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Colonial Williamsburg To Host Celebratory 78th Annual Antiques Forum

Special Event To Take Place Feb. 19 To 25, 2026

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation will host its 78th Annual Antiques Forum from Feb. 19 to 25, 2026. Offered both virtually and in-person, this year’s conference is organized around the foundation’s mission statement, “That the future may learn from the past.” To commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence and the 100th anniversary of Colonial Williamsburg’s founding, the 2026 forum will explore past inspiration and future influence through the lens of material culture and the decorative arts. Forum attendees will also have an exclusive opportunity to preview “Colonial Williamsburg: The First 100 Years,” a new exhibition at the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg opening Feb. 28, 2026.

Curators and scholars from Colonial Williamsburg will be joined by leading experts and collectors

from across the nation to present on historic preservation, decorative arts, antiques, architecture, historic costume and more. President and CEO of the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia, Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, will open the conference with a keynote address that expands upon his museum’s recent exhibition, “Banners of Liberty: Flags that Witnessed the American Revolution.”

Additional guest presenters include Jeff Evans, decorative arts specialist; Calder Loth, senior architectural historian, Virginia Department of Historic Resources; Amanda Keller, executive director, Wilton House Museum; Elyse Werling, director of interpretation and collections, Preservation Virginia; Samantha Dorsey, independent consultant; Matthew Wood, curator, Castle Howard; William L. Coleman, director of the Andrew & Betsy Wyeth Student

Center, Brandywine Museum of Art; Janine Skerry, independent consultant; and emerging scholars presenting new scholarship as part of the Carolyn and Michael McNamara Young Scholars Series sponsored by the Decorative Arts Trust.

To register and view the full conference agenda, visit www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/antiques. The majority of conference activities will take place in the Virginia Room of the Williamsburg Lodge, located at 310 S. England St. in Williamsburg, Va. A variety of exclusive preand post-conference activities are available for in-person registrants, as are special room rates at Colonial Williamsburg hotel properties. A limited number of in-person and virtual attendance scholarships are available to students and emerging professionals in relevant positions or programs. Applications are due by Tuesday, Dec. 16.

In-person registration is $660 per person through Sunday, Jan. 4, and includes a welcome reception, continental breakfasts, coffee and refreshment breaks, conference reception and dinner, and

presentations, as well as access to the conference streaming platform. Virtual-only registration is $150 per person and includes access to all general session presentations through the conference streaming platform. Both in-person and virtual-only registrations include a seven-day ticket voucher to Colonial Williamsburg’s Art Museums and Historic Area, valid for redemption through Dec. 31, 2026. Registration and payment in full are required by Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026.

Antiques Forum is sponsored by Roger & Ann Hall and Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections, Mark & Loretta Roman, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, Brunk Auctions, The Decorative Arts Trust, Doyle Auctions, Americana Insights, Winterthur Museum, Jamestown Yorktown Foundation, Bayou Bend, and The National Institute of American History & Democracy.

Additional information is available at www.colonialwilliamsburg. org/learn/conferences or by calling 1-800-603-0948 toll-free or emailing educationalconferences@cwf. org.

Embassy Auctions International To Sell Graded NGC XF45 SS Republic Gold 1852 Twenty Dollar Double Eagle

By Brian Callahan

Gold, silver, pirates and treasure fill the dreams of young boys and girls as they let their childhood imaginations interpret historical events through the lens of youth. For many people, these are just happy memories of carefree youth, while for others it is just the beginning of a lifelong journey of exploring history. This often takes the form of collecting things, such as old coins.

Due to advances in modern technology, we are experiencing a golden age in both the recovery of shipwrecked treasures as well as the conservation of ancient coins pulled from the ocean’s depths.

Focus

The Morgan Library & Museum will present “Caravaggio’s ‘Boy with a Basket of Fruit’ in Focus,” celebrating the extraordinary loan of this important early masterpiece by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610) from the Galleria Borghese in Rome. On view from Jan. 16 through April 19, 2026, the exhibition showcases what can be considered Caravaggio’s first masterpiece alongside a group of 10 works that place the painting in context, from the artist’s influences to those he

This portrait of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller (Mrs. John D. Rockefeller), Robert Brackman, New York, New York, oil on canvas, was a gift of the Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller Fund through the generosity of John D.Rockefeller 3rd, his wife Blanchette Hooker Rockefeller, and their four children; 2019-82, A&B. Image courtesy The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Upholstery conservator Leroy Graves examines an easy chair in the conservation lab. Image courtesy The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

Here is the Governors Palace, North and South Elevation, Drawing #5, David Hayes, Oct. 30, 1931. Image courtesy The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

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Two-Part Series Tallies Nearly $4 Million

Morphy’s Concludes Tom Sage Sr. Antique Toy And Train Collection Sales

On Oct. 30, a significant chapter in antique toy history came to a close as Morphy’s conducted the second and final auction dedicated exclusively to the collection of the late Tom Sage Sr. (19392024). The gallery sale of 281 exceptional toys and trains achieved $1.35 million, bringing the series total to $3.95 million, inclusive of buyer’s premium.

Consisting of premium-quality German, French and American toys of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Sage collection was carefully assembled over a period of more than 50 years. Tom was known far and wide for his encyclopedic knowledge of toys, which he developed organically by “handling the merchandise” he bought and sold. He was one of the very first to gamble on the idea of making a fulltime living from “old toys,” an unheard-of concept in the late 1960s/early 1970s. Once he decided to take the leap into toy-trading as a profession, Tom quickly went from zero to 60, cultivating an enviable network of industry contacts with whom he transacted business for several decades. As he bought and resold toys and trains, he also astutely acquired special pieces for his own collection. It was that select grouping, which he kept

and enjoyed throughout his life, that was auctioned at Morphy’s.

