New Jersey’s Sterling Associates Announces June 9 Major Fine Art & Estate Auction

Success predicted for pair of circa-1750 Qianlong covered vases

CLOSTER, N.J. – With two highly successful auctions already to their credit since launching operations in December, New Jersey estate specialists Sterling Associates will go for a trifecta on June 9 with a Major Fine Art & Estate Auction featuring quality consignments from the tri-state area. Like the previous sales, the June event will be a “hybrid” auction, which combines a gallery and online preview with absentee, phone and Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com.

The 500-lot auction will feature paintings, furniture, porcelain, sculptures, rugs, sports art and an extensive array of lighting, candelabra and accessories. There are numerous highlights in all categories, but the lot that company owner Stephen D’Atri predicts might be “the star of the sale” is the pair of circa-1750 Qianlong famille rose Chinese covered vases in the Mandarin pattern.

“These vases are truly stunning. The decoration is so heavily applied, they almost look like Meissen,” D’Atri said. The 17-inch vases were held in a private collection for more than 30 years following their purchase from a dealer on New York’s Park Avenue. The duo is estimated at $20,000-$30,000.

From the same source comes a superb 19th-century French dore and patinated bronze centerpiece. The design incorporates a pair of putti supporting a gilt faux-wicker basket from a base adorned with a ribbon-entwined garland. A piece of outstanding quality, it is expected to make $6,000-$8,000.

Another premier lot is the magnificent palace-size silk Iranian Tabriz rug from the third quarter of the 20th century. It measures 26 by 16 ft and features a palette of pinky-peach and light greens with some reds for strength. Sterling Associates has placed an estimate of $30,000-$50,000 on the textile masterpiece.

Nothing adds a finishing touch to a room quite like an elegant light fixture, and “elegant” is the right word to describe an Art Deco-style chandelier created in the manner of Edgar Brandt or Oscar Bach. With its fine filigree work and delicately suspended bell-shape forms and crystals, it embodies the flawless balance and style of fine lighting from the Gatsby era. Previously in an eastern Pennsylvania residence, it will now pass to a new owner after crossing the auction block with a $4,000-$6,000 estimate.

There is always a demand for scientific antiques to outfit a traditional study or library, so D’Atri believes there will be strong interest in a circa-1800 Continental globe on stand. The globe offered by Sterling Associates measures an impressive 22 inches in diameter and is expected to make $400-$600.

An enormous modern oil-on-canvas painting of Marilyn Monroe is illegibly signed and dated. The framed 64½- by 50¼-inch portrait is probably too adventurous for a conventional décor, D’Atri said. “It’s ultra sophisticated, very large and very cool. It’s meant to be viewed from a distance.” The portrait is estimated at $2,000-$3,000.

Eight serigraphs by the Russian-born French artist Romain de Tirtoff Erte (1892-1990) will be auctioned. A gold-framed pair of serigraphs from Erte’s “Zeus & Hera Suite” is numbered 153/300 and estimated at $3,000-$5,000.

Several sports-related artworks have been consigned, with multiple artists represented. Included in the mix are lithographs autographed by Olympic decathlon gold medal winner Bruce Jenner.

Many wonderful pieces of garden statuary will be offered, all coming from area estates. Most are life-size classical forms – some of marble, some of bronze – with a few additional works having an Asian theme.

A standout amongst the garden antiques is a circa-1800 monumental cast-iron planter embossed with Chinese characters and bas-relief floral and foliage decoration. The consignor acquired the planter in the 1970s, a move that may turn out to have been a wise investment, according to D’Atri. “Today’s buyers are paying much more for Chinese iron vessels than they did back then,” he said. The handsome tripodal vessel is estimated at $4,000-$6,000.

Between 130 and 140 figurally carved or molded Meerschaum pipes and 40-50 walking sticks are included in the sale. Each item will be auctioned individually to offer collectors their particular choice from an especially diverse selection.

The auction is rounded out by antique Asian furniture, a large grouping of antique French and German dolls; and an item that defies classification: a 19th-century vampire killing set. Contained in an attractive wood case, the set consists of a collection of weapons, including a gun, knives and stakes – presumably to drive through a vampire’s heart.

D’Atri explained that, at one time, cases containing vampire-killing paraphernalia were kept onboard some eastern European stagecoaches to provide an extra level of security for night travelers who believed in the fictitious blood-sucking bats. “The manufacturer of these sets preyed upon people’s fears, not unlike the makers of 19th-century patent medicines,” D’Atri said. He noted that a similar set sold recently at Sotheby’s for around $25,000. The example in Sterling Associates’ sale is modestly estimated at $3,000-$5,000.

