Tavern On The Green Auction

At Auction January 12-14: The complete contents of New York City's Landmark Restaurant, The Tavern On The Green. The auction will be held on site. I can't think of anyone I know who hasn't been here. It is now shuttered and bankrupt. Read complete article in The New York Times. The thousands of items are valued between $100 and $1.2 million. Nostalgia for sale. View catalog.




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Yale Skull and Bones Ballot Box Antique Auction

NEW YORK — A human skull that apparently was turned into a ballot box for Yale's mysterious Skull and Bones society is going on the auction block.

A YALE Skull and Bones Ballot Box 19th Century
made from a real human skull.

Lot includes a small black book with members' names
and approximately 50 photographs.

Christie's New York January 21-25, 2010
Lot Notes
Founded in 1832 at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, Skull and Bones is thought by many to be one of the oldest and most prestigious secret societies in the United States. The symbolism of the skull and cross bones is synonymous with this group as its name is derived from the symbol itself. The present lot, with hinged flap on top of the skull was said to have been used as a ballot box during society meetings or displayed in the Society's headquarters at 64 High Street in New Haven. The inscription on the right cross bone Thor could be a name which would have been assigned to a member upon induction. Accompanied by approximately 50 photographs of society members and a small black book inscribed with names (which were published until 1971), the present lot provides a rare glimpse into the society which has been linked to many influential figures and leaders at Yale University and in this country.
Pre-auction estimate" $10,000/20,000.
European consignor's name is secret. How appropriate!
Full listing information from Christie's.

I wouldn't even want to look at this in person. I would close my eyes when passing the display case at the auction house. Too scary. I wonder if any bad karma came down on the previous owner? We'll never know, will we?




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Rare Queen Anne Stool Auction

A QUEEN ANNE CARVED WALNUT COMPASS-SEAT STOOL PHILADELPHIA, CIRCA 1750

Auction: 21 - 25 January 2010 at Christie's New York, Rockefeller Plaza Pre-auction estimate $300,000/500,000.

The mate sold at Sotheby's Sept. '08 for $5,234,500.

The 56th Annual Winter Antique Show at the Park Avenue Armory is the flagship event for Americana Week in New York City. Patrons, dealers, and customers flock to the auction houses also. The circa 1750 Philadelphia Queen Anne Stool in the first and second photos is the piece to watch at Christie's. Do you think Albert Sack will buy this one too? Wouldn't it be wonderful if these two fine period stools ended up together once again? Fingers crossed.

"Take care of your antiques and they'll take care of you."




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Cormac McCarthy Typewriter Sells For $254,500.

The now famous Lettera 32 Olivetti manual typewriter owned by the author Cormac McCarthy sold last month at Christie's for $254,500. The author's description of the machine reads: "It has never been serviced or cleaned out other than blowing out the dust with a service station hose. I have typed on this typewriter every book I have written including three not published. Including all drafts and correspondence I would put this at about five million words over a period of 50 years." A few titles include All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, and Cities of the Plain (The Border Trilogy).

The unidentified buyer should be pleased that all proceeds will be going to the Santa Fe Institute. Cool. Read more via The New York Times.




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Antique piece of Vampire History :: Vampire Killing Kit circa 1800 sells for $14,850.

A complete and authentic vampire killing kit — made around 1800 and complete with stakes, mirrors, a gun with silver bullets, crosses, a Bible, holy water, candles and even garlic, all housed in a American walnut case with a carved cross on top — attained $14,850 in the Jimmy Pippen estate sale by Stevens Auctioneers on October 3–4, 2008 in the Natchez Convention Center.

Dwight Stevens of Stevens Auction Company says, "I don't believe in vampires -- I've never met one. But somebody believed in them, something drove people to believe. From New Orleans to Vicksburg, these old boxes remain." Stevens has sold four vampire killing kits in his 27 years as an auctioneer with this one being the most expensive to date. Hmmm. I wonder if this kit would work on werewolves too? I can't remember a time when vampires were more popular, can you?

Thanks for stopping by the cottage for a little antiquarian fright today. ♥Rosemary




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Sotheby's Selling Exhibition of Monumental Sculpture at Chatsworth House in Devonshire, UK . . .

