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Presentation Sword, Dinosaur Nest with Seven Eggs Power Philip Weiss Auctions’ Sale

This rare and historically significant British presentation sword from Guyana, dated 1813, was the top lot at a 600-lot estate sale held Feb. 26 by Philip Weiss Auctions, realizing $27,060.

LYNBROOK, N.Y. – A rare and historic British presentation sword and scabbard from 1813 soared to $27,060 and a 75-million-year-old dinosaur egg nest with seven eggs sold for $17,915 at a 600-lot estate sale held Feb. 26 by Philip Weiss Auctions. The sale grossed $250,000.

It was an eclectic auction, one that featured rock ’n’ roll memorabilia, Hollywood movie and TV collectibles, vintage posters, Natural History lots, ocean liner items and more.

“We had a lively crowd in attendance to go with strong internet bidding,” said Philip Weiss of Philip Weiss Auctions.

Online bidding was provided by Proxibid. Phone and left bids were also recorded.

The Rundell, Bridge & Rundell presentation sword and scabbard were the auction’s top lot. They were presented to British Brigadier General Murray by the inhabitants of the colony of Berbice, on Guyana, when that country was still under British rule. Murray was the colony’s Civil Governor. The blade was dated May 17, 1813 and the scabbard was elaborately decorated.

This 75-million-year-old dinosaur egg nest, with seven eggs from the plant-eating hadrosaur, brought $17,915 at auction.

The dinosaur egg nest, from China’s Henan Province, dates to the Cretaceous Age and was part of an accessioned collection. It had been painstakingly hand-prepared, with each egg (measuring more than 5 ½ inches across) well exposed to show off its beauty. The nest was on a matrix measuring 18 inches by 15 inches. The eggs were from the hadrosaur—a plant-eating dinosaur.

Following are additional highlights from the auction (all prices quoted include a buyer’s premium of 15 percent for in-house purchases or 20 percent for online purchases):

This Fender Telecaster 3-D guitar, signed and inscribed by the Pop Artist Charles Fazzino gaveled for $9,840.

• A one-of-a-kind Fender Telecaster 3-D guitar, illustrated with some of the greatest names in rock ’n’ roll history by the American Pop Artist Charles Fazzino, hammered for $9,840. The guitar, signed and dated (2005) on the back by Fazzino, featured Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, the Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors and the Who, plus Woodstock images and a crashing zeppelin;

• A first-edition copy of the book “PT-109,” signed and inscribed “To Cliff Curtis, with warmest regards, John Kennedy,” together with a typed letter dated March 28, 1962, from JFK’s press secretary Pierre Salinger to Kennedy, realized $5,225. The book “PT-109” recounts JFK’s heroics during World War II. It was later made into a movie, starring the actor Cliff Robertson;

• A rare theatrical souvenir, commemorating the 200th stage performance of “The Wizard of Oz,” dated July 11, 1903, at the Majestic Theater (decades before the movie) rose to $4,300. The souvenir collapsing cup, in the original box with the original label on the cover, is three inches tall. It honored actors Fred Stone (“Scarecrow”) and David Montgomery (“Tin Woodman”) by name.

A first-edition copy of the book “PT-109,” signed and inscribed by President Kennedy, brought $5,225.
A press photos and a script for the 1944 movie “Since You Went Away,” presented to Claudette Colbert by producer David O. Selznick, hammered for $3,690.

• A bound volume of movie press photos and the script from the 1944 movie “Since You Went Away,” presented to the actress Claudette Colbert and signed and inscribed by the film’s producer David O. Selznick, changed hands for $3,690. The presentation copy of the script was inscribed by Selznick, “For Claudette, whose ability held it together. Gratefully, David, 1944.”

Philip Weiss Auctions will have another big sale at the end of this month, on Saturday, March 30, beginning promptly at 10 a.m. (EST). Sold will be a strong selection of automotive toys (Dinkys, Matchbox, Corgis and Japanese friction), many European trains and accessories, a Buddy L train set, a nice collection of mint-in-the-box Built-Rite playsets, lunchboxes and more.

Noteworthy lots will include a 1954 Superman vs. The Robot lunchbox, a 1968 Star Trek dome metal lunchbox, a Marx Fire House playset in the box, a Roy Rogers Rodeo Ranch playset, a Rin Tin Tin Fort Apache playset, a Marx Davy Crockett at the Alamo playset still in the box, a Marx Zorro playset still in the box, and many character lunchboxes from the 1950s and the ’60s.

Then, in May (times and dates still to be determined), Philip Weiss Auctions will conduct a series of sales dedicated to an astounding and massive collection of Golden Age and Silver Age comics that has come to be known collectively as “the Western Massachusetts Find” (where it was discovered).

This souvenir cup commemorating the 200th stage performance of “The Wizard of Oz” in 1903 realized $4,300.

The sales will feature Adventure Comics (including a VF copy of #40, Sandman’s first appearance, plus #41 VF, #42 VF, #48 VG, and complete runs of #40-71 and #74-80); Detective Comics #29 and up, near complete; Action Comics #18 and up, near complete); Star Spangled complete; All Star #19 and up; Superman #25 and up; and All American #1 and up; and more.

The events will be held in the firm’s gallery, located at 74 Merrick Road in Lynbrook, N.Y.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, call 516.594.0731, e-mail to Phil@WeissAuctions.com or visit the Philip Weiss Auctions website.


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