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This “old family bible,” published in 1877 by the O.A. Browning & Co., of Toledo, Ohio and London, Ontario. It’s in fair to good condition and comparable examples often sell at auction in the $ 80-$ 150 range.
Next in this series of “Unloved Antiques” is the American “Old Family Bible.” Most families have one, often said to be “At least 200 years old,” inherited from some distant deceased relative and nearly always with a fantastic tale relating to the Frontier, Old West or the Civil War.
To date we have must have examined dozens of bibles that were said to have belonged to family members related to Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Jesse James, Billy the Kid, Stonewall Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant and even Abe Lincoln*. Sadly, none of them had any provenance, and nearly all were printed long after all of these notables had gone to their final reward.
Most of these bibles we receive appraisal requests for are actually very late 19th-century presentation pieces, highly ornate bibles with embossed covers, in some cases with latches that resemble something one would find in a 14th-century monastery. Quite often, these were given as gifts to newlyweds or newly ordained priests and ministers by family or friends, eventually handed down from one generation to the next. Some are inscribed with dedications, dates and names to give some hint as to their original ownership, but after two or three generations, the inscribed date is dismissed as “written in years later,” particularly if the last name inscribed is similar to someone famous—like Ulysses S. Grant—or infamous such—as Jesse James or William Bonnie (Billy the Kid).
Upon examination of the first few pages, most of these bibles will reveal the publishing date and the name and location of the publisher; most, like the example above, tend to post date the 1870s and were made right through the turn of the 20th century. Values for these late 19th-century American Bibles can be upwards of $ 400 at auction, if in very good shape and printed by a well-respected publisher. But most we see suffer from 100-plus-years of being shoved into bookcases, drawers and hope chests.
The example above dates to 1877, published by the O.A. Browning & Co., of Toledo, Ohio and London, Ontario. It’s in fair to good condition¹, and comparable examples often sell at auction in the $ 80-$ 150 range.
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*With such pieces, with genuine provenance to someone like the Western outlaw Jesse James, Mother can take the value of a battered, run-of-the-mill 19th-century bible from $ 80 to more than $ 3,000 at auction. If you have any doubt at all about the value and origins of an old book, we strongly suggest having it examined and appraised by an antiquarian book dealer.
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¹ “Fair” describes a worn book that has complete text pages, including maps or plates, but may be missing end papers. The binding will generally be worn in spot and any defects will be noted in the description. “Good” describes an average used and worn book that still has all pages or leaves. Any defects will be noted in the description.
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Previous “Unloved Antiques” articles:
• Unloved Antiques: ‘Limited Edition’ Collectors Plates
• Unloved Antiques: Singer Sewing Machines
• Unloved Antiques: Decorator Prints
• Unloved Antiques: Commemorative Whiskey Decanters
• Unloved Antiques: ‘Bronze’ Flatware
• Unloved Antiques: 1847 Rogers Brothers Flatware
• Unloved Antiques: Hummel Knockoffs
• Unloved Antiques: National Geographic Magazines
• Unloved Antiques: Dragonware
• Unloved Antiques: 19th Century Religious Prints
• Unloved Antiques: Depression Glass
• Unloved Antiques: Stradivarius-Style Violins
• Unloved Antiques: 19th-Century Pump Organs
• Unloved Antiques: ‘Starving Artist’ Painting
Mike Wilcox, of Wilcox & Hall Appraisers, is a Worthologist who specializes in Art Nouveau and the Arts and Craft movement.
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You need one of these “paddles” to bid. Also shown is the $ 45 catalog (a.k.a. my future coffee table book) that documents all the lots in the auction. On the cover is Oscar Bluemner’s modernist landscape “Illusion of a Prairie, New Jersey.”
November marks the start of the fall auction season in New York City, so it is fitting that the month went out with a bang with Christie’s Important American Painting, Drawing and Sculpture auction on Nov. 30. The event featured art from the 19th and 20th century and included works by Georgia O’Keefe and Oscar Bluemner whose modernist landscape, “Illusion of a Prairie, New Jersey,” sold for a world record for the artist.
Overall, the auction was a tasteful mish-mash of representational works that included pretty landscapes, realistic sculptures, still lives, portraits and abstract art.
The mood at the event was upbeat—maybe too much at times—as any who attended cheerfully chit-chatted during the entire auction, with a grande Starbucks in hand and some even had a breakfast pastry (Christie’s was also serving coffee). [Note to self: you can bring take-out to a fine art auction.] This is not a jab at Christie’s, and its gracious staff who were all impeccably dressed, very helpful, genuinely sweet and, on top of all that, very attractive. However, I came to the realization that upscale auctions are no longer considered insider events where only members of the art world attend. Gone are the days when auctions were attended by men with mid-Atlantic accents and women in white dainty gloves who sat in silence and made small gestures when they wanted to bid (oh wait, that might have been a silly notion stuck in my head).
