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#WorthPoint #Auctions #Antiques #Collectibles #Artifacts #HistoricalItems #ArtCollection #VintageFinds #RareCollectibles #AuctionTrends #InvestmentArt #CulturalHistory #Americana #MechanicalBanks #HistoricPhotography
Will Seippel, CEO of WorthPoint, regularly reviews items sold at auctions by WorthPoint Industry Partners, offering valuable insights into buying and selling trends in the collectibles industry. By highlighting standout sales, Seippel aims to empower collectors and dealers to make informed decisions. On May 10, 2025, WorthPoint added 231,239 items to its Price Guide, totaling $16,040,005.91 in value, averaging $69.36 per item. Below are Seippel’s thoughts on some notable recent sales.
Cast-Iron Classic
At Bertoia’s auction, 542 lots generated $352,764, averaging $650 per item. The sale showcased consistent, solid results without relying on flashy showstoppers. A standout was a boxed Calamity mechanical bank by J. & E. Stevens Co., which sold for $7,200. Despite missing its original wooden box lid and showing edge wear, the six-inch cast iron bank remained in excellent, unrestored condition. This sale highlighted the enduring appeal of mechanical banks, with four of the top five sales in this category, though values appear slightly off their peak.
Glittering and Scandalous
Hindman’s paper and photography auction featured 518 lots totaling $726,974, averaging $723.24 per lot. A notable sale was an archive by Alfred Cheney Johnston, the renowned photographer of the Ziegfeld Follies, which included over 100 glass negatives and 150 prints of socialites, showgirls, and nudes from the early 1900s. The collection sold for $11,400—a bargain compared to a single Edward Curtis print of Canon de Chelly, which fetched $20,400. Johnston’s work captured the glamour and scandal of the Jazz Age, featuring stars like Bebe Daniels and John Barrymore.
The auction’s top lot was a scrapbook and photo album compiled by W.W. Junkin, a U.S. Indian Inspector in the late 1800s, which sold for $66,000. The album contained over 140 photos, student letters, and ledger drawings from tribes like the Sioux, Apache, and Zuni, documenting Native American life during the reservation era. This extraordinary collection provided a poignant look at cultural endurance amid forced assimilation, contrasting with Johnston’s theatrical glamour.
Patriotic Headliners
Pook & Pook’s auction featured 296 lots totaling nearly $589,000, averaging $1,989.36 per item. Two key patriotic items stood out: a 19th-century Cowpens/3rd Maryland pattern linen flag and a gold and enamel Order of the Cincinnati medal. The flag, measuring 21″ x 31″, bore the marks of battlefield valor, with worn, hand-sewn fabric and stamped stars, and sold for $42,500. Its design commemorated the pivotal 1781 Battle of the Cowpens, a turning point in the American Revolution.
The Order of the Cincinnati medal, designed by Pierre-Charles L’Enfant, sold for $37,500. It depicted Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus in two vignettes—serving the republic and returning to civilian life—symbolizing the ideal of selfless service. Despite its faded ribbon and lack of maker’s mark, its rarity and historical significance drove strong bidding. Fewer than half of eligible Continental Army officers joined the Society of the Cincinnati, making these medals highly collectible.
Conclusion
These sales underscore the diverse and dynamic nature of the collectibles market. From cast iron mechanical banks to historic photography and Americana, the market continues to thrive on items with deep cultural and historical significance. Will Seippel’s insights highlight the importance of understanding context, provenance, and condition when buying or selling collectibles. By leveraging platforms like WorthPoint, collectors and dealers can navigate this complex market with confidence.
Will Seippel, founder, president, and CEO of WorthPoint, has been a collector since 1974 and a dealer specializing in ephemera since 1984. He is also the creator of HIP, a website dedicated to preserving historical imagery. WorthPoint’s mission—Discover. Value. Preserve.—speaks to its commitment to helping collectors and historians uncover and safeguard the past.