Sterling Associates’ Major Fine Art & Estate Auction will be held on Saturday, June 9, starting at 12 noon Eastern Time. It is structured as a hybrid auction in which previewing is available at the physical gallery, but all bidding is exclusively absentee, by phone or live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com.

“The way our auctions work, all bidding is conducted remotely, but we’re very much a permanent brick-and-mortar company where anyone can come in to inspect the goods,” said D’Atri. “It will be run exactly like a live auction, but without a live audience.”

The live gallery preview is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., June 5-8 inclusive. The gallery is located at 70 Herbert Ave., Closter, NJ 07624. For additional information on any item in the auction, call 201-768-1140 or e-mail info@antiquenj.com. Visit Sterling Associates online at www.antiquenj.com. View the fully illustrated catalog online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

CAPTION:

Pair of circa-1750 Qianlong Chinese famille rose covered vases in the Mandarin pattern, est. $20,000-$30,000. Sterling Associates image.

 

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Rolex Watches, Rare Gold Coins, Fine Gems In Government Auction’s May 27 Sale

TEHACHAPI, Calif. – Southern California’s Government Auction is rolling out the red carpet for bidders at its Sunday, May 27 auction of luxury goods, led by an array of top-notch timepieces, coveted gold coins and exquisite jewels. The auction will begin at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (6:30 a.m. Pacific Time) and is structured as an absentee, phone and Internet auction, with Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com.

 “Anyone who has ever dreamed of owning a Rolex watch will have an excellent opportunity to fulfill that wish at our May 27 event,” said Chris Budge, of Government Auction’s Marketing department. “We will be auctioning a collection of high-end watches that includes designs by Rolex, as well as Cartier and Bvlgari. Bidding will start as low as $2 on most items.” 

One of the wristwatch highlights is Lot 9A, an impressive pre-owned 1985 Rolex men’s stainless steel and gold Model No. 15053 (est. $3,225-$4,300). Known to timepiece collectors as an Oyster Perpetual Date, the watch retains all its original parts, including the face, band and dial. It features an 18K yellow gold and stainless steel bracelet with a champagne dial and 18K yellow gold index markers. “This watch is considered a classic – a statement piece meant to be worn and enjoyed for a lifetime,” said Budge. 

Women have not been left out of the Rolex stakes by any means. Lot 17A in Government Auction’s sale is a 1997 Rolex women’s Oyster Model No. 67103, composed of stainless steel and gold. A symbol of quiet but impeccable taste, this attractive link-bracelet watch could bring $2,775-$3,700 at auction. 

For centuries, rubies have fascinated jewelry lovers. They’re found in the collections of virtually every crowned head, and their value has only increased as mines have closed. Lot 202 in the May 27 auction, a dazzling pendant-drop necklace, combines classical design with 74 carats of rubies and 5 carats of diamonds, all in a setting of lustrous 14K yellow gold. The necklace’s linked floret clusters feature 29 natural, chevron-shape rubies surrounded by diamonds. Each ruby measures approximately 9mm by 7mm. The necklace has a retail replacement value of $41,350.

Another major draw in the May 27 auction event is the select offering of gold coins. Lot 3, an 1850 $20 U.S Liberty Head gold coin known as a “Double Eagle” was minted at the height of the gold rush. Of all the gold coins minted prior to 1907, the Double Eagle had the highest gold content. The coin to be auctioned represents the first year of production for the $20 Double Eagle of this particular design, which ended its run in 1907. The coin features the Liberty head surrounded by 13 stars on the front and is stamped "Twenty D" on the reverse side of the coin.

“The $20 Double Eagle is an elusive coin and is quite rare. It is sure to attract some major coin experts and collectors,” said Paul Sabesky, Government Auction’s chief auctioneer. 

Additional numismatic highlights include an 1884CC United States Morgan silver dollar and a 1911 $2.5 U.S. Indian Head gold coin. And once acquired, where better to keep one’s valuable coins than in an antique nickel-plated Model 5 National cash register? Entered as lot 42, this rare cash register is of the tall, narrow style used in early 20th-century candy stores. It is topped by a handsome, cobalt-blue and white marquee that reads: “This Registers the amount of your Purchase.” The lot is estimated at $7,500-$15,000. 

Government Auction’s Sunday, May 27, 2012 auction event will commence at 6:30 a.m. Pacific Time/9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Debbie on 661-823-1543 or e-mail info@governmentauction.com. View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com. 

