The 3rd Thursday Discovery Auction, offered by Witherell’s, features a large collection of concert memorabilia, including handbills from the Family Dog/Avalon Ballroom and “Bill Graham Presents in San Francisco.” Many of the handbills match with separately listed posters. Two signed album covers will also cross the auction block: Cheap Thrills signed by Janis Joplin and Electric Lady Land signed by Jimi Hendrix, Noël Redding, and Mitch Mitchell. The albums and their covers are presented with frames.
From antique bottles to socialist party campaign pins, fruit crate labels to woven baskets, the diversity of this auction is notable. To explore the full catalog and register to bid, visit Witherell’s website.
Ismael Al-Sheikhli’s forte was the use of vibrant colors, abstract human figures, and obscured backgrounds. As one of the pioneers of Iraqi Art, Ismael shares the center stage with the likes of Joan Miro and Pablo Picasso at the Modern and Contemporary Art+Design: Premier Auction. Offered by Cowan’s Auction, the 155 lots features renowned contemporary artists along with categories such as furniture, lighting, and more.
At the highest estimated value of $50,000 is an aquatint, printed on Guarro paper by Joan Miro. Amongst the featured list, lots like a rare cocktail shaker designed by Paul Lobel and armchairs by Wendell Castle can be found. Picasso’s Jeune Homme Couronné de Feuillage (Young Man Crowned with Foliage) is a noteworthy item in the collection. His linocut in colors is a depiction of a young man with dual faces. For more information, please visit Invaluable.
The lens of Irving Penn is known to capture a deeper personality of the subjects. Among the highlights of Classic & Contemporary Photographs by Swann Auction Gallery is a photograph by Penn. This photograph portrays a pair of native children who arrived barefoot, dressed in tattered clothing and floppy native hats to his studio.
The auction also presents the work of a famous 20th-century photographer, Manuel Álvarez Bravo. Álvarez Bravo’s work sways between dream and reality. His ability to transform everyday life into monumental art has established him as one of the important figures in Latin American Photography. The auction offers a portfolio of photographs by Álvarez Bravo with an estimated value of $30,000.
Collectors looking for a means of creative expression can also find photographs by Roy Decarava in the collection. Decarava’s photograph entitled “Boy with Bowed Head” seems to convey a sense of loneliness and isolation. View the catalog and register to bid on Swan Auction Gallery
The Fall Sports Memorabilia Auction, offered by Heritage Online, is a sale of collectibles from nearly every major sport. In total, this two-day sale contains over 1,200 lots.
For instance, baseball and signature collectors might admire the variety of autographed baseballs for sale. One of the most valuable is a ball signed by Babe Ruth circa 1940. Heritage says the signature in question is “one of the finest we’ve ever encountered on horsehide.” A more unusual item is a 1961-62 New York Yankees Oversized Promotional Nodder. Just three examples of this souvenir are even known to exist.
If football is more your style, then take a look at the singular 1998 Heisman Memorial Trophy presented to University of Texas Longhorns running back Ricky Williams. Ricky Williams is selling many of his athletic memorabilia in this auction. Heisman trophies are so rare at auction that this lot is expected to fetch $500,000 or more.
Some other popular items to choose from include signatures by Ty Cobb, Branch Rickey, Dizzy Dean, Lou Gehrig, Mel Ott, and others. Lots also include bats, bases, photos, letters, and more. To view and register to bid visit Heritage Auctions.
The U.S. Coins Auction by Heritage consists of a large sampling of collectible U.S. rarities from across the minted spectrum. One controversial example is the 1776 Continental dollar. The origin and purpose of the 1776 dollar are in dispute despite historical documents referencing the dollar from more than 235 years ago. The coin has been studied by numerous numismatic researchers, and some have even suggested that it was struck in London for sale as a medal. Regardless, the coins remain elusive and valuable.
Another unusual sample from this sale is the 1915-S Octagonal fifty, which was minted to celebrate the Panama Pacific International Exposition. The purpose of the exposition was to celebrate the completion of the Panama Canal, and this coin pays tribute to that engineering wonder. The coin’s designer, Robert Aitken, included a ring of dolphins around the border, meant to symbolize the uninterrupted waterway of the canal. There were only 645 octagonal examples of these $50 that were ever distributed.