The session was dominated by the premier name in German antique toy manufacture: Marklin. The day’s top-selling lot was a rare ca. 1904 Marklin hand-painted III-gauge live steam LNWR locomotive (Cat. Ref. E4023) with tender and dining car with three original figures (Cat. Refs. 1842/3). Although 121 years old, it still presented in excellent condition, and, as noted in Morphy’s auction catalog, it might possibly

achieve a higher grade if professionally cleaned. One of the finest trains in the entire Sage collection, it sold for $123,000 against an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.

Made specifically for export to the U.S. market, a hand-painted ca. 1904 Marklin II-Gauge E2 live steam train set consisted of an E2 live steam locomotive and two coaches with NPRR markings, one in blue and the other in red. In excellent condition, this set well exceeded its $12,000 to $18,000 estimate, settling at $33,000.

Marklin excelled in replicating all modes of early 20th-century transportation, including the mighty ships at sea. An example of their hand-painted clockwork “George Washington” fourstack ocean liner took pride of place in the Sage collection. An impressive 3-footlong craft, it was graded excellent with the potential of achieving a higher grade if professionally cleaned. It finished within estimate for $66,000. A 25.5-inch Marklin Cat. Ref. 5120 hand-painted

Continued on page 6

The rare ca. 1904 Marklin hand-painted III-gauge live steam LNWR locomotive (Cat. Ref. E4023), tender and dining car (Cat. Ref. 1842/3), overall excellent condition, one of the best toy trains in the Sage collection, realized $123,000 against an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.

A Marklin Cat. Ref. 5120 hand-painted, clockwork-powered “Brooklyn” battleship, excellent to NM condition, with original stand, its line of provenance including the collection of publishing magnate Malcolm Forbes, sold for $56,580 against an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.

An outstanding ca. 1909-12 hand-painted Carette clockwork limousine in scarce maroon color with original box, NM-Mint condition, sold for $46,740 against an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000.

The pre-WWII Marklin hand-painted automobile, red with gold trim, white rubber wheels and original center headlight, VG to excellent condition, sold for nearly five times its high estimate at $28,800.

This Marklin Cat. Ref. 5416 hand-painted clockwork-powered aeroplane, primitive styling, retaining its two original figures, NM condition, sold at the upper end of its estimate range for $28,800.

Collector Anecdotes And Antics

A Tale Of Two Markets: Superman Soars While Babe Ruth Strikes Out

By Shawn Surmick

One of the most famous quotes penned by Charles Dickens was the opening to his novel “A Tale of Two Cities” that begins with, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” This lament captures the magic of the antiques and collectibles trade quite eloquently in my humble opinion. Some markets in the trade are doing great, while others are struggling and the only constant is change. Right now, one of the hottest markets in the trade is the market for trading cards. Thanks to the advent of third-party grading and online social media influencers promoting the investment potential

of these relics, demand for certain cards is at an all-time high. On the opposite end of the spectrum, vintage comic books that were once seen as a sure-fire investment are struggling to break free of a bear market that sent prices tumbling by about 20 percent across the board. You can make a strong argument that some of the money coming into the trading card market was once chasing after vintage comic books. That said, volatility is the name of the game, and when we look at the top five percent of any collecting category, things aren’t always as they seem. There is a lot of risk in these markets.

Case in point, on Oct. 24, Heritage Auctions auctioned off a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth trading card that was graded by SGC in 3 condition. There are believed to be less than 15 of these cards in existence, and back in December of 2023 this same card crossed the auction block courtesy of REA Auctions where it sold for a staggering sum of $7.2 million. Unfortunately, as is the case with items like this, only a handful of hardcore collectors can afford to shell out millions for one single item, and when the dust finally settled at Heritage Auctions,

disappointment was in the air. The card hammered $4,026,000, representing a more than $3 million loss from when it sold roughly two years ago.

Now you may be asking what went wrong, and I am happy to give my analysis. First, back in December of 2023, REA Auctions promoted this card extensively. Pretty much every high-end collector of sports cards knew the card was coming up for bid. Second, the importance of this card is somewhat questionable. This is a 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card. It is not his rookie card, nor from when he played in the major leagues. Lastly, the card was graded by SGC and not the current gold standard of third-party grading, PSA. Other contributing factors that also played a role in this card losing more than $3 million at auction was the fact that Heritage Auctions did not appear to promote the card as extensively as REA Auctions did. Compounding all of this was the fact that the consignor chose to sell less than two short years after paying a record sum. An item like this, especially when buying at full market price through auction, is a long-term investment. Two years is not enough time to see a return on investment for an

“Superman No. 1” Leaps To $9.12 Million Most Expensive Comic Ever Sold

The highest-ever-graded copy of “Superman No. 1” from 1939, found by members of a Northern California family in the attic of their late mother’s home last year, now holds the record as the world’s most expensive comic book after selling for $9.12 million with buyer’s premium on Nov. 20 as the headline item at Heritage’s Comic Books Signature Auction.

“What a momentous day,” said Heritage Auctions vice

president Lon Allen. “I’m thrilled for our consignor. ‘Superman No. 1’ is a milestone in pop culture history, and this copy is not only in unprecedented condition, but it has a movie-worthy story behind it. I was glad to see the price reflect that and am honored Heritage was entrusted with this iconic book.”

