BILLINGS, of Los Angeles CA, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with its 402 lot BILLINGS AT TEN auction, to be held on September 27, 2025. This fantastically curated sale presents breathtaking selections of midcentury to contemporary furnishings; decorative art, sculptures and paintings; lamps and lighting fixtures; and other category spanning rarities. Here are a few outstanding offerings that captured the eye of the Auction Daily editors.
Lot #10, Edwin ‘Ed’ Moses’ Jackson Nalade painting, is estimated at $40,000-50,000
The top lot in this early autumn event is #10, abstract artist Edwin ‘Ed’ Moses’ (American, 1926–2018) Jackson Nalade painting. This unmounted, acrylic on tarp work is estimated at $40,000-50,000. It measures 12′ H x 24′ W, is primarily rendered in black, red, yellow, and green, and hails from the 2017 Los Angeles area Spot Welders Billboard Project.
This sale features a handsome and robust selection of chairs and seating of all sorts.
Lot #4, William Emmerson’s Rib Line bench, is estimated at $7,000-9,000.
Lot #4, British designer and sculptor William Emmerson’s Rib Line bench, is estimated at $7,000-9,000. This 21st century example is made from ApplePly – a plywood material composed of thin layers of birch faced with different types of veneers – with bronze hardware. It measures 19″ H x 63″ W x 21.5″ D and truly resembles a symmetrical rib cage.
Lot #13, Sam Maloofs’ walnut rocking chair, is estimated at $20,000-30,000.
Lot #13, American furniture designer and woodworker Sam Maloofs’ (1916-2009) walnut rocking chair, is estimated at $20,000-30,000. It was made in 1983 and measures 44.25″ H x 26″ W x 47″ D with a seat height of 16″. The underside of the chair is marked No. 21 1983 Sam Maloof F.A.C.C. Maloof was famous for his rocking chair designs, and his work is included in the collections of premier art museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, among others.
Lot #16, Jean Prouve’s Standard Chair, is estimated at $9,000-$12,000.
Lot #16, Jean Prouve’s (French, 1901-1984), Standard Chair, is estimated at $9,000 – $12,000. This architecturally inspired seat is model no. 305 and was made by Les Ateliers Jean Prouve in France around 1950. It is constructed from lacquered steel sheet and molded plywood. It measures 32″ H x 16.5″ W x 18″ D with a seat height of 18.5″.
Paintings, sculptures, and other art are also well represented in this event.
Lot #334, Ellamarie Woolley’s Untitled (#534), is estimated at $3,000-$5,000.
Lot #334, American enamel artist Ellamarie Woolley’s (1913–1976), Untitled (#534), is estimated at $3,000 – $5,000. This elongated, hexagonal work from around 1965 is made from enameled metal, brass, and painted wood and rendered primarily in purples, orange, and red. It measures 14.25″ H x 24.5″ W x 1″ D and is signed by the artist and numbered en verso.
Lot #9, Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman’s Elipses mosaic panel, is estimated at $8,000-12,000.
Lot #9, Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman’s Elipses mosaic panel, is estimated at $8,000-12,000. This tan, black, blue, teal, and green glass tile on Masonite mosaic is framed and measures 12.5″ H x 60″ W x 1″ D. It was made around 1958 for ERA Industries and retains its ERA Industries label en verso. The Ackermans were midcentury industrial designers best known for producing decorative and functional home products, including ceramics, textiles, and jewelry.
Lot #3, Vasa’s Big Block sculpture, is estimated at $8,000-12,000.
Lot #3, Vasa’s (b. Velizar Mihich, American, b. 1933) Big Block sculpture, is estimated at $8,000-12,000. This 51″ H x 64.5″ W x 7″ D purple, blue, teal, and fuchsia laminated acrylic sculpture is presented on a 80″ H x 72″ W x 14″ D custom birch plinth. It was produced in 1987 and is etched 2850 Vasa C 1987 on its right lower corner. The artist was born in the former Yugoslavia and is a leader in the Color Field movement abstract painting school.
Lot #14, George Nakashima’s Minguren II coffee table, is estimated at $25,000-30,000.
Also on offer is a finely curated offering of furnishings that double as focal points for any room.
Lot #14, a George Nakashima (American, 1905-1990) Minguren II coffee table, is estimated at $25,000-30,000. This table was made in 1988 in New Hope, PA from American black walnut wood with rosewood butterfly key detailing. It measures 15″ H x 51″ W x 24.75″ D and is signed and dated on its underside. It is being sold with a copy of the original invoice and artist signed sketch of the table design. Nakashima was granted the Order of the Sacred Treasure, Japan’s highest award given for long-term, distinguished contributions, by the Emperor of Japan in 1983.
Lot #65, Dakota Jackson’s Cuba Sofa, is estimated at $4,000-$6,000.
Lot #65, Dakota Jackson’s (American, b. 1949) Cuba Sofa, is estimated at $4,000 – $6,000. It is made from forest green leather with embossed brass framing along its bottom edge. It measures 29″ H x 96″ W x 30″ D overall with a seat height of 18.5″. This sofa was made in the late 20th century by Dakota Jackson Studio in the USA. A furniture designer to the stars, Jackson’s clients have included Yoko Ono, John Lennon, Diane von Fürstenberg, and many others.
Lot #381, a handsome custom daybed, is estimated at $2,000-3,000.
Lot #19, Paavo Tynell’s ceiling lamp, is estimated at $8,000-10,000.
Elegant lamps and fixtures also light up this sale in the best ways possible.
Lot #19, Paavo Tynell’s (Finnish, 1890-1973) c. 1951 ceiling lamp, is estimated at $8,000-10,000. It is made from polished and enameled brass and frosted glass and measures 20.25″ H x 22″ in Diameter. The lamp is model no. 9060, and was made by Tynell’s lighting and manufacturing company Taito OY. It is marked TAITO on its fitting. According to Billings’ experts, Tynell designed this lamp in 1951 for the Secretariat’s room at the United Nations building in New York City.
Lot #52, an Invisible Chandelier, is estimated at $5,000-7,000.
Lot #52, an Invisible Chandelier, is estimated at $5,000-7,000. It was produced within the last two decades by Castor Design of Canada. This cloud-like fixture measures 12″ H x 62″ W x 20″ D and is constructed from clear and colored lightbulbs, LED lights, and painted metal. Castor Designs is known for blending engineering, recycled materials, and art to their design and production output.
Lot #123, Tommaso Barbi and Carlo Giorgi’s Rabarbaro floor lamp, is estimated at $2,500-3,500.
Lot #123, Tommaso Barbi and Carlo Giorgi’s Rabarbaro floor lamp, is estimated at $2,500-3,500. It was made around 1970 by Bottega Gadda of Italy. This brass fixture measures 75″ H x 62″ W x 24″ D overall and has three lifelike leaf “shades” on two thin stems. The word rabarbaro translates from the Italian to rhubarb, reflecting the shape of the leaves in this fixture.
Lot #59, Misha Kahn’s Saturday Morning Series wall mirror, is estimated at $7,000-9,000.
This event comes full circle with outstanding selections of decorative and functional art.
Lot #59, Misha Kahn’s (American, b. 1989) Saturday Morning Series wall mirror, is estimated at $7,000-9,000. This asymmetrical, organically shaped studio produced example from 2016 is made from resin, mirrored glass, and black automotive paint. It measures 58.5″ H x 30.5″ W x 6″ D and has provenance to the Friedman Benda art gallery of New York, NY as well as to well-known American interior and product designer Kelly Wearstler.
Notable auction entries include discoveries made by metal detectorists and others while traversing regions of England where Roman occupation was once prevalent
Anglo-Saxon. Anglo-Viking (Hiberno-Norse Northumbria), Sihtric I Caoch AR Penny.
HARWICH, UK – A trove of ancient Celtic coins amassed over three decades by antiquities connoisseur the late John P Meredith of Cornwall, England, is a featured attraction in TimeLine’s September 16-17, 2025 Numismatic Auction. In addition to rare and historically significant coinage, the 1,459-lot sale also includes weights, tokens, medals and highly-regarded numismatic books from a number of advanced collections.