For collectors who enjoy error coins, there are several offerings, including the 1969-S 1 Cent Doubled Die Obverse. The outline is visible on the date and the words LIBERTY and IN GOD WE TRUST. The Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) estimates that approximately 30 of this coin variation is known. It is ranked second in Schechter and Garrett’s 100 Greatest U.S. Modern Coins, in which they write: “It is definitely the most valuable Lincoln cent variety and among the most rare.” Find these and many more rare coin lots and register to bid at Heritage Auctions.
As a key figure in early American abstraction, Charles Green Shaw was a master of varied artistic styles. One of his abstracts is being presented on the first day of Fine & Decorative Art Auction by Eldred’s Auction. Among the featured works is a lively landscape by Charles C. Gruppe (American, 1860-1940) depicting a scene of the harbor. Like Charles Green Shaw, Gruppe is also widely recognized for his contributions to the art world. Eager buyers looking for an exquisite piece can find a sculpture entitled Le Triomphe (The triumph) by F. Bazin. The auction not only presents a variety of fine art but also includes many furniture, jewelry, glassware, and ethnographic art.
Many immortals in Chinese folk culture were believed to be real people. They were elevated to the status of immortals due to their charitable deeds on Earth. In the upcoming 19th-20th Century Decorative Arts auction, presented by Solomon Treasure, the lot with the highest estimated value is a coral sculpture of five female immortals. The five women are shrouded by flowers in this piece carved in red coral. Like this sculpture, the 172 lots in the 19th-20th Century Decorative Arts auction are decorative pieces from disparate places, including China, France, and India.
Another Chinese coral sculpture available in this auction depicts a pine tree and a group of scholars. In the last coral piece, flowers surrounded the female immortals. In this piece, the pine tree and its budding flowers are the focus, while small Chinese scholars are nestled throughout its branches.
Beyond Chinese sculptures, one of the most notable lots is a silver statue of Michael Jackson. The piece is by Billa Dhand, an Indian artist known for his work with gold and silver sculptures. Produced after Jackson’s death and amid the controversies of his personal life, Dhand nonetheless chooses to represent Jackson with his more proud and public persona as the “King of Pop”.
William Shakespeare also appears in this auction with a bust of his likeness produced by French artist Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse. Belleuse was a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts and lived in several countries, including Shakespeare’s native England for five years. You can view each lot and register to bid on Bidsquare.
The second day of the Firearms, Military, Accessories and Ammunition auction, presented by Alderfer Auction, features 541 items. The auction includes insignias, badges, medals, photographs, along with firearms, swords, rifles, etc. In this diverse collection, one of the most noteworthy lots is a semi-automatic pistol of WW2. The Colt Government Model with checkered wood grips belonged to Corporal Harold T Richards of the 17th/11th Airborne Division.
Representing the German leaders from World War II is a German WWII cigarette album. The front of the album features intertwined letters DRF (Deutsche Reichs Fuhrer) translating to German Reichs Leaders. One can also find an emblem of honor – a United States rank insignia dating from the late 19th century through World War I. Find more items and register to bid online on Alderfer Auctions.
The lush green emeralds draped in a magnificent diamond necklace steal the show in the upcoming A Tradition of Excellence Auction. And if you are a big fan of the movie Titanic, then Heart of the Ocean might sound familiar. You can find its lookalike with an exquisite heart-shaped Tanzanite necklace in the auction.
An AGL certified, cushion modified cut Ruby and diamond ring is another rare find. Gemologist Richard W. Hughes says “If you shine a strong light on them, they have a red body color but they will also fluoresce red, super-charging the color.” The no-heat Burmese Ruby is sought after and in high demand in the Chinese market for its limited production and the brilliant red color. Collectors can also bid on signature pieces from reputed brands like Bulgari, Tiffany & Co. and more. Explore a variety of jewelry, watches, and more and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
Art prevailed during the difficult conditions in Germany between 1938 and 1942. The small town Allach located outside Munich flourished during these years for the production of porcelain. The Malachowsky Hussar on horseback figurine by the artistic director of the company Theodor Karner is a highly valued collectible featured in the Autumn Fine Estates Auction. Ahlers & Ogletree present a variety of period antiques, Asian arts, mid-century modern, and more in this auction.
Collectors will be able to bid on an 1894 Toulouse-Lautrec lithograph. Works of this French painter like the Moulin Rouge’s legendary posters are a part of worldwide museums. Minimizing the gap between high and low art, the artist has truly elevated the status of fine art. Other highlights include paintings from the Estate of Mr. & Mrs. John Houser of Jacksonville and an important Qing Dynasty Chinese export wallpaper screen. Explore the full listings and register to bid online on Bidsquare.