About Government Auction: 

Government Auction is one of the most reputable jewelry and gem clearinghouse companies in the United States, with more than 20 years of experience. The Southern California-based firm works closely with agencies and individuals, including the IRS, bank and trust officers, and estate and bankruptcy trustees to liquidate confiscated assets such as fine jewelry, luxury vehicles, gold coins and artworks. 

CAPTION: 

Rolex men's 1985 stainless steel and gold watch. Government Auction image.

Paul Fraser Launches Online Auction Firm With May 24 Collectibles Sale

GUERNSEY, Channel Islands – Britain’s Paul Fraser has built a stellar international reputation from the sale of blue-chip collectibles, rare stamps, antiques and pop-culture memorabilia. His insightful, always entertaining newsletters are read religiously by investors and often quoted by the media in their quirky “we leave you with this” stories on TV or in print. Now Paul Fraser has stepped into the auction arena with the launch of PFC Auctions, whose debut online auction closing May 24 features a blockbuster lineup of unique, investment-grade collectibles. 

A trusted source for 35+ years to collectors in 214 countries, Fraser has brokered numerous high-profile transactions, such as the sale of John Lennon’s stamp album to the Smithsonian, and a deal with the Royal Philatelic Collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As PFC’s May 24 auction roster attests, Fraser gives the people what they want: entertainment, sports and autographed celebrity memorabilia; royalty items, space and aviation relics, as well as the offbeat and unexpected. “Anything unique with an interesting story and great provenance will sell well,” Fraser said.

With the recent first wedding anniversary of Prince William and Princess Catherine, Fraser expects strong interest in Lot 125, a slice of wedding cake from the royal couple’s 2011 wedding. Held in a presentation tin, the distinguished dessert is accompanied by a printed “compliments” slip from TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, as well as a 16-page Order of Service from Westminster Abbey.

Princess Diana’s enduring appeal has already prompted aggressive bidding on Lot 124, a collection of record albums that belonged to the princess-to-be while she was still a young Lady Diana Spencer. Each album cover was personally signed by Diana, in some cases more than once.

Yet another of the sale’s royal highlights is Lot 128, a family-photo Christmas card of Prince Charles, Princess Diana, the young Princes William and Harry, and their pet dog. The card is personally inscribed by Prince Charles and signed by both Charles and Diana.

Fraser feels confident that a US buyer will end up with Lot 133, an American Flag autographed respectfully on verso by three legendary astronauts: Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell and Gene Cernan. The astronaut trio signed the flag during a NATO-sponsored visit to Afghanistan in 2011.

“This flag is a superb display piece with an exceptional set of autographs from the first and last men to set foot on the moon (Armstrong and Cernan) and the first man to orbit the moon (Lovell),” Fraser said. Autographs are continuing to appreciate in the marketplace, Fraser noted. “We’re witnessing full sets of Apollo 11 signatures increase in value by 15% per annum,” he said.

Impeccable provenance accompanies both Lot 90, a Fender Duo-Sonic guitar once owned by John Lennon; and Lot 98, Lennon’s black leather suitcase. Sold previously in a Christie’s auction (1996), the suitcase came directly from the collection of Lennon’s first wife, Cynthia.

“The King” is represented in the sale by Lot 87, a circa-1958 Alden copper and bronze-finish electric guitar that Elvis Presley owned during his military days. The lot also includes an amplifier, a selection of Elvis photos and a letter of authenticity.

Lot 95 is the vividly hued, Indian serape-stripe jacket Bob Dylan wore on the cover of his classic 1975 The Basement Tapes LP. It is offered with a letter of authenticity that describes the events surrounding Dylan’s acquisition of the now-iconic jacket.

The sports memorabilia section is led by Lot 102, a pair of brown leather focus mitts owned and used by martial arts superstar Bruce Lee (1940-1973). Lee used the mitts regularly in his training while practicing punching and kicking techniques. The lot’s provenance is extensively detailed in the online-catalog listing.

From the world of professional motor sports comes a pair of leather racing gloves that revered Scottish driver Jim Clark Jr OBE (1936-1968) wore during his last Formula 1 practice session at the South African Grand Prix track. They are paired with a letter of provenance from Gordon Huckle, who was the mechanic on Clark’s car from 1966-1968. Clark died during an F2 race in Germany on April 7, 1968.

The world-class selection of art, antiques and pop-culture collectibles chosen for PFC’s debut online auction comes with the same assurance of authenticity Paul Fraser has offered for more than 35 years as a private dealer. And that assurance extends to even the most unconventional offerings, like hair.

