A powder blue, fully restored 1959 Chevrolet Corvette convertible sped off for $82,600 and a Canadian Red Indian Aviation Motor Oil sign from the 1930s changed hands for for $47,200 in Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd.’s online-only Petroliana, Railroadiana & Advertising auction held on June 18th. Overall, the auction grossed $628,674.

All prices in this report are in Canadian dollars and include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.

The ‘59 Corvette was originally a New Mexico car, later purchased in Canada in 1979 by Joe Byway, whose collection headlined the auction. Joe stored the car until 1985 and then commissioned Dave Harrison with a restoration. It was a meticulously maintained, rust-free car. Not all numbers matched but the car boasted a correct 283 c.i. 230 hp V8 engine.

The Canadian Red Indian Aviation Motor Oil single sided porcelain sign from the 1930s was a seldom seen sign promoting Red Indian's Aviation brand of motor oil. The vibrant cobalt blue and blood red graphics popped against the white ground. The 26 inch by 72 inch sign retained the original flanged mounting ends and was graded 8.75 for condition.

The Joe Byway collection featured petroliana (gas station collectibles), railroadiana and advertising tins and signs. Some toys were also sold. “The top fifty lots met or exceeded our expectations, and the market for top-tier petroliana continues on an upward trajectory, said Ethan Miller of Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., adding, “All the vehicles sold at or above estimates.”

The vehicles he refers to included a 1937 Ford Model 78 Deluxe convertible sedan, a rare open-air car with rear doors and the original paint (except for the front fenders). The restoration included new upholstery, carpet and convertible top. The car was powered by the correct flathead V8 engine and the odometer showed just 10,175 miles ($32,450).

Also sold was a 1972 GMC 1500 Custom pickup truck with 49,138 miles on the odometer. The rust-free truck featured a long box, three-speed manual transmission, the original interior and correct original 307ci V8 engine (undetailed). The restoration, by Ernie Droogers, included new paint, headliner and a re-chromed rear bumper ($30,680).

Following are additional highlights from the 299-lot auction, one in which 368 users registered to bid online, via MillerandMillerAuctions.com and LiveAuctioneers.com, and placed a combined 5,996 bids. One hundred percent of lots sold, and 86 percent of the top 50 lots exceeded estimate. “It was a feel-good sale that energized the market,” Mr. Miller said.

Among the railroadiana lots, bigger didn’t necessarily mean better. A collection of rare badges rose to a combined $18,800, led by a group of six Canadian National Railway badges from the 1930s that blasted through their $300-$500 estimate to bring $7,080. Five of the nickel-plated brass and sterling silver badges were marked, “J.R. Gaunt & Son, Montreal, Made in England.”

An Eco-Meter 150 "Clockface" Gasoline Pump (Canadian, 1930s), 82 inches tall by 22 inches wide and painted to Shell colors, with a reproduction globe, went to a determined bidder for $29,500. Also, a single-sided porcelain Red Indian Motor Oil sign (Canadian, 1930s), with a raised border, 26 inches tall by 72 inches wide, graded 8.75, hit $24,780.

A General Motors double-sided porcelain sign (American, 1950s), reading “Pontiac, Buick, GM Truck”, 96 inches tall by 72 inches wide, with atomic age design, consisting of six pieces (three sections per side), realized $23,600; and a double-sided porcelain Supertest Gasoline Service Station sign (Canadian, 1930s), 48 inches in diameter and graded 8.75 on each side for condition, with scattered losses and chips, made $18,880.

A double-sided porcelain White Rose Gasoline “Slate Boy” sign (Canadian, 1940s), with the iconic “Boy and Slate” graphics, 48 inches in diameter, graded 8.75/8.5, found a new home for $23,600; while a White Rose Service Station sign (also Canadian, circa 1940s), a three-piece set including two horizontal panels and a rare 36-inch diameter round sign, each piece single sided porcelain, blew past its $8,000 high estimate to finish at $18,880.

A double-sided porcelain Dominion Royal Tires sign (Canadian, 1940s), marked “P&M Orillia” on the lower edge of each side, 65 inches tall by 70 inches wide and graded 8.5 on each side, garnered $10,620. Also, a Service Station Equipment Clearvision double gasoline pump (Canadian, 1930s), 127 inches tall, having an older restoration to Sunoco colors, reproduction globes and one aluminum and one steel bonnet, went for $21,240.

