On Tuesday & Wednesday, June 23 – 24, 2009, Greg Martin Auctions (GMA) offers over 1,300 antique arms, armor and collectibles with a focus in four distinct and distinctive areas:
1) Fine Collectible Firearms, Sporting Guns & Militaria, offering Winchesters, Colts and more; 2) Colt Factory Archives Collection, Part 3, featuring 350 lots in the final part of this unique grouping – the last chance to own a piece of history. Known for their rarity, condition and diversity, the collection includes prototypes, production models, samples, presentation and engraved pieces. Many of these have never previously come up for sale; 3) Pre-Columbian Collection, with offerings from three American collectors that encompass a broad range of objects from Mexico, Central and South America. The 230 distinctive lots include ceramics, stone sculpture, textiles, gold and silver works of art, and objects made of wood, from cultures as early as the Olmec period of 2000 B.C. through the Inca and Aztec eras of the 14th century – plus items from the Alexandrian period of ancient Greece, and Spanish gems and relics; and 4) Fine Collectible Knives and Edged Weapons including several Bowie knives by Will & Finck, Michael Price, W.H. Wragg and James Dixon & Sons, and others – plus a large selection from the Donald Littman collection of knives.
Greg Martin Auctions’ two-day sale will be held in three sessions: Session I, which begins at noon on Tuesday, June 23, presents Fine Collectible Firearms, Sporting Guns & Militaria. On Wednesday, June 24, Session II features the Museum-Quality Pre-Columbian Collection, starting at noon; Session III offers Fine Collectible Knives and Edged Weapons, beginning at 3 pm. Like the company’s March sale, the summer event will be held at the Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel, 2085 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, California. Parking is free for the event. Auction Previews are held from 10 am – 5 pm on Tuesdays – Saturdays through June 22 at Greg Martin Auctions’ new headquarters, located at 2152 Alton Parkway, Suite K, Irvine, California.
Discussing the June auction, Carol Watson, Greg Martin Auctions’ CEO, noted that in addition to numerous unique and exceptional items, this sale is unusual because it contains over 230 items from the Pre-Columbian period. All go to auction with two separate appraisals of value. “These special pieces came to us from three long-time, private American collectors,” she said. “Although these items represent a bit of a departure from Greg Martin Auctions’ traditional auction offerings, they are linked by being distinctive, unique and of fine quality. We expect collectors who value rarity, provenance and diversity will be very intrigued with these lots as well.”
Greg Martin, principal of the firm bearing his name, also commented that business conditions continue strong in their firm’s segments of the market. “Antique arms continue to be a store of value and safety in these still uncertain times,” he stated. “We expect the strength in these areas to remain intact – regardless of the direction of the market.”
Highlights of the June 23 – 24 auction include:
• Michael Price Double Ring Dirk Knife. Michael Price double ring dirk knives are among the rarest and most sought after of all San Francisco Rare made Bowie knives. Four specimens are known. Lot 1035. Estimate: $75,000 – $100,000.
• Monumental Gold Double-Tooth Pendant. Panama, ca. A.D. 700-1500. Huge and heavy cast gold pendant with twin anthropomorphic figures mounted on tooth-like bases. Lot 2078. Estimate: $60,000 – $80,000.
• An Extremely Rare and Important Egyptian Falcon Mummy Wearing the Gold Mask of a Pharaoh. Period of Alexander the Great’s Conquest, ca. 300-400 B.C. Height: 19-1/2″. The Sarcophagus has a falcon-headed carved wood lid and base and is painted in black with excellent gold details. From the estate of Ben Wolf (1914-1996), who acquired this just after WWII. Lot 2056. Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000.
• Springfield Model 1875 Officer’s Model Third Type Rifle. Only about 477 Officer’s Models were made, and this variation was estimated at less than 100. Lot 1066. Estimate: $35,000 – $50,000.
This sale features two catalogs sold through GMA. The catalogs — with descriptions, estimates and photographs by lot — are also online at http://www.gregmartinauctions.com.
Bidders can participate in various ways: onsite at Doubletree Hotel in Anaheim, by phone bidding and via absentee bids. In addition, real-time, Internet bidding through Proxibid allows potential buyers online to view a photo of each item as it goes up for sale and bid as selling is underway.
Based in Orange County with an office in San Francisco, Greg Martin Auctions (GMA) provides collectors, institutions, dealers and enthusiasts with unsurpassed expertise and a complete range of services to appraise, value, market and sell fine antique, collectible and sporting arms, armor and historical memorabilia. A leading auction house for antique arms and historic memorabilia, Greg Martin Auctions has achieved the sale of some of the most important arms ever sold and numerous world records.
Greg Martin Auctions
2152 Alton Parkway, Suite K, Irvine, CA 92606
Tel: 1-949-748-4848 • 1-800-509-1988 (US/CAN)
Fax: 1-949-955-9205
[email protected]
http://www.gregmartinauctions.com
About Rodin & Shelley Assoicates
Founded in 1988, Rodin & Shelley Associates provides marketing, communications and public relations services. For further information, please contact Jill M. Turner at 415-346-7300 or [email protected].