Map of the Carolinas Tops Old World Auction

A rare and important early first state map of the Carolinas from 1685 sold for $29,325, and an extraordinary map of the Americas and surrounding oceans from 1740 rose to $20,125 in Old World Auctions’ February sale. Nearly 800 lots came up for bid in the auction, which totaled $420,277.

Map of the CarolinasA rare and important early first state map of the Carolinas from
1685 by Thornton, Morden & Lea, titled A New Map of Carolina,
showing early settlements and landowners sold for $29,325.

The top lot map, A New Map of Carolina by Thornton, Morden & Lea, showed early settlements and landowners and included depictions of Native Americans and animals, such as turkeys and even ostriches.

Andries and Hendrik de Leth’s Carte Nouvelle de la Mer du Sud, depicting the Americas and surrounding oceans, is one of the most decorative ever engraved. The map featured the Island of California, the sea routes of famous explorers, and scenes of cannibalism and human sacrifice. In full contemporary color and in pristine condition, the map bested the $17,000 high estimate.

Map of the AmericasAn extraordinary 1740 map of the Americas and surrounding
oceans by Andries and Hendrik de Leth, titled Carte Nouvelle
de la Mer du Sud, sold for $20,125.

“The map market continues to be robust,” said Eliane Dotson, who co-owns Old World Auctions with her husband, Jon. “We saw numerous items sell for well above their estimates, and there was strong bidder participation overall. Several of the categories that did particularly well were early world maps and 19th-century Americana.”

Of the 790 lots offered, 698 were sold. “That was an 88 percent sell-through rate, the highest we’ve seen in the last two years,” Eliane Dotson said. All prices quoted include the buyer’s premium.

A rare first plate map of the New World from 1573 by Abraham Ortelius, titled Americae sive Novi Orbis, Nova Descriptio, is one of the most famous maps of America and one that had enormous influence on the future cartography of the New World. It blew past the estimate to finish at $10,925.

A New Chart of the Coast of North America from Port Royal Entrance to Matanza Inlet, by Laurie & Whittle from 1809 – a rare, separately issued chart focusing on the coastline of Georgia, extending north to Hilton Head and south to St. Augustine, gaveled for $10,350.

For more information, check out the Old World Auctions archive here.

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Extraordinary and Rare American Brilliant Cut Glass Centerpiece Bowl Sells for $110,000

DOUGLASS, Kan. – As Woody Auction promised, it was an “exceptionally rare opportunity to add an outstanding, one-of-a-kind piece to your collection.” And during a frenzied bidding war, one enthusiastic collector took advantage of that opportunity, snatching up a magnificent American Brilliant Cut Glass (ABCG) centerpiece bowl for $110,000 on Saturday, March 16, during the house’s “Presidential Auction Weekend” event.

The 8 3/4 in. by 14 1/2 in. centerpiece, set in elaborate sterling silver mounts, soared past its presale estimate of $20,000-$25,000. Including buyer’s fees, the final sale price for the bowl was $132,000.

American Brilliant Cut Glass centerpiece bowl This wonderful American Brilliant Cut Glass centerpiece bowl
sold for $110,000 at Woody Auction. Photo: Courtesy Wood Auction

“One-of-a-kind pieces are a true rarity, and when they sell at public auctions for the first time in decades, they never disappoint,” auctioneer Jason Woody said. “This beauty was no exception!”

Cut in the Crystal City Pattern (also known as Wedding Ring) by J. Hoare, the centerpiece features an impressive sterling silver rim with winged serpent handles and feet. Coming from the late Tom Jacks collection, the striking centerpiece has been featured in several publications through the years, adding to its superb reputation.

The Woody Auction event was called the “Presidential Auction Weekend” because it also featured the collections of former American Cut Glass Association presidents: the collections of Wilbur and the late Mary Bluhm (ACGA president 2006-2008) and the Leon and Carol Torline collection (ACGA president 1998-2000). Both couples spent decades dedicated to collecting some of the most profound pieces of brilliant glass in the field. For complete “Presidential Auction Weekend” results, click here.

Cut glass became the rage after the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia, where many of the major American makers showcased their wares and demonstrated the cutting process. Thick, heavy, clear glass was cut with deep miter cuts that removed wedge-shaped pieces. Then, with a succession of increasingly smaller wheels, more delicate mitered cuts were made, creating all-over or repeating geometric patterns. The finished piece was either polished by hand with wooden wheels or with an acid bath, resulting in a brilliance that gives the glass its name. It could take as long as six months to finish larger items.