The scholarly descriptions in TimeLine’s auction catalogue are quite fascinating in that so many describe discoveries made by chance or by metal detectorists in parts of England where Roman occupation was most prevalent. An Anglo-Saxon/Anglo-Viking (Hiberno-Norse Northumbria) Sihtric Caoch AR Penny, was struck in 921-927 AD and is attributed to the moneyer Albert at an unknown mint. A sword and upright Thor’s Hammer with three crescents are seen on the obverse of this SCBI 4 (Copenhagen) type coin, which weighs 1.06g and measures 10mm in diameter. Exceedingly rare and apparently the first example of its type ever to appear in the marketplace, this great treasure was found in Hagworthingham, near Spilsby, Lincolnshire, England on May 18, 2025. It is recorded by the Corpus of Early Medieval Coin Finds of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridgeshire. The auction estimate is: £20,000-£30,000 / $26,790-$40,190.
Another of the sale’s top prizes is a Carus AV Aureus coin, 282-283 AD, from the Antioch mint. CoinArchives database documents only one other known example of this particular type of coin. The obverse features a laureate, draped and cuirassed bust facing right. On verso, Victory is shown advancing to the right, holding a palm front over her left shoulder and a wreath in her right hand, with SmA in the exergue. Weighing 5.02g and measuring 20mm in diameter, this Extremely Fine example has a line of provenance that includes two previous appearances at auction, at Hess-Divo AG and Nomos AG, both in Switzerland. It is entered in the September 16-17 auction with a £12,000-£17,000 / $16,070-$22,770 estimate.
A metal detectorist searching near Wem, Shropshire, in England’s West Midlands made a lucky find in 2024: a D N (Our Lord) Valentinianvs AV Solidus struck at the Treveri mint (2nd officina) circa 367-375 AD. On the obverse, a diademed and cuirassed bust faces left, wearing a helmet decorated with stars and holding a spear and shield decorated with a horseman motif. It says VICTORE S AVGVSTI. On verso, Valentinian and Gratian are seated and face forward, holding a globe between them as Victory flies above and crowns them. TR OB (Treveris in Officina Secunda) appears in the exergue. Weighing 4.49g and measuring 20mm, this Very Rare coin is graded Extremely Fine and is regarded as one of the best examples known to exist. Estimate: £3,000-£4,000 / $4,020-$5,360
Originating in Thebes (Boeotia, Central Greece), one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, an AR Stater dates to circa 390-382 BC. Its imagery includes the Boeotian shield on its obverse; and on its reverse, a volute krater with a decorated upper half, a barley grain above, and FAΣT across its central field, all within a shallow incuse circle. Weighing 12.14g and measuring 22mm in diameter, the coin is in Near Extremely Fine condition and displays attractive old cabinet tone with blue iridescence around devices on the obverse, and gold on the reverse. Its well-documented provenance goes back to ownership by A A Ravel in 1938. Estimate: £3,000-£4,000 / $4,020-$5,360
From the York mint, an Anglo-Saxon, Kings of Wessex, Aethelstan AR penny was produced sometime between 924 and 939 AD by Ragland / Reinald moneyer. It is a Circumscription Cross type (BMC v) with a small cross pattee, with a crescent and seven pellets in the obverse field. A small cross pattee also appears on the reverse. Its weight is 1.29g and its size is 20mm in diameter. Graded Very Rare and in Near Very Fine condition, this coin was discovered near Cotham, Newark, in Nottinghamshire, England. It is recorded by the Corpus of Early Medieval Coin Finds of the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridgeshire. The auction estimate is £1,500-£2,000 / $2,010-$2,680.
TimeLine’s Sept. 16-17, 2025 Numismatic Auction featuring the John P Meredith Collection will be held live at the company’s head office located at The Court House, 363 Main Rd., Harwich, Essex CO12 4DN, UK. Internet bidders may pre-register online. Goods may be previewed in person at the gallery by prior arrangement only. Auction start time: 7am US ET/12 noon GMT. All remote forms of bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone (please book phone line 48 hours ahead of time), or live via the Internet through TimeLine’s bidding platform, LiveAuctioneers or Invaluable. TimeLine Auctions accepts payments in GBP and ships worldwide. Questions: call +44 7494 866514 or email Aaron Hammond at [email protected]. Online: https://timelineauctions.com.
As the first event heralding the tenth anniversary, the BILLINGS AT TEN auction will feature works that are both significant, and significantly BILLINGS. The auction is headlined by Ed Moses’ 12 feet by 24 feet “Billboard Painting” (2017) and a studio-made Walnut Rocking Chair (1983) by Sam Maloof, marking BILLINGS’ monumental anniversary with monumental, and iconic, pieces.
BILLINGS launched in 2015 to address the lack of modern, forward-thinking auction houses in Los Angeles at that time. Since then, the house has become a treasured resource for prominent interior designers and design savvy clients worldwide. Founded by Lorca Cohen and Greg Wooten of The Window, Joshua Kritzer of Rewire Gallery and Managing Partner Rich Carmichael, BILLINGS’ strength is not only offering blue chip, well known design but also forging an aesthetic that sees modernism, craft, folk and ephemera operate in the same visual universe. This unique approach has not only informed the international design community, but has also opened up the concept of purchasing at auction to a larger audience.
“In 2015, auctions were places populated by collectors and resellers – it wasn’t a world that the general public was very aware of. Ten years later, auctions in general have become a go-to place for a much wider audience,” notes Rich Carmichael. “From the beginning, BILLINGS has made a conscious effort to reach out to people new to this arena. Everything we do, from the parties the night before our sales, to the way we set up for in-person preview, to the way we take care of people that reach out to us, is geared toward making the auction experience fun and accessible.” Greg Wooten adds “Earning the trust of the design community was paramount to us. Once people could feel the momentum, better and better pieces kept coming our way… and just keep coming!”
BILLINGS’ tenth anniversary auction presents nearly 400 lots of modern and contemporary furniture, lighting, and art, including works by Pierre Jeanneret, Walter Lamb, Charles Eames, Jean Prouve, Paavo Tynell, and more.
The sale will also include several works by the late Franco-American Neo-Expressionist artist Pierre Picot in various media.
As part of our ten year anniversary celebrations, BILLINGS is proud to present our first auction dedicated to Scandinavian design. This sale is an eclectic collection spanning the 1930s through the 2000s.
Pieces by Henning Kjaernulf, Hans Wegner, Kai Kristiansen, Borge Mogensen, and many more.
There are also several hard to find large sets of modular cased goods and a wide range of styles from Swedish oak, to Danish rosewood. With starting bids ranging from $100-$3500, there is truly something for every taste and budget. Bidding will be live online. We are happy to accept absentee bids, but there will not be in-person or phone bidding on this sale.
The historical drama Downton Abbey debuted in the UK on September 26, 2010 and became an immediate sensation. Just a few months later, on January 9, 2011, the PBS network in the United States began running the program as part of its Masterpiece series. Downton Abbey would go on to run for 52 episodes over six series, win prestigious awards including a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy, have an estimated fan following of 120 million global viewers, and earn its place as one of the most celebrated programs in the history of British television. Bonhams of New Bond Street in London is offering its 267 lot Downton AbbeyThe Auction on September 16, 2025. The sale offers a full range of props, outfits, accessories, furniture, and other materials featured in the beloved series. Here are some highlights from this highly anticipated sale that caught the eye of the Auction Daily team.
A 1925 Sunbeam 2060hp Saloon vehicle, is estimated at £25,000 – £35,000
The top lot in this star-studded sale is #0173, a 1925 Sunbeam 20/60hp Saloon vehicle, which is estimated at £25,000 – £35,000.
This automobile debuted in the second season of the program and appeared through the fifth season and in all three related movies. This extraordinary example is in fine, running condition without restoration, except for a repaint. According to Bonhams, it is probably one of 45 extant today. It was made by one of Britain’s most elite manufacturers at the time, and was considered a competitor to the 20hp model produced by Rolls Royce. However, its sticker price was 25% less than the Rolls Royce model.
The wedding dress and accessories worn for the marriage of Lady Mary Crawley to Matthew Crawley, is estimated at £3,000 – £5,000.
