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Nothing like celebrity status to help sell a stamp collection – and so it proved for famous Australian wine writer, judge and vigneron James Halliday who offered his collection of South Australian Departmental stamps for auction as part of Melbourne-based Abacus Auctions December 2-5 sale of stamps, coins, banknotes, postal history and sporting memorabilia.
Introduced in 1868 in South Australia, departmental stamps were overprinted in black or red ink with the...
A rare and important mid-19th century antique Australian Huon pine and turned whale’s tooth cruet set (lot 6) surprised many buyers when it sold for a staggering $36,000 on a $12,000-$20,000 catalogue estimate at Melbourne-based Leski Auctions Australian & Historical sale on November 29-30.
The cruet set descends through the family from First Lieutenant Benjamin Bayly (1797-1850) who was part of the Royal North British Fusilier Regiment of Foot sent...
So striking was John Brack’s (1920-1999) The Club 1989 (lot 17) on Menzies showroom wall prior to its November 19 auction at 1 Darling Street, South Yarra, it was no surprise that it topped the sale listings at $638,182 (including buyer’s premium) once the last of the 101 paintings on offer had been knocked down to an eager buyer.
Brack is extremely popular and his works, when they appear on the secondary market, rarely fail to sell.
The Club...
A rare 1855-57 New Zealand 1/- stamp, probably the only example still with its original gum (lot 1093), sold for $32,000 at Melbourne-based Leski Auctions Stamps, Coins & Banknotes, Postcards and Postal History sale on November 12 and 13 as collectors rushed to snap up the more valuable auction items.
With many of the lots carrying estimates of a few hundred dollars, most were cleared over the two-day sale.
Perhaps the auction surprise was a circa 1854 but...
An important 23-piece Moorcroft collection up for auction in Melbourne on October 11 through Leski Auctions was a frantic affair as collectors bid desperately for the items involved.
Top seller was a rare English “Flambe Carp” pottery urn (lot 633) – knocked down for $80,000 against a catalogue estimate of $25,000 to $35,000.
Other pieces in the collection also fared well, with a “Moonlit Blue” exhibition mantel vase (lot 636) bringing $11,000 and a “Waratah”...
Former Collingwood ruckman the late Len Thompson’s 1973 Copeland Trophy (lot 4823) was the pick of Melbourne-based Abacus Auctions sporting memorabilia sale when it went under the hammer for $8000, slightly above the catalogue estimate.
The four-day auction of stamps, postal history, coins and banknotes ended on Friday September 26 with the sporting memorabilia sale.
The Copeland Trophy was part of the best collection of Australian Football League club...
The first Brownlow Medal for best and fairest player in the Australian Football League (AFL) to be sold at auction since 2011 went under the hammer for $95,000 on September 18 at Melbourne-based Leski Auctions - $20,000 above its top catalogue estimate.
The 1981 medal (lot 264) belonged to foundation Sydney Swans captain and ruckman the late Barry Round (1950-2022) who finished on the same number of votes that year with Fitzroy forward Bernie Quinlan, affectionately...
Art market buffs will rarely be disappointed when it comes to the successful auctioning of quality name paintings and Menzies thoughtfully crafted Melbourne sale on Wednesday August 20 was no exception as sales reached $7,924,741 including buyers’ premiums – 89 percent by volume and 104 percent by value.
Incorporating the works of well-known collectors always helps and paintings held by Sydney enthusiast the late Richard Blair were eagerly sought.
His ...
Collectors feasted on Part Two of Morgan Gallup Poll boss Gary Morgan and his wife Genevieve’s museum collection of artworks, sculptures, pottery, wood carvings and furnishings organised by Melbourne-based Leski Auctions on August 12.
The collection at their East Melbourne home is a living celebration of their decades-long passion for collecting significant items that reflect two centuries of family history in Australia.
Top billing went to well-known...
A 19th/20th century Indian gold and lapis lazuli necklace (lot 406) was the top earner at Melbourne-based Leski Auctions June 28-29 Decorative Arts & Collectables sale, selling for $13,000.
An impressive 19th century carved ivory tusk (lot 697) from Qing Dynasty (1644-1912) brought $9500 in a sale where most of what could be classed as more than 1400 mainly affordable items for auction goers were successfully sold.
Two...
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