2011 was an exciting year in the world of antiques. Many world's records were set all around the country and here locally.
In 2011, Spider Man's first appearance in Amazing Fantasy Comics, sold at auction for $1.1 million. Don't you just wish you would have picked up a copy in the Frontier Shopping Center in 1962 for 12 cents?
In 2011, the manuscript of a cookbook Col. Sanders wrote years ago was found in a KFC office file in Kentucky. It included lots of recipes, but not a list of the 11 secret herbs and spices for Kentucky Fried Chicken. The cookbook, worth thousands of dollars, will probably be published soon.
In 2011, another comic book that first introduced Superman in 1938 sold Nov. 30, 2011 for $ 2.16 million. I'm sure others are out there somewhere, perhaps right under your nose.
Readers, next time your at the Goodwill or the Salvation Army retail stores going through those old handbags, look for one made of red crocodile with gold hardware and diamonds, made by Hermes Birkin. One sold at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, Texas, on Nov. 30 for $203,150. If you do happen to find one, don't haggle on the price, gladly pay the clerk and leave.
For automobile collectors out there, the world's oldest car that is still running, an 1884 French steam powered De Dion-Bouton, sold for $4.6 million at an auction in Hershey, Pa., in October, 2011. Suppose Jay Leno bid on it to add to his collection.
In 2011, John Lennon's molar, pulled by a dentist in the 1960s, brought $31,200 at Omega Auctions in England. It was bought by a Canadian dentist.
Another odd item up for sale in 2011 was a human skull that was offered on Craigslist that failed to sell with an asking price of $300. I'm surprised that Craigslist would let someone advertise such an item as a body part.
Making world news around the country in 2011 was the estate sale of Elizabeth Taylor held by Christies Auction House in New York. A wedding dress worn by Elizabeth Taylor, when she married Richard Burton, went for $ 62,000. An Andy Warhol painting of Taylor sold for $662,000.
Taylor's jewelery alone fetched over $137 million, which included a ring Richard Burton gave her that sold for $ 8.8 million.
Readers, next week I will be answering several letters you wrote. Have a great new year everyone. Don't forget to check out my auction news at koonpublishingcompany.blogspot.com.
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.
