Auction News Network

Andrew Jackson’s Takes A Written Victory Loop

In a letter to his former aide dated 18 September 1814 and signed “Andrew Jackson Major General Commanding” the future President reported a victory over the British in Florida that “filled my highest hopes.” The American victors, he said, “have immortalized themselves, they are covered with glory.” The same might be said for this letter. It sold yesterday for $30,000, or almost twice its high estimate at Christie’s Books & Manuscripts auction in New York.

Audrey Hepburn’s “Roman Holiday” Dress To Sell

Who can forget the impression of winsome elegance that Audrey Hepburn made in “Roman Holiday?” It made her an instant star—she won an Oscar in 1954—and of course a fashion icon for the ages. Now the Edith Head-designed dress she wore in the movie’s last scene will be sold at a London auction, where it’s estimated to bring $63,000-$95,000.

UPDATE: Hepburn’s dress sold above estimates for $109,836, and Elizabeth Tayor’s Balenciaga gown brought $40,791. The dress worn by Amy Winehouse realized $56,387, well above the $32,000 high estimate.

Storage Unit Booty: $500,000 In Gold & Silver

Certified gold doubloons and Spanish silver dollars, looking like a cache of pirate booty, were found in a northern California abandoned storage unit whose contents were bought sight unseen at an auction after the unit’s owner died. The treasure, stashed in dusty Rubbermaid containers, is estimated at $500,000. A San Jose man paid $1,100 for the rights to the unit. He would identify himself only as “John.”

$2.32m Patek Philippe In Geneva

Even for a town concentrated on watches, this weekend in Geneva was unusual. Both Sotheby’s and Antiquorum staged auctions on Sunday, followed today by Christie’s, where a 1968 Patek Philippe Ref.3448 pink gold wristwatch with moon phases more than doubled its $1.1 high estimate to claim $2.32m.

Upside Down Stamps Will Draw Rightside Prices

Stamps printed upside down keep emerging from Cherrstone, particularly those printed in mainland China decades ago. One 1941 depiction of Sun Yat Sen is expected to sell in the neighborhood of $200,00 at the December New York auction. It’s thought only one sheet of 50 got out of the post office before the error was spotted.  A 1923 Peking stamp with the 2-cent postage inverted, one of only 13 known to exist, is estimated at $150,000.

Another Thriller?

It’s all included, even the bed where he died. The contents of Michael Jackson last home, at 100 N. Carolwood in Holmby Hills, will be sold at a Los Angeles auction.  Everything from the armoire on which he tacked a note to himself (“TRAIN, perfections, March April. FULL OUT May”) to a kitchen blackboard on which a child’s scrawl reads “I (heart) Daddy. SMILE, it’s for free” will be offered at the December 17th sale. Julien’s expects the event to bring $400,000-$600,000, an estimate the auction house admits may be conservative “because of the circumstances.”

Nothing Abstract About $61.7m For Clyfford Still

The money certainly wasn’t abstract as bidders chased after Abstract paintings last night at Sotheby’s including a stupendous $61.7m paid for a Clyfford Still work titled, “1949-A-No. 1.” A second, smaller painting of his also from the 1940’s sold for $31.4m. The city of Denver sold Still’s work, which rarely comes to market, to benefit a museum in his name. Total take for the Postwar and Contemporary Art auction came to $315.8m.

Cents Into Major Dollars At Stack’s Bowers

Back in 1792, the U.S. Coinage Act established the disme, as the dime was then spelled. About 1500 half-dismes were struck in 1792 as well, of which some 200-300 remain. The rare example that Stack’s Bowers will offer in a Baltimore auction ending on November 15^th is in “choice” condition.  Bidding on the coin currently stands at $63,000, or 126,000 times its original face value.

Patek Philippes Lead Christie’s Watch Sale

Given that the 10 highest priced watches sold at auction have all been Patek Philippes, it’s perhaps not surprising that Patek also produced the 10 highest estimated lots at Christie’s upcoming watch sale on November 14. Leading the pack at the Geneva auction will be two rare wristwatches, a 1946 platinum chronograph, and an 18K gold perpetual calendar example with moon phases from 1961. Each is estimated at $1.1m-1.7m.

Stash Of Cash In Lichtenstein’s Empty Room

Christie’s stumbled at its modern sale last week, but last night the big buyers were waving paddles and big money changed hands for Contemporary art such as Lichtenstein’s depiction of a man looking through a peep hole, announcing: “I Can See the Whole Room! … and There’s Nobody In It!” Nobody but Guy Bennett, a New York dealer, who bought it for $43.2m. Christie’s total for the evening was  $247.6m.

A Civil War Surgeon’s Kit & A Petition Against Slavery

Modern medicine seems very modern indeed when seen from the perspective of an authentic Civil War surgeon’s kit that Skinner will offer in its Fine Books & Manuscripts sale on November 13. With its various bone saws, scalpels, and hatchet-like hammers, the 54th Regiment kit is not for the squeamish—but then neither was the Civil War. It’s estimated at $3,000-$5,000.

Middling Results At Phillips Contemporary Sale

Admitting the estimates may have been “too aggressive,” Phillips de Pury’s Contemporary art auction in New York managed to ring up only a total of $71m, way below the optimistic $97m high going into last night. Works by Warhol, Prince, Serra, Lichtenstein, Koons and Cattelan all met price resistance. Big seller was an untitled 2006 painting by Cy Twombly that went for $9m with fees.

High-End Real Estate Roundup

Unusual waterfront retreats in Florida, along Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and on Mexico’s Pacific coast are heading toward the block in coming weeks. Read more in our weekly high-end real estate auction lineup.

Burgundy Scores Records in Hong Kong

It was getting repetitive: another wine auction, more record prices for Bordeaux, so this past weekend in Hong Kong sparked a notable change when record prices were set for burgundies at the Acker Merrall & Condit auction that reaped $14.45m in two days. Nearly every lot was sold at prices exceeding expectations. The big draw was Part II of Don Stott’s burgundy collection.

Toothsome Sum For Lennon’s “Rotten” Molar

Who cared if it was yellowed or rotten? Certainly not the Alberta dentist who paid $31,200 this weekend for a molar that once belonged to John Lennon. That was almost double the $16,000 that U.K. based Omega Auction House had been hoping to receive.  Buyer Michael Zuk said he plans to mount the “priceless” tooth and display it in his office.