Chatsworth House is home to the 12th Duke of Devonshire.


Beyond Limits: A Selling Exhibition of Monumental Sculpture

Dancers by Fernando Botero

Eros Bendato Screpolato by Igor Mitoraj

Sotheby's returns to Chatsworth in the Peak District this autumn for its fourth selling exhibition, Beyond Limits. Increasingly recognised as one of the most prestigious platforms for displaying monumental modern and contemporary sculpture in Europe, this event promises to be as innovative as ever, with extraordinary works by Henry Moore, Antony Gormley, Marc Quinn, Manolo Valdés and Jaume Plensa taking centre stage against the breathtaking backdrop of this magnificent English estate. Click on any of the photos above or here to watch the amazing video showing the beautiful grounds and more pieces of contemporary sculpture by internationally famous artists.

Thanks for stopping by the cottage for an amazing art exhibit. Today is the first day of autumn. I love this quote by Albert Camus ~ "Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is in flower." ♥Rosemary

First Edition of THE GREAT GATSBY Sells for $180,000 . . .

This is something for you to look for at each and every garage sale, tag sale, estate sale, and book sale from now on. It looks very ordinary so you will have to look carefully. This is what all the booksellers refer to as a Modern First.



Francis Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1925
Original dark green cloth stamped in blind and gilt, with dust jacket.
Considered by experts as quite possibly "the most expensive piece of Twentieth Century printed paper in book collecting." The dust jacket is an exceptionally rare find, which clearly contributed to the book far surpassing its estimate of $80/120,000 and ultimately fetching $180,000 — a world record price for any Gatsby. Read about other big ticket items that sold at Bonham's Auction.

I am right on schedule with my outside work trying to get a jump on fall. I was cutting down my giant weeds by moonlight last night. Really! I didn't come inside until 8:15. I hope the moon casts a giant hex on them for next year.
The weather is absolutely fabulous and there is no rain predicted for the next week. Cool and crisp with no humidity. Perfect for doing hard work outside. I am feeling very fulfilled about being so independent and doing everything myself since everybody else I know uses an outside service.
Thanks for stopping by the cottage. ♥Rosemary

Mahatma Gandhi Objects Top $2 Million at auction . . .

Mahatma Gandhi's circa 1920 pocket watch, Gandhi's sandals, bowl, plate, glasses, and images of Gandhi with letters of authenticity realized $2,096,000 in New York City at Antiquorum Auctioneers' sale of important collectors' wristwatches, pocket watches and clocks on March 4 and 5, 2009.

The auction room was unusually overflowing with collectors, enthusiasts of horology and members of the press — curious to see the outcome of the bidding on Mahatma Gandhi's pocket watch and personal belongings.

Vampire Killing Kit circa 1800 brings $14,850 . . .

A complete and authentic vampire killing kit, circa 1800 and housed in a walnut case, sold for $14,850.

Natchez, Mississippi ~ A complete and authentic vampire killing kit — made around 1800 and complete with stakes, mirrors, a gun with silver bullets, crosses, a Bible, holy water, candles and even garlic, all housed in a American walnut case with a carved cross on top — attained $14,850 in the Jimmy Pippen estate sale by Stevens October 3–4, 2008 in the new Natchez Convention Center.

The sale comprised the contents of Pippen's stores (Pippen Antiques and Pippen Interiors), items from his personal residence (which he considered a perfect creation and called "Paradise"), the contents of another home (a three-story, 1850s townhouse called "The Orchard" that he restored with fine appointments and rented out) along with other treasures from several warehouses.

Hmmm. I wonder if this kit would work on werewolves too?




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Winnie the Pooh sale brings £1.26m at auction in London . . .

December 18, 2008
Sotheby's - London, New Bond Street
A collection of E. H. Shepard's original drawings for the Winnie the Pooh children's books fetched £1.26m at auction.

The top lot, "He went on tracking, and Piglet... ran after him", one of Shepherd's best-known drawings, went for £115,250, a record for the artist (Ernest Howard Shepard, 1879-1976).