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The gallery space at Christie’s where art from the auction was displayed for bidder’s perusal.
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The screening room for bidders who could not fit in auction room before auction began; the calm before the storm.
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Christie’s staff is shown working with phone bidders.
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Auctions are now a spectator sport, much like Fashion Week or The Interior Design Show in NYC. And, unlike the city’s museums—where one can pay up to $ 20 to see fine art—auctions and their previews are free to attend. Buying the full color, coffee-table-worthy catalog for $ 45, so you can easily follow the bidding process, is optional. I am not implying that the crowd that attended was not well-heeled. That was not the case at all. But I believe a good number of folks who were in attendance can be considered art groupies, and they came to see a good show while catching up with friends.
The auction ended on a positive note. Every lot sold. Many of the days purchases were made by high rollers who opted to compete by phone or online. The bidding war of the day was for the Oscar Bluemner painting mentioned earlier, where the crowd had the opportunity to witness two phone bidders duking it out for the prize. When the dust settled, the winner earned the right to pay $ 4,700,000 (or $ 5,300,000 when you add in the 12-pecent buyer’s premium) to own “Illusion of a Prairie, New Jersey.”
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New York City Skyline as seen from the 20th floor at Christie’s.
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Frederick William MacMonnies’ “Nathan Hale,” with a spectator’s cup of coffee provided by Christie’s. A guard quickly whisked the cup away shortly after photo was taken. The hammer price on the statue, $ 120,000 (with buyer’s premium, $ 146,500).
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A personal favorite of mine did not make its presale estimated selling price. Lot 18, Milton Avery’s “Sitting Hen” was estimated at $ 80,000-$ 120,000 but fell short at $ 55,000 not including the buyer’s premium. There were, however, a few surprises, including Lot 35, Alexander Phimister Proctor’s bronze figure, “Indian Warrior” that was estimated to fetch $ 30,000 at best, but incited a small bidding frenzy and sold for $ 130,000 not including Christie’s fee.
It was reassuring that every piece at the auction found a home, but you could sense collectors were reluctant to really pony up and spend big on this day. That could be a reflection of the unstable economy or perhaps it’s because the auction lacked big-ticket works that would demand an eight- or nine-digit price tag. Either way, it was a wonderful way to spend the morning, the auctioneer Christopher Burge was charming and the auction space and gallery was warm and welcoming.
Plus, I learned a lesson: Whenever I need a fine art fix, I will skip paying double-digits in order to go to a NYC museum. I will pack a snack, grab a few friends and seek out a gallery preview or auction instead.
DeDe Sullivan is a retrophile with a particular fondness for junktiques; discarded vintage treasures whose aesthetic worth far exceeds its monetary value. Her blog, VintageandFlea.com, documents her junking and antiquing adventures. This includes sharing her favorite places to score unique items, the history behind unusually finds, along with display and upcycling ideas. Have a question or story to tell? Shoot her an e-mail at dede [at] vintageandflea [dot] com!
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- Assembled size 27.5" wide by 30" tall - with glitter wings!
- Easy to apply - just peel and stick!
- Applies to any smooth surface
- Removable and repositionable with no sticky residue
- Made in the USA
Does your room need a little Disney magic? Look no further! This giant wall decal of Tinker Bell is great for little girls who love her playful ways. The decal can be removed or repositioned at any time, and will never leave behind any sticky residue when removed. And since Tinker Bell's wings are covered in glitter, she's sure to look magical on any wall! For more magic.
List Price: $ 19.99
Price: $ 18.75
- Condition: Used, Very Good
- Format: DVD
- AC-3; Animated; Color; Dolby; Dubbed; DVD; NTSC; Subtitled; Widescreen
The tale of Disneys favorite fairy, Tinker Bell, continues in an all-new magical adventure beyond Pixie Hollow! Discover how the Pixies make their magic dust! Let your imagination soar as Autumn comes to Pixie Hollow. Take off in a hot air balloon with Tinker Bell and her new friend Blaze, a lightning bug who lights her way, on an enchanting secret journey to find a new moonstone, the source of the Pixies mystical dust. But hold on tight! There ll be amazing encounters, some close calls, and a daring rescue by her old friend Terence! In her biggest adventure yet, Tinker Bell not only learns a lesson in responsibility, she discovers the true meaning of friendship. From the creators of Tinker Bell, Tinker Bell And The Lost Treasure is a captivating journey of self-discovery everyone will want to take.
