Three original, signed Peanuts daily comic strips by Charles Schulz sell for a combined $40,115

OCEANSIDE, NY, June 19, 2011 (Press-News.org) Three original, signed Peanuts daily comic strips from the 1960s by the late renowned illustrator Charles Schulz sold for a combined $40,115 at a multi-estate sale held on non-consecutive weekend days (June 9 and 11) by Philip Weiss Auctions. The auction was held in the firm's spacious showroom facility, located at #1 Neil Court in Oceanside, N.Y.

One of the strips, dated Aug. 3, 1961, had a baseball theme, with Charlie Brown placing a want ad for a managerial position. It fetched $15,820. The second, dated July 25, 1960, featured Charlie, Violet and Peppermint Patty, with Charlie declaring, "I'm infinite." It brought $13,560. The third strip, dated Sept. 5, 1964, showed a testy exchange between Lucy and Linus ($10,735).

The auction attracted about 200 people (between the viewing and the actual sale), while absentee bids and Internet bidding (via Proxibid.com) accounted for between 6,000 and 7,000 bids ("the most we've ever had for a single auction," said Philip Weiss. "The phones were busy, too"). Overall, around 1,400 lots changed hands in a sale that grossed approximately $600,000.

The June 9 session featured fresh-to-the-market items from prominent local estates, to include Kittinger furniture, original artwork, bronzes, porcelains and Part 2 of a Long Island silver collection. The June 11 session was loaded with sports memorabilia, rare autographs, stamps and coins, comics and comic art, animation material and many rock 'n' roll collectibles.

Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer's premium.

Two lots tied for the top spot, in terms of prices realized, as both realized $11,300. The first was an original oil on panel work by Rockwell Kent (1882-1971), signed and dated (1907) in the lower left. The landscape with clouds measured 7 ½ inches by 13 ½ inches and appeared to have been shellacked. The work was marked on the back, in pencil, "Mohegan Island, Maine."

The second was a monumental pair of ormolu mounted Sevres-style vases, dating to the late 19th or early 20th century. The cobalt blue ground vases with covers were spurious blue and gilt of baluster form. Each stood an impressive 40 inches tall. The upper bodies of both were applied with a band of large rosettas. The lower bodies were cast with stylized stiff leaf tips.

A single-owner estate lot of many boxes filled with rare and vintage stamps (mostly face full sheets and plate blocks) soared to $9,322. The lot featured better 19th and 20th century issues with a tremendous amount of catalog value, covers, mint sets and used material, a C-18 plate block of six, revenues, air mail stamps, early plates, a White Plains sheet, coils and other rarities.

A circa-1920s heavy bronze and alabaster chandelier with gargoyle faces and eagle heads breezed to $7,345. The chandelier, 36 inches wide by 32 inches tall, had previously been housed in either a public library or courthouse. It was adorned with ormolu around the top and the gargoyle faces had light bulbs in their mouths. The candle covers were made of real beeswax.

A 1935 New York Yankees team-signed baseball, featuring 24 signatures (including a rare Lou Gehrig signature, on the sweet spot no less) changed hands for $4,520. Other names included Lazzeri, Combs, Dickey, Sewell, Gomez, Fletcher, Allen, Brown, Walker, Broaca and others. It was an official American League ball, William Harridge President (from 1934-1939).

An oil on canvas portrait of a lady identified as Miss Penelope Dering, by Henry Raeburn (1756-1823) went to a determined bidder for $4,520. Research revealed that Ms. Dering was the mