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FRIDAY MAY 31, 2024 • VOL. 54, NO. 22
Auction Company CEO And Antique Advertising Expert Rich Penn Joins Morphy Auctions Newly Created Position Will Be Market Development Officer Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, recently announced Iowa auction company CEO and antique advertising specialist Rich Penn has joined Morphy’s in the newly-created role of Market Development Officer. From his base in Waterloo, Iowa, Penn will work in tandem with Morphy’s marketing team, which is led by Chief Operating Officer and Director of Marketing Les Jones, and advise on the latest technological innovations as they apply to the auction process. Additionally, he will liaise with consignors whose collections incorporate a broad range of categories, including antique advertising, toys and country store antiques; classic cars and petroliana; sports memorabilia; and other collectibles categories. “I believe every aspect of an auction house’s operation should be customer-driven. Dan and I operate very similarly in that regard. His sales and ours cover a lot of the same ground, and importantly, our business principles are very similar,” said Rich Penn. “Both of our companies are known for their integrity and attentive customer service throughout the auction process. We do things in a first-class manner or not at all. In my new role, I especially look forward to working with clients and making sure their collections are given the marketing attention they deserve and that we deliver maximum auction results for them.” “I have known Rich Penn and his wife, Sharon, for almost 20
Rich Penn will join Morphy Auctions in the newly-created role of market development officer, shown here along with his wife, Sharon Penn. Photo by Kodi Steffen. years. I have always admired, respected and, in many ways, learned from their savvy approach to marketing and advertising. Their dealings with customers, both at the buying and selling end, have always been conducted at the highest level. I am proud to say that their methods influenced the way I built my own business. I would also add that when it comes to meeting with potential consignors and crafting proposals, you won’t find a better team than Rich and Sharon Penn. Their gracious, businesslike approach, combined with their knowledge of art and antiques, creates a comfort level
that clients really appreciate,” said Dan Morphy. Rich Penn earned his BA in both Marketing and Business Management from the University of Northern Iowa and his MSJ (master’s degree in Journalism) from Northwestern University. Following grad school, he joined the workforce and relocated to the Midwest’s commercial advertising hub, Chicago, where he accepted a position as account manager for major national brands at the advertising firm J Walter Thompson. In three years, he became the youngest VP at Thompson’s Chicago office. Rich subsequently
Three Vibrant Paintings By Maud Lewis Combine For returned to Iowa, where he spent $79,060 10 years teaching marketing and advertising at the University of Northern Iowa. In 1982, he married his wife, Sharon, and also established his own boutique advertising agency. One of his first clients was Victorian Casino, a Las Vegas auction house specializing in antique gambling and coin-op machines and antique advertising, collecting fields that had long interested Penn. (Victorian Casino was acquired by Morphy Auctions in 2014.) In 1999, Penn and his wife, Sharon, opened Rich Penn Auctions, a collector-focused business that gained a large and loyal following and earned national acclaim along the way. In recognition of Penn’s marketing skills, the National Auctioneers Association, Iowa Auctioneers Association, and NEI Marketing and Advertising Club have honored Rich with a total of more than 50 awards. The award categories included newspaper and magazine advertising, catalogs, video, social media, website and publicity. Penn describes the auction business as one that is “built on relationships.” One of those relationships has been his long friendship with Dan Morphy, whose multinational operation has had a strong involvement in the antique advertising hobby since its earliest days. “Dan and I got into the auction business around the same time. I had written a couple of books Continued on page 6
Spring Carlisle Puts Smiles On The Faces Of Thousands Automotive Hobby Celebrated Epic 50th Celebration
Turning 50 only happens once, and for Carlisle Events, that 50th anniversary celebration kicked off in high fashion with Spring Carlisle 2024, held April 17 to 21 at the Carlisle Fairgrounds. This year’s event was driven by Hemmings and welcomed nearly 100,000 guests from around the world. They came to Carlisle to buy cars within the car corral, to shop for parts and more within the automotive flea market, to meet up with friends, and to celebrate a milestone. In all, the collective energies within the Carlisle fence line helped solidify exactly why this event and others have been around for so long.
Gates opened bright and early on day one, with the crowds steadily picking up into the afternoon. Day two had a better turnout as shopping sped towards Friday and the weekend. In addition to a nice influx of guests on the second day, the start of the two-day collector car auction began powered by Carlisle Auctions (more on that below). Along with the mix of vendors, small and large, within the automotive flea market, Spring Carlisle also hosted a robust Manufacturers Midway. The midway welcomed some of the top names Continued on page 6
Three colorfully vibrant paintings by the legendary Nova Scotia folk artist Maud Lewis (1901-70) sold for a combined $79,060, and a 19th-century French Bontems caged singing bird automaton played a sweet tune for $10,030 in Miller & Miller Auctions Ltd’s online Advertising, Canadiana and Historic Objects Auction held April 13. All prices quoted are in Canadian dollars and include an 18-percent buyer’s premium.
A ca. 1885 French Bontems caged singing bird automaton in a bronze cage with applied scenic Sevres plaques surrounding the base panels realized $10,030. Maud Lewis has been featured in numerous Miller & Miller auctions in recent months, always with positive results. The market for her work is strong. Of the three of her paintings in this auction, the top performer was a late 1965 or early 1966 mixed media-onpulpboard (beaverboard) titled “Cow in Spring Meadow.” It was signed “Maud Lewis” lower right Continued on page 4
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . .
starting on page 2
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . .
on page 3
EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR on page 4 AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . on page 5 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . . . . on page 5
FEATURE ARTICLE: “What’s It Worth” - Page 5
CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 7