“Celebrity hair always attracts comment when it appears at auction. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the Justin Bieber (Lot 76) and Michael Jackson (Lot 77) hair cuttings,” said Fraser. Strands of hair from Elvis (Lot 80) and also Marilyn Monroe (Lot 78), obtained the day she famously sang “Happy birthday, Mr. President” to John F. Kennedy, are entered, as well.

Bidding is currently in progress on all lots in PFC’s debut online auction. For additional information on any item in the sale, call 011 44 117 933 9500 or e-mail info@pfcauctions.com. To view all lots and sign up to bid, visit the company’s user-friendly website: www.pfcauctions.com.

American Flag signed by astronauts Neil Armstrong, Jim Lovell and Gene Cernan on a recent trip to Afghanistan. PFC Auctions image.

Spectacular Alexandrite Joins Diamonds, Rubies, Gold Coins In Government Auction’s April 29 Sale

TEHACHAPI, Calif. – A 15.35-carat alexandrite with chameleon-like qualities is the glittering headliner in a 1,200-lot selection of fine jewelry, cars and art to be offered at Government Auction’s April 29 sale.

The alexandrite’s size, alone, makes it a rare specimen, but it rises to superstar levels when it reveals its ability to change colors under different types of light. In natural daylight, the brilliant-cut gemstone appears green, but when viewed under normal indoor lighting, its hue changes to a golden yellow. This unusual quality fascinated 19th century Russian jewelers, who favored alexandrites (named after Tsar Alexander II) and reserved them for their most revered clients. According to the International Colored Gemstone Association, Tiffany’s master gemologist George Frederick Kunz (American, 1856-1932) also loved alexandrites and included them in a series of exquisite rings and platinum suites designed during the late Victorian and early Edwardian eras.

 “An alexandrite stone of this quality and size is highly sought after by gemstone experts, connoisseurs and investors alike,” said Government Auction’s chief auctioneer Paul Sabesky, referring to the top lot of his upcoming sale. With certification from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), it has an estimated value of $83,580-$167,160.

Another exceptional fine jewelry item to be auctioned is a 14K white gold necklace mounted with a genuine 4-carat tanzanite. The central stone is surrounded by 82 round faceted diamonds and is enhanced by an additional 300 diamonds encrusted on the chain. Although valued at $23,000-$46,000, the necklace is one of many lots in Government Auction’s sale that will have an opening bid of only $2.

Emeralds have never lost their allure. They’re especially coveted when presented in a bracelet as stylish as the 14K white gold example entered in the April 29 auction. The bracelet weighs in with 19 carats of emeralds and 284 genuine round full diamonds totaling 1 carat. The presale estimate is $16,300-$32,600.

Long preferred by Asian royalty, rubies adorn the exquisite 14K gold necklace entered in the sale as Lot 907. Richly set with 74.44 carats of rubies and 5.89 carats of diamonds, the necklace is expected to make $21,000-$41,000 at auction.

Additional fine jewelry highlights include a 14K gold necklace with 74.44 carats of rubies and 5.89 carats of diamonds, valued at $21,000-$41,000; and a pair of white and yellow gold earrings with 1.24 carats of diamonds, valued at $5,300-$10,500.

A major draw in this auction is the cache of gold coins to be offered. Already creating a stir, an 1872-CC $20 Liberty Head gold coin – also known as the 1872-CC Double Eagle – was minted in Carson City, Nevada. Numismatists agree, the Carson City mint showed greater skill in striking this particular coin than in its two earlier Double Eagle issues. The mintage for the 1872 coin was only 26,900 strikes, and each had a metal content of 90% gold, 10% copper. Few surviving examples are “high grade” and in uncompromised condition, like the one in Government Auction’s April 29 sale. It has a broad estimate range of $15,750-$31,500.

Government Auction’s Sunday, April 29, 2012 auction event will commence at 7:30 a.m. Pacific Time/10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Absentee, phone and Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com will be available. For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Debbie on 661-823-1543 or e-mail info@governmentauction.com.

View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

CAPTION:

In a split-screen view, this 15.35-carat alexandrite gemstone reveals its chameleon-like quality, appearing green in natural daylight and golden yellow in indoor light. Estimate: $84,000-$167,000. Government Auction image.

