A leading coin and jewelry auction company, Kleinfelter’s, based in Myerstown, Pa., was chosen to sell a large single-owner, high-end custom jewelry collection in a special arrangement. An online sale with no reserves closed on March 28. The sale proceeds benefited the Franklin County chapter of Habitat for Humanity in Chambersburg, Pa.
“Habitat for Humanity of Franklin County received a generous contribution of high end jewelry. The donor instructed us to liquidate the value to advance our mission. Kleinfelter’s Auction was recommended to me by an international art company. The sale proceeds were even higher than I hoped. Working together, we are creating a world where everyone has a decent place to live,” remarked Mark Story, director of advancement.
The collection included a 14-karat gold diamond flat Byzantine necklace selling for $1,416; a heavy 14-karat gold diamond ring Byzantine chain, $8,260; and
a 14-karat gold diamond gemstone pendant necklace realizing $2,006. Approximately 50 gold chains, several very good cameos, and opal rings were sold. Twenty men’s gold rings sold, most with diamonds and high grade gemstones, including a 14-karat gold six strand 10 freeform diamond ring which realized $3,186, and a 14-karat gold faceted onyx bezel set diamond ring that sold for $1,888.
Approximately 20 14-karat and 18-karat gold bangle bracelets, many with diamonds and gemstones, did well, such as an 18-karat gold sapphire and diamond striped bracelet, selling for $3,068. An 18-karat gold Tiffany & Co Blue Umbrella pair of earrings sold for $5,428.
“Kleinfelters Auction was honored to host the auction for this remarkable jewelry collection. The generosity of the donors, combined with our exceptional pool of bidders, resulted in outstanding prices. This excitement of the sale and Habitat for Humanity’s selfless vision inspired us to make
Continued on page 9
Swann Galleries’ spring auction of Graphic Design on April 2 performed above expectations, “as rare and sought after works were eagerly fought over by collectors, dealers and institutions,” Nicholas D. Lowry, director of vintage poster and president of Swann, remarked over the offerings. Strong results were seen for mid-century campaigns focusing on science, cars, and food and drink. “It is always reaffirming to see the market meet us on what we consider to be singular and important works. This auction reflected this notion, and we are eagerly looking to the same sale next year,” concluded Lowry.
By Karl Pass
This heavy 14-karat gold diamond ring Byzantine chain sold for $8,260.
These 14-karat gold Effy diamond and sapphire earrings sold for $4,956.
An 18-karat gold French diamond bracelet sold for $8,024.
A 14-karat gold Effy woven diamond flexible bangle sold for $5,192.
PUBLISHER: Jocelyn Engle
EDITOR: Karl Pass kpass@antiquesandauctionnews.net 717-278-1404
DISPLAY SALES: Tim Moore tmoore-ant@engleonline.com 717-492-2534
Antiques & Auction News is distributed at shops, shows, markets and auctions throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
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“Fantastic Four No. 1” Leads Sale
Selling For $100,650 Was CGC VF 8.0 Northland Pedigree Copy Of 1961 Issue
A selection of key Silver Age Marvel comics anchored by foundational character debuts and milestone issues realized a combined $471,888 at Heritage Auctions’ April 2 G & T Collection Silver, Bronze and Copper Age Comics Showcase Auction, underscoring sustained demand for high-grade examples of the era’s most influential publications. Leading the event with $100,650 was a CGC VF 8.0 Northland Pedigree copy of “Fantastic Four No. 1,” the 1961 issue that introduced Marvel’s first family and helped redefine the modern superhero narrative.
Featuring the origin and first appearances of the Fantastic Four as well as the debuts of Mole Man and Giganto, the issue is widely regarded as the beginning of Marvel’s Silver Age resurgence. With cover and interior art by Jack Kirby, the book remains one of the
most historically significant comics ever produced.
The next highest price was a CGC VF+ 8.5 copy of “Tales of Suspense No. 39,” which realized $53,680. This landmark issue features the origin and first appearance of Tony Stark as Iron Man, alongside the introductions of Wong Chu and Professor Yinsen. With a dynamic cover by Jack Kirby and Don Heck and interior contributions from Heck, Steve Ditko and Gene Colan, the issue stands among the most important character debuts of the Silver Age.
A CGC VF 8.0 copy of another cornerstone of Marvel history, “X-Men No. 1,” realized $37,820. This pivotal issue features the origin and first appearances of the original X-Men, Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman and Marvel Girl, as well as the debuts of Professor X and Magneto. With Jack Kirby providing both cover and interior art,
Leading the auction with $100,650 was a CGC VF 8.0 Northland Pedigree copy of “Fantastic Four No. 1,” the 1961 issue that introduced Marvel’s first family.
the issue remains one of the defining publications of the decade.
