RM Auctions, in association with Sotheby’s, entered the history books again after selling a superb McLaren F1 supercar for £2,530,000 at the highly anticipated Automobiles of London event. Marking the first time the car has been offered since sold new by McLaren, tonight’s sale of one of the world’s fastest road cars and McLaren’s former Park Lane showroom model attracted spirited bidding. The final sales price more than doubled the pre-sale estimate. “The world record breaking price for the McLaren F1 is a huge achievement for ... Read the full story

Fairfield, Maine – On Monday, October 6th and Tuesday, October 7th the U.S. Stock Market plunged nearly 10% and the world economy flirted with catastrophe but in Fairfield, Maine an assemblage of rare antique guns brought extraordinary results, despite the economy. A Colt Walker pistol, made for use in the Mexican War and considered to be the finest example in existence, sold for a spectacular $920,000. This was the most expensive single firearm ever sold at auction in the world. The total sale gross was nearly $12 million (including post auction sales) ... Read the full story

Fairfield, Maine, November 21 & 22, 2008. – James D. Julia’s Spring Lamp & Glass Auction at $3 million was the largest grossing lamp & glass auction held in North America over the past twelve months and their Fall 2008 auction could even break that record. A plethora of rare lamps, exquisite glass and choice mini lamps will present a superb buying opportunity for collectors and investors alike. Dudley Browne, head of Julia’s glass & lamp division said, “With the current volatility of the stock market, investment in quality tangible ... Read the full story

Tennants Auctioneers are delighted to welcome Susan E. Stuart, the well respected Gillows expert, to a Valuation and book signing day, Friday 7th November 2008, at their premises in Leyburn. Visitors will benefit from Susan E. Stuart’s expertise at this free event, as well as that of our experienced valuers. The acclaimed author will be on hand from 10am – 4pm to assist visitors with their queries and is happy to help identify Gillows furniture and furniture made by other cabinetmakers to the firm’s designs. Susan T. Stuart’s recently published ... Read the full story

Hudson & Marshall will auction nearly 120 bank-owned Chicago area foreclosures on November 2, 2008 at 1:00pm at the Chicago Marriott Southwest at Burr Ridge. “Buyers, particularly first time homebuyers, should take advantage of this housing slump and jump into the market,” remarked Dave Webb, Principal, Hudson & Marshall. “Right now there are lots of bank-owned foreclosures on the market and lenders eager to sell them at discounted prices but this won’t last forever,” added Webb. According to the Commerce Department ... Read the full story

A single stamp issued by the U.S. post office in 1868 sold for $1,035,000 in an auction held in New York City. The price includes the 15% buyer’s premium. The stamp was bought by a collector who bid anonymously over the telephone at Siegel Auction Galleries, a firm that specializes in rare stamp auctions. The million-dollar price was paid for a 3-cent “B Grill” stamp, which was printed in 1868 with an embossed pattern in the paper. Collectors prize such “grilled” stamps, and only four copies of the “B Grill” are ... Read the full story

Sotheby’s sale of 20th Century Decorative Arts & Design in Paris on 26 November includes a section of the original staircase of the Eiffel Tower, the global symbol of Paris, that has remained in the same collection since the landmark sale staged by Ader-Picard-Tajan in Paris on 1st December 1983. The section is numbered n°15, has sixteen steps, stands 12ft (3.6m) tall and weighs 750kg (estimate: €40,000-60,000). 1889 saw France’s Third Republic celebrate the centenary of the French Revolution. The anniversary prompted a new Paris ... Read the full story

(Oceanside, N.Y.) – A Wagon Train playset, made around 1960 by Marx Toys and based on the popular television show of the time, sold for $15,255 – a new world auction record for a Marx playset – at a multi-estate sale held Oct. 24-26 by Philip Weiss Auctions. The playset (Series 5000, Stock No. 4888) was mint and unused in the box, the only blemish being a few tears to the accessory bags inside. Ironically, the Wagon Train set was sold just a few minutes after another Marx playset crossed the block and held, albeit briefly, the world auction ... Read the full story

BOSTON, Mass. – www.skinnerinc.com – Skinner, Inc., one of the nation’s leading auction houses for antiques and fine art, takes bidders back in time with its unique annual offering of Fine Books & Manuscripts. The sale is set to take place on Sunday, November 16th at 11 a.m. in Skinner’s Boston gallery, located at 63 Park Plaza. More than 450 lots of important books, manuscripts and intimate documents will be offered, including rare materials from every U.S. President up through George H.W. Bush. Also up for bid in the sale is a group of ... Read the full story

LONDON – On 5 November 2008, Sotheby’s London will offer for sale an important range of sculpture, ceramics and works of art in its autumn sale of Fine Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art. The auction will include many works from the early archaic period to the Qing Dynasty, displaying the wide variety of styles and media for which Chinese works of art are well renowned. The sale will also feature many pieces produced for the European export market, and it will also include the second London offering of part of the collection of the white, green and ... Read the full story