Material Culture’s May 5 Auction Debut To Reflect ‘Borderless’ Approach To Art, Antiques

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date of Release: April 17, 2012

A selection of decorative arts and collectables including a Samuel Robb cigar store Indian along with pieces by renowned world artists, such as American self-taught artists James Castle and Felipe Jesus Consalvos, Chinese painters Fan Zeng and Gou Runwen, and Nigerian painter Prince Twins Seven-Seven will also be featured in the inaugural sale.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Renowned for its art institutions and rich multicultural heritage, Philadelphia will soon add another very colorful feather to its cap. Material Culture, the city’s popular 60,000-sq.-ft. showplace for antiques, textiles and handcrafted decorative arts, will introduce its new auction division on May 5, 2012 with a 500-lot sale titled “New World Orders.” All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com.

Material Culture’s wealth of experience and loyal following of customers, advisors and associates worldwide set the stage for the company’s entry into the auction arena, said founder/owner George Jevremovic.

“Our relationships with collectors and other friends in the business have been built on a basis of mutual trust over 30-plus years. I’ve been reaching out to them over the past two years, and our May auction debut is a tribute to those people and connections,” said Jevremovic.

No matter how broad a descriptive brush one uses, it is a formidable challenge to categorize the mix of artworks in the May 5 sale. Lot after lot, the word “unique” springs to mind, whether it’s a mystical 12th-century carved marble relief from northern India or a brilliantly-hued Felipe Jesus Consalvos cigar-band artwork.

Material Culture has always been thought of as something of an eclectic wonderland for decorators and homeowners seeking offbeat artworks and one-of-a-kind statement pieces.

“Our aesthetic knows no boundaries – it runs from Asian antiquities to classic Nakashima furniture to outside-the-box creations by self-taught artists,” said Jevremovic. “Now we have the opportunity to share our discoveries with the world via the auction route.”

A survey of the array of international treasures chosen for Material Culture’s auction premiere starts with the predicted top lot: an original 19th-century Samuel Anderson Robb cigar store Indian. For many decades, the masterfully hand-carved figure greeted visitors entering Reese’s Antiques on Pine Street in Philadelphia. Appearing to have all-original paint, the 77-inch-tall statue has been in the same owner’s hands since the 1940s and has never before been offered for sale. An American folk art classic, it is entered in the May 5 auction with a $40,000-$60,000 estimate.

Cuban-American artist Felipe Jesus Consalvos (Cuban-American, 1891 – circa 1960) was a cigar roller whose natural talent as an artist was not widely known until after his death. Consalvos presciently created modernist collages that incorporate cigar bands and cigar-box paper as well as photographs, postage stamps and magazine images. His mixed-media depiction titled Guitar – one of several Consalvos artworks in the sale – could make $6,000-$8,000.

Contemporary Chinese painter Guo Runwen’s early oil on canvas titled Standing Nude with Back View was purchased directly from the artist in 1988 at his studio in Guangzhou, China. Fresh from a Delaware collection, the 31½- by 21½-inch artwork is estimated at $30,000-$40,000. Another 20th-century Chinese painting, Fan Zeng’s (b. 1955-) ink and color on paper titled Zhong Kui Shen Wei, is signed and bears two seals. In vertical format measuring 53 by 26 inches, it carries an estimate of $6,000-$8,000.

There are many early Asian works scheduled to cross the auction block, including a dimensionally carved 12th-century marble relief from Jain in northern India. Featuring deities, elephants and other animals in a temple setting, it measures 30½ by 10 inches and is 7 inches deep. Estimate: $4,000-$6,000. Also to be offered is a finely carved 18th-century Chinese ivory vase estimated at $4,000-$6,000.

The Dream of the Abiku Child by acclaimed African artist Prince Twins Seven-Seven (Nigerian, 1944-2011) is a stunning mélange of fantasy and color. The 40- by 27-inch artwork was created in ink, watercolor and oil on brown wrapping paper and glued to plywood. The human subject, wearing intricately patterned clothing adorned with stars, seems to leap from the setting, which also features multiple fish and a dot pattern similar to that seen in Australian aboriginal paintings. One of three works in the auction by Prince Twins Seven-Seven, it is estimated at $4,000-$6,000.

Furniture lots cross a wide spectrum of styles. A late-19th-century Syrian mirrored cabinet, crafted of walnut with mother-of-pearl and bone inlay, comes from a collection of antique Damascus furniture in the auction. The cabinet is expected to bring $8,000-$12,000. Dating from the Art Deco period, a pair of perennially stylish Bauhaus tubular steel and leather lounge chairs will be offered with a $2,000-$4,000 estimate.