A CGC VF 8.0 copy of “Journey Into Mystery No. 83” realized $35,380. This landmark issue introduced Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, with Jack Kirby providing both cover and interior art for the character’s debut story. Additional contributions from Steve Ditko and Don Heck further enhance the issue’s significance.
A CGC VF- 7.5 copy of “The Amazing Spider-Man No. 1” also brought $35,380. This early Spider-Man milestone features the character’s second appearance and a retelling of his origin, along with the first appearances of J. Jonah Jameson, John Jameson and the Chameleon. The issue also includes the first crossover with the Fantastic Four, further cementing its importance within the Marvel Universe. Additional highlights
A CGC VF+ 8.5 copy of “Tales of Suspense No. 39” sold for $53,680. This landmark issue features the origin and first appearance of Tony Stark as Iron Man.
reflected the depth and diversity of collector interest in early Marvel keys, including “The Amazing Spider-Man No. 5” (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM- 9.2 selling for $13,420. This issue features a notable Doctor Doom appearance, his first outside of the Fantastic Four title, along with a memorable storyline involving Flash Thompson impersonating Spider-Man. “Iron Continued on page 9
Collector Anecdotes And Antics
The Liquidity Trap: The Unseen Risk Of Investing In Antiques And Collectibles
By Shawn Surmick
Liquidity
simply
explained by how quickly and easily an asset can be converted into cash without affecting its market price. Some assets are much more liquid than others. For instance, one of the reasons most investors clamor to own stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and exchange traded funds is due to how easily they can be bought and sold. If you want to buy a simple stock market index fund like the S&P 500, you can do it through an online brokerage account any time the stock market is open. Same is true if you want to sell the fund at a later date. Best of all, there is no worrying about what price you will receive for the fund in question, as prices are updated by the second.
Unfortunately, not all assets have this advantage. Real estate can be a complex asset to value and sell, and it generally takes time to sell a house or piece of land, especially if the seller wants to maximize its value. There can also be additional costs attached to selling a piece of real estate in the form of commissions and hidden expenses. Antiques and
collectibles have similar challenges and expenses, especially if one chooses to sell through an auction house. Recently, I took part in an interesting discussion about the long-term investment potential of both antiques and collectibles. I have long argued that under the right circumstances, certain types of antiques and collectibles can be a good diversification hedge against traditional financial assets and real estate. This does not mean I think that individuals should have large portions of their net worth invested in these relics. It simply means that if an astute financially well-established collector wants to invest in some of the items they collect and understands the risk, it can be a rewarding pursuit.
However, this does not mean this endeavor is without risks. Any aging antiques dealer can tell you about markets that were once rocked by high prices and speculative frenzies only to come crashing down and never return to their previous high prices again. Not all markets in the antiques and collectibles trade are cyclical like some collectors believe. In fact, most are not. An example of this would be the market for vintage toys. With very few exceptions the market for vintage toys and most pop culture collectibles is always changing. Most toy collectors gravitate towards collecting the toys they grew up with. Case in point, I was born in the mid-1970s and was weaned on Kenner “Star Wars” action figures and Nintendo video games. I have a friend who grew up in the 1960s and loves his Mego action figures and Atari video games. Now as adults we both fondly collect these items, and some have proven to be good long-term investments as well, but that
could change at any minute. Collectibles have no underlying cash flows attached to them and are, as a result, extremely speculative.
One of the biggest risks to attempting to invest in any kind of antique or collectible, especially over the long term, is what I call the liquidity trap. Right now, modern era “Pokémon” cards and products are disappearing from store shelves and distributor inventories faster than they can be produced. Nintendo, the popular video game company who holds a profitable stake in the “Pokémon” franchise, has a problem on their hands that most manufacturers would envy: they simply cannot produce enough “Pokémon” cards to satisfy
eager buyers. This has created a nightmare scenario for eager parents trying to get “Pokémon” cards at retail stores for their kids and having to fight off grown adults who grew up on “Pokémon” in the 1990s and who are now attempting to invest in them. Nintendo, along with Game Freak (the company that has a controlling interest in the “Pokémon” franchise), have continued to ramp up production year after year, and amazingly, as quickly as new sets are released, product is immediately bought, kept as an investment, or ripped open in an attempt to find the most valuable limited cards which are then sent immediately to a third-party grading company.
This scenario has been playing out for many years since “Pokémon” fever started to become a thing during the pandemic. But it wasn’t always like this. Believe it or not, there was a time when Continued on page 11
Folk Nation: Crafting Patriotism In The United States
Exhibit Explores Vernacular Art And The Construction Of American Identity
Mounted during the celebration of the United States semiquincentennial, “Folk Nation: Crafting Patriotism in the United States” draws from the American Folk Art Museum’s rich collections to explore links between vernacular art and the construction of an American sense of self. Introducing
visitors to the concept of “folk” as a category developed in conjunction with the art and antiques markets, this focused exhibition positions works as multilayered in their meanings, imbued with cultural significance not only by their creators but also by their collectors and subsequent
owners. “Folk Nation builds on the American Folk Art Museum’s commitment to critically examining the histories embedded within the objects we steward,” said Jason T. Busch, Becky and Bob Alexander director and CEO. “As the country marks 250 years since its founding and our museum marks its 65th anniversary, this exhibition invites reflection on how art has participated in shaping ideas of nationhood, who is represented within those narratives, and how they continue to evolve.”