Tinkerbell is back for a whole new season of adventure in Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure. Pixie Hollow is all abuzz with preparations for autumn and Tinkerbell is hard at work on her latest invention when she is unexpectedly summoned by Queen Clarion and the Minister of autumn. Tinkerbell fears that she's in trouble again, but is instead delighted to find out that Fairy Mary has recommended her for the important job of creating a one-of-a-kind scepter that will focus the light of an unusual blue harvest moon through a rare moonstone in order to replenish the pixie dust tree's supply of pixie dust. Tinkerbell gladly rises to the challenge, accepting her dust-keeper friend Terrence's offers of help, but as the days fly rapidly by, pressure begins to build and Tinkerbell becomes annoyed by Terrence's constant attention. Sending Terrence away on an errand seems like a good idea, but what he brings back inadvertently causes the almost finished scepter and the incredibly rare moonstone to break into pieces. Tinkerbell lashes out at Terrence and then departs alone on a desperate quest to fix the moonstone. What Tinkerbell learns on her journey is that she must take responsibility for her own actions and that the power and value of true friendship is much greater than she'd ever imagined. Like the first Tinkerbell, the colors and clarity of animation are simply breathtaking in this production, but the story lags somewhat thanks to a lengthy set up and a general lack of suspense in the first half of the film. Still, it's a perfectly entertaining movie that will delight children ages 3 and up as well as satisfy most parents. Returning voice talent includes Mae Whitman, Kristin Chenoweth, Jane Horrocks, Anjelica Huston, Jesse McCartney, and Raven-Symone. --Tami Horiuchi
Stills from Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure
List Price: $ 29.99
Price: $ 12.20
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Flash #3 (Jim Lee Variant Cover)
The Comic Speculator is a blog written by WorthPoint Comic Book “Worthologist” Matt Baum that takes a look at each week’s hot new comics and back issues and the comic market place in general. Prices discussed here are taken from the Overstreet Guide to Comics (OVST), Comicspriceguide.com (CPG) and current online auction sales. Sales numbers and rankings are courtesy of ICV2.com. The codes under the prices of new titles discussed are Diamond Comics order codes that can be used to help your local comic retailer in ordering the issues discussed. If you want to hear what this nerd sounds like you can catch him on his podcast, the Two-Headed Nerd Comicast, where he and his friend Joe discuss the latest comic news, review some new comics, and answer your questions.
New Comics Roundup
Below you will find all the info you could possibly need on the hot, new comics shipping this Wednesday, Nov. 23. For a full list of comics shipping this week, click here. To find a comic shop near you, click here.
Variant Watch
Here’s a list of all the variants shipping from Diamond this week and some info on the hot ones. The variant Ratios (i.e.; 1:10) represent how many of the regular issues the retailer has to order to receive one of the variants. If a ratio is not included it’s because I couldn’t get the information or because the variant is a new printing. The prices I post here are suggested, reasonable prices based on the ratios and may be higher or lower at your comic shop. Click here for this week’s complete shipping list.
ABSTRACT STUDIOS
Rachel Rising #1 (Red 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $ 3.99
AMRYL ENTERTAINMENT:
Cavewoman Cover Gallery #4 (Special Edition). Limited to 750 copies.
APOSTLE ARTS:
Billy Tucci A Child Is Born (One Shot)(Billy Tucci Variant Cover), 1:10. Yep, Billy Tucci, the guy who gave us the slutty Japanese assassin Shi is now doing an illustrating the story of the birth of Christ. Go figure . . .
ASPEN:
Executive Assistant Iris Volume 2 #5 (Cover C Sketch Variant). Retailers could order three sketch variants for every 10 regular copies ordered.
AVATAR:
Caligula #5 (of 6)(Jacen Burrows Golden Variant Cover), 1:5
BOOM!
Decision 2012 Ron Paul #1 (Cover B Jeffrey Spokes Superhero Variant), 1:10
BOUNDLESS:
Art Of Lady Death Volume 1 HC (Richard Ortiz Signed Wizard World Chicago Cover), $ 49.99. Limited to 350 copies.
Lady Death #7 (Gabriel Guzman Wizard World Chicago Cover), $ 9.99. Limited to 750 copies.
War Goddess #2 (Clint Hilinski Auxiliary Cover), $ 3.99. Limited to 1,000 copies.