Recognizable outfits worn by the cast members over the years are well represented in this auction.
For the ladies, all eyes will be on lot #0124, the wedding dress and accessories worn for the marriage of Lady Mary Crawley to Matthew Crawley in Season 3, Episode 1. It estimated at £3,000 – £5,000. The lot includes a 1920s-era themed chiffon dress with a decorative tabard overlay and pleated sash, satin Mary Jane style shoes, a sparkling tiara, tulle veil, and a faux bridal bouquet. This ensemble was designed by BAFTA nominated designer Caroline McCall and sewn by seamstress Jane Law, who has also produced costumes for high profile media franchises including Mad Max and Jurassic park.
A summer suit and accessories worn by Lord Grantham, is estimated at £600 -£800.
And for the gentlemen, three’s a charm with lot #0076, a three piece summer suit and accessories worn by Lord Grantham in Season 5 and Season 6, Episode 7. It is estimated at £600 -£800. The collection includes a matching herringbone jacket, waistcoat, and pants; a striped cream shirt; maroon tie; white collar; faux gold cufflinks and studs; brown socks and shoes; and a brown felt hat. According to Bonhams, this outfit, worn by the patriarch of the Crawley family and the co-owner of the Downton Abbey estate, was the most important in this character’s wardrobe.
The Downton Abbey bell wall, is estimated at £5,000 – £7,000.
Furniture and props integral to the series’ storyline are another key category in this early fall sale.
Lot #0002, The Downton Abbey bell wall first seen in Season 1 in the Servant’s Hall, is estimated at £5,000 – £7,000. This key prop appeared throughout the entire run of the series and was created by the production company’s model makers. The wall in the form of a large black board measuring 300cm x 12cm x 85.5cm. It has two rows of ten bells mounted to it, with each bell labeled with a specific room or area in the estate. When a bell rang, staff were notified of the help request, and its location, and could act accordingly. This bell wall was instrumental as a communications hub, as well as a dramatic catalyst, throughout the series.
A communal work or dining table, is estimated at £800 – £1,200.
Lot #0006, a communal work or dining table used for Season 5 onwards, is estimated at £800 – £1,200. This long, sturdy, and solidly constructed piece, designed to have an 18th century style aesthetic, measures 259cm x 98cm x 74cm. It is made from pine and was used as a prop in the Servant’s Hall. This table has a distinctly homemade, rustic presentation to it.
A late 19th / early 20th century croquet set, is estimated at £1,000- £1,500.
Decorative arts and household items featured throughout the series are certain to catch the eye of Downton Abbey enthusiasts worldwide.
Lot #0184, a late 19th / early 20th century croquet set which appeared in the film Downton Abbey: A New Era, is estimated at £1,000- £1,500. The grouping includes game mallets and balls, ten wickets, two center pegs, and a hoop mallet. These elements are all presented on a turned wooden stand with a black painted tin drip tray and a decorative cast iron shelf designed to secure the game balls. The mallets are 94 cm tall and the stand measures 49 cm x 49 cm x 90 cm.
A walking cane used by Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, is estimated at £500 – £800.
Lot #0063, a walking cane used by Violet Crawley, Dowager Countess of Grantham, is estimated at £500 – £800. This item, one of two produced, is made to resemble one from the early prewar period. It measures 13cm x 2.5cm x 95.5cm and features a black, tapered wooden shaft; a white metal handle decorated with stylized plant forms; and a white metal end tip.
A signed script of Downton Abbey Season 1, Episode 1, is estimated at £600 – £800.
This exciting sale rounds out with series related ephemera, preparatory sketches, set dressings, and other production related materials.
Lot #0001, a signed script of Downton Abbey Season 1, Episode 1, is estimated at £600 – £800. This unbound, shooting script was produced by Carnival Film & Television Ltd in 2010 and includes about 42 pages of double-sided mimeographed copy. Its cover page is autographed in black ink by the members of the cast and crew of that episode. This debut aired on September 26, 2010 on IVT in the UK to an estimated 9.25 million viewers.
The concept of a cabinet of curiosities or Wunderkammer has its origins in Europe as early as the 14th century and refers to a private but broad collection of unusual, odd, and/or bizarre items from every corner of the globe. These could scale from the contents of small chest of drawers to a free standing display case to an entire room or home, depending on the collector’s interests and resources. Considered the precursors for museums as we know them today, these self-curated collections were a marker of social status, wealth, and good taste for those in the know. Potter & Potter Auctions of Chicago, IL is offering its Cabinet of Curiosities sale on September 27th, featuring 502 lots of materials ranging from the macabre to the magnificent. Here are a few highlights that caught the eye of the Auction Daily editors.
This sale includes an outstanding collection of 19th to 20th century automata, and several of these rarities take the top lot slots in this can’t-look-away sale. Premier examples include:
Cambodian Apsara dancer automaton, is estimated at $200,000-300,000
Lot #11, a Cambodian Apsara dancer automaton, is estimated at $200,000-300,000. This absolute rarity was made in France in the 1890s, most likely by Roullet & Decamps. Its gorgeously rendered and very lifelike figure wears a traditional Cambodian outfit, accessories, and jewelry. When she is activated, she moves fluidly and sways her shoulders back and forth, shakes her arms, and bends her wrists. She stands on a red velvet platform which is decorated with trim and ball fringe. This example measures 41 x 28 x 16” and is possibly just two known examples extant, according to Potter & Potter’s experts.
Black flautist automaton, is estimated at $100-150,000.
Lot #16, a Black flautist automaton, is estimated at $100-150,000. This nearly life sized, 78 x 25 x 22” example is in the form of a barefoot, youthful musician playing a wooden flute. He is handsomely dressed in velvet and brocade garments which are finished with gold trim and embroidery. He stands on a round, green velvet covered base. When he is activated, he plays his flute, with his arms, head, and chest moving in time with his music. This museum quality automaton was made in the late 19th/early 20th century in France by Alexandre Nicolas Théroude.
Automata are kinetic, mechanical devices designed to replicate the movements of a living person or animal. The term derives from the ancient Greek word “automatos,” which translates to “self-acting.” Automata has been capturing attention since ancient times. It is thought the first example was a wooden flying pigeon, created around 400–350 BCE, which was invented by Greek mathematician and scientist Archytas (c. 428 BCE- 345 BCE.) The heyday for Automata production was the late 18th and early 19th century in France. Premier manufacturers from that era included Jacques de Vaucanson, Alexandre Nicolas Théroude, Henri Maillardet, and Roullet & Decamps.
Spinal Demonstrator Model, is estimated at $1,000-2,000.
Vintage to antique medical curiosities are well represented in this sale. Lot #218, a Spinal Demonstrator Model, is estimated at $1,000-2,000. This early midcentury teaching tool was made in San Antonio, TX by Thurman Fleet. Its faux vertebrae and bones are chrome-plated and are mounted to a 34 x 9 x 11” black board. The model retains its original manufacturer’s plaque on its reverse, noting it was patented in 1940 and hold patent number 219975.
Dr. Thurman Fleet (American, 1895–1983) was a well-known chiropractor who practiced in San Antonio, TX starting in the early 1930s. He integrated traditional chiropractic techniques and holistic health principals and practiced his own brand of treatment called Concept Therapy. This included his Zone Therapy method which included healing the six functional “zones” of the body: the glandular, eliminative, nervous, digestive, muscular, and circulatory zones. It is suspected that this Spinal Demonstrator Model on offer may have been used to teach his proprietary methods.
Collection of tattoo flash from Spaulding & Rogers, is estimated at $600-900.
This event features a fine collection of materials related to the tattoo industry. Lot #53, a collection of tattoo flash from American-made tattoo supply company Spaulding & Rogers, is estimated at $600-900. The archive includes 117 total, 1980s-era photo-copied flash sheets which have been hand-colored. Each is housed in a protective sleeve and measures 11 x 14”. Images include birds, flowers, religious themes, as well as Asian and gothic motifs, among many others.