“Terms such as ‘folk,’ ‘nation,’ and ‘patriotism’ carry layered and sometimes contested meanings,” said Emelie Gevalt, Deborah Davenport and Stewart Stender deputy director and chief curatorial and program officer. “By placing historical works in dialogue with later reinterpretations, ‘Folk Nation’ encourages visitors to reconsider these concepts and to recognize vernacular art as a dynamic site of cultural negotiation.”
Americans have long preserved objects as a way of telling stories about themselves. Beginning especially after the Revolutionary War and gathering momentum in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, people turned to early American objects to construct a national history and a sense of collective
I-64 (Exit 91) in the Valley of Virginia near Waynesboro, Staunton & Charlottesville (Near I-81)
identity, an impulse often driven by lingering insecurity about the young nation’s perceived cultural provinciality in comparison to Europe. Expanding on this legacy, collectors, dealers, curators, and artists have applied the term “folk art” since the early 20th century to champion wide-ranging forms of American creative production from the 1700s onward. Covering a kaleidoscopic array of genres produced outside the academic art world from weathervanes and trade signs to quilts, carvings, painted portraiture, and commemorative sculpture, the idea of folk art developed as a symbol of authenticity, ingenuity, independence, and patriotism, representing key values perceived to be at the heart of the culture of the United States. At the same time, these concepts were often romanticized, promoting a nostalgic and incomplete view of the nation’s past.
“Folk Nation” investigates this complexity. Organized around themes that have shaped American life, including family, heritage, spiritual vision, and belonging, the exhibition traces how vernacular objects have functioned as both mirror and tool: reflecting American identities while also helping to construct them.
Admission to the American Folk Art Museum is always free.
Please note: “Folk Nation” opened April 10 and will close on Sept. 13, during the installation of “Locating Girlhood: Place and Identity in Early American ‘Schoolgirl’ Art.” The exhibition will reopen on Oct. 8 and remain on view through Feb. 28, 2027.
Founded in 1961, the American Folk Art Museum, 2 Lincoln Square, New York, N.Y., is the nation’s museum of folk and self-taught artists. Candid, genuine, and unexpected, AFAM celebrates the creativity of individuals whose singular talents have been refined largely through personal experience rather than formal artistic training. With a collection spanning 7,500 works of art from four centuries and
Possibly Cushing & White (ca. 1865-1872), Goddess of Liberty Weathervane, possibly Waltham, Mass., 1865-1875, is paint on copper and zinc, 18.75 by 15 by 2 inches, from the American Folk Art Museum, New York, gift of Jerry and Susan Lauren.
Uncle Sam Riding a Bicycle Whirligig, probably New York State, 1880-1920, is paint on wood with metal, 37-by-55.5-by-11 inches, from the American Folk Art Museum, New York, gift of Dorothea and Leo Rabkin.
Situation of America, 1848, is from New York City, 1848, oil on wood panel, 34 by 58.5 by 1 3/8 inches, from the American Folk Art Museum, New York, gift of Ralph Esmerian.
Taufschein for Elisabeth Eyster, probably York County, Pa., ca. 1780, watercolor and ink on paper, 8.75 by 6.75 inches, is from the American Folk Art Museum, New York, anonymous gift.
Edward Hicks (1780-1849), The Peaceable Kingdom with the Leopard of Serenity, Newtown, Pa., 1835-1840, oil on canvas, 26 by 29.5 inches, is from the American Folk Art Museum, New York, the Barbara L. Gordon collection.
Gathering on the Farm
Continued from page 1
fairgrounds at 334 Carlisle Ave.
The show has a Facebook page, “Gathering on the
Farm,” and will also be held in the fall on Saturday, Oct. 3. For further information, call Connie Gleed at 717-919-4206.
Collectibles & Decorative accessories. Consignment shop next door. Open Wed.-Sat., 10 - 4. 18944 Perkasie 215-257-3564 TREASURE TROVE, 6 S. 7th Street. Estate jewelry, furniture, linens, vintage clothing, glass, china, books, toys, kitchenware, advertising, postcards. Primitives to Deco. Dealers Welcome. Mon.-Sat. 10-5. In business 42 years.