An Imperial 3-Star Gasoline double-sided porcelain service station sign (Canadian, 1940s), retained in the original porcelain oval ring, 41 inches by 60 inches, graded 9.5 and 9.25, rang up $7,080; while a Texaco Gasoline double-sided porcelain service station sign (Canadian, 1957), marked, "P&M Orillia 57" on the lower edge of one side, 5 feet in diameter, graded 8.75 on both sides, with minor scattered porcelain losses, hit $6,490.

Miller & Miller Auctions has two online-only auctions planned for the fall. They are a Petroliana & Advertising auction (Sept. 10) and a Canadiana & Folk Art auction (Oct. 8). To learn more about Miller & Miller Auctions, Ltd., and their upcoming auctions, please visit www.millerandmillerauctions.com.

Bloomfield, NJ, USA, June 30, 2022 -- Nye & Company Auctioneers will kick off their hot summer Chic and Antique Estate Treasures Auction on Wednesday, July 20th, with designer and English furniture and fine and decorative art. Bidding will begin promptly at 10 am Eastern time.

The cleaning out of a packed house and yard led to the remarkable discovery of not one, but two William F. Mangels silhouette shooting gallery targets. The example tentatively titled Shorty or The Draw is a known form that rarely comes to auction. The other, The Stick Up, is thought to be a previously unknown example of Mangels’ ability and incorporates steam pipes on verso to simulate the smoke of a gunshot when the target is struck.

Mangels formed the Wm F. Mangels Co. Carousel Works in 1890, having worked in Coney Island, New York for nearly a decade under James McCullough, learning the maintenance and servicing of the various shooting galleries. His mechanical and light-up galleries raised the bar far above their stationary forerunners, thus establishing his genius and reputation as the Father of the Modern Arcade Game.

A renowned New York City psychologist’s estate is included in the auction and includes a remarkable pair of Italian painted and carved angels gifted to the consignor from his close friend Gloria Vanderbilt. One of her pieces of art, a collage, is included in the sale, along with a pair of Ionic columns and some European paintings.

A private family from the Continent is consigning a watercolor of a Butterfly, signed by Albert Bierstadt (German-American, 1830-1902), purchased in Madrid, and an oil on canvas of Melvin B. Warren’s Supply Train that was acquired in Switzerland. Thom Ross’s (American, b. 1952) whimsical interpretation of Robert E. Lee and his pet chicken along with works by Frank A. Barney, (American, 1862-1854) round out some of the fine art highlights.

A collection of Ralph Lauren and other brand-name furniture from a Florida family comprises a large portion of the decorative arts. There are pairs of sofas, wing chairs, side tables, bedsteads and more. Historically, Ralph Lauren home furnishings perform well at auction, so interested parties are encouraged to visit the galleries and explore this collection in person. Other designer names include Jay Friedman, BoConcept and others.

Some of the 18th and 19th century furniture includes an elaborately inlaid Baroque walnut wardrobe, German; a fine Regency sideboard bookcase; and a George IV mahogany wardrobe formerly in the collection of Lord and Lady Iliffe of Basildon Park, Berkshire, England.

There is a small but elegant selection of jewelry that includes a stunning Continental charm bracelet in yellow gold, an assortment of Cameo brooches and lots of beads and accessories.

Real time internet bidding and absentee bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Bidsquare.com, as well as the Nye & Company Auctioneers website: www.nyeandcompany.com. Telephone bidding will also be available on a limited basis.

Starting July 11th, the galleries will reopen for preview following Nye’s summer hiatus. The public is encouraged to visit and see the pieces in person. During the online preview, from June 28th thru July 20th, people can bid online or in absentia. Anyone looking for additional images, condition reports or info about an object can visit the Nye & Company website or send an email inquiry to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For more information about Nye & Company Auctioneers and the Chic and Antique Estate Treasures auction on Wednesday, July 20th, visit www.nyeandcompany.com. The full color catalog can be viewed now, at the Nye & Company website and three online bidding platforms.

A 288-pound iron-nickel meteorite found in China in 1958 and believed to have fallen to Earth in 1516 A.D. sold for $4,125 at a four-day Minerals Galore & Western Americana Auction held June 2nd thru 5th by Holabird Western Americana Collections, LLC, online and live in the Reno gallery. Hundreds of collectibles came up for bid in an array of collecting categories.

All prices in this report are inclusive of the buyer’s premium.