“Tattoo flash” refers to the sheets of paper displayed in the windows of tattoo parlors to advertise the shop’s different available tattoo designs. The word “flash” was borrowed from the carnival and sideshow communities, and refers to eye-catching displays intended to catch the attention of large numbers of people. Many of the tattoo lots in this sale came from the estate of Thomas Dale Spratlin (1948-2022) of Austell, GA. Professionally, he was known as “Dr. Tatu” and he ran a tattoo shop in Mableton, GA for many years.
A painted canvas double sideshow banner for a Sword Swallower and Fire Worshipper, is estimated at $1,000-2,000.
Sideshow and carnival collectibles are also key categories in this signature auction event. Lot #369, a painted canvas double sideshow banner for a Sword Swallower and Fire Worshipper, is estimated at $1,000-2,000. It was illustrated and signed by Fred Johnson and produced in Chicago by O’Henry Tent & Awning. It measures about 200 x 138″ overall when fully displayed.
Fred G. Johnson (American, 1892-1990) was one of the most famous – and prolific – sideshow banner artist of the 20th century. He was referred to as “The Picasso of Circus Art.” His illustrations usually featured dramatic headlines, bold colors, and caricatured, freak show style performers. Interesting, he was entirely self-taught and had no formal art training. His work has been displayed in numerous circus museums over the years, including the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, FL.
A first edition, first printing of Stephen King’s Night Shift, is estimated at $1,000-2,000.
This mid-fall sale rounds out with taxidermy, sci-fi and horror books and movie posters, crime scene photos, and other category-spanning relics. Lot #146, a first edition, first printing of Stephen King’s (b. 1947) Night Shift, is estimated at $1,000-2,000. It was published in 1978 in Garden City by Doubleday & Company, Inc. This rare book measures 10 x 9 x 1” and includes several of his now legacy tales, including Jerusalem’s Lot, The Mangler, Sometimes They Come Back, The Ledge, The Lawnmower Man, Quitters, Inc., Children of the Corn, and others.
For more information on Potter & Potter Auctions’ September 27, 2025 Cabinet of Curiosities event, please see www.potterauctions.com.
Incomparable headliner is estimated at $200K-$400K, alongside a Harley “bars & shields” neon sign, $100K-$200K, and ’47 Harley Knucklehead that starred on ‘American Pickers,’ $80K-$120K
30S Harley Davidson Bullnose Neon Porcelain Sign
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Milestone Auctions’ gallery will come alive with dazzling neon mega-signs and the bad-boy sounds of coveted vintage motorcycles in a September 28 Auction Spectacular that collectors won’t soon forget. The electrifying 643-lot auction, rich with signage rarities and bikes from long-held collections, goes above and beyond any other event the suburban Cleveland company has produced in its colorful 11-year history.
Beaming brightly over the stellar array of neon is a sensational “unicorn” from the Depression Era: a Harley-Davidson bullnose dealership sign that sat crated and “sleeping” for decades in a rural schoolhouse until fate landed it in the hands of its present owner. That gentleman, a fan of both motorcycles and antique advertising, chose to consign it to Milestone’s September 28 sale, where it is expected to attract a hefty six-figure price.
The auction headliner writes its own chapter in Harley-Davidson history through its remarkable story of ownership. The fabulous double-sided bullnose porcelain neon sign was originally intended for use at a Harley-Davidson dealership but has remained in its own virtual time capsule – an unopened original factory crate – since it was first shipped in the early 1930s by Everbrite Electric Signs of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The sign’s original owner, Ellsworth A “Shorty” Schaber (1901-1984) of Ithaca, New York, is believed to have become an authorized Harley-Davidson agent shortly after attending a 1927 Harley dealers’ meeting in Milwaukee. The sign he ordered was shipped from Everbrite to his place of business in Ithaca in the early 1930s, with the intention being to move it later on to a new retail location. However, that plan was derailed by the post-Depression economy and, later, Schaber’s service in the US Army Motor Corps during World War II.
When the sign initially arrived, Schaber stashed it away under a tarp at a one-room schoolhouse he regularly used as a storage facility. There it remained, untouched in its factory crate, until Schaber’s passing on February 21, 1984. Later that year, the unused and still-crated sign appeared in an auction where it was purchased by a collector who would keep it until 2023, when he sold it privately to the current owner. The sign’s original glass neon tubes have been protected by a 90-year layer of dust, and their condition is immaculate. They are easily cleanable and have been tested very briefly to prove that they illuminate like new in a bright-red hue. The transformers and wiring are original. The sign’s dimensions are 67¾ inches wide (with bullnose), 30¼ inches high (with bracket), and 13½ inches deep (including neon). Its auction estimate is $200,000-$400,000.
A second very rare Harley-Davidson double-sided porcelain neon dealer sign, also from the early 1930s, is described by Milestone’s expert catalogers as “the finest, most original example of its type” they’ve ever seen. Its trademark “bar and shield” are in immaculate condition with perfect colors. One side is virtually flawless, while the other side has only a minor bend to the top left edge of the shield and likely left the factory that way. Its all-original can is in fine, undisturbed condition, and on its side, the sign retains a brass tag for Union Label Sheetmetal Workers Intl Assn Local Union No 24 (Dayton, Ohio). The red neon has been professionally replaced to its original specs, and the power cord has been replaced for safety reasons. Overall, this impressive sign is very clean and has no issues. It has steel hangers at the top, to allow the sign to be hung, and at the bottom, for the attachment of a rider sign. Its dimensions are 64 inches wide by 24 inches tall by 5 inches deep. The sign has resided for many years in a private motorcycle museum and will be offered for public sale for the very first time on September 28. Estimate: $100,000-$200,000
No South Boston motorist of the 1950s could have missed the monumental “Lincoln Mercury Safe Buy Used Cars” porcelain neon dealer sign displayed at Fore Rivers Motors in Quincy. The big, bold statement sign with a lighted movement was a landmark at the suburban-Boston dealership until 1997, when the property was sold. The sign is now single-sided, using all of the original porcelain panels and displaying great colors and a wonderful patina. The neon and bulbs have been replaced to factory specs, and both the neon and lighted-arrow movement work perfectly. It retains its original tag for CI Brink Sign Co., a firm well known for producing large-scale custom neon signs throughout the New England area, including the iconic Kenmore Square Citgo sign in Boston. Measuring 14 feet tall by 9½ feet wide, it is estimated at $80,000-$120,000.
A superlative double-sided GM General Motors Parts porcelain neon sign, all original with colors and gloss as fresh as the day of its shipment from the factory, shows extremely clean porcelain fields on both sides with only two small exceptions. It has a 1-inch chip to the top edge and a dime-size chip to the edge of the letter “M” on the other side, only noticeable upon close inspection. Both sides are stamped Walker & Co Detroit. The vibrant yellow and green neon is in perfect working order, making this prized auction entry as close to new/old stock as a neon sign can be. It measures 46 inches high by 38 inches wide by 12 inches deep. Estimate: $25,000-$35,000
Fans of the American Pickers TV show would surely remember the time host Mike Wolfe went for a wild ride in the sidecar of a fantastic 1947 Harley-Davidson Knucklehead. The episode is memorable for the bike’s pristine appearance and, equally so, for its eccentric owner’s wardrobe choice. He liked to wear Speedos and did so during the show’s filming. Everyone had a good laugh, Mike survived the ride, and afterward, he did his level best to buy the rare bike. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to be had at any price, but Mike was eventually able to acquire it when it became available a few years after its owner’s passing. It is, in every way, a museum-quality motorcycle in 100% original condition, including the paint. It has the correct VIN number, matching belly numbers, and TV provenance that will live on forever. No finer or more original Knucklehead exists, especially with the factory sidecar. In running order, it comes to auction with an $80,000-$120,000 estimate.
An original Indian Papoose motorcycle is one of only a small number originally manufactured for WWII paratroopers to drop as they landed behind enemy lines. Compact, durable and specifically designed to fold down, it’s powered by a 98cc two-stroke engine with a single-speed transmission. It would be very difficult to locate a better example than this one, which is all original and complete. From a longtime collection, its estimate is $6,000-$8,000.