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AN IMPORTANT JUYO TOKEN TACHI, DEN KO-YOSHII SANENORI WITH KOSHIRAE AND OSHIGATA
AN IMPORTANT NIDAI TADAHIRO KATANA ATTRIBUTED TO GENERAL YODA SHIRO, WHO SERVED JAPAN IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD
MAGNIFICENT HARTMANN & WEISS BOLT ACTION TAKEDOWN RIFLE TWO BARREL SET IN .416 RIGBY AND .300 JARRETT
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ROYAL NAVY 1780 PATTERN TOWER FLINTLOCK NOCK SEVEN BARREL VOLLEY GUN IMPORTANT PUBLISHED OHIO COMPANY OF VIRGINIA TREATY MUSKET SUBSEQUENTLY OWNED BY VIRGINIA MILITIA SOLDIER WILLIAM FIELD (CIRCA 1754) IMPORTANT DOCUMENTED LAFAYETTE SHIPMENT MARKED AND “U. STATES” TRIPLE BRANDED FRENCH MODEL 1774 FLINTLOCK MUSKET
INDIANA
04/22/2026, Shipshewana
- Wed 9 AM, shipshewana tradingplace.com. Antique toy auction. Shipshewana Trading Post
04/18/2026, Mount Joy - Sat 9 AM, boltzauctions.com.
Moyer’s Furniture Auction. After 40 years of business, it is time for retirement and selling off remaining inventory. Plenty of great selections still available. Boltz Auction Company
04/18/2026, Andreas - Sat 9 AM, deanarnerauctions.com. Quality antiques, crocks, advertising cone top beer
cans, signs, tins, tip trays & thermometers, vintage Christmas, Roy Rogers items, tulip Fire King nesting bowls, Fire King Harlequin diamond & cereal bowls & more! Dean Arner Auctioneer
04/18/2026, Quarryville - Sat 9 AM, lhauctions.com. Well maintained ranch style home on +/- .7 acres. Antiques, collectibles, tools, shop equipment, lawn & garden, furniture, appliances, household items, guns, hunting & fishing equipment & more! Lefever & Hart Auctions
04/18/2026, Ephrata - Sat 10 AM, Online Only, www. gehmanauctions.com.
“The Face Of Life: Modern Portraits At The Met”
Exhibition Explores The Evolving Ideas About Portraiture And Presence In Modern Art
Since The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s founding in 1880, the museum has acquired the art of its time, building a modern art collection that reflects the shifting concerns, forms, and artistic languages of successive generations. Opening on Monday, May 18, “The Face of Life: Modern Portraits at The Met” offers a focused examination of this legacy, tracing sustained investigations of the human figure and the transformative language of portraiture from about 1900 to the 1960s. Drawn entirely from the Met’s permanent collection, the exhibition brings together nearly 80 works that illuminate defining currents in modern art. The exhibition is made possible by the Kate W. Cassidy Foundation. “From its earliest years, the Met has engaged deeply with the art of the present,” said Max Hollein, the Met’s Marina Kellen French director and CEO. “At a moment when images of ourselves circulate more widely than ever, ‘The Face of Life’ reminds us that portraiture has long been central to how artists explore identity and
human experience. Drawing on the extraordinary depth of the museum’s modern art collection, shaped over generations through transformative gifts, this exhibition situates these works within a broader history that will be further expanded in the Tang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art.”
As the Met looks ahead to the opening of the Oscar L. Tang and H.M. Agnes HsuTang Wing for Modern and Contemporary Art in 2030, this presentation provides a vantage point to reconsider collection highlights alongside important recent acquisitions. Drawing from landmark gifts, including the Alfred Stieglitz collection, the Jacques and Natasha Gelman collection, the Berggruen Klee collection, the Pierre and Maria-Gaetana Matisse collection, and the Phillip Guston collection, this exhibition places these holdings in dialogue with works by Eileen Agar, Charles Henry Alston, Wifredo Lam, René Magritte, Henri Matisse, Archibald J. Motley Jr., Alice Neel, Pablo Picasso, and
Vintage toy variety. Gehman Auctions
04/18/2026, Allentown - Sat 8 AM, unionhistoricalfire society.com. Fire Antique Memorabilia. Union Historical Fire Society
04/24/2026, Belleville - Fri 10 AM, Hutches, old sewing machines, cast iron pots, quilts, flatware, cast iron figurines & more! Chesney Auctioneering
04/25/2026, Annville - Sat 12 PM, Online, shirksauctions. hibid.com. Antique collector cars and Harley Davisdon motorcycles. Roy D. Shirk Auctioneer
AUCTIONS
CALENDARS AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY
Florine Stettheimer, among others.
“The Face of Life” presents a fresh perspective on modern art through the lens of portraiture, examining how artists have sought to capture the essence of human presence and lived experience. At its most fundamental level, a portrait represents an individual, yet its meaning has continually evolved. Historically associated with power, status, and public identity, portraiture has expanded over time to reflect more nuanced and shifting conceptions of selfhood. Shaped by the cultural and intellectual currents of their time, artists have transformed the portrait into a site of experimentation and inquiry. In the 20th century, the emergence of photography, developments in psychology, war, and rapid technological and industrial change, among other factors, profoundly altered how identity could be constructed and perceived. Against this backdrop, modern artists redefined what a portrait might be, reconsidering not only likeness but also presence, interiority, and the individual’s place within a changing world.