Idaho-born artist James Charles Castle (American, 1899-1977) was born profoundly deaf, and it is not known to what extent he could read, write or use sign language, but he had an innate talent for creating art from found objects of humblest origin. Today, Castle’s works are found in many institutions’ collections. In 2008-2009, the Philadelphia Museum of Art organized a Castle exhibition that toured nationally. Material Culture’s May 5 auction features a James Castle drawing on paper titled Labor Day. It comes with provenance from the J Crist Gallery in Boise and could realize $4,000-$6,000.

Material Culture’s Saturday, May 5 inaugural live auction will commence at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. Preview: April 22-May 4, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. The gallery is located at 4700 Wissahickon Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19144. All forms of bidding will be available, including phone, absentee or Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com. For additional information on any lot in the sale, email expert@materialculture.com or call 215-849-8030. Visit the company online at www.materialculture.com.

Material Culture will host an inaugural auction party and special exhibition preview from 6-10 p.m. on Saturday, April 28. The event is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be served and there will be live music. RSVP at info@materialculture.com or call 215-849-8030.

CAPTION:

Material Culture’s founder/owner George Jevremovic with a few of his May 5 debut auction’s predicted top lots, including a 19th-century Samuel Robb cigar store figure, est. $40,000-$60,000. Material Culture image.

Morphy’s To Auction Key Pieces From War Hero’s Toy Aircraft Collection May 11-12

 

A man of many talents, Geoffrey Randolph Webster – “GR” to his friends – is a retired businessman, author and portrait painter who divides his time between Florida and the idyllic French Riviera. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago with a master’s degree in business and retired as president and CEO of Givaudan Fragrances Inc., after a 30-year career in international business and marketing.

But those distinctions are by no means all of the laurels to which GR can lay claim. He was also a highly decorated Vietnam War pilot who received 30 Air Medals, double Distinguished Flying Crosses and the Air Medal for Valor; as well as the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and two Awards of the Cross of Gallantry as commander of the “Mustang” Gunship Platoon of the 68th Assault Helicopter Company’s “Top Tigers.” When friends say GR’s head is in the clouds, it’s a compliment.

“Whether airplane, seaplane or helicopter, GR is the person you would want to have at the helm if you were a passenger,” said Tom Sage Jr., chief operating officer of Morphy Auctions, which will sell Webster’s American cast-iron and selected British, Continental and Japanese planes on May 11 and 12.

GR’s fascination for airplanes – which began during childhood as the son of a naval pilot – led to his amassing one of the world’s largest and finest collections of aviation toys and models.

Webster documented portions of his collection in the 2009 book Collecting Vintage Aircraft Toys and again in a 2011 edition titled Dinky Toys Aircraft 1934-1979 [with co-authors Sir George Cox, John Beugels]. The latter is the only reference book available that focuses specifically on Dinky aeronautical toys.

Many of the planes that served as actual book examples are among the Webster toys to be auctioned at Morphy’s. The top prize amongst the aircraft offered is the ultra-rare 1930s Britains Short Bros. Monoplane Flying Boat with original box. One of only three known to exist, the Bakelite and heavy tin plane is also the only example to be offered for public sale in the last 30 years.

“James Opie, who authored the premier guide on Britains soldiers, rates this toy at the top of rarity for Britains,” said Sage. “We think GR’s book example, which is estimated at $12,000 to $16,000, might even reach $20,000.”

Additionally, two Britains monoplanes are included in the sale – one in red and the other in yellow – with a historically correct 1930s star-in-circle insignia. Each is estimated at around $1,500.

A fleet of iconic 1920s cast-iron aviation toys is led by a Hubley America, the largest cast-iron plane ever made. There’s also a massive Hubley Friendship float plane with Amelia Earhart’s silhouette in one window; a Spirit of St. Louis, and numerous other period cast-iron tri-motors and gliders.

A highly unusual auction entry is Hubley’s 1937 cast-iron prototype Bell Airacuda with its original box. The twin-engine plane has a gunner in front of each engine on the wings.

Prewar German tin planes include Tippco productions from 1935 to 1942, including a Junkers JU-52, a Siebel twin-engine transport, and the only known surviving example of a Heinkel He-100. There are also rare prewar Rico (Spanish) and Ingap (Italian) craft, including the only known original examples of the CR-42 biplane fighter and the Macchi C.202; and a seldom-seen Chein (American) tinplate Martin seaplane. Arguably the largest tin toy ever produced, a Yonezawa tinplate 10-engine B-36 bomber had plenty of room to spread its expansive wings in the long-held Webster collection. Other Japanese highlights include a very clean, boxed B-50 bomber; a black and orange prewar Northrup Lindberg single-engine exploration plane – both by Yonezawa – and a Japanese-made four-engine B-29 bomber.