Around 1958, some lucky boy or girl landed behind the wheel of a sporty Ferrari 180 Testa Rossa children’s car. Of all-steel construction with an electric drive, it was period-built by Modena Ferrarina under the authority of Ferrari and distributed by Luigi Chinette Motors, the sole importers for Ferrari. Called the “180” because its electric motor generates 180 watts, it is a faithful representation of the iconic Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa that won the 1958 24 Hours of Le Mans. It is believed that only 25 were built, with only 5 remaining. The auction example was very nicely restored around 20 years ago and shows beautifully. Estimate: $80,000-$120,000
From the early era of pedal cars comes a 1920s Gendron Willys “Knight” in excellent, all-original condition with original paint. This nicely appointed, full-fendered car has headlights, an attractive dash, and its original windshield and hood ornament. It is 4 feet long and ready for an imaginary road trip. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000
An early and extremely unusual mechanical store display was made by Cook Company, 546 Dupont St., Roxborough, Philadelphia, Pa. This great-looking advertising piece has an illuminating upper portion that boasts shipping to “All Parts Of The World. It is illustrated by images of a train, steamship and “Air Mail” airplane with a moving propeller. The lower portion includes three mechanical figures: a lady on a porch swing, a second lady standing by her house, and a postman delivering a parcel. It advertises Fruits, Meats, Vegetables and Candies, with the company name Harry Heppe & Sons, Gloucester City, NJ. It is of all-wood construction, electric-powered and driven by chain and belts. In working order when tested, this unique 48-inch by 36-inch sign is estimated at $2,000-$4,000.
The Sunday, September 28, 2025 Auction Spectacular featuring antique and vintage advertising signs, early motorcycles and pop culture collectibles will be held at Milestone’s gallery located at 38198 Willoughby Pkwy., Willoughby, OH 44094. Start time: 10am ET. Ample free parking. In addition to live bidding at the gallery, Milestone welcomes all other forms of remote bidding: absentee, phone or live online through Milestone Live, LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable and AuctionZip. Worldwide shipping available. For additional information about any toy in the auction, to reserve a phone line for bidding, or to discuss consigning to a future Milestone auction, call Miles King at 440-527-8060 or email [email protected]. Online: www.milestoneauctions.com
SJ Auctioneers will host a fine curated auction with collectibles ranging from high end estate silverware, jewelry, decor, Fashion, and old collectible toys with high chances you probably played as a kid.
A Buccellati Tray which sold at christies in 2003 is part of this great auction
A STERLING SILVER TRAY, BY GIANMARIA BUCCELLATI Designed as a polished and textured sterling silver seashell-patterned tray, 11½ x 11 7/8 ins., 419 dwt, 652 g Signed Gianmaria Buccellati
MARIO BUCCELLATI STERLING SILVER DUCK FIGURINE STATUETTE 1960 Brand : MARIO BUCCELLATI- Era : 1960- Weight : 510 grams- Material : STERLING SILVER 925- Long : 27 CM- High : 13 cm- Description : Animal made of sterling silver using the famous furry technique to recreatePlease note: shipping will require international shipping fee with US customs clearance if shipped to the US
Napoleonic Sterling Silver Chargers in Heavy Gage Museum-Quality from Late 19th Century Set of 4. Napoleonic, rare, museum-quality, continental, European silver set of 4 chargers or serving trays, with gilt decorations, adorned with Napoleon’s eagles and his profiles as well as wreath motifs from the late 19th century. In extremely heavy gage, they measure 13 3/4” in diameter (7 1/2” excluding the rim) by 2/3” in height, weigh an impressive 197 troy ounces, and bear hallmarks as shown.
Tunney vs. Dempsey Long Count Contracts and Ephemera
SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, CA, September 2, 2025 – Turner Auctions + Appraisals is very pleased to present the Edwin W. Sims Collection of Political Memorabilia, plus offerings of books, maps, historic collectibles, and much more on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 10:30 am PDT. The sale showcases the collected archives of late Chicago lawyer and politician Edwin W. Sims (1870-1948), plus his family. Among the Sims family offerings are letters signed by Theodore Roosevelt and the Gemini IV astronauts, campaign and other buttons and pins from the 1910s-1970s, and Republican Convention ephemera from the early 1900s. In addition, this eclectic and diverse auction features John Lennon drawings; maps and medals of Europe; maps, real estate tracts, and related ephemera of the San Francisco Bay Area; vintage books and games; naval memorabilia; coins and stamps; tintypes and ambrotypes; Matson Line menus/art; and signed letters or cards of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles Dickens, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Presidents Rutherford B. Hayes and Martin Van Bren.
Turner Auctions + Appraisals begins its online auction on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at 10:30 am PDT; sale items are available for preview and bidding now. The auction will be featured live on four platforms: LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, Bidsquare, and Turner Auctions + Appraisals’ free mobile app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Apps (“Turner Auctions”). Both are easily accessed through ‘Upcoming Auctions’ at the company’s website: www.turnerauctionsonline.com/upcoming-auctions/.
About Edwin Walter Sims (1870-1948)
Edwin W. Sims was a small-town boy who became a big-time attorney in Chicago, Illinois. E.W., as he was called, was born in Ontario, Canada, but brought up in Bay City, Michigan, after his parents moved there when he was five years old. His father was a newspaperman, then a teacher, and young E.W. became a reporter, editor, and special correspondent on several Michigan newspapers. While he enjoyed these media positions and was very good at them, he recognized early on there was not much money to be made. In 1892, he began studying law and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan. He was admitted to the bar in both Michigan and Illinois in 1894, then moved to Chicago, which was booming and where familial nepotism toward lawyers was not an issue, unlike New York, his other alternative. In 1898, he married Charlotte Smith, the daughter of a prominent Chicago lawyer, and they had six children – four girls and two boys. E.W. quickly became part of the Chicago elite, rubbing elbows with regional mayors and governors, and moving his family from a nice area of town to an even nicer area.
In 1903, he became Attorney of Cook County, Illinois; he was appointed as Special Attorney for the Bureau of Corporations in Washington, D.C., under Commissioner (and later President) James R. Garfield from 1903-1905. There he found a like soul in Theodore Roosevelt, whom he had met in 1902 and who appointed him to many positions, including Solicitor of the Department of Commerce and Labor and later U.S. District Attorney, Chicago (Northern Illinois) from 1906-1911. (Photo, right, Edwin W. Sims).
It was in this position that Sims, at the behest of President Roosevelt, became one of the best known trust busters in the country, taking on the wealthiest man in America, J.D. Rockefeller, and Standard Oil, the largest monopoly in the country. From 1906-1911, Sims prosecuted and won this complex case – made up of over 1400 separate violations! – resulting in a fine of over $29 million dollars, then the largest in U.S. history. While the fine was overturned on appeal, the ruling against Standard Oil was kept in force, resulting in a new era of railroad practices.
Sims’ high profile continued, as he claimed to have proof of a nationwide white slavery ring, trafficking young women into prostitution. Although no evidence was produced, Sims’ attention to this matter helped his friend James Mann, chairman of the powerful House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, bring the Mann Act to Congress; this was passed in 1909 and signed into law by President William Taft. Other noteworthy appointments followed, including as the first President of the Chicago Crime Commission from 1913-1922. As Sims’ power and success continued through the years, he went on to own a large legal practice in Chicago, with branch offices in Washington, D.C.; New York; and San Francisco.
While his power in the legal and political arenas was well documented, Sims, a staunch Victorian patriarch, expressed his power and control in other areas as well. His family compound, the Sims Ranch, was located along several miles of Lake Huron coastline in Au Gres, Michigan. The property included homes for his six children and their families, where they all lived. All were expected — no, required! — to come together every day to eat their meals, with food that Sims decided, at the main “Ranch House” of Sims and his wife. Furthermore, to ensure the future well-being of his four daughters, Sims personally chose their husbands for them, although some initial matches proved not to be ideal. Through his political connections, he also was able to arrange that U.S. Highway 23 was rerouted through Au Gres on its way from Jacksonville, Florida, to Mackinaw City, Michigan. This effort also enabled Sims to take full advantage of the money the government paid to build a highway through private property, making him even richer.