Organized in four chapters, beginning with “Resemblance,” the installation opens with one of the Met’s most iconic works: Pablo Picasso’s 1905-06 portrait of the writer Gertrude Stein. In this painting, likeness gives way to interpretation, suggesting that portraiture may convey not only outward appearance but also a more intimate and psychological understanding of its subject. Subsequent sections broaden this inquiry.
In “Allusions,” a grouping of works by artists such as Otto Dix, Amedeo Modigliani, and Laura Wheeler Waring demonstrates the range of individual expression that can unfold within a shared, traditional pose. In “Proxies,” self-portraits by Leonora Carrington and Yasuo Kuniyoshi further complicate the notion of realism, questioning the stability of representation and the construction
of zoned commercial/industrial property with a large 4 bedroom farmhouse w/ attached garage. Detached 40’x70’ 4 bay garage. House in very good condition. 31’ motorhome, John Deere 430 Diesel lawn tractor w/power vac, Grasshopper zero turn mower, historical books, maps, tools & shop equipment, antiques & collectibles, household items & more! Lefever & Hart Auctions
04/28/2026, Reinholds - Tues 9 AM & Online, wehrlysauction.com. Firearms auction. Wehrly’s Auction Service
05/02-03/2026, ReinholdsSat & Sun 7 AM, 607 Willow Street, Shupp’s Grove Antique Market
05/03/2026, Ephrata - Sun 3 PM & Online, gehman auctions.hibid.com. Vinyl records. Gehman Auctions 05/04/2026, Dillsburg - Sat 9 am, www.haars.com. Tools, collectibles, furniture & more! Hardy’s Auction Service 05/19/2026, York - Tues 6 PM, gilbertauctions.com. Gold & silver jewelry. Gilbert & Gilbert Auctioneers
05/08-09/2026, Wayne - FriSun 10 AM - 6 PM, 153 Swedesford Road.
05/09-10/2026, ReinholdsSat & Sun 7 AM - 4 PM. 607 Willow Street, Shupp’s Grove Antique Market
05/09-10/2026, Reinholds - Fri & Sat 7 AM, 607 Willow Street, Shupp’s Grove Antique Market
05/16-17/2026, ReinholdsFri & Sat 7 AM, 607 Willow St, Shupp’s Grove Antique Market
05/23-24/2026, Reinholds - Sat & Sun 7AM - 4PM, 607 Willow Street, Shupp’s Grove Antique Market
05/30-31/2026, Reinholds - Sat & Sun 7AM - 4PM, 607 Willow St, Shupp’s Grove Antique Market
06/20/2026, New Oxford - Sat 8 am - 3 pm, 200 West Golden Lane, New Oxford Antique Show
06/24-28/2026, AdamstownWed - Sat, N Reading Road, 7 mile stretch
09/23-27/2026, AdamstownWed - Sat, N Reading Road, 7 mile stretch
10/02-03/2026, Lebanon - Fri
8 AM - 4 PM, Sat 8 AM - 2 PM, 80 Rocherty Road, Miss Morgan’s Milkweed Antiques & Artisan Show
10/18/2026, New Oxford - Sat 8 AM - 3 PM, 200 West Golden Lane, New Oxford Antique Show
TENNESSEE
05/01-02/2026, Clinton - Fri
12 PM - 7 PM, Sat 9 AM - 5 PM, Historic District, Clinch River Antique Festival
Henri Matisse’s (French, 1869-1954) “Young Sailor II,” 1906, is an oil-on-canvas, 39 7/8 by 32 11/16 inches, from the Jacques and Natasha Gelman collection, 1998.
page 9
Valley Forge Celebrates The French Alliance
Lecture To Be Held May 3
The Met
Continued from page 8
of identity. The final chapter, titled “Markers,” features work by Max Beckmann, Abdel Hadi El-Gazzar, Alberto Giacometti, and Eli Nadelman to consider portraiture as an act of commemoration, where likeness becomes a site of memory and presence. Throughout, selections from the modern design collection, including works by Norman Bel Geddes, Henry Bertoia, Armand-Albert
Heritage
Continued from page 2
On Sunday, May 3, Historic Rock Ford’s America250 Lecture Series presents “Valley Forge Celebrates the French Alliance” by Nancy K. Loane, Ed.D. On May 6, 1778, the Valley Forge encampment celebrated the alliance between France and the United States of America. Important in supplying vital military and financial aid to the new country, the alliance had just been
Rateau, and Axel Salto, extend these themes, exploring the body, identity, and human experience in related yet unexpected forms.
