This tangerine-colored blown glass decanter, made by William Husted for Blenko Glass Company in 1959, 23½ inches tall, was the highest-priced lot of the sale at $750.
Review by Carly Timpson
BANGOR, PENN. — Hartzell’s Auction Gallery conducted its Star Wars, Comics and Toys Online Auction on Sunday, October 20. Featuring more than 450 lots from a Glenbrook, Penn., estate, the auction included the titular lots as well as miscellaneous other collectibles and home items. With a 95 percent sell-through rate, the sale met expectations according to Karen Hartzell-Chidsey, executive assistant.
Leading the sale after achieving $750 was a 23½-inch-tall tangerine glass decanter. Made by William Husted for the Blenko Glass Company in 1959, an example of this handblown decanter in the same color was featured in the company’s 1959 catalog.
A hand-painted scenic vase by Nippon was the second-highest earner in the auction. The wooded water scene was accented by light green moriage details around the vase’s opening and base. Standing 8½ inches high, it was won for $351.
The highest-achieving lot in the comics and characters category was a 1966 lunchbox from Aladdin Industries. With bold imagery of Batman and Robin in various scenes on all sides, the lunchbox came with a matching insulated thermos. The winning bidder packed the set up for $321.
This 1966 Batman and Robin lunchbox with thermos by Aladdin Industries brought $321.
Comic book characters were also featured in an assorted lot that earned $248. Cataloged as a “lot of Wonder Woman and Superman items,” this collection included a hand-painted porcelain Wonder Woman statue sculpted by Tim Bruckner for DC Direct, a Wonder Woman lava lamp and a pair of 2007 Superman/Batman: World’s Finest figural bookends from DC Direct.
Twelve unopened Star Trek action figures from Diamond Select brought $242. The 8-inch figures included characters such as Captain Kirk, Spock, Dr McCoy and Lieutenant Uhura.
Collectible trading cards were another popular category. At the top of this selection was an assorted lot comprising PGA, McDonald’s NFL Play & Win, Arnold Palmer Metallic Impressions, Garbage Pail Kids and Trash Can Trolls cards. The PGA cards included the Special Inaugural Set and the 1991 PGA Tour Set, while Arnold Palmer’s Metallic Impressions set included five all-metal collector cards. The rest of the cards were loose and came from various sets. In all, this assorted lot was bid to $296.
Another card lot, this one consisting of various Garbage Pail Kids selections, brought $260. The lot’s four boxes of cards included the 4th, 5th, 8th and 12th series, including several unopened packs from series five and 12 as well as miscellaneous additions. Other unopened packs included with the lot were from the 7th, 9th, 13th, 14th and 15th series.
Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For information, www.hartzellsauction.com or 610-588-5831.