American Brilliant Cut Glass (1876-1910) was made in full sets, including goblets, wineglasses, water tumblers, dishes, and many accessories, from knife rests shaped like barbells to candelabra. Cut glass dishes were used to serve any food that was not heated, and cut glass bottles adorned many women’s vanity tables. Most brides were not given silver but expensive, heavy-cut glass bowls and pitchers.

Around the turn of the twentieth century, cutting factories looked for ways to reduce the cost of producing finished glass. Some factories began using fire-polished blanks that had the initial cuts pressed into them. Cutters needed only to add the finer cuts to finish the piece. Factories also introduced designs with engraved floral elements and fewer heavy miter cuts.

Cut glass identification is difficult because of the influence of European, English, and Irish designs on the American glass industry and the similarities between American companies’ wares.

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Nice Catch! Magnet-Fishing Find Authenticated as Viking Sword

One thousand-year-old plus Viking sword pulled from the Thames.

The heavily corroded Viking sword dates to between 850 and 975.
Photo: Trevor Penny via the Oxford Mail

We have seen plenty of stories about metal detectorists turning up buried treasure, finding lost valuables, and even uncovering clues to historical mysteries. Magnet fishing can do the same. This hobby is essentially what it sounds like—attaching a very strong (usually neodymium) magnet to a rope or cable and dropping it into a body of water to “catch” metal. Magnet fishers have found things like road signs, antique weapons, discarded safes (sometimes with their contents!), and the occasional steel-toed boot. Last November, Trevor Penny, a magnet fisher in the UK, reeled in an interesting-looking sword, recently proved to be a Viking weapon from over a thousand years ago.

Penny, a member of the Thame Magnet Fishing group on Facebook—which has seen increased interest since his find was made public—was fishing in the River Cherwell in Oxfordshire, England. When he pulled a corroded metal object from the water, he wasn’t sure what he had until a friend recognized it as a sword.

Trevor Penny holds 1,000 year old plus Viking Sword found in the Thames while magnet fishing.

Trevor Penny holds the 1,100-year-old Viking sword
he pulled from the Thames while magnet fishing.
Photo: Trevor Penny

A little online research indicated that it was a Viking sword. Penny contacted the Portable Antiquities Scheme and took the sword to the relevant finds liaison officer, as required by law in the UK. Since then, experts have authenticated the sword and dated it to 850 to 975 AD, a time when Vikings invaded, settled in, traded with, and controlled parts of Britain.

There are many laws surrounding magnet fishing in the US and UK, and there are some regions where it is prohibited for safety reasons or requires a permit. Penny found himself in a legal dispute with the Rivers Trust, but the trust decided not to take legal action on the condition that the sword go to a museum.

The sword has been declared “archaeologically rare” and is the oldest verified item found by magnet fishing in the county of Oxfordshire. Viking swords and other artifacts occasionally go to auction and are bought for private collections, but that will not be the fate of this one. As requested by the rivers trust, it will stay in the county and likely be displayed in a local museum.

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A Look Inside the March Issue of Kovels Antique Trader

Is there a better way to get your motor running than by hitting the road on an antiquing adventure? We don’t think so, which is why you’ll discover a roadmap to The Best Antiquing Destinations across the United States in the March issue of Kovels Antique Trader.

Kovels Antique Trader - March 2024

From East to West, and all parts in between, you’ll discover beauty, wonder and treasures certain to please. Whether you enjoy the energy and the hustle and bustle of the Big City or the laidback vibe of Smalltown, USA, there’s a place to explore on our 10-city list that’s just right for you.

Before you hit the road, be sure to check the weather. Years ago, that meant taking a look at a weathervane. And while there are more accurate ways to predict the weather today, for collectors of antique and vintage weathervanes, there is no better way to enjoy our meteorological past. As writer Kris Manty shares in her March story, “Weathervanes appeal to collectors due to their artful form and function, but they also represent beautiful things that have all but been erased from the 21st-century landscape.”

Editor Paul Kennedy shares how he was almost erased by an impulse online auction purchase in his humorous column, “Death by Bookcase.” “The plan,” Kennedy says of moving a massive bookcase to a basement office, “called for us to “slide” the bookcase down the steps, with me “controlling” the speed of the slide below and my wife “guiding” from above. That plan worked for, well, not at all. Which is why I was quickly smooshed against a basement wall by a free-falling 300-pound bookcase.”

To find out what happened next, you’ll want to check out the March issue. We promise, however, that Kennedy was uninjured, other than a bruised ego.

Sales reports on Americana, Pulp Magazines, and Schreiner Jewelry also stand tall in the new issue. The always entertaining Collector’s Gallery features readers’ finds such as a Florence Ceramics “Meg” figurine, a mystery tea set, and an Unconditional Union Party ticket for the election of 1864. You’ll even find a story about an Art Deco bathroom sink by industrial design genius Henry Dreyfuss that sold recently for more than $11,000. The sink is amazing, much like the other everyday items Dreyfuss designed.