From the standpoint of his collections, he was a thorough archivist of his storied career and was well aware of what he had achieved, amassing personal memorabilia until he died. This is according to his great-granddaughter B. Gail Demko, whose website, Sims Family Cemetery, provides comprehensive information on Edwin Sims and his family. “He ran the show and wanted things just so,” she said. “E.W. was the only personality allowed in the family, and he had an ego the size of the City of Chicago.” Although a number of valuable items were sold off decades ago by his younger son – including, sadly, a six-foot tall carved ivory tusk gifted by Roosevelt – a number of scrapbooks and other materials remained, recovered from a dirt-floor shed near the Great Lakes Naval Base, north of Chicago. Originally there were nine scrapbooks: six were given to the University of Michigan or the Canadian Historical Society, and three disappeared. Nonetheless, the lots in this auction include noteworthy elements of Sims’ extensive legal and political career during a dynamic era in Chicago and American history.
Some highlights of the Sims collection include correspondence with Theodore Roosevelt, with whom he shared a love of the outdoors, fishing, and hunting. In 1912, Sims served as the treasurer of the national primary when Roosevelt and William Howard Taft were vying to be the Republican candidate for president. After Taft won the primary, Roosevelt formed the Bull Moose Party to run against Taft and Democrat Woodrow Wilson. However, this split the right-leaning ticket, allowing Wilson to become president – who soon after sent a sarcastic telegram thanking Sims for Wilson’s electoral-vote win in Illinois! There is also the contract that Sims prepared for the 1927 “The Long Count Fight” between Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney for the undisputed heavyweight championship (Tunney won) — plus related ephemera. Another item of interest is the scrapbook with little drawings of Sims by his friend, Sidney Smith, who created “The Gumps” comic strip, which ran in newspapers for 42 years. And collectors of political ephemera will be interested in the many pins and buttons supporting political candidates and other causes in decades past.
Why is the Sims collection going to auction now? Gail Demko, who is also in charge of the acre-large family cemetery near Au Gres, Michigan, says the proceeds will go to support the cemetery, enabling more family members to rest there when the time comes. In the meantime, collectors of history and ephemera will find the sale’s offerings to be most interesting, just like Edwin W. Sims’ own fascinating life and story.
Here below are some highlights of the upcoming online sale (please see lot details in the online catalog):
Lot 3: JOHN LENNON (1940-1980). Print-Multiple. Serigraph. Title: Lennon Broadhurst Theatre – New York. Ed. 805 / 1000. 23 x 20 in. Image. 33 x 35 ½ in. Frame. Signed by Yoko Ono Lennon lower left. Condition: no damage found; not examined out of frame. Certificate of Authenticity from Bag One Arts Inc. Estimate $400-$600.
Lot 25: WYLD, JAMES, The Elder (1790-1836). Partial and disbound: A General Atlas, Containing Maps illustrating some important periods in Ancient History and distinct Maps of the several Empires, Kingdoms and States in the World, From Original Drawings according to the latest Treaties by J. Wyld and Engraved by N. R. Hewitt. Edinburgh, Printed for John Thomson & Co. etc. [n.d.]. Folio. 30 map plates (out of 44), all with scenic detail engravings and hand-colored borders. With an archival box. Condition: Majority are good, with occasional edge tears, and all have some degree of soiling and spotting; but several are Poor-Fair, with losses and paper tape repairs (as noted); several with more significant dark staining. (See more information online.) Estimate $400-$600.
Lot 34: SPEED, JOHN (1551/52-1629). The Kingdome of Denmarke. To be sold by G. Humble. Dated 1626 version. Hand-colored map with decorative border panels of figures and city vistas. Center fold; English text verso. 16 4/8″ x 20 7/8″; two-sided frame 18 1/8″ x 22 3/4.” Condition appears very good. Note: not examined out of frame. Estimate $300-$500.
LOT 63: BAY AREA REAL ESTATE AUCTION BROCHURES/MAPS, 19TH CENTURY. A group of late 19th-century real estate auction brochures with tract maps, and a land purchase booklet. Condition: edge/fold tears and some corner losses, fold creases, toning, notations, and as described. (See lot details on website.) Estimate $150-$250.
LOT 101: SAN FRANCISCO POLL TAX RECEIPT, ASSESSOR WASHINGTON DODGE [TITANIC]. A State of California, City and County of San Francisco Poll Tax Receipt, Two Dollars, 1910. Facsimile signatures include Assessor Washington Dodge (1859-1919). The pencil signature unclear. Filled out for R. Harisberg(?), at 4396 17th. Dodge was a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic, April 15, 1912. He left his position as San Francisco Tax Assessor July 23, 1912. 3 3/4″ x 6 1/8.” Condition: numerous fold creases; large fold tear at left margin; small edge tears/creases; scattered toning. Estimate $150-$250.
LOT 100: JAPANESE ALBUM OF HAND-COLORED PHOTOGRAPHS. Japan, Circa First Quarter 20th Century. A black lacquer album of approx. 48 hand-colored commercial photographs of villages/daily life, temples, gardens, lakes, landscape scenes around Japan, including Tokyo and Kyoto, several with female figures in interiors. 10 3/4″ x 14″. Condition: the cover is detached, back nearly detached, and both with spots of wear/scuffing; the spine is missing; slight bowing to board leaves, primarily at corners; leaves with toning, foxing, and areas of staining/soiling at margins; tissue leaves mostly present, but spotted and creased, some detached. Estimate $200-$300.
LOT 139: VINTAGE MATSON LINE MENUS (9), ART BY EUGENE SAVAGE (1883-1978). Group of nine menus from the Matson Line, S.S. Lurline, featuring the art of Eugene Savage, dated 1950 (1) and 1951, various days (8). 13 3/4″ x 10 1/2″ (13 3/4″ x 21″ opened). Including five designs, with multiples. Condition: overall good, with some toning/soiling; one with tape lower margin; one more toned damaged than the others. Estimate $150-$250.
LOT 118: GROUP OF UNION CASED TINTYPES, PHOTOS, AND A DAGUERREOTYPE (7). A sixth plate Daguerreotype of a bearded gent (with surface damage), in a brown octagonal Union Case (3 3/4″ x 3 3/8″). Together with three tintypes in rectangular black and brown Union Cases (the largest 3 7/8″ x 3 1/2″), one two-sided with paper underneath left side identifying subject as Mr. Woodhouse. And three miscellaneous others in smaller rectangular/ octagonal Union Cases (one with loss), tintypes and paper photos. Estimate $100-$200.
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LOT 176: TUNNEY VS. DEMPSEY “THE LONG COUNT FIGHT” CONTRACTS AND EPHEMERA. Attorney Edwin W. Sims’ collection of ephemera related to the World’s Heavyweight Championship boxing rematch between James Joseph “Gene” Tunney (1897-1978) and William Harrison “Jack” Dempsey (1895-1983), September 22, 1927, Soldier Field, Chicago. Dempsey, in his last career fight, was defeated by Tunney for the second time. Because of conflicting counts, the fight came to be known as “The Long Count Fight.” (See lot details on website.) FROM THE FAMILY OF EDWIN WALTER SIMS (1870-1948). Estimate $600-$800.
LOT 148: RALPH WALDO EMERSON (1803-1882), PHOTOGRAPH AND SIGNATURE. Cabinet card portrait photograph of the American poet, essayist, philosopher by John S. Notman & Co., Boston, depicting Emerson seated in an armchair and holding an open book. With clipped signature, R. W. Emerson, glued to bottom of mount (approx. 1″ x 2 7/8″). Image 6 1/4″ x 4″; mount 6 7/16″ x 4 1/8″. Condition: two horizontal creases in the image at left margin (appears to have happened when laid down); slight crease upper right margin; light surface scuffing/spotting; pinhole at top margin; glue marks at bottom of card, slighting extending into image. FROM THE GLADYNE K. MITCHELL ESTATE. Estimate $700-$900.