Despite being protected by only a stack of old newspapers in a cardboard box,

the copy earned a 9.0 on a 10-point scale by CGC, the world’s largest third-party comics grading service. The $9.12 million price smashed the previous comic value record, set by an 8.5-graded copy of “Action Comics No. 1” that sold for $6 million through Heritage Auctions in 2024.

“This new record may someday be remembered as an early stage of popular

Continued on page 6

item like this. Still, you cannot judge the high end of the market based solely on one sale. Trading cards of all types are in a lot of demand right now, and outside of this one sale the market is booming. But wait, there’s more, said my favorite late infomercial from the 1990s! On Nov. 20, Heritage Auctions auctioned a copy of “Superman #1” graded by CGC in 9.0 condition. This is by far one of the highest graded copies of this comic book to ever come across the auction block. It should also be noted that “Superman #1” is not the Man of Steel’s first appearance. That honor belongs to “Action Comics #1” which is a highly sought-after book, and even low-grade coverless copies, when found, can be seen selling for half a million dollars or more. Still, this copy of “Superman #1” in CGC 9.0 did have a lot of hype behind it, and Heritage Auctions, along with the grading company CGC, did a lot to promote this book. Well, lo and behold, the hype machine worked because this book sold for a whopping $9,120,000, making it the most expensive comic book ever sold! Personally, I think the buyer may have overpaid for this particular book, as again, this isn’t even Superman’s first appearance, but the market is going to do what the market is going to do regardless of what I or anyone thinks.

Still, as soon as this book sold, certain comic book enthusiasts proudly declared that vintage comic books are back. Again, I must repeat that one sale does not a market make, but here we are. The lesson that we can all learn

from this is that there are no guarantees in any of these markets. Just because one market (in this case trading cards) is going gangbusters at present time, does not mean that every item (no matter how rare or scarce) in that market will sell for a premium. On the flip side, just because the vintage comic book market is in correction territory at present time also does not mean that a high profile item cannot sell for a record-breaking sum. In conclusion, it would seem that speculators and investors like to look at record-breaking sales to justify their purchases in these markets. Unfortunately, this is a fool’s game. Unless it was your item that sold for that record-breaking price, these sales are almost meaningless over the long term. Do I think “Superman #1” CGC 9.0 is worth $9,120,000? No, but someone obviously did. I also don’t think the 1914 Baltimore News Babe Ruth card in SGC 3 should have originally sold

for anywhere near $7 million, but I don’t speak for the buyers. I speak for the collectors who are trying to analyze these crazy markets. That said, even if I had the kind of money needed to play in this high-end pool, I would not be willing to risk millions of dollars to find out, so do with that information what you will. There will always be a record-breaking sale in every market, but unless you either bought or sold that record-breaking item in question, it matters very little. This is why the antiques and collectibles trade are simultaneously always the best of times and the worst of times. Until we meet again.

Shawn Surmick has been an avid collector since the age of 12. He currently resides in his hometown of Boyertown, Pa., and is a passionate collector of antiques and collectibles. His articles focus on various topics affecting the marketplace.

Clowning Around: Cheery Clown Collectibles

Smack Dab In The Middle: Design Trends Of The Mid-20th Century

By Donald-Brian Johnson

“Be a Clown! Be a Clown! All the world loves a Clown!” Cole Porter, 1948

OK, maybe not “all the world.” If memories of “Pennywise,” the evil clown in Stephen King’s “It,” still have you shuddering, then you and Cole Porter might

find yourselves at odds. For everyone else, those brightly painted faces, big red noses, multicolored costumes, and oversized shoes mean good times are on the way! Circuses. Carnivals. Parades. All sorts of charity events. If it seems like clowns are everywhere, well, they are. And they’ve been hopping out of those little cars and spreading their particular brand of joy for ages.

The first clowns entertained the imperial courts of Egypt (2400 B.C.) and China

(1000 B.C.). In some early societies, court clowns even served a triple purpose, as funnymen, magicians, and religious figures. By the time clowning made its way to the theatres of ancient Greece and Rome, the clown characterization had evolved to that of a country bumpkin. And, while court jesters amused royalty with their antics (not to mention those jingling caps and shoes) during the Middle Ages, Shakespeare’s “Fools” in his Elizabethan plays, brought bumpkins

back to prominence. Hmmm. These don’t sound much like “Bozo,” do they? Where was the whiteface? The wild wig? Enter Joseph Grimaldi. In the early 1800s, Grimaldi took the London stage by storm. His costumes were a bizarre mix of colors. His face was plastered in white, accented by red cheek highlights. The wig was there, too. Not carrot-y like Bozo’s, but a blue Mohawk. He did high leaps and headstands.

Continued on page 5

Ready to brighten any room is this plaster wall plaque, 8.5 inches high.

That red wig is a dead giveaway: it’s “Bozo the Clown!” This plastic piggy bank was made in British Hong Kong, 7 inches high.

Let the big parade begin! The clown-themed Texaco ad is ca. 1950.

Put a penny on his palm and watch it disappear! This is a reproduction of an antique metal clown bank for the Book of Knowledge collection, ca. 1950s.

Ready for breakfast! The jolly clown juicer was made in Japan.