So, if you enjoy antiquing adventure or simply taking it easy while talking about the weather – and weathervanes – you’ll want to be sure to check out the March issue of Kovels Antique Trader.

‘Easy Rider’ Chopper Roars to Auction

Propstore, one of the world’s leading film and TV memorabilia companies, has announced its first Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction of 2024 will be held this March with the items on offer expected to fetch over $8 million.

Captain America chopperCaptain America chopper – Photo courtesy Propstore

“Captain America” Wyatt’s (Peter Fonda) Panhead chopper motorcycle from Dennis Hopper’s Easy Rider is part of the over 1,700 rare and iconic lots due to be sold during Propstore’s Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction over three days from Tuesday 12th to Thursday 14th March 2024 from 9 AM PDT each day. Registration and bidding are now open on the website. In-room bidding will be open to the public at The Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles, on March 12th, 2024. Online and telephone bids can be placed across the whole event.

Ridden by Peter Fonda’s character, Wyatt, in the counterculture movie classic “Easy Rider,” the signature motorcycle from the film features the iconic “Captain America” Stars-and-Stripes emblem painted on the gas tank, which is also autographed by Fonda. The chopper is based on a Harley-Davidson Panhead overhead-valve engine and includes the sissy bar Jack Nicholson’s character George Hanson leaned against while riding with Fonda.

Easy Rider - Peter Fonda, Jack Nicholson, and Dennis HopperPeter Fonda, wearing a Stars-and-Stripes helmet and with Jack Nicholson on the back
of his chopper, rides next to Dennis Hopper in a publicity still for 1969’s Easy Rider. 
Photo courtesy Silver Screen/Getty Images

In the climactic finale scene, shotgun-wielding yokels attacked Wyatt and Billy (Hopper), crashing Wyatt’s signature American flag-patterned motorcycle and ending their freewheelin’ ride to New Orleans. This is the crashed motorcycle used for the scene. After the filming of the scene, it was restored to its current state.

Considered the iconic counterculture film of the 1960s, Easy Rider was nominated for two Academy Awards®, won a Cannes Film Festival award for Best First Work, and was inducted into the Library of Congress’s National Film Registry for its impact on global culture. The motorcycle’s destruction was considered a groundbreaking, transgressive representation of widening political fissures between the popular hippie movement of the time and repressive mainstream American culture and remains one of the most acclaimed sequences ever put to celluloid.

Wyatt’s motorcycle was originally designed by Cliff Vaughs and Ben Hardy of Watts, CA, with design input from Fonda. Two bikes were customized with the “Captain America” (Wyatt’s nickname in the film) stars and stripes for the production to prevent filming delays. Following production, one of these motorcycles (along with Hopper’s motorcycles) was stolen from stuntman Tex Hall’s home. Hall gifted the other Captain America chopper – this bike, with VIN “53FL5070” – to Grizzly Adams star Dan Haggerty, who helped maintain the bikes during production following its destruction in the crash sequence.

Close up of Captain America chopper gas tank - Easy RiderClose up of Captain America chopper gas tank. Photo courtesy Propstore

Under Haggerty, the motorcycle underwent sympathetic frame-up restoration and was later signed by Fonda to demonstrate its authenticity. David Ohrt also performed additional restoration work after Haggerty sold the motorcycle to a private collector circa 2002. It was then displayed at the National Motorcycle Museum in Anamosa, Iowa, from 2002 to 2013.

Prior to the sale of this original “Captain America” chopper, Haggerty constructed a replica Captain America bike for a vehicle enthusiast. That bike was exhibited as a replica at a public exhibition in the late 1990s; it was not a film-used bike, though Haggerty did install some original film components onto the replica during its build.

In order to resolve any confusion as to whether Haggerty’s 1994 replica bike was an original, the offered “Captain America” motorcycle has undergone extensive archival review to confirm its stated authenticity. In addition to including a raft of documentation, vintage motorcycle expert Glenn Bator states that the modifications made to this motorcycle are consistent with modifications seen on the motorcycles in the final cut, in particular, the repair welds on the frame’s down tube between the engine and transmission that reflect damage from impact. Bator also notes that the 1994 example’s construction details are not consistent with the motorcycle frames seen onscreen.

Peter Fonda signed the chopper's gas tank in 2003.

