps and globes; motor oil cans and other petroleum-related accessories and display items. Animal mascots once again proved their popularity as advertising subjects, with several landing in the day’s top 10. Leading the group was the energetic Arctic dog who represents Husky Oil Co., founded in 1938 in Cody, Wyoming. Shown leaping playfully against a rising sun, the brand’s iconic Husky dog dominated an excellent double-sided porcelain sign of shield form and emblazoned with the phrase “Husky Service.” A sizable 42 by 48 inches, it was AGS-certified, with sides graded 89 and 87 respectively. Against an estimate of $20,000-$40,000, it ended its cross-tundra run at $59,040. Another long-standing mascot is Sinclair’s “Dino” the dinosaur. His well-detailed image, shown in profile with the tagline “Mellowed 100 Million Years,” was the focal point of a circa-1930s double-sided porcelain curb sign advertising Sinclair Pennsylvania Motor Oil. Measuring 24 inches in diameter, the red, white and black circular sign was AGS-certified, with sides graded 90 (front) and 93 (reverse). Exceptionally clean and offered with a $10,000-$20,000 estimate, it left a mighty footprint in claiming runner-up status at $54,120. Arguably the most formidable animal competitor was the hulking bear mascot for Grizzly Gasoline…
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Auction Industry, Press Release
An iconic duo, Popeye and Elvis, will share top billing at Morphy’s Nov. 6-7 Toys & General Collectibles Auction
Featured: Mark Kuster’s 35-year toy collection spanning the Popeye universe; and a single-owner trove of fan club rarities and autographed material pertaining to “The King” Very Rare Linemar Battery-operated Popeye Oliveoyl Tank DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s last major toy sale of the year will take place on November 6-7, three weeks before Thanksgiving, but there isn’t a single “turkey” in the lineup. In fact, there’s so much quality and variety, it will feel like one of those great toy events of the pre-Internet era that collectors used to love. The auction is anchored by two major collections: a fantastic array of Popeye toys amassed over 35+ years by retired professor and Popeye reference-book author Mark Kuster, and a North Carolina collection of Elvis Presley memorabilia that will leave bidders all shook up. Kuster’s collection of approximately 72 Popeye toys includes some of the finest of all known examples, with 39 of the comic-character rarities retaining their original boxes. There are many seldom-seen color variations in the specialty grouping comprised of Popeye with Parrot Cages toys, whose differences include striped or solid-colored legs, caped or without cape, etc. The top picks in Kuster’s toy trove are a battery-operated Popeye and Olive Oyl Tank (with repro box), followed by a very rare Hoge tin speedboat, which is one of fewer than a dozen known to exist. Also in the circle of honor are a boxed Chein Popeye Heavy Hitter and a Linemar Popeye Aeroplane, which is small but beautiful and very difficult to find in excellent to near-mint working condition. Another of Kuster’s personal favorites is a classic Hubley cast-iron Popeye Motorcycle. The Elvis collection comes from a diehard fan who always bought but never sold, meaning the goodies are fresh to the market. Many pieces were autographed by “The King” himself, including 20 rare sets of Elvis Presley cards that span the years 1956-1978 and have a total estimated value of $10,000-$20,000. Additionally, there are cards from a series produced in the late 1970s after Presley’s passing (in 1977). Many of the cards are graded. Additionally, there are Graceland mementos, bracelets,…
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Auction Industry, Press Release
The entertainment is free and you might hit the jackpot at Morphy’s Oct. 17-19 Coin-Op & Antique Advertising Auction in Las Vegas
Featured: Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Model A music machine, $250K-$500K, 1904 Caille Bros. 5¢ floor-model Roulette slot machine, $150K-$300K, fortune tellers, arcade machines, 825 advertising signs Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Piano-Violin Model "A" LAS VEGAS – There will be no shortage of accomplished entertainers at Morphy’s Oct. 17-19 Coin-Op & Antique Advertising Auction in Las Vegas. A world-class lineup of European antique music machines is waiting in the wings to thrill auction guests with bravo-worthy performances rivaling famed orchestras and musicians of a century ago. Those who cannot attend the event in person are invited to bid absentee, by phone or live online through Morphy’s bidding platform. Leading the A-list lineup is a circa-1912 Hupfeld Phonoliszt-Violina Model “A,” which is regarded as the most successful automatic violin and piano-playing machine ever made and one of the most spectacular of all music machines. Its complex mechanisms reproduce violin expression, bowing, vibrato, staccato, etc., as well as piano expression, replicating the technique of highly accomplished pianists. Restored in 1986 and again in 2014, it was acquired in 2012 by its present owner from Sanfilippo Place de la Musique in historic Barrington, Illinois. Jasper Sanfilippo obtained the unit in 1983 from a restaurant in France. Its auction estimate is $250,000-$500,000. Another musical wonder, a Coinola Model SO Super Orchestrion is one of approximately 50 manufactured circa 1920 by the Operators Piano Company of Chicago. Its “orchestra” includes an 88-note piano (78 notes play automatically), a mandolin, violin and flute pipes; drums, a cymbal and other smaller percussion instruments. It is designed to plays 10-tune “O” rolls. Marketed at the start of the Prohibition Era, its original owner is reputed to have been a Chicago mobster. Restored twice, in 1986 and again in 2015, it is ready to grace a new collection and is estimated at $100,000-$200,000. Also ready to step into the spotlight is a circa-1920 Mills Deluxe Violano-Virtuoso comprised of two violins that play elegantly and simultaneously. Housed in a Brazilian mahogany cabinet, this unit underwent a scrupulous 36-month restoration in which no small detail was spared. The U S Government designated the Violano-Virtuoso as “one…