DC:
Animal Man #1 (Travel Foreman 3rd Printing Variant Cover), $ 2.99
Flash #3 (Francis Manapul Black & White Variant Cover), 1:200. Time for the weekly “don’t pay too much for this one” rant. I saw one instance of a copy selling for $ 135 on eBay, but everything else was less than $ 100and there’s still plenty to choose from. So, without screaming, stay under $ 100 here. Watch for an $ 80-$ 90 price tag.
Flash #3 (Jim Lee Variant Cover). Retailers could order this variant equal to the lowest ordered New 52 #3 issue shipping this week. I’m guessing it’s Blackhawks, so don’t let sellers trick you into paying for this one like it’s a ratio variant. Just because your retailer only ordered five copies of Blackhawks and therefore can only order five copies of this variant doesn’t make it anymore rare. Watch for a $ 5-$ 7 price tag.
Shade #2 (of 12)(Cully Hamner Variant Cover), 1:10
DYNAMIC FORCES
Justice League #1 (Dynamic Forces)(Scott Williams Signed Edition), $ 29.99. Limited to 225 copies.
Living Corpse Exhumed #1 (of 6)(Dynamic Forces)(Ken Haeser & Buz Hasson Signed Cover), $ 19.99. Very limited to 25 copies.
Living Corpse Exhumed #1 (of 6)(Dynamic Forces)(Ken Haeser Authentix Edition With Hand-Drawn Corpse Sketch), $ 49.99. Also limited to 25 copies.
X-Men #1 (Dynamic Forces)(Ken Haeser Wolverine Remarked Edition), $ 49.99. Limited to 75 copies. Listed as Ken Haeser but Diamond lists the artist as Joe Rubinstein, who was the inker for the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe (I had to look that up).
DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT:
Last Phantom #10 (Alex Ross Virgin Variant Cover), 1:10
Last Phantom #10 (Fabiano Neves Variant Cover), 1:15
Last Phantom #10 (Stephen Sadowski Variant Cover), 1:10
Warlord Of Mars Dejah Thoris #8 (Ale Garza Risque Art Variant Cover), 1:20
Warlord Of Mars Dejah Thoris #8 (Paul Renaud Martian Red Variant Cover), 1:10
IDW:
Doctor Who #11 (Matthew Dow Smith Variant Cover), 1:10
Dungeons And Dragons #13 (Steve Ellis Variant Cover), 1:10
Ghostbusters #1 (Dan Schoening 2nd Printing Variant Cover), $ 3.99
Jack Avarice Is The Courier #4 (of 5)(Chris Madden Sketch Variant Cover),
Locke And Key The Guide To The Known Keys (Gabriel Rodriguez Variant), 1:10
MARVEL:
Avengers Solo #2 (of 5)(Thor Movie Variant Cover)
Avengers Solo #2 (of 5)(Thor Movie Variant Cover), 1:15. Not really sure why a story about Hawkeye gets a Thor Movie variant but, there ya go. A nifty Thor movie variant. OK, just checked, the DVD came out today. So, Thor Movie variant. Still, kinda weird. Regardless, watch for an $ 8-$ 10 price tag.
Fantastic Four #600 (John Romita Jr. Variant Cover)
Fantastic Four #600 (John Romita Jr. Variant Cover), 1:15
Fantastic Four #600 (Arthur Adams Variant Cover), 1:25
Fantastic Four #600 (Joe Quesada Variant Cover), 1:50
Fantastic Four #600 (Joe Quesada Sketch Variant Cover)
Fantastic Four #600 (Joe Quesada Sketch Variant Cover), 1:100. Not the best John Romita Jr. variant I’ve seen here but I guess none of his art has been his best lately. Watch for a $ 7-$ 10 price tag. I can’t find a picture of the Arthur Adams variant and I’ll bet it’s awesome. Come on Marvel, normally you guys are great at this. Watch for a $ 15-$ 20 price tag. The Quesada variant for this book is stunning. I may have to splurge for this one and if I do will be looking for a $ 30-$ 35 price tag. It’s just too cool. And finally, why Marvel and DC continue to give the sketch variants the highest ratio to order is beyond me. Wouldn’t people want the fully colored and finished variant more? I mean the sketch variant is cool, sure, but look at that finished variant. I don’t get it, but if you need this one, watch for a $ 70-$ 75 price tag.
Invincible Iron Man #510 (Mike Choi Marvel Comics 50th Anniversary Variant Cover)
Invincible Iron Man #510 (Mike Choi Marvel Comics 50th Anniversary Variant Cover) 1:50. This one just screams Fleer-gold-embossed-Marvel-Legends-collector-card to me. Not bad; it just looks very ’90s to me. Maybe it’s the pose or the computer coloring but I’m definitely getting an “extreme” vibe from this one. Watch for a $ 25-$ 30price tag.