Peter Fonda signed the chopper’s gas tank in 2003
Photo courtesy Propstore

Therefore, this motorcycle is understood to be the sole remaining Captain America from Easy Rider. It features a Harley-Davidson Panhead overhead-valve engine, a chrome hard-tail frame, VIN “53FL5070,” and a sissy bar with the iconic “Captain America” Stars and Stripes emblem painted on the body. The gas tank is autographed and dated “2003” by Fonda in black ink.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CAPTAIN AMERICA CHOPPER

Registration and online bidding are now open on the Propstore website.

Article courtesy of Old Cars Weekly.

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Trove of Buried 11th Century Coins Could Fetch a Pretty Penny

A cache of buried treasure—more than 120 Anglo-Saxon coins from the 11th century—unearthed by two metal detectorists in England could be worth more than $225,000 when it heads to auction today.

Discovered in a field in Braintree, Essex, about 50 miles northeast of London, the coins are believed to have been buried around1066 and owned by a person who died during the Battle of Hastings, according to Noonans Mayfair, the auction house handling the sale.

The metal detectorists found most of the coins in 2019 over the course of a few days, all within a 100-foot radius. Some of the coins, which were minted in various southern English towns and cities, including London, Cambridge, Canterbury, and Hastings, were just inches beneath the surface.

The coins were minted within five years of 1066 and each worth 12 shillings, a handsome sum in the 11th century. Noonan’s coin expert, Bradley Hopper, said it was common for people without access to banks or secured storage to bury their wealth. He speculated the coins were abandoned due to “some great personal misfortune,” such as death in conflict.

The Battle of Hastings, Oct. 14, 1066, is probably the most famous battle in England’s history. The battle ended with the defeat of Harold II of England by William, duke of Normandy, and established the Normans as rulers of England.

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Settling a Collector’s Estate is Never Easy, but it Doesn’t Usually Require a Bomb Squad

A man in Bellevue, Wash., was tasked with handling his deceased neighbor’s estate, which included the usual stuff AND one highly unusual item: a military-grade rocket stashed in the garage. Unsure of what to do with the missile, he contacted the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio, to ask about donating it. The museum, in turn, contacted the Bellevue Police Department, which sent a bomb squad to the house.

Bellevue WA missile

The rocket, which had been purchased by the deceased at an estate sale, was inert and contained no fuel, so it was determined to be safe. It was identified as a Douglas AIR-2 Genie, the first nuclear-armed air-to-air rocket. Previously called the MB-1, the AIR-2 Genie was built in 1957 and used by United States and Canadian military forces during the Cold War. Production stopped in 1962. It was designed to carry a 1.5-kiloton W25 nuclear warhead—which, fortunately, was not included with the one found in Bellevue. More in-depth information about this type of rocket is available from the Air Force Armament Museum Foundation.

The military did not request the return of the missile, so the police left it with the neighbor. He plans to have it restored and donate it to a museum.

Bellevue WA missile found

This is a good reminder that, while military memorabilia is a vast and fascinating area of collecting, always take precautions with firearms and anything involving explosives. Contact your local police to check antique weapons, and always practice safe handling and storage. If you are selling a collection, be sure to check local and state laws.

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Man Discovers an $8 Disney World Ticket from the ‘70s Still Works

Matthew Ables felt a little “Goofy” when he tried to use a Disney World ticket from 1978 he found at home to enter the Florida theme park recently. But he needn’t worry because even a vintage ticket with a face value of $8 allowed him entrance into The Magic Kingdom.

Matthew Ables Disney ticket

No wonder they call it “The Happiest Place on Earth.”

In a TikTok video with more than 12 million views, Ables said he found a ticket book from 1978 at home that had been “collecting dust” all these years. “I tried getting into Disney World with a 46-year-old ticket originally worth $8,” he said at the start of the video. What made the ticket special was the fact that there was no expiration date.

Depending on the month and day of the week, a ticket to Walt Disney World in Florida today costs from $109 to $164 or more.

After flying to Orlando, Ables presented his vintage ticket to a woman at a ticket booth. “I was getting nervous there because she started aggressively stamping ‘void’ all over the ticket booklet,” Ables said in the video.

Ables’ fear was misplaced. Moments later, a staff member handed him a yellow pass granting access to the theme park for the day. “I can’t believe this actually worked,” Ables confessed after walking into The Magic Kingdom.

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A Look Inside of the February Issue of Kovels Antique Trader

February is the month of love—a time for Valentine’s Day and remembering the people we love, as well as the things we love. The February issue of Kovels Antique Trader takes all of this to heart.

Kovels Antique Trader Feb. 2024

In a touching cover feature, writer Daylyn Miller shares a story of love lost and then found anew through a forgotten collection. Daylyn and her future husband met as teens. Music brought them together. After a sudden heart attack ended their 40-year marriage, an old record collection discovered buried in the basement reminded her and her two grown boys of the love—and the memories—they still share.