19711 Newark 302-454-8007

AUNT MARGARET’S ANTIQUE MALL, 294 E. Main St. Mon- Sat. 10-5,

18944 Perkasie 215-257-3564 TREASURE TROVE, 6 S. 7th Street. Estate jewelry, furniture, linens, vintage clothing, glass, china, books, toys, kitchenware, advertising, postcards. Primitives to Deco. Dealers Welcome. Mon.-Sat. 10-5. In business 42 years.

18962 Silverdale 215-453-1414

Mon.-Sat. 10-8, Sun. 11:30-5:30. Over 45 Showcase/ Room Dealers selling qty. antqs. & collectibles. mainstreetantiques.com

21901 North East 410-287-8318

5 & 10 ANTIQUE MARKET, 115 S. Main St. Daily 10am-6pm. Cecil County’s largest! Approx. 65 dealers, variety & nostalgia. Buying/selling antiques & collectibles.

07052 West Orange 973-323-1711 VALLEY VINTAGE 168 S. Valley Rd., West Orange- Open 7 days ANNEX 411 Ridgewood Rd., MAPLEWOOD: ThuSun. Follow us on Instagram @valleyvintage168 for updates and Store Hours.

08525 Hopewell 609-466-9833 TOMATO FACTORY ANTIQUE & DESIGN CENTER, 2 Somerset St. We Have It All! Open Mon. thru Sat. 10-5, Sun. 11-5. We have 38 Dealers. www.tomatofactoryantiques.com

17225 Greencastle 717-593-9990 the shop, 144 E. Baltimore St. 1/2 mi. off I-81 Exit 5. Antiques, Collectibles & Decorative accessories. Consignment shop next door. Open Wed.-Sat., 10 - 4.

THE FACTORY ANTIQUES AND COLLECTIBLES, 130 West Main Street, Rt. 113, Bucks County. Featuring 45 Dealers. Open Wednesday thru Saturday 10-5, Sundays 11-4.

19543 Morgantown 610-913-1953

MORGANTOWN MARKET, 2940 Main St. Hours 10-5 daily. Berks Co. Largest Antique Boutique. Antiques, Collectibles, Vintage Home & Garden Decor. Now we have miniatures & dollhouses!

GEORGIA

12/11-14/2025, Atlanta - Thurs

10 AM - 4 PM, Fri & Sat 9 AM-

6 PM, Sun 10 AM - 4 PM, 3650 & 3850 Jonesboro Road, Scott Antique Markets

01/08-11/2026, AtlantaThurs 10 AM - 5 PM, Fri & Sat

9 AM - 6 PM, Sun 10 AM - 4 PM, 3650 & 3850 Jonesboro Road, Scott Antique Markets

02/12-15/2026, AtlantaThurs 10 AM - 5 PM, Fri & Sat

9 AM - 6 PM, Sun 10 AM - 4 PM, 3650 & 3850 Jonesboro Road, Scott Antique Markets

NEW JERSEY

12/06/2025, Oldwick - Sat 10

AM - 4 PM, Route 517, Christmas Antiques Show

12/07/2025, Wayne - Sun 9 AM - 2:30 PM, 1 PAL Drive, Wayne PAL Antiques & Collectibles Show

01/04/2026, Wayne - Sun 9

AM - 2:30 PM, 1 PAL Drive, Wayne PAL Antiques & Collectibles Show

02/01/2026, Wayne - Sun 9

AM - 2:30 PM, 1 PAL Drive, Wayne PAL Antiques & Collectibles Show

03/01/2026, Wayne - Sun 9 AM - 2:30 PM, 1 PAL Drive, Wayne PAL Antiques & Collectibles Show

03/27-28/2026, Allendale - Fri 5 PM - 9 PM, Sat 10 AM - 4 PM, 165 West Crescent Avenue, Vintage Glass, Pottery & China Show OHIO

12/20-21/2025, ColumbusSat & Sun, 717 E 17th Avenue, Scott Antique Markets

01/24-25/2026, ColumbusSat 9 AM - 6 PM, Sun 10 AM4 PM, 717 East 17th Ave, Scott Antique Markets

02/21-22/2026, ColumbusSat 9 AM - 6 PM, Sun 10 AM - 4 PM, 717 East 17th Avenue, Scott Antique Markets

PENNSYLVANIA

01/02-12/27/2025, Berwyn - Every Sat. & Sun. 10-5, 288 Swedesford Rd.

01/02-12/31/2025, Lewisburg - Every Sunday (Except Easter) 8 AM - 4 PM, 150 Silvermoon Lane, Rt 15 Flea Market & Farmers Market

01/30-31/2026, York - Fri 10 AM-6 PM, Sat 10 AM-5 PM, 334 Carlisle Ave, 186th York,Pa Antiques Show & Sale

Haddon Heights Decorates For Christmas

By Carol Leach

The holiday season is upon us, spurring the usual decorating, entertaining, and gift giving frenzy that happens every year. And while Christmas dominates the season, New Year’s is an important part of the picture, too.

If you favor antique and vintage decorations, entertain using antique and vintage china and glassware, and like to give gifts that are unique and unusual, visit a shop or co-op such as the Haddon Heights Antiques Center. And while its latest special sales display will likely have you humming Christmas carols, tucked in among the Santa Clauses and Christmas trees you’ll find a few Thanksgiving turkeys and Pilgrims as well as some New Year’s noisemakers and champagne glasses.