LOT 177: THEODORE ROOSEVELT TLS [LANDIS V. STANDARD OIL]. ROOSEVELT, THEODORE (1858-1919). A typed letter signed on White House letterhead, to Hon. Edwin W. Sims, United States Attorney, Chicago, Illinois, dated January 6, 1907. One page; 8vo (folded sheet). Watermark for Whitings Woven Linen. A letter of congratulations to Sims and the Department of Justice for the case of United States of America v. Standard Oil Company (Landis v. Standard Oil). The letter, with Roosevelt’s handwritten correction/addition, reads: “My dear Mr. Sims: What an admirable decision that was of Judge Landis’; and how fortunate we are to have so able and fearless a man and so fine a lawyer on the bench! Let me add my congratulations to the Department of Justice in having so admirable a District Attorney in Illinois. Faithfully yours, Theodore Roosevelt”. Kenesaw Mountain Landis (1866-1944) presided over the case and imposed a +$29 million fine for Standard Oil’s acceptance of rebates on freight tariffs from railroads that carried oil for the Rockefeller Co.; it was the largest fine imposed on a corporation at that time. Condition: horizontal center fold crease; light toning and soiling, and a few scattered spots; paperclip stain on last blank page, which slightly bleeds through to header. FROM THE FAMILY OF EDWIN WALTER SIMS (1870-1948). Estimate $400-$600. (Photo, page 2, left)
LOT 185: THEODORE ROOSEVELT 1912 “THE WINNER” BUTTON, WITH OTHERS. [1912 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.] Theodore Roosevelt “The Winner” pinback portrait button, positing Roosevelt lost the nomination/ election, but “won” in public opinion; label on back for National Equipment Co., New York. 2″ diam. Condition: some wear/surface scuffing. Together with: two “Our Next President, Roosevelt” portrait pins (3/4″ and 7/8″ diam); a McKinley second-term double portrait pin with Roosevelt and a “Count Me for [McKinley] And a Full [dinner pail]” (the larger 1 1/8″ diam.). FROM THE FAMILY OF EDWIN WALTER SIMS (1870-1948). Estimate $200-$400.
LOT 183: 1912 REPUBLICAN CONVENTION, THEODORE ROOSEVELT EPHEMERA/PINS. A group of 1912 election ephemera and pins from the collection of then former U.S. District Attorney Edwin W. Sims, relating to his attendance at the Republican Party Convention in Chicago, in support of Theodore Roosevelt. After losing his party’s nomination, Roosevelt ran under a third/Progressive Party (Bull Moose Party), splitting from incumbent William Howard Taft’s re-nomination faction. Ephemera includes items tipped-on or laid down on two loose scrapbook sheets. (See lot detail on website.) FROM THE FAMILY OF EDWIN WALTER SIMS (1870-1948). Estimate $500-$700.
LOT 184: 920S CAMPAIGN BUTTONS, HARDING, COOLIDGE, HOOVER, OTHERS. WARREN G. HARDING (1865-1923) and CALVIN COOLIDGE (1872-1933), group of 1920 campaign pinback buttons: 13 Harding portraits, 3/4″ diam; and 17 assorted Harding and Coolidge, 11/16″ to approx. 3/4.” With a 1924 “Keep Square Deal Coolidge” (approx. 7/8″ diam.), and a “Coolidge” (approx. 3/4″ diam.). HERBERT HOOVER (1929-1933), AND VARIOUS: a 1928 “Hoover for President” and another Hoover (approx. 3/4″ and 7/8″); two Hoover tin litho lapel clips (5/8″); and a Hoover bar pin. Together with a “Davis and Bryan”; “I’m For Hiram” (Johnson); and four for General Leonard Wood (one very worn; one dented). Ranging from approx. 5/8″ to 7/8″. FROM THE FAMILY OF EDWIN WALTER SIMS (1870-1948). Estimate $150-$250.
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ABOUT TURNER AUCTIONS + APPRAISALS
Based in South San Francisco, Turner Auctions + Appraisals was founded by Stephen Turner to expand and complement the capabilities of Stephen G. Turner Associates,an auction and appraisal consulting firm founded in 2004.Turner Auctions + Appraisals presents online auctions in diverse categories of personal property (www.turnerauctionsonline.com). Among them are Fine Arts, Decorative Arts, Asian Arts, Toys, Jewelry, Militaria, Ethnic Arts, and others. The company offers a range of auction and appraisal services for buyers, sellers, and collectors. Online auctions are held several times a month. Working with leading live and online auction houses on the West Coast since 1991, Turner is a professional appraiser of personal property and seasoned auctioneer. His areas of expertise include fine art, decorative arts, antiques & residential contents.
The company welcomes consignments and appraisals.
For more information about the company, please contact:
Stephen Turner, President
Turner Auctions + Appraisals, 461 Littlefield Avenue, South San Francisco, CA 94080
Late 19th to early 20th century promotional materials and machines took several of the top lot slots in this signature late summer event.
McDonald’s Speedee Neon Sign. Circa 1950s. An early neon si…
Chicago, Il, September 2, 2025 – Potter & Potter Auctions is pleased to announce the results of this 716 lot sale held on Thursday, August 28, 2025. The auction had a 92% sell through rate. All prices noted included the auction house’s 20% buyer’s premium.
The top lot in event was #241, a working condition, McDonald’s Speedee neon sign. It was estimated at $5,000-7,000 and traded hands at $9,600. This c. 1950s sign depicted the restaurant chain’s pre- Ronald McDonald’s mascot Speedee, who was winking, balancing on one foot, and wearing a chef’s hat and bow tie. The fixture measured 68″ in diameter and 11″ deep and included its original, undated City of Sacramento sign permit on one side.
Parlor Kinetoscope. Circa 1897. Early optical viewer, inven…
Other sale highlights included:
Lot #653, a late 19th c. Parlor Kinetoscope, was estimated at $1,000-1,500 and delivered $6,600. This crank handled, early optical viewer was patented by Thomas Edison in 1897 and retailed by the American Parlor Kinetoscope Co. of Washington, D.C. It was housed in a 11-¾ x 11-½ x 3-½” mahogany case and supplied with a loaded reel and four additional ones. It retained its original instructional slip, affixed to the interior of the case.
C.E. Leebold “The Leebold” 1 Cent Gumball Vendor. C.E. Leeb…
Lot #130, C.E. Leebold’s “The Leebold” 1 Cent Gumball Vendor, was estimated at $3,000-5,000 and realized $4,800. This c. 1917, 16″ tall, Art Nouveau styled machine was made from ornately cast aluminum and topped with a glass globe. It was sold with period padlocks and keys and marked with “Berkeley Cal” and the serial number 1000012 on its reverse.
“Drink Orange Crush” Embossed Tin Sign. Circa early 20th ce…
Lot #282, a “Drink Orange Crush” embossed tin sign, was estimated at $600-800 and made $3,840. This early 20th century, single sided, embossed example had rounded edges and measured 13-¾ x 39-½”. It was marked “Printed in USA B-587 1-39 SS.” on its bottom edge.
Columbus Vending Co. 5 Cent Model 38 (Tri-More) Vendor on O…
Lot #66, a Columbus Vending Co. 5 cent Model 38 (Tri-More) vendor, was estimated at $1,500-2,500 and sold for $3,600. This 47 x 20 x 11″ machine was produced in 1939 and had three dispensers to vend gumballs, peanuts, and candy. Its globes were the number four octagonal design which were mounted on a white, streamlined pedestal base that corresponded to the design of the machines.
According to Joe Slabaugh, Director of Cataloging at Potter & Potter Auctions, “We were off to a strong start in this auction thanks to an impressive gumball machine and vending collection, but the second half of the sale saw enthusiastic bidding too particularly for quality advertising and scarce chewing gum memorabilia.”
Potter & Potter, founded in 2007, is a Chicago area auction house specializing in paper Americana, vintage advertising, rare books, playing cards, gambling memorabilia, posters, fine prints, vintage toys, and magicana – antiques and collectibles related to magic and magicians. Follow us on Facebook (potterandpotterauctions) and Instagram (potterauctions).
