Last year was a very interesting year in the world of antiques and collectibles. Many auction records were set around the country, and some interesting facts were brought to light locally and nationally.
Superman saves home
In 2010, a South Carolina couple was packing to move out of their foreclosed home when they found a box of old comic books in the basement.
Turns out one of the comic books was a rare 1940 No. 1 Action Superman comic. The couple went online and contacted Comic Connect Auctions in New York City, who ended up selling the comic book at auction for $436,000. The house was saved.
Cigar store indian sold for $260,500
In 2010, a cigar store wooden indian, similar to the one that was once displayed for advertising in a tobacco store on Putnam Street in Marietta in the 1960s, sold at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, for $203,150.
Also selling at auction in 2010 for $266,500 was Roy Rogers' stuffed Palomino horse, "Trigger."
A document listing 13 rules for the game of basketball invented by James Naismith in 1891, sold at auction for $4,338,500 in 2010.
A 1943 one-of-a-kind copper alloy Lincoln penny struck at the Denver mint was sold by a New Jersey coin dealer in 2010 for a record $1.7 million.
An 1863 copy of the Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation sold in 2010 for $3,778,500.
A flag carried in Custer's 1876 Battle of the "little Bighorn" sold for $2,210,500 in 2010.
A Honus Wagner T-206 Baseball card in poor condition sold for $262,000 in 2010.
A Guttenberg Bible with only 21 copies known to exist sold for $5.4 million in 2010.
Here closer to home, a painting by Henry Arthur McArdle was found in an attic of a home in Weston, W.Va., and sold through Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, for $334,600 in 2010.
A 48-year-old manuscript worth hundreds of dollars turned up at an estate sale in Parkersburg in 2010, written by Marietta attorney William Harrington, who went on to write several Peter Falk mysteries on television.
A Harvey Cartoon cookie jar named "Herman & Katnip," manufactured by American Bisque in Williamstown sold in 2010 at Hakes Americana Auctions in York, Pa., for $10,143.
In 2010, a lady on Sixth Street in Marietta found a Rookwood wall plaque in the attic of her home valued at $6,000 to $6,500 that will soon go up on the Cincinnati auction block.
Readers, let's make 2011 another exciting year. Check out those old attics, and write to me. See you back here next week.
Larry Koon is the author of several price guide books on antiques and collectibles. His column appears every Monday on Life. Send letters to Treasure in the Attic, c/o The Marietta Times, 700 Channel Lane, Marietta 45750; or e-mail him at koonantiques@yahoo.com. When writing, send a complete description of the item, along with size, color, any markings on the item along with condition the item is in, and how the item was obtained, and any other information. If possible, send a photograph. Letters will be answered through this column.