The special sales display

Continued from page 4

has been a traditional offering at the Haddon Heights Antiques Center for over a quarter of a century. During the holiday season, it concentrates selected antique and vintage pieces in one place, and this year is no exception. There are some unusual mid-century modern Christmas trees, hand-crafted satin ornaments, and angels. There will be a broad selection of Santa Clauses, from small ceramic figurines to larger plush and plastic dolls. A few smaller light-up blow molds will round out the sales display. As items sell, new items will be added, so the display will change over time.

The holiday season is a busy time at the Haddon Heights Antiques Center. Fifty or more different dealers do their best to offer a wonderful selection of decorations and giftware. Whether you need some vintage Christmas

He sang, and offered impersonations. He even presented a boxing match, with himself! Viewing Grimaldi’s success, other clowns quickly slapped on the whiteface, pulled on the baggy pants and wigs, and climbed aboard the circus wagon. Clowning was no longer just the filler during the main event. Thanks to Grimaldi, clowning now was the main event. By the mid 20th century, no circus was complete without a clown (or better yet, a whole car full of them).

Modern clowns came in many types. There were “tramp clowns” like Emmett Kelly and Charlie Chaplin. Rodeo clowns. Sophisticated

china for your table or a beautiful piece of jewelry for that special someone, you’ll likely find it, and you’ll likely enjoy the generous discount policy the store offers.

Open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with

whiteface clowns like “Frosty” Little. Much less sophisticated whiteface clowns like Bozo and Ronald McDonald. Here’s an interesting clown fact: did you know that weatherman Willard Scott once played both Bozo and Ronald McDonald?

And, of course, there were “evil clowns,” from “Pennywise” to Batman’s “The Joker,” eager to scare us silly. (There’s even a name for clown fright: it’s “coulrophobia.”)

But regardless of type, audiences loved clowns, and so did artists. The no-holdsbarred nature of colorful clown makeup and costuming meant no-holds-barred artistic interpretations

ILLINOIS

12/11/2025, Union - Thurs. 9 AM & Online, donley auctions.com. General antiques. Donley Auctions 12/13/2025, Union - Sat 10 AM & Online, donleyauctions. com. Firearms & Ammunition. Donley Auctions

INDIANA

12/17/2025, Shipshewana - Wed 9 AM, shipshewana tradingplace.com. Sign/ Advertising auction. Shipshewana Trading Place

12/18-20/2025, Shipshewana - Thurs 1 PM, Fri & Sat 9 AM & Online, chuppauctions.com. Salesman samples, advertising signs, petroleum, Cushmans, Winchester guns, vet cabinets & country store, antique engines, scale model tractors, farm items & more!

Chupp Auctions

MARYLAND

12/09/2025, Parsonsburg - Tues 5 PM, Online only, amauctions.com. Nice selection of estate coinage to include 33+ US, UK, France & Prussia gold coins, US & foreign silver coinage & more! A & M Auctions

12/10/2025, HagerstownWed., Online, hurleyauctions. com. Large antique auction. Furniture, motorcycle, clocks, gold jewelry, pottery, folk art, silver, antiques & primitives & more! Hurley Auctions

12/20/2025, Frederick - Sat 9 AM, parzowauctions.com. Coin collection, furniture, artwork & tabletop smalls. Howard B. Parzow OHIO

12/30-31/2025, DundeeMon & Tue 9 AM, atleeraber auctions.com. Day 1: Antiques, primitives, farmhouse, country store, stoneware & more! Day 2: Advertising, gas pumps, toys, oil cans & more! Atlee Raber Auctions

PENNSYLVANIA

extended hours until 8 p.m. on Friday evenings, the Haddon Heights Antiques Center is conveniently located at 531 Clements Bridge Road just off I-295 in Barrington, N.J. For further information, call 856-546-0555.

of clowndom. There were ceramic clowns, glass clowns, tin, pot metal, plastic, marble, and plaster clowns. And, since clowns could do almost anything onstage, so could

Continued on page 6

12/05-06/2025, Manheim - Fri & Sat 9 AM & Online, hessauctiongroup.com. Two day antiques & Americana auction. Hess Auction Group 12/06/2025, Ephrata - Sat 9 AM, www.horstauction.com. Antique & vintage toys and vintage Christmas & Halloween. Horst Auction Center

12/06/2025, Ephrata - Sat 10 AM & Online, gehman auctions.com. Silver & Bronze Age comic book auction. Gehman Auctions

12/06/2025, OrwigsburgSat 10 AM, www.auctiontime bidboard.com. Firearms,

furniture, jewelry, coins, antique/vintage, military, toys, video games, instruments, sports, glass, collectibles & more! Blums Auction

12/07/2025, Ephrata - Sun 3 PM & Online, gehman auctions.hibid.com. Vintage toy variety auction. Gehman Auctions

12/08/2025, Ephrata - Mon 3 PM & Online, gehman auctions.hibid.com. Vintage Marx playset auction. Gehman Auctions

12/08/2025, New HollandMon 6:30 PM, Online only, pmorganauctions.com. Massive vintage sports & trading card collection; baseball, football, hockey, Pokemon & Star Wars. Patrick Morgan Auction Services, LLC

12/08/2025, Dillsburg - Mon 6:30 PM, haars.com. Furniture, collectibles, Llardo, Hummels, Boyds bears, primitive items & more! Hardy’s Auction Service

12/10/2025, New HollandWed 6:30 PM, Online only, pmorganauctions.com. Pistols, rifles, bayonets, knives, leather. western wear, tools, decor & more! Patrick Morgan Auction Services, LLC 12/11/2025, Carlisle - Thurs 3 PM, rowesauctionservice. com. Antiques, collectibles, art, furniture & more! Rowe’s Auction Service