Opening session presents 415 top-tier objects selected for their unique qualities, including twice-life-size marble head of Hadrian, Egyptian panel depicting Ptah with metalworkers, Mesopotamian torch bearer
Twice the Life-Size Marble Portrait of Emperor Hadrian
ESSEX, U.K. – Britain’s TimeLine Auctions, whose specialists are globally renowned for their expertise in fine antiquities, will host a fully-curated five-day sale of ancient art and relics, natural history rarities and premier ancient coins starting Tuesday, September 9 and concluding on Saturday, September 13, 2025. All lots appearing in the lavishly illustrated hardcover catalogue are from the September 9 live gallery session. Auction entries from all five days may be viewed in their entirety online or in the company’s printed PDF catalogues, which include authoritative descriptions and multiple photographic views of each item.
The sale is highlighted by Part I of the premier estate collection of the late John P Meredith, a lifelong collector and antiquities connoisseur from Cornwall, England. Numbering more than 400 items in total, the widely-varied assemblage includes Egyptian, Medieval, Greek, Near Eastern, Western Asiatic and Indus Valley antiquities, as well as extraordinary mineral specimens and a world-class specialty collection of ancient Celtic coins.
According to his family, Mr Meredith started collecting in the 1990s. “Multiple generations of his family were influenced by his passion for historical objects, including his grandchildren. Whenever they visited, they would make a beeline to see his collection, which he proudly displayed in glass cabinets. He would enthusiastically discuss the history of the collection with the youngsters, which surely made a positive impression,” said Aaron Hammond, chief operating officer of TimeLine Auctions.
An outstanding selection of fresh-to-market pieces from history’s most celebrated cultures has been reserved for the September 9 opening session, including many superb examples of ancient statuary that pay tribute to actual historical and noble figures.
The tradition of immortalizing dignitaries in marble and other prized materials has been embraced by cultures throughout history. In ancient Rome, military heroes or nobles were frequently chosen as subjects for major statuary. A fine example of this form of homage is seen in the auction’s twice-life-size white marble portrait of Emperor Hadrian, one of Rome’s greatest emperors and the builder of Hadrian’s Wall in England. Created 126-140 AD, during the Hadrianic Period, this characteristic portrait of Hadrian shows his hair arranged in wavy strands swept forward from the crown and terminating in a row of lively curls that frame his forehead and temples. He sports a thick, curly beard – unusual for Hadrian’s time – and has a thoughtful expression on his face. The attitude of his head suggests the portrait once belonged to a full-length statue or to a bust. Its provenance can be traced to a February 1988 purchase on the Swiss art market. Most recently, it was part of a Liechtenstein private collection. The artwork is estimated at £80,000-£100,000/$107,160-$133,950 and will convey with an academic report from Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
An extremely fine Roman marble portrait bust of an aristocratic woman from the Julio-Claudian Period, circa 50-60 AD, depicts the sitter with a dignified expression, and her hair arranged in tight curls with small braids gathered and tied at the back. This artwork has a distinguished line of European provenance dating back to its pre-1910 acquisition by Professor Elia Volpi (1858-1938) in Florence, Italy. Most recently, it was sold at Hindman (Chicago) on May 25, 2023. Published in several old references, the bust will convey to its next owner with an academic report from Dr D’Amato. Estimate: £30,000-£40,000/$40,190-$53,580
Certainly one of the most fascinating pieces in the auction is an Egyptian limestone bas-relief panel depicting Ptah (patron deity of craftsmen and architects) presiding over the smelting of metals. From the Old Kingdom, 5th Dynasty, 2498-2345 BC, it is one of the earliest known depictions of ancient technology. Three male figures are shown in tied kilts and short hairstyles, preparing to smelt copper. Two of them are carrying a small furnace. Finely-rendered hieroglyphic inscriptions in front of each figure record a dialogue whose translated commentary includes “Ptah could not have done better” and “Ptah loves him to pour into the brazier of the flame,” etc. It is comparable to an example illustrated in W.C. Hayes’ The Scepter of Egypt which is described as having come from the tomb of Re-em-kuy. Its provenance includes Touric Arakji (Hamburg, Germany), acquired by circa 1980; Sotheby’s June 8, 1994 auction; and subsequent London gallery and private collections. Accompanied by academic report from Egyptologist Sylvie Caroff, it is estimated at £80,000-£100,000/$107,160-$133,950.
An Assyrian gypsum relief prominently featuring the head of a bearded man dates to 704-681 BC. Rectangular in shape, it is a frieze fragment of a type that once decorated the walls of royal palaces. The low-relief carving depicts a man in profile with short, straight hair confined by a brow-band, with segmented curls forming his beard. A handwritten label on verso reads: “from the Koyunjik palace of Sennacherib at Nineveh.” The incised legend says “KOUUNJIK” and “A.” its line of provenance begins with acquisition in the 1970s by a British gentleman and culminates most recently (2009) in a private European collection. With its custom stand, it is offered with an £8,000-£10,000/$10,720-$13,400 estimate.
Another Near Eastern treasure is a museum-quality Mesopotamian bronze torch bearer from the Early Dynastic Period II, mid 3rd Millennium BC. Linked to early ritual and ceremonial use, it portrays a bull standing with firmly-planted splayed legs, its tail extending to the ground, with an extended stem whose purpose was to secure a torch. The stem is adorned with three radiating feline figures, each supporting a post with a gusseted ring above. This spectacular bronze is similar to several book examples, as well as to a specimen with an ibex support in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection. Accompanied by an academic report from Dr D’Amato, it has been assigned a £70,000-£90,000/$93,770-$120,560 estimate.
Armor & Militaria is a consistently popular category with TimeLine’s buyers. The September 9 session does not disappoint with enticing entries such as a rare and important bronze legionary-army helmet from the Roman Imperial period, late 1st century BC to early 1st century AD. Described as being an “Imperial Gallic” type of helmet with a deep rounded bowl, C-shape cutouts for the ears, flared horizontal neck-guard, bronze rivets and four corrugated embossed “wings,” this relatively heavy example at 1.03kg (2lbs 4oz) is further enhanced by an embossed, beaded brow band that runs from one ear opening to the other. Most recently the property of a North London gentleman, it comes with a custom stand and an academic report from Dr D’Amato. Estimate: £20,000-£30,000/$26,790-$40,190
Nothing can rival ancient jewelry for sheer beauty and workmanship, as seen in a magnificent matched pair of Javanese gold zoomorphic ear ornaments made sometime between 1293 and 1530 AD. Of a highly-domed design, each displays a front-facing head of Garuda, the eagle-headed Vahana or celestial mount of Vishnu; is hollow-formed and exquisitely worked in repousse with a nimbate figure emerging from dense field of intricate floral motifs. Each is adorned on the reverse with the image of a repousse monkey. Pictured in J Polak’s 2022 reference Ancient Indonesian Gold of the Central and Eastern Javanese Periods, 750-1550, its long line of provenance can be traced back to a 1920s acquisition by a Dutch civil servant who took them to the Netherlands in 1939. Later, the pair was acquired by collector Frans H A Claessen, with subsequent descent through his family. Next, the ornaments became the property of a Hong Kong private collector and, most recently, they joined a London private collection. With a custom case, they are offered with a £40,000-£60,000/$53,580-$80,370 auction estimate.
TimeLine’s Sept. 9-13, 2025 auction will be held live at the company’s head office located at The Court House, 363 Main Rd., Harwich, Essex CO12 4DN, UK. All lots featured in TimeLine’s hardcover catalogue will be auctioned during the September 9 opening session. Internet bidders may pre-register online. Goods may be previewed in person at the gallery by prior arrangement only. A special London viewing and champagne reception will be held at The Institute of Directors, 116 Pall Mall, St James’s, on Tuesday, September 2. Preview hours are 12 noon to 6pm, with the reception from 6-9pm and a talk by Kassia St Clair titled “Tyrian Purple: The Colour of Power” at 7:30pm. Additional viewing at The Institute will follow on Wednesday, September 3 from 9am-12 noon.
Auction start time: 7am US Eastern time/12 noon GMT. All remote forms of bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone (please book phone line 48 hours ahead of time), or live via the Internet through TimeLine’s bidding platform or LiveAuctioneers. TimeLine Auctions accepts payments in GBP and ships worldwide. Questions: call +44 7494 866514 or email Aaron Hammond at [email protected]. Online: https://timelineauctions.com.