“The Face of Life” underscores the central role of collectors and gifts in shaping the museum’s 20th-century art holdings while foregrounding artists’ sustained engagement with the lived reality of their time. The exhibition invites audiences to encounter the modern art collection in dynamic conversation with the museum’s
“From foundational first appearances to iconic origin stories, the strength of this auction reflects both the historical significance of Man No. 1” (Marvel, 1968) CGC NM 9.4 brought $5,124. This debut issue of the character’s solo series retells Iron Man’s origin story, continuing from Iron Man and Sub-Mariner No. 1, and “X-Men No. 12” (Marvel, 1965) CGC VF+ 8.5 realized $3,904. This issue features the origin of Professor X and the first appearance of Juggernaut (Cain Marko), one of the X-Men’s most formidable adversaries.
“Collectors continue to recognize the enduring importance of these early Marvel keys,” according to Heritage Auctions vice president of comics Rick Akers.
“The Amazing Spider-Man No. 5” (Marvel, 1963) CGC NM- 9.2 sold for $13,420. This issue features a notable Doctor Doom appearance.
ratified. Now, Washington’s soldiers could hope that the war would soon be over, the Continental Army would disband, and they would go home.
This presentation will begin at 2 p.m. in the Langmuir Education Room located on the first floor of the Rock Ford Barn located at 881 Rockford Road, Lancaster, Pa. Prior to the lecture, attendees may visit the
broader holdings, recognizing and echoing artist Alice Neel’s attention to “the face of life”: the shared impulse to record our experiences, convictions, and vulnerabilities, particularly in moments of profound change. This curatorial approach anticipates the expanded presentation of modern and contemporary art in the new Tang Wing, the museum’s future home for these collections.
To learn more, visit www. metmuseum.org.
these books and the continued demand for high-quality examples across the hobby.”
Complete results can be found at www.HA.com/40334.
This CGC VF 8.0 copy of another cornerstone of Marvel history, “X-Men No. 1,” realized $37,820.
Kleinfelter’s
Continued from page 1
a six-figure donation, fulfilling the project’s funding goal required to construct a
complete house,” said Erin Horst, owner/vice president of Kleinfelter’s.
For additional information, call Kleinfelter’s Auction, Inc. at 717-272-7078.
Snyder Gallery and our 2026 Focus Exhibit. The Snyder Gallery closes at 4 p.m.
An accomplished speaker, Dr. Loane has given over 250 presentations throughout the country, all focusing on the experiences
of the women and soldiers at Valley Forge and the myths and stories associated with the encampment. She is a formal seasonal ranger at Valley Forge National Park, as well as the author of the award-winning book “Following the Drum: Women at the Valley Forge Encampment.”
General admission tickets are $10 and may be purchased at www.Historic RockFord.org/specialevents.
Guggenheim Pop: 1960 To Now
This June, the Guggenheim New York will unveil “Guggenheim Pop: 1960 to Now,” a focused exhibition exploring the museum’s holdings of Pop art and the movement’s enduring influence on artists working around the world today. Drawing on the institution’s history, “Guggenheim Pop: 1960 to Now” will illuminate a lesser-known chapter in the museum’s past while foregrounding the significant contributions of both
historical and contemporary practices.
“Guggenheim Pop: 1960 to Now” will feature an eclectic selection of defining works from the collection by more than 20 artists, including John Chamberlain, Chryssa, Jim Dine, Richard Hamilton, Yayoi Kusama, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg, Lucas Samaras, and Andy Warhol. These works will be presented alongside recent acquisitions and gifts
by contemporary artists such as Maurizio Cattelan, Alex Da Corte, Martine Gutierrez, Lauren Halsey, Lucia Hierro, Mohammed Ahmed Ibrahim, Yee I-Lann, Liu Shiyuan, and Cara Romero, whose practices both interrogate and build upon the legacies of Pop. Guggenheim New York is located at 1071 Fifth Ave. at 89th St., New York, N.Y. To learn more, visit www.guggen heim.org.
ONLINE ONLY Jewelry, Coins, Currency and Stamps
Closing Weds., April 29th starting at 6:00 PM ONLINE NOW FOR BIDDING
COINS: (2) MS64 1972 DDO Cents, 1922 No. D Cent PCGS VG10, (2) 1913-D Buffalo Nickels Var 2 (AG3 & GD4), 1900 Morgan Dollar MS65, 1877-S Qtr FS-501 S/HORIZ S ANACS AU50, 1876 20 Cent Pc. ANACS AU50 Details (Cleaned/Plugged), 1843 Petite Head Lg. Cent, 1788 Connecticut Colonial Copper, 1835 Silver 5 Cent Pc. (Scratched),1858 Half Dime (Inverted Date/Plugged), Peace & Morgan Dollars, Silver Eagles, Barber & Walking Liberty Halves, Mercury Dimes, Prestige & Proof Sets, Indian & Wheat Cents, Silver Certificates incl 1935A Hawaii.