Day 1, on June 2nd, was notable because bargains and dealer lots – which had been offered on the last day of Holabird’s multi-day sales in the past – have proven so popular they officially kicked off this event, with 155 lots offered. Other categories included militaria (Civil War, World War I & II, etc.), firearms, weaponry, general Americana, toys, collectibles, art and Native Americana.

A model 1863 Dahlgren Navy bayonet with sheath, complete with scabbard and frog, one of 1,800 made, changed hands for $1,875. The knife was designed by Admiral John Dahlgren of the USS Plymouth and was originally made by Ames Mfg. Co. (Chicopee, Mass.) for the Plymouth / Whitneyville model 1861 musket for the US Navy. The walnut grip was nicely framed in brass.

An outstanding group of paper label pictorial tin cans – 53 in all, with many appearing to be pre-1900 – gaveled for $1,187. Some of the best were from California, including three Mount Hamilton brand 4-inch tins with spectacular color labels showing the Mt. Hamilton observatory and telescope; and one California Fruits 4-inch tin with iconic California golden bear graphic.

Day 2, on Friday, June 3rd, featured the entertainment industry (autographs, music, etc.), sports, Black Americana, cowboy, fraternal organizations, gaming, model railroading, political, tobacco, saloon, beer and liquor, bottles and marbles, tools, World’s Fairs, jewelry and watches, philatelic (postcards, revenue stamps, stamps, postal history) and photography – a total of 565 lots in all.

A stamp album containing a wonderful collection of U.S. commemoratives dating from 1900 to 1975, with all the stamps presented in black glassine protectorates and all appearing to be in mint condition, finished at $3,750. Also, an important collection of pipes – about 40 in all, including six meerschaums and several briars – fetched $1,062. The makers were from England, France, Turkey and Vienna. Included was a second edition copy of The Pipe Book, by Alfred Dunhill.

From the Ken Prag collection, a collection of more than 700 vintage postcards from Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada, including stagecoaches arriving in the valley and views from Camp Curry, Glacier Point and Wawona tunnel, hit $1,187; while a lot of 60 postcards from Hong Kong, China, circa 1905-1910s, including 14 real photo postcards, the rest including three Pacific Mail Steamship Co. cards and a three-panel panorama postcard (repaired), made $875.

Day 3, on Saturday, June 4th, featured furnishings and décor, minerals (including display minerals), fossils and gold and ore), mining lots (ephemera and equipment), numismatics, to include badges, bullion, coins, currency, ephemera, exonumia (numismatic items other than coins and paper money, such as tokens, medals, or scrip), foreign and medals; and tokens.

The meteorite was a Day 3 lot and came out of the Chunlin Zhu collection. Items from that same collection included a large amethyst cavern geode with deep purple crystals – a real show-stopper, 15 inches by 18 inches by 11 inches ($1,375); and a Chinese viewing stone – a beautifully intricate tan-colored flowstone from a cavern, 17 inches tall, on a stand ($1,875).

A small, 17-inch Pelton wheel with nine cups, probably from Nevada City, Calif., with some degree of damage, brought $1,250. And talk about bargains! A group of three Alaska medals (Seward Cornerstone of an Empire; 1967 Centennial of the Alaska Purchase; and Alaska the 49th State) went to a happy bidder for just $12; while five coins from India, all in above average condition, including an 1840 rupee, a 1935 half anna and a 1936-B quarter anna, brought $18.

Day 4, on Sunday, June 5th, featured books, maps, stocks and bonds (including mining and railroad), and transportation (including stagecoach, ships and railroad) - a total of 570 lots.

A Wells Fargo Company (Omaha, Neb.) stock certificate #647 for 100 shares, issued in 1870 to Henry Wells, one of the co-founders of American Express in 1850, rose to $2,875. This stock certificate, one of perhaps five known, is unquestionably one of the most important of all the Wells Fargo and American Express documents, as it represents the takeover of Wells Fargo by California business financier Lloyd Tevis after cutting a back-room deal with Wells and Fargo.

Also sold on Day 4 was a copy of the 1884 book Recollections of Mining Life by Henry DeGroot, 16 pages in near mint condition, with full-page illustrations, a classic book cited in nearly every Gold Rush bibliography ($1,000); and a collection of mostly softcover Montana targeted recreational books, including 3 Montana Big Game Animals, Bed & Breakfast Home of Montana and The Rock Climbers’ Guide to Montana, which sold for the bargain price of $12.