It’s always exciting for collectors to discover unassembled, prewar-era Dux constructor planes. The Webster collection contains two: a model of the German Stuka divebomber and a civilian Messerschmidt ME109. Both display colorful graphics on their boxes.

“We think collectors will have a field day with this collection, which has a lot of diversity to it,” said Sage. “Usually toy plane collectors concentrate on one category, for instance American-made or Japanese-made or cast-iron planes. There aren’t many who collect all toy planes, but GR was one of them. His collection is an overview of aviation history in toy form.”

MEMO:

Additional segments of GR Webster’s mammoth toy aircraft collection will be auctioned at auction houses in the USA and UK. The full list follows:

Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa., will offer approximately 50 prized American cast-iron, English die-cast, and pre- and postwar European and Japanese airplanes in its May 11-12 Toy, Train & Doll Auction.

Affiliated Auctions, of Tallahassee, Fla., has been chosen to auction Webster’s aviation identification models, which were used in wartime to help military personnel identify both enemy and friendly aircraft by their shapes. The models are being incorporated into Affiliated’s regular monthly auctions.

Stephenson’s Auctioneers of Southampton, Pa. (suburban Philadelphia), will be auctioning a mixed selection of Webster’s toy airplanes in a May sale.

Lloyd Ralston Gallery, of Shelton, Conn., will sell US and Japanese planes, many tin aircraft and helicopters, diecast and boxed 1970s plastic planes and some Dinky Toys in their upcoming auctions.

Meanwhile in England, Vectis Auctions, of Stockton-on-Tees, is planning to include the collection’s rare British die-cast airplanes in a June auction, with a possible second auction to follow later this year.

Auction House Websites:

Morphy Auctions:

www.morphyauctions.com

Affiliated Auctions:

http://www.affiliatedauctions.com/

Stephenson’s Auctioneers:

http://www.stephensonsauction.com/

Lloyd Ralston Gallery:

http://www.lloydralstontoys.com/

Vectis Auctions:

http://www.vectis.co.uk/Page/Index.aspx

Caption:

From the GR Webster collection to be sold at Morphy’s May 11-12 auction: (left) Yonezawa B-36 tin bomber with 26-inch (66 cm.) wingspan, est. $600-$900; and (right) rare original box that accompanies a Britains Short Bros. flying boat monoplane with 14.25-inch (36.2 cm.) wingspan, Bakelite and heavy tin, made 1936 only, one of the rarest and most valuable airplane toys ever made, est. $12,000-$16,000. Morphy Auctions image.

Dino Tracks Lead To Phenomenal Martian Rock In Chait’s May 6 Natural History Auction

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – I.M. Chait’s industry-leading Natural History sales are a showcase for once-in-a-lifetime specimens, like the spectacular meteorite from Mars that headlines the company’s May 6 auction. Extraordinarily rare, the fist-size rock that landed in an African desert last July 18 probably took hundreds of millions of years to travel from Mars to earth.

It is known as the Tissint Meteorite – a reference to the name of the Moroccan town nearest to where nomads in the Oued Drâa valley found the fusion-crusted stone after it made its dramatic landing. According to eyewitnesses, a yellow fireball streaked across the sky, turned a bright green color, then split into two parts as two loud sonic booms were emitted. Experts would later determine – amid much excitement – that the specimens found near Tissint had originated on Mars.

“Less than 0.1% of all known meteorites are recorded as Martian in origin, and since this was the first Martian meteorite fall to be observed since 1962, it is most likely the only such fall that will be observed in most current earth inhabitants’ lifetimes,” said Chait’s natural history director, Jake Chait.

The entire Tissint fall is thought to comprise little more than 10kg (approx. 22 lbs.) of material. London’s Natural History Museum holds a Tissint specimen weighing 1.1kg (approx. 2.4 lbs.) and considers it the most important meteorite of the last 100 years.

One quality that makes the Tissint Meteorite so significant is its freshness. Unlike meteorites that lay undiscovered for years – in some cases, thousands of years – it has not been contaminated by the earth’s soil, water or bacteria, and therefore is a very fresh and valuable resource for the study of its home planet’s geology. Tiny air bubbles trapped in the rock may even provide insight as to the atmosphere of the Red Planet. A truly superb specimen that weighs in at 10.5 oz. (298 grams), the Tissint Meteorite is expected to make $200,000-$300,000 at auction.

During the prehistoric period that the Tissint Meteor(ite) is likely to have departed Mars, the earth was inhabited by early dinosaurs and other exotic reptiles. Now animal and mineral specimens of that fascinating era will come together on the same planet in the same place, at I.M. Chait’s May 6 auction.