JEWELRY: 10K & 14K Rings & Necklaces; Much Sterling, Huge Amount of Costume, Estate and Tray Lots.
ANTIQUE/VINTAGE: 1909 2 Vol. History of Berks County, Blowmolds, Pyrex, Radios, Clocks, Character Glasses, Milk Bottles, Hall Autumn Leaf.
These 14-karat white gold emerald cluster earrings sold for $4,956.
Swann
Continued from page 1
The auction was led by a rare example of a window card for A.M. Cassandre’s “Café Chat Noir,” 1932, selling for $24,130. Also of note in the food and beverage genre was a rare 1964 billboard by Bruno Munari titled “Campari,” which was designed for the opening of the M1 “red line” of the Milan Metro,
which earned $19,050.
Two works created for the Museum of Modern Art’s 1949 Polio Poster Competition found success. Herbert Bayer’s Polio Research, 1949, made its auction debut at $10,160, against a $1,200 to $1,800 estimate, and Milton Ackoff’s Polio Care Open to All, 1949, reached $1,651.
Related advertisements were dominated by Erik Nitsche’s designs for General
Dynamics, with The Energetic Sea, 1958, bringing $6,350, a record for the poster and the second highest price for a work from the series. Additional General Dynamics highlights included Triga, 1958, at $3,556; Electronic Intelligence, 1955, at $3,302; First Step into Space, 1958 ($2,794); and Atoms for Peace, 1955 ($2,540). A 1980 poster for Apple earned $2,794, a record for any printed work by Rob Janoff. The house has brought more works by Janoff, the creator of the iconic Apple computer logo, to market than
any other auction firm. Automobile posters spanned from the 1930s to the 1960s with Roger Pérot’s Delahaye, 1932, bringing $8,890, and Hanns Lohrer’s Porsche / For Carefree Country Life, 1961, at $5,588, a record for the artist, as well as Lohrer’s Porsche / The Sport For Men With Personality, 1962, at $3,302. Josef Müller-Brockman’s Schützt das Kind!, 1953, earned a record for the poster at $2,508. Additional auction records included Otto Baumberger’s Neue Zürcher Zeitung, 1928, a record for the
ANTIQUE AUCTION
CARLISLE, PA
THURSDAY, APRIL 30 • 2:00 P.M.
Location: Rowe’s Auction Barn, 2505 Ritner Hwy., Carlisle PA Between exits 44 (Allen Rd.) & 37 (Newville) off Int. 81
COUNTRY
–
BOTTLES
– TOYS – ADVERTISING
Beginning at 2:00 p.m. with 100 lots of early bottles incl. Indian & Corn bitters-pontilled sodas incl. San Francisco-whiskeys-beers-medicines-etc. (individual & bulk lots), Beer trays-openers-labels, advertising signs, cast iron mechanical & still banks, tin lithographed toys, Buddy L train set, Mr. Peanut, decorated stoneware, redware incl. Speece, country wooden wares-tin-iron, baskets, feather tree, copper apple butter kettles & tea kettles, duck boot scraper, Derringer & Remington pistols, paintings & prints, majolica, small brass cash register, quilts, Antique furniture incl. nice small dry sink in orig. green paint, bucket bench, 2 drawer blanket chest (1837), tapered leg one drawer stand, blue stand & bench, corner cupboard, stepback cupboard, decorated rocker, Rhododendron settee & loveseat, hanging shelf, misc. country. Very brief ad, check website or Auctionzip for photos & updates. Note earlier starting time
Note: Beginning with bottles & related at 2:00 p.m. followed by advertising & toys, then country related, Furniture at 6:00 p.m. Absentee & phone bids accepted. Live auction only
Terms: Cash or PA check, major credit cards w/ 3% surcharge, out-of-state checks w/ prior approval or established credit
Preview: Wednesday, April 29, 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. morning of auction
poster at $3,302; Massimo Vignelli’s Knoll International, 1967, earned a record for the artist at $3,048; and Charles and Ray Eames game Giant House of Cards, 1953, complete with 20 cards, was a record for the work at $3,048.
Firsts at auction included an impressive, typographic poster by John Rieben, “A is the First Letter of the Alphabet,” 1966, created for the Chicago Public Library. The work sold for $2,032.
The complete list of results can be found at www. swanngalleries.com.
Folk Art
Continued from page 4
nearly every continent, the Museum engages people of all backgrounds through its collections, exhibitions,
publications, and public programs as the leading forum shaping the understanding and appreciation of folk and self-taught art. For more information, visit www.folkartmuseum.org.
Adolphe Mouron Cassandre’s “Cafe Chat Noir” window card from 1932 sold for $24,120.
Herbert Bayer’s “Polio Research” from 1949 sold for $10,160.