Kick-Ass 2 #5 (Bryan Hitch Variant Cover), 1:25
Kick-Ass 2 #5 (Photo Variant Cover), 1:15
Secret Avengers #19 (Larry Stroman Marvel Comics 50th Anniversary Variant Cover), 1:50. My love of Larry Stroman’s work goes all the way back to the mid-1980s, when he was working on Alien Legion with Chuck Dixon. That said, this is not the most amazing Stroman cover I’ve seen, and it doesn’t really say “50th Anniversary,” either. And why no faces? Watch for a $ 25-$ 30 price tag.
Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #2 (Kaare Andrews 3rd Printing Variant Cover), $ 3.99
Ultimate Comics The Ultimates #2 (Kaare Andrews 3rd Printing Variant Cover), $ 3.99
Wolverine And The X-Men #2 (Ed McGuinness Marvel 50th Anniversary Variant)
Wolverine And The X-Men #2 (Ed McGuinness Marvel 50th Anniversary Variant), 1:50. I don’t get this one, either. All in all, not a good week for Marvel 50th Anniversary variants. Unless you like Wolvie’s butt. Watch for a $ 25-$ 30 price tag.
Speculator Picks of the Week
These are comics that could sell out very quickly due to conservative ordering, popular demand, shipping errors or even UPS trucks overloaded with returned Penn State memorabilia and Rick Perry for President lawn signs. Pick them up while you can or pay too much for them later . . .
Locke & Key: Guide to the Known Keys one shot
IDW
Written by JOE HILL
Art by GABRIEL RODRIGUEZ
Solicitation: This special standalone issue features an expanded Guide to the Known Keys, an all-new Guide to Failed Keys, and a story of summer-night magic, set in Keyhouse’s unlikely past.
32 pages
$ 3.99
JUL110327
Why it’ll go fast: Apparently, I’m the only jerk that isn’t reading Locke and Key and I’m missing out on a hell of a story. It’s on my “to read” list, I swear. Like the other Locke and Key comics, this one will go very quickly but probably not right away. I’m guessing retailers order lighter on this one than a normal story issue and reorder as fast as they can when it sells just as well as the regular story issues. IDW has been content—or it a least seems that way—to print smaller runs of first-printings and then sell reprinting, which is another reason why this one will go quickly. Will the guide have huge back-issue value? Probably not, but it will be hard to find.
Kapow World Record Special #1
Kapow World Record Special #1
MARVEL
Plot by MARK MILLAR
Written by PAUL CORNELL, KIERON GILLEN and more
Art by FRANK QUITELY, DAVE GIBBONS, JOHN ROMITA JR., LEINIL YU, JOCK, OLIVIER COIPIEL, SEAN PHILLIPS, DUNCAN FERGRADO & more!
Solicitation: In April 2011, Mark Millar, Frank Quitely, Dave Gibbons, John Romita Jr, Leinil Yu, Paul Cornell, Andy Diggle, Jock, Duncan Fegrado, Sean Phillips and more than 50 other comic-book creators joined forces with Kapow to break not one but TWO Guinness World Records—the fastest comic-book ever produced and the biggest number of creators working on a single comic. The Kapow Special stars Superior and was written, penciled, inked and lettered in less than 12 hours. PLEASE NOTE: All proceeds from the sales of this comic will go to Yorkhill Sick Children’s Hospital in Scotland and the print-run for this book will be limited to just 10,000 copies.
24 pages
$ 2.99
Sold Out
Why it’ll go fast: This one has the mark of “Ridiculously High Priced Back Issue” stamped right on the cover. Every artist that worked on the book is amazing and there’s more than 10 of them, two great writers, and it’s a limited print run for charity. That’s enough to make collectors kill each other to get a copy. Watch for this one to start a little slow and then skyrocket in value. By this weekend, I’m betting it’s selling for at least $ 20.
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Matt Baum is WorthPoint’s comic book Worthologist. If you have any questions about these books or anything else in the comic book world feel free to contact Matt or post your question below in the Comic Book Forum in the WorthPoint Forums, located in the Community tab. You can also reply to this article in the “leave a reply box below. If you need more comic-nerd in your life, you can follow Matt on Twitter, where he’s always screaming about something nerd-related. Thanks to all Matt’s new followers and keep the comments coming!
Want to know what your comics are worth? Join WorthPoint to search its database or use its “Ask A Worthologist” feature. Remember to post the title, issue number and cover price.
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