City of Harrisburg Collection of Western Memorabilia Auction Realizes $3 Million+ So Far
Published November 15th, 2007
AuctionPublicity.com - DALLAS, TEXAS: A series of auctions that included the Western Collection of the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, conducted by Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries, has realized $3,072,430, although after-auction sales are still ongoing, and a Final Session, scheduled for Monday, November 12, as well as an auction of Historical and Vintage Pop Culture Americana, taking place on Monday, November 12 and Tuesday, November 13, has yet to take place. All told, results for the suite of auctions are expected to exceed $3.5 million, and may approach $4 million.
“These auctions encompassed the full breadth and scope of the American West,” said Gary Hendershott, Consignment Director for Heritage, “including vintage photography and manuscripts, incredible artifacts, and a stunning collection of American Indian art. For anyone with anyone interest in the history of our Western States, this was a potentially once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
“Bidding was strong across all lines,” said Hendershott, “with collectors responding to both the quality of the material and its historic significance. We had a number of people in attendance at the auction, and even more bidding via phone and Internet. Rarely have I seen this much excitement and enthusiasm concentrated in one place at one time.”
“The top piece of this series of auctions was the incredible 1883 Gatling gun,” said Hendershott, “which sold for $334,600. One of the most important advancements in firearms technology since the development of gunpowder, the Gatling gun, the first widely produced automatic weapon, changed the face of armed conflict forever. This museum-worthy example was offered in superb condition, and was the subject of some excited bidding.”
“This isn’t, by any means, the end of the City of Harrisburg Collection,” Hendershott said. “There’s still plenty left, which we’ll be offering in several additional auctions, whose dates are still being determined. I’d invite anyone with an interest in Western history to keep checking our website at www.HA.com , where they’ll be able to watch the auction grow via enlargeable, full-color images and thorough catalog descriptions. As the auction draws nearer, they’ll even be able to place their bids online.”
Highlights of the Harrisburg Western Photography and Artifacts Signature Auction included:
Native American Woodlands/Great Lakes Indian Chief Daguerreotype with a George III Peace Medal, ca. 1840s-1850s:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=679&Lot_No=72012&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $15,535
Amazing Barry Photograph of Indian “War Party” Council with Sitting Bull’s Tribe:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=679&Lot_No=72059&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $14,340
Terrific Cabinet Card of Judge Roy Bean in Front of the Jersey Lilly - “The Law West of the Pecos”:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=679&Lot_No=72313&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $11,950
Geronimo Son and Two Braves. C. S. Fly, Tombstone, Arizona Territory Cabinet Card ca. 1886:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=679&Lot_No=72097&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $10,157
Geronimo and Naiche on Horse Back, C.S. Fly, Tombstone, Arizona Territory, Cabinet Card ca. 1886:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=679&Lot_No=72096&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $10,157
A C. S. Fly Photograph of Geronimo:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=679&Lot_No=72094&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $7,767
California “Gold Miner” Standing with Marysville Gentleman. 1850s:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=679&Lot_No=72006&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $7,767
Highlights of the Harrisburg Collection of Western History Signature Auction included:
Fantastic Model 1883 Gatling Gun:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=680&Lot_No=74106&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $334,600
A Heavy Western “Concord” Style Stagecoach:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=680&Lot_No=74070&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $107,550
The Earliest Known Signature of “Wyatt Earp” circa 1870:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=680&Lot_No=74189&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $44,812
A Conestoga Wagon That Went West on the Oregon Trail in 1850:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=680&Lot_No=74064&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $41,825
The Famous “Pony Express Bible”, Russell, Majors & Waddell St. Joseph, Missouri; Denver, Colorado 1858:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=680&Lot_No=74087&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $38,837
Very Rare Wells Fargo & Co. Express Sign:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=680&Lot_No=74072&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $28,680
Highlights of the American Indian Art Signature Auction included:
A Northern Cheyenne Beaded Hide Baby Carrier:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=681&Lot_No=77089&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $65,725
An Apache Beaded Hide Shirt:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=681&Lot_No=77041&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $31,070
A Gros Ventre/Assiniboine Man’s Beaded Hide and Cloth Shirt:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=681&Lot_No=77286&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $28,680
A Sioux Wood Ball Head Club:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=681&Lot_No=77282&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $26,290
A Shoshone Pictorial Painted Elk Hide Robe Attributed to Cadzi Cody (1866 - 1912):
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=681&Lot_No=77326&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $26,290
An Ojibwa Shaman’s Ritual Material:
http://www.HA.com/Americana/common/prlink.php?Sale_No=681&Lot_No=77356&type=prte-pr111207a
REALIZED: $23,900
For more information about Heritage’s auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HA.com.
Prospective consignors and sellers of political memorabilia, Americana, and related collectibles are invited to visit www.HA.com/Sell. Or simply email Gary Hendershott at GaryH@HA.com.
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