Bruno Munari’s “Campari” billboard dates to 1964 and sold for $19,050.
William Edmondson (1874-1951) Angel, Nashville, Tenn., 1937, limestone, 18 3/8 by 13 by 6.5 inches, from the American Folk Art Museum, New York, gift of Audrey B. Heckler.
Continued from page 3
you could walk into any store and find massive amounts of “Pokémon” products on store shelves. In fact, there have been multiple times throughout the history of the “Pokémon” franchise where interest was lackluster at best. This begs the question: what happens when the starry-eyed speculators that have entered the modern era “Pokémon” market over the past few years lose interest? More frightening is what happens when the financial returns of speculating in the latest “Pokémon” set don’t materialize? What happens when the line on the proverbial “Pokémon” investing graph starts to go sideways or down instead of directly up? This could potentially create a liquidity problem when all these speculators run toward the exit and sell.
Incidentally, it was just six short years ago during the pandemic when vintage comic books were considered to be the darling of the collectibles trade. If you had any key superhero or horror based comic book, it could easily be sold for top dollar. Unfortunately, today in 2026, the market has cooled. Starry-eyed speculators and investors have turned their attention to trading cards like “Pokémon,” sports cards, and even vintage toys. As a result, all that money that was flowing into the vintage comic book market has shifted, leaving some high-profile collectors shaking their heads and asking when that money will return. I have had
several high-profile vintage comic book collectors tell me that if they sell their collections right now, they will lose a significant amount of money. Some have even stated that their only choice is to roll the dice at auction because a lot of high-profile vintage comic book dealers are awash in inventory. If the book isn’t in demand, isn’t scarce, or in high grade, dealers don’t really want it. As a result, prices for vintage comic books are down about 20 percent across the board with few exceptions (obviously your mega key books like “Action Comics #1” and others have been spared and are trending at all time highs right now).
This all brings us back to the topic of liquidity. What most antique and collectible investors fail to understand is that when a market is booming, it is quite easy to sell into the hype and maximize a financial return. During the pandemic, auction houses were begging for high-quality graded comic books and video games. However, when market sentiment shifts, you’re now stuck holding onto an asset that is very hard to liquidate for cash. This poses a major risk for anyone investing in these markets, especially over the long term. This is why investing one’s entire net worth in collectibles comes with massive amounts of risk. That said, certain markets are better than others. For instance, trusted thirdparty grading has brought a level of liquidity to a lot of collectible markets. Graded coins have benefited the
SEEKERS/SELLERS CLASSIFIEDS
SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL POSTCARDS. Original designs to celebrate this event. Letterpress printed, 4” x 6” size, set of 3 different, $5.95 post paid. Mueller Letterpress, 5 Mt Vernon Rd, Blairstown, NJ 07825 DOLL CASTLE NEWS, America's oldest publication for the doll collector, now in its 66th year.
programs, publications, and more. Turn your collection into cash with a trusted local specialist. Call Walt at 215-470-1980 or email info@game7auctions.com
most from this development. However, like we are seeing with certain vintage comic books and other third-party graded pop culture items, just because your items are graded does not mean the market will always be at the level you think your items are worth. Always remember that the owner of any collectible always values the collectible the most. And that is the most important lesson here.
Shawn Surmick has been an avid collector since the age of 12. He currently resides in his hometown of Boyertown, Pa., and is a passionate collector of antiques and collectibles. His articles focus on various topics affecting the marketplace.
HAAR’S AUCTION SCHEDULE
Public Auction
Fri. March 27th • 9AM live and online
•
768 Graystone Rd. Manheim, PA 17545
2026 AT 9 AM
15% Buyer’s Premium
Featuring a rare original 1925 autographed photo of Henry Royce of Rolls-Royce fame, the 4th “PA Antique Historic Car” License Plate” ever issued, rare Handy Oilers and Displays including Mobil Oil, Oilzum, Shell, and Cities Services, Tobacco and Cigar Advertising, Display Cases, antique and vintage Hood Ornaments, Steam Gauges, Signs, a large Ice Cream Cone Display and much more. Visit hessauctiongroup.com
Friday April 24, 9-11 Adm. $10 after 11
day auction. This diverse auction will include a selection of Pennsylvania Stoneware to include a 20 Gal. James Hamilton jar, vertical stripe tobacco crock, Cowden & Wilcox jug with blue flowers and a 3-Gal. freehand -decorated Uniontown crock, Christmas Kugels, Painted Furniture, Primitives, Dateboards, Cast Iron Mechanical Toys, Mohair Animals, Artwork to include a signed 19th C. New England miniature watercolor portrait, PA samplers from Manheim, Ephrata, Chickies/Marietta, Lancaster and Germantown, Quilts and Textiles, Sterling Silver, Early Tools including signed Goosewing Axes, Advertising, Early Documents including an 1809 Deed between Jacob Eichholtz and his parents, and more.