The illustration, showing Pooh walking with Piglet by his side, leaving a trail of footprints behind them, sold for far more than its pre-sale estimate of between 40,000 and 60,000 pounds.

Another drawing, "Bump, bump, bump - going up the stairs", sold for £97,250, almost double its lower estimate.

The auction also included limited edition and signed books by author AA Milne, and the first US edition presentation copy of Winnie-the-Pooh, dated 1926, which sold for £39,650 against an estimate of 15,000-20,000 pounds.

Philip Errington, Sotheby's specialist in charge of children's books and original illustrations, said he was "delighted" with the sale results. ...read more...

View Sotheby's Catalog with Sale Results:
'That sort of Bear': E. H. Shepard's Winnie-the-Pooh From the Collections of Stanley J Seeger and Christopher Cone

"Take care of your antiques and they will take care of you."

Supercar sells for €3,480,000 in Paris | Rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante

The Bonhams Retromobile sale witnessed some extraordinary results including €3,480,000 for the Ex-Earl Howe 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante called "Black Bess" which will remain in Europe. Read more about the history of this fabulous car with a slide show showing how nicely it cleaned up!

I wrote about this super rare vehicle last year and thought you would want to know the sale price. WOW! See "as found" photo below:

In this undated image released by Bonhams, an extremely rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante, is seen in a garage in Gosforth, England, where it was found by relatives after the death of the owner, an elderly doctor who last used it around 1960. The Bugatti, one of only 17 ever made, is expected to draw a record price when it is auctioned in Paris next month. (AP Photo/Bonhams)

"Take care of your antiques and they will take care of you."

Jane Austen's 'Emma' sold for £180,000 at auction . . .

"Silly things do cease to be silly if they are done by sensible people in an impudent way. " Jane Austen, Emma
English novelist (1775 - 1817)

A rare presentation copy of 'Emma' by Jane Austen fetched 180,000 pounds at an auction, setting a new record for a printed book by the British author.

Bonhams Auction House expected the three-volume edition to fetch up to 70,000 pounds, but fierce bidding drove the price up.

The seller, who was anonymous, as was the buyer, said: “The novel had been sitting in my family library for at least three generations, and it remains a mystery as to how it first got there."

The book, one of 12 presentation copies, was given by Austen to her friend Anne Sharp, who had been governess to the children of Austen's brother's children. The flyleaf was signed: “Anne Sharp, from the author."

"Emma" published shortly before Austen's death in 1817 explores the life and morals of a young woman, Emma Woodhouse, who appears to like nothing better than to act as local matchmaker, directing the love lives of friends and acquaintances.

"Take care of your antiques and they will take care of you."

I wish such a rare book would mysteriously appear in my library, don't you?

Thanks for stopping by. See you on the Internet, ♥Rosemary

Do want this antique folk art rug . . .

Folky hooked rug ~ 30" x 36" ~ 20th Century

"HASTE YE BACK" ~ This would be perfect hanging on a wall in my home. Offered at Sotheby's New York Americana Auction January 23-24, 2009. Estimated to sell in the $5,000-$7,000 range. Let me know if you buy it!

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Rare 1937 Bugatti supercar found in English garage. Could bring $4 million+ at Paris auction . . .

In this undated image released by Bonhams, an extremely rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante, is seen in a garage in Gosforth, England, where it was found by relatives after the death of the owner, an elderly doctor who last used it around 1960. The Bugatti, one of only 17 ever made, is expected to draw a record price when it is auctioned in Paris next month. (AP Photo/Bonhams)

LONDON – It was the equivalent of finding an old Picasso or an unknown Beatles tape hidden away in your uncle's attic.
Relatives of Dr. Harold Carr found an extremely rare 1937 Bugatti Type 57S Atalante — a Holy Grail for car collectors — as they were going through his belongings after his death. The orthopedic surgeon, who died at age 89, was described by relatives as an eccentric hoarder who never threw anything out.
The dusty two-seater, unused since 1960, didn't look like much in the garage in Gosforth, near Newcastle in northern England.
But only 17 were ever made, and when it's cleaned up and auctioned in Paris next month, experts believe it will fetch at least 3 million pounds ($4.3 million) and possibly much more.