Online bidding was provided by iCollector.com, LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Auctionzip.com. The full catalog was available for viewing at www.holabirdamericana.com. Color catalogs were also available for anyone who called 1-844-492-2766, or 775-851-1859.

To learn more about Holabird Western Americana Collections, visit www.holabirdamericana.com. Updates are posted often.

Middletown, NY, USA, June 8, 2022 -- A 1971 Chevrolet Impala convertible that had been sitting, undriven, in a heated garage for 30 years sped off for $31,250, and a 1972 Chevrolet Malibu roared away for $6,300 despite having some rust issues in a two-session estate auction conducted on May 21st by EstateOfMind, online and live in the auction gallery located at 195 Derby Road in Middletown.

The ’71 Impala was an estate vehicle, having been purchased by the original owner’s son for his mother in 1970. Since 1992 it has been stored in the family’s basement garage. The car, in fact, was always garaged, and showed just 33,224 miles on the odometer when it was put up for bid. The battery was new, the convertible top worked perfectly and the engine turned over freely.

The ’72 Malibu was a tale of two Chevys. While the car ran fine and boasted many new parts, including tires, brakes, Flowmaster exhaust and matching numbers on its 350 cubic inch engine, it had some shoddy bodywork done in the ‘90s that the new owner will likely need to address. That, combined with the rust, prevented the vehicle from bringing more. It showed 94,132 miles.

Session 1 of the auction, which started at 11 am Eastern time, was dedicated to militaria and firearms. Session 2, immediately following, consisted of items from Tuxedo Park and Hamptonburgh, N.Y.; Oceanside, L.I.; and Warwick, N.Y. More than 650 lots came up for bid in Session 2, encompassing multiple categories. In total, the auction grossed $286,575.

“This auction was an interesting mix of firearms, militaria, Mid-Century Modern, country furnishings and, of course, watches, jewelry and artwork,” said Darrell Dirr, the owner of EstateOfMind. “It was a perfect mix that attracted a lot of attention from different venues.”

Following are additional highlights from the sale, which enjoyed a 98.4 percent sell-through (only 18 lots passed out of the 673 total lots offered). Around 50 people attended in person, while another 2,000 registered to bid online, through LiveAuctioneers.com. There were also 5,200 absentee (or left) bids recorded. All prices are inclusive of a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

A pair of 19th or 20th century Italian Carrara marble guardian angels, 40 inches tall, finished at $6,250; a 19th century fine deep blue ground signed Sarouk rug, pulled from a Tuxedo Park estate, 8 feet 6 inches by 11 inches, realized $5,250; and a pair of Mid-Century Modern leather armchairs by Charles Pollack (Phila., 1930-2013) for Knoll brought $2,000.

A 1945 oil on board painting of a World War II U.S. Navy/Army/Air Force float plane (one of only ten built), with clouds, signed by artist Eric Sloane (N.Y./Conn., 1905-1985), 24 inches by 30 inches, changed hands for $4,625. Also, a rare Isamu Noguchi (American, 1904-1988) cherry and fiber table lamp, 16 inches tall, circa 1940/1950, went to a determined bidder for $2,125.

Estate jewelry was plentiful and featured a circa 1980 18 kt gold leopard brooch signed Asch Grossbardt, made from gold, stone, shell and diamond, weighing 34.8 grams, made $2,000; and a lot of vintage Rolex watches – including an Oyster Perpetual “Golden Egg” Superlative chronometer (1959) and a circa 1959-1960 Bulova gold-plated tank wristwatch sold for $1,750.

An exceptional 19th century Meissen floral porcelain china dinner service commanded $1,875; a 19th or 20th century Shaker (Mount Lebanon, Pa.) child’s rocking chair with the original taped seat and back, signed and stenciled, with mushroom caps, achieved $1,062; and an authentic 1807 manuscript letter request for military leave initialed by Napoleon Bonaparte rose to $2,500.

Unquestionably the surprise lot of the day was an AMPEX 351-2 reel-to-reel tape transport with amplifiers. Entering play with a $400-$600 estimate, it ended up finding a new home for $3,250.

EstateOfMind’s next auction will be a two-session affair slated for Saturday, October 8th, starting at 10 am Eastern time. Watch the website for more details as the auction date draws nearer. To learn more about EstateOfMind and the firm’s calendar of upcoming auctions and other info, please visit www.EstateOfMind.biz.