12/13/2025, Ephrata - Sat 9 AM & Online, horstauction. com. Antiques, collectibles, tools, model trains, dolls, household goods, toys, lawn & garden equipment & more! Horst Auction Center

12/13/2025, Kutztown - Sat 9 AM, Furniture, sterling silver, silver coins, antiques & collectibles, quilts & quilt tops, hit or miss engine, fire arms, long guns, Fender Stratocaster guitar, 19th century tall case clock, Civil War era sword & more! George Miller, IV Auction Company

12/15/202, Denver - Mon., morphyauctions.com. Postcards, ephemera & advertising. Morphy Auctions

12/18/2025, Kinzers - Thurs 9 AM, embassyauctions international.com. Coins & Currency auction. Embassy Auctions International

Clowns

The clown on a bicycle souvenir figurine with “Storyland, Florida” sticker was made by Yona, 6 inches high.

Clowns

Continued from page 5

clown figurines. Clowns were posed banging drums, roller skating, twirling canes, riding bikes, and riding piggyback. But why stop at just static

poses? There were so many helpful functions a clown could perform. Among the many: clown banks, juicers, decanters, ashtrays, salt-andpeppers, mugs, napkin rings, spoon rests, tea sets, cookie jars, planters, vases, egg

Heritage

Continued from page 3

culture collecting’s trajectory into the upper reaches of the auction field,” stated Jim Halperin, co-founder of Heritage Auctions. “The value and historical importance of these objects are becoming even more well-known to collectors all over the world. And thanks in part to Heritage Auctions’ reach and platform, market values have become more accessible and trackable than ever before. We’re so proud of

Heritage’s role in helping standardize, popularize, and grow the entire collectibles hobby.”

The record-holding copy is one of only seven known copies with a CGC grade of 6.0 or higher. It tops esteemed pedigreed copies including the Mile High and Davis Crippen copies and is one of fewer than 100 copies of this momentous issue in any grade, including restored examples, that Heritage has ever offered.

To learn more, visit www. HA.com.

for

bringing $9.12 million.

cups, table lamps, and lighting fixtures. Although many clown figurines were imported or unmarked, some design “names” celebrated red noses, including Shawnee, McCoy, Royal Copley, Royal Halburton China, Royal Doulton, and Murano. Prices remain something to smile about, ranging from $15 to $100, with works by those “names” on the higher end. Since most clown figurines were mass-produced, their grinning faces often turn up at estate sales, auctions, antique shops, and online. You’ll find them all definite day-brighteners (well, maybe not “Pennywise”). And always remember:

If you become a doctor,

folks’ll face you with dread!

If you become a dentist, they’ll be glad when you’re dead!

You’ll get a bigger hand if you can stand on your head! Be a Clown, be a Clown, be a Clown!”

Cole Porter, 1948

Clown collectibles courtesy of Mark Dickmeyer.

Photo Associate: Hank Kuhlmann.

Al l photos by Donald-Brian Johnson.

Donald-Brian Johnson is the co-author of numerous books on design and collectibles, including “Postwar Pop,” a collection of his columns. Please address inquiries to donaldbrian@msn.com.

George Miller IV Auction Co. Sells

Winter Holiday Estate Auction

Beltzner Hall, Kutztown

but

from

Sold With Satisfaction! Serving People for 30+ Years.

George Miller IV Auctioneer, #AU-003073-L Spencer G. Miller, Auctioneer, #AU-006251 & Real Estate Agent Auctioneers, Appraisers, Consultants Phone: 610-944-0926

“HUNDREDS OF LOTS WILL BE SOLD IN THIS ONE-DAY AUCTION EVENT” THE PROFESSIONAL

at 9:00 A.M.

PARTIAL LISTING: COIN COLLECTION INCLUDES: SILVER EAGLES, MORGANS, PEACE DOLLARS, EISENHOWER’S, WALKING LIBERTIES, KENNEDY’S, FRANKLIN’S, PROOFS & UNCIRCULATED COINS, 1834 50 CENT CAPPED BUST HALF, BARBER QUARTERS & HALVES, US HALF CENT & 3 CENT COINS (1800’S), US PAPER CURRENCY & MORE!

STERLING SILVER SERVICE FOR 12, NUMEROUS JEWELRY GOLD & SILVER, COLORFUL CARVED DUCK DECOYS, ANTIQUE FURNITURE INCLUDING CHEST OF DRAWERS, PIE SAFE, CORNER CUPBOARD, 2-DROP FRONT SECRETARIES, BLIND DOOR CORNER CUPBOARD, SMALL TABLES, WICKER, CHILD CUPBOARD, PERIOD SIDEBOARD, OUTDOOR FURNITURE, COLLECTION OF WOODEN SMALL WOODEN BOXES, TRINKET BOXES, A PAIR OF AMBER FLASH BOHEMIAN ELK ETCHED GOBLETS, LARGE EARLY NAVAJO RUGS, IMPORTED RUGS, ANTIQUE WOODEN WARE, FOX HUNTING RELATED ART, BEAUTIFUL VINTAGE SIR NORMAN WILKINSON BRITISH TRAVEL POSTER IN EXCELLENT COND., GORGEOUS NORWAY, LAND OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN, TRAVEL POSTER IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BY BENJAMIN BLESSUM, NUMEROUS CHAIRS, FLOOR LAMPS & TABLE TOP LAMPS, NUMEROUS CLOCKS, RARE VINTAGE STYLE DESK TOP LAMP, SHAVING MIRRORS, EARLY WHALE OIL LAMP C.1800’S, OLD SHEET MUSIC, EARLY TAPESTRIES, VINTAGE CLOTHING, NUMEROUS FINE ANTIQUE CHINA SETS INCLUDING HAND PAINTED MINTON FISH PLATES, OLD TRAVEL ROAD MAPS, ADVERTISING TINS, CAST IRON FARM BELL, BASKETS, FISHER-PRICE TOYS, STILL BANK, NUMEROUS FINE ART INCLUDING FOX HUNTING ETC., FRAMED FINE PRINTS, EARLY FASHION PRINTS, HOT WHEELS & MATCHBOX CARS, PEWTER WARE, POTTERY & STONEWARE, NICE KITCHEN-AID MIXER, VINTAGE MIXING BOWLS, CORNING WARE, FINE GLASSWARE INCLUDING ART GLASS, CRANBERRY GLASS, GUITARS & OTHER INSTRUMENTS, INDIAN POTTERY, POLITICAL BUTTONS, ZENITH OCEANIC RADIO, HORSE RACING EPHEMERA, SLOT MACHINE, PRIMITIVES, AFRICAN WOOD CARVINGS, CAMERAS, DOLLS, GEODES, C.1880’S VICTORIAN SEWING BIRD, 1922 MAX SENNETT BATHING BEAUTIES TRADING CARDS COLLECTION, COLLECTION OF SOFT GOODS C. LATE 1800’S-1900’S, RARE TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP OF THE BATTLEFIELD OF GETTYSBURG 1863, LONG WOODEN WALL TELEPHONE ETC, SHOP TOOLS, ORIGINAL XBOX

an attic

decades,

safe

harmful heat and humidity, this “Superman No. 1” from 1939 is now the most expensive comic book ever sold at auction after

Time for tea! This clown tea set is marked “Lipper & Mann Creations, Japan.”

Lighting things up is this clown table lamp, possibly handmade, 15 inches high. Add a plant, and this planter clown has hair!

Morphy

clockwork-powered “Brooklyn” battleship was assessed to be in excellent to NM condition and was accompanied by its original stand. It came with the ultimate provenance, having once been in the collection of publishing tycoon and eminent toy collector Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990). Its bidding run ended at $56,580 against an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. Also, an American-made (Baltimore, Md.) Voltamp II-Gauge United Electric eight-wheel trolley, 16 inches long with closed ends and its original “people-catcher,” was an attractively finished example in bright red with a forest-green roof and gold

Caravaggio

revolution it represents.”

lettering. It sped to $31,200 against an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000.

After the hammer fell on the final lot, Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, commented, “It was a huge honor for us to handle Tom Sage’s collection. He was a true visionary and a master

of his profession but always remained a collector at heart. It’s not likely that we’ll ever see another toy and train collection quite like his.”

For more information, email info@morphyauctions.com or visit www.morphyauctions.com.

All images courtesy of Morphy Auctions.

Trained in his native Lombardy, Caravaggio brought to Rome a tradition of naturalism that stretched back to Leonardo da Vinci’s work in Milan. He combined this tradition with a revolutionary approach to painting that shattered the illusion of art and celebrated the artifice of the studio. “Boy with a Basket of Fruit” (ca. 1595), in which these key elements of Caravaggio’s art come together for the first time, marks the beginning of a revolution in Italian painting.

“Caravaggio captures the imagination in a way that almost no other artist can,” said Colin B. Bailey, Katharine J. Rayner director of the Morgan Library & Museum. “We are exceptionally fortunate to be able to bring this masterpiece from the Galleria Borghese to share with visitors in New York for the first time in the 21st century, accompanied by works that illuminate his impact on the field of painting.”

“‘Boy with a Basket of Fruit’ marks a turning point in Italian painting,” said John Marciari, Charles W. Engelhard curator, department head of drawings and prints, and director of curatorial affairs. “It is a linchpin between the naturalism of Caravaggio’s sources and his radical interventions in exposing the artifice of painting. To see this painting in context is to understand the

Embassy

With this in mind, the staff at Embassy Auctions International would like to invite you to its upcoming coin and currency auction on Thursday, Dec. 18, beginning at 9 a.m.

An impressive offering of coins will be made available to the public, both live and online, featuring an exceptional selection of shipwreck coins. Gold, silver and copper coins from a series of different wrecks that have been conserved and properly attributed by third-party grading services assuring provenance.

This will be a very diverse sale containing the familiar Morgan, Peace, and American silver eagles graded by PCGS and NGC in quantity with an influenced.

With his parted lips, flushed ears, and shirt slipping from his shoulder, the boy in the painting is far from the idealized figures typically depicted in Roman painting at the time. Caravaggio painted neither a God nor a saint, but an artist’s model, captured on the canvas and seemingly offered to us for examination, much like the fruit the boy presents to the viewer.

The exhibition juxtaposes this remarkable work with some precedents for its naturalism, including earlier paintings from Milan, such as “Four Seasons in One Head” (ca. 1590) by Giuseppe Arcimboldo (1527-1593), on loan from the National Gallery of Art. Other precedents include “Boy Drinking” (ca. 1583) by Caravaggio’s slightly older contemporary Annibale Carracci (1560-1609). A significant loan from a private collection, this painting has never been on public view.