One of the sale’s top zoological lots is the skull of a baby (10-12 years old) triceratops found at the Hell Creek Formation in Montana, a site that produced many highly important fossils. The triceratops skull is one of very few of its type in existence. Its consignor acquired the specimen from the person who actually excavated it from the Hell Creek field. It will be offered with a $60,000-$80,000 estimate. 

A jointed leg from a fearsome Tarbosaurus bataar (Tyrannosaurus) is more than 6½ feet tall and is presented on a custom metal armature. The leg dates to the end of the Cretaceous period, approximately 70 to 65 million years ago, and is in an exemplary state of preservation, from its warmly patinated surface to its wickedly curving, well-delineated claws. It could make $20,000-$25,000 on auction day.

Appropriately for the Year of the Dragon, I.M. Chait will auction a fossilized skull of a creature now known as an Ankylosaurid but originally thought to have been a dragon – and it’s easy to see why people of ancient times might have thought as such. The long snout, large spikes and cranial protrusions on the broad, flat-topped skull certainly suggest a dragon-like physiognomy. Very few Ankylosaurid remains have ever been found, more than warranting a $30,000-$40,000 presale estimate.

A fine and complete dinosaur skeleton measuring 39 inches long would be the ultimate prize on any CEO’s desk. The specimen is a remarkably well-preserved, fully articulated skeleton of a Psittacosaurus, a primitive member of the Ceratopsia, or horned dinosaurs. In a forward-crouching mode, this beautifully presented skeleton has a large parrot-beaked skull with distinctive jaws that once grabbed and shredded leaves with ease. It has a presale expectation of $10,000-$12,000.

In addition to their bones, dinosaurs left behind other evidence that they existed, like fossilized dung known in geological terms as “coprolites.” Two consecutive lots of coprolite fossils, cross cut and polished to reveal its inner coloration, are cataloged in the sale. A hefty 8¼-inch wide multicolored specimen from the Morrison Formation in Utah is estimated at $800-$1,000; while a group lot of five coprolites, quite likely from ancient turtles, carries a $2,500-$3,500 estimate. Such specimens are very popular with collectors and always garner media interest. “Even a leading business publication featured a coprolite from one of our past auctions on its front page,” said Jake Chait.

Dinosaur eggs of various types and species also will be available, ranging in size from 3 to 4 inches in diameter all the way to 16 inches for an Asiatic Gigantaraptor egg. The latter is estimated at $3,000-$4,000.

Chait’s sale includes the only fossil of an Indarctos zdanskyi (predecessor to the panda) ever to be offered at auction. “There may be one in a museum somewhere, but if so, its existence is not commonly known,” said Chait. “We don’t even know of a private collection that contains an Indarctos zdanskyi.”

The 16-inch-long “panda” skull is around 2 million years old. Like the “dragon” in the auction, it was found in central Asia. Mounted with jaws agape, the skull displays outstanding three-dimensionality, fine bone texture and coloration. Estimate: $65,000-$80,000.

A number of insects and taxidermied animals will be auctioned. Of particular note is a pair of large mosquitoes captured in amber resin while in the act of mating. Described in Chait’s catalog as “a perfect snapshot of prehistoric life,” the 2¼-inch-long golden-orange specimen of Baltic origin could realize $500-$700.

The Archaeological and Tribal Artifacts section of the sale includes an authenticated Egytian mummified human hand with a considerable amount of cloth wrapping still intact. It is at least 2,000 years old, putting it somewhere between the New Kingdom and Ptolemaic Eras. Estimate: $5,000-$6,000.

Other lots of interest include an attractive glass-encased display containing both hair and a tusk section from a Mammathus primigenius (woolly mammoth elephant), $1,200-$2,500); group lots of ancient arrow and spear points from North Africa, certified gemstones, and many other mineral specimens – from earth and beyond.

I.M. Chait’s Sunday, May 6 Important Natural History auction will commence at 11 a.m. Pacific time at the company’s gallery located at 9330 Civic Center Dr., Beverly Hills, CA 90210. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com and Artfact.com.

For additional information on any lot in the sale or to obtain a fully illustrated color catalog ($35 + shipping), call 1-800-775-5020 or 310-285-0182; or e-mail joey@chait.com. Visit the company online at www.chait.com.

CAPTION:

Tissint Martian meteorite that fell to earth July 18, 2011; believed to have solidified from lava 400-500 million years ago, extraordinarily rare, est. $200,000-$300,000. I.M. Chait image.