Ira and Larry Goldberg Coins & Collectibles’ recent Manuscripts and Collectibles Sale offered 927 lots with the sale grossing more than $1 million.
The following are some highlights from various sections of the sale; the prices given include the 15 percent buyer’s premium.
In the presidential section, an American flag signed, inscribed and dated by nine Presidents – from John F. Kennedy through George W. Bush – sold for $86,250; an executive mansion card signed by President James A. Garfield brought a record price of $10,350; a President Franklin Pierce check went to $33,350; a George Washington ALS, written from Mount Vernon to Governor Patrick Henry, refusing an offer of prison labor, made $34,500; and a World War II victory proclamation signed and inscribed by Harry S Truman to longtime White House Executive Clerk Maurice C. Latta reached $17,250.
An excellent Walt Whitman ALS to John Burroughs mentioning November Boughs and two articles Whitman had written sold for $11,213, and all nine stanzas of “A Psalm of Life,” written out and signed by Longfellow, realized $7,475. A rare Marie Curie signed photograph brought $6,613, and a Sigmund Freud ALS, in which he complains about being in pain (he had cancer of the mouth) and not being “the master of my time….” made $5,463.
In colonial Americana and Revolutionary War material, a land indenture signed by Daniel Boone for himself and his wife brought $12,075; a Benjamin Franklin letter, signed in the text, mentioning naval hero John Barry, $11,500; a 1664 indenture signed by Charles Calvert, 3rd Lord Baltimore $3,795; a 1714 license granted by the colony of Pennsylvania to Indian trader Peter Besallion, $1,955. A 1776 New Jersey Act affirming its counselors’ independence went for $2,530, as did a 1786 petition signed by nine generals of the Pennsylvania Line. A Society of the Cincinnati die pattern for the 1902 eagle made $3,105.
The highlight of the Hollywood section was the stunt machine gun/grenade launcher used in the movie Scarface by Al Pacino when he uttered the famous line, “Say hello to my little friend!” The price realized was $31,625. In sports, a letter written circa 1909 by heavyweight champion of the world Jack Johnson, calling James Jeffries a “four-flusher” and challenging him to “either fight me at once for my title, or…henceforth hold his tongue….” reached $13,800.
In fossils, a rare ornithopod dinosaur (Jeholosaurus) in the original matrix sold for $12,650 and a complete 140 million-year-old bird from China brought $5,175.
In antiquities, a gilt bronze Egyptian statuette of Osiris, circa 664-332 BCE, realized $49,450; a rare Egyptian bronze sculpture of Anubis, circa 664-343 BCE, made $21,850; an Egyptian falcon mummy and sarcophagus, circa 350-50 BCE, reached $34,500; and a Roman cavalry parade mask in brass, circa mid First Century CE, sold for $37,950.
Ira and Larry Goldberg 350 South Beverly Drive, Suite 350, is now accepting consignments for its fall manuscript and collectibles auction. For information, Beverly Hill, 310-551-2646, 800-978-2646 or beverly@goldbergcoins.com or www.goldbergcoins.com.