Also exhibited are two works by Caravaggio’s early mentors and influences: a drawing by Simone Peterzano (ca. 1535-1599), who was the young Caravaggio’s teacher in Milan, and a study by Giuseppe Cesari (1568-1640), in whose studio Caravaggio worked in Rome. Although Caravaggio would eventually turn away from preparatory drawings in favor of painting directly on the canvas, these works provide context for his training.

The installation also includes a selection of works that document the powerful

impact Caravaggio had on Roman art, including “A Life Study: A Monk Sleeping against a Pile of Books” (ca. 1616) by Rutilio Manetti (15711639) and “Basket of Fruit” (ca. 1620) by Bartolomeo Cavarozzi (1587-1625). These show the ways in which the artists who followed Caravaggio continued to reveal the fiction of art, from highlighting the real-life models who sat for them to emphasizing the imperfections in the subjects of their still-life paintings.

The exhibition concludes with the Morgan’s remarkable portrait drawing of Cardinal Scipione Borghese (1577-1633)

by Gianlorenzo Bernini (15981680). Borghese, the collector largely responsible for the Galleria Borghese, was the early owner of “Boy with a Basket of Fruit,” which has been part of the Borghese collection since 1607.

“Caravaggio’s ‘Boy with a Basket of Fruit’ in Focus” is curated by Marciari.

An illustrated brochure with an introductory essay written by Marciari will be offered in the gallery at no charge to visitors thanks to the generosity of the Foundation for Italian Art & Culture (FIAC).

To learn more, visit www. themorgan.org.

Rome,

array of foreign, medieval, and ancient coins seldom seen at auction. From the wild man Thalers of Germany, to the gold of the Byzantine empire, come on a journey through the history of coinage.

For adventurous collectors, the offerings include shipwreck coins from the SS Republic, El Cazador, SS Central America, Nuestra Senora de las Maravillas, Atocha, and others, all certified. There will also be a biblical coin, the silver Shekel of Tyre. In all, 500 lots will be offered at various price points. Childhood dreams, both small and large, are waiting to come true.

Embassy Auctions International is based at 5336 Mine Road, Kinzers, Pa.

For more information, call 717-442-8529.

Katelyn Callahan, auctioneer, is holding a graded NGC XF45, SS Republic Gold 1852

Twenty Dollar Double Eagle, an expected top lot for the upcoming Thursday, Dec. 18, coin auction at Embassy Auctions International.

Caravaggio’s (Michelangelo Merisi) (1571–1610) “Boy with a Basket of Fruit” is a ca. 1595, oil on canvas, from the Galleria Borghese,

courtesy Galleria Borghese / ph. Mauro Coen.

A Marklin hand-painted clockwork “George Washington” four-stack ocean liner, mast ladders and two lifeboats are replacements, excellent condition, sold within estimate for $66,000.

This Marklin Cat. Ref. 4070 functional live-steam-powered fire truck, excellent-NM condition overall, one of the Sage collection’s premier pieces and one of very few examples known to exist, sold for $98,400.

A ca. 1904 Marklin II-Gauge E2 live steam train set handpainted for the American market, excellent condition, sold for $33,000 against a pre-sale estimate of $12,000 to $18,000.

This Voltamp (Baltimore, Md.) II-Gauge United Electric eightwheel trolley with closed ends and original “people-catcher” sold for $31,200 against an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000.

5336 MINE RD., KINZERS, PA 17535 717-442-8529 OR 302-438-1217

EMAIL: embassyauctionsint@gmail.com WEB: www.embassyauctionsinternational.com

THE AMAZING COINS AND CURRENCY AUCTION THURSDAY, DEC. 18 • 9 A.M.

THIS WILL BE ONE OF OUR FINEST COINS AND CURRENCY AUCTIONS. A VAST & WORTHY LINE UP OF GREAT GOLD & SILVER COINS FROM AROUND THE WORLD, ANCIENT THROUGH MODERN, LARGE & SMALL DENOMINATIONS.

-A Roman silver shekel, gold coins-Heraklion. Arcadius, Theodosius II, Anastasius I, many NGC graded & raw ancients!

-An incredible 2 Escudos gold from the Nuestra Senora de las Maravillas. A 1786-m Spanish ½ Escudo gold coin -Many fine gold coins including a Frank Lloyd Wright 1/2 ounce commemorative -100 raw Morgan & Peace silver dollars & over 100 NGC & PCGS graded, old green holders, NGC Fattys

-A special collection of toned / graded Morgan dollars! Two GSA Carson City Morgan dollars, 1883 &1884 boxed. Many high grade MS70 silver Eagles -Two Mexican 8 Reales, many Spanish 8 Reales - A 1721-c Wildman Thaler PCGS tooled - xf detail

-Numerous shipwreck coins, USS Republic (an 1852 xf45 $20 gold double Eagle), El Cazador, Mel Fisher - Atocha, SS Central America

-Large size / small size currency, U.S. uncut currency sheets, star notes, low serial number runs, fed. Reserve.

A PCGS choice unc 63 1981 $5 Federal Reserve note, partial offset. Printing error - back to face

-A large lot of graded South African 1 oz silver Krugerrands.

PREVIEW: TUES., DEC. 16TH 10-5 PM & WED., DEC. 17TH 10-4 PM

PENNSYLVANIA AUCTION LICENSE AY001987

AUCTIONEERS: GABI JARAMILLO LIC AU005728

KATELYN CALLAHAN LIC AU005869

BRIAN CALLAHAN LIC AU005870