Robbie Wolfe, who stars with his brother, Mike, in the hit TV series “American Pickers,” shares his love for dusty old things found rummaging through garages, old barns, and basements. “As I get older,” Robbie tells us, “I appreciate more the history of what we have in the United States. That history is found in the antiques and collectibles people hold onto. Those stories are what keep me going to this day.” You’ll read more about Robbie and his life on the road—as well as picking pointers—in the February issue of Kovels Antique Trader.

Keeping in the spirit of the month, Editor Paul Kennedy shares the history of the first commercially mass-produced valentines, as well as the back story of the famous “I Love NY” slogan and of Robert Indiana, the artist who created the famous LOVE sculpture that was immortalized on a U.S. Postal Service stamp. Kennedy reminds us that love can be found all around us: in art, in the mail, and even on souvenir T-shirts.

The February issue of Kovels Antique Trader is more than a testament to love. Writer Kris Manty explains how luxury handbags—think Chanel and Hermès—are among the fastest-growing assets for collectors. We also travel to picturesque Princeton, Wisconsin, and discover that when it comes to antiquing adventures, big things can come in small towns. Join writer Wayne Jordan on a memorable visit to this quaint antiquing oasis.

We also profile David Drake, known as “Dave the Potter,” an enslaved artisan who defiantly proclaimed his humanity in monumental stoneware vessels. Born in the antebellum South, Drake crafted hundreds, if not thousands, of impressive functional products, often signing his name and inscribing poetry on the stoneware vessels he made. Today, interest in pots by Drake is at an all-time high. You’ll discover why in the new issue of Kovels Antique Trader.

The February issue also includes Sales Reports on Tiffany lamps, posters, and vintage fashion, as well as the always entertaining Collector’s Gallery, which includes such varied readers’ items as the first issue of Playboy magazine, mystery iridescent bottles, and a six-gallon crock made in Fort Edward, N.Y.

So, if you love antiques and collectibles and the stories that surround them, you’ll want to snuggle up with the February issue of Kovels Antique Trader.

The First Known Piece of Mail Sent Using a Prepaid Stamp Heads to Auction Feb. 2 at Sotheby’s in New York. It Could Bring $2.5 Million

Stamp collecting is one of the world’s best-known hobbies. The first postage stamps were used in 1840, and the hobby emerged soon after. Now the stamp, a British ‘Penny Black,’ that started it all, is going to auction.

How many times have you opened a letter and immediately discarded the envelope? It’s fortunate for stamp collectors and history enthusiasts that, more than 180 years ago, someone in England apparently did the opposite.

The first known piece of mail sent using a prepaid stamp — “one of the greatest leaps forward in human communication”—heads to auction on Feb. 2 at Sotheby’s in New York. Presale estimates range from $1.5 to $2.5 million for the piece of history.

first prepaid letter with Jenny Black stampThis remarkable survivor from 1840 is recognized as the first
piece of mail sent using a postage stamp. Courtesy Sotheby’s.

If the piece realizes its high estimate, it will become one of the most valuable pieces of postal history to have ever been auctioned. Last November, an “Inverted Jenny” error stamp sold for $2 million.

Dated May 2, 1840, the letter’s original recipient was William Blenkinsop Jr., the 35-year-old manager of a Victorian iron works in Bedlington, a town in the north of England. Sotheby’s state that all that’s known about the letter’s sender is that they posted the missive in London — about 300 miles to the south — and paid for it with a Penny Black, the first postage stamp.

Described in the Sotheby’s auction catalog as “One of the greatest leaps forward in human communication is commemorated by an envelope prepaid by the Penny Black, the first postage stamp. For the first time in history an entire nation of over 8 million people, more than half of whom were literate, could now correspond, exchange ideas, forward news, and ask questions—for the price of a penny.”

Described as “The Genesis of Philately” while on display at the William H. Gross Stamp Gallery at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in 2014, this remarkable survivor is recognized as the first piece of mail sent using a postage stamp.

“Surviving over 180 years, the ornate envelope sealed with a Penny Black revolutionized the way people from all walks of life correspond, exchange ideas, share news and express themselves,” Richard Austin, Sotheby’s Global Head of Books & Manuscripts, said in a statement.

Close up of first black penny stamp

The Penny Black stamp revolutionized the postal service.
Courtesy of Sotheby’s

“At the dawn of the AI age, this remarkable object speaks to our innate human desire for connection and the ways in which it has evolved to new heights in the two centuries since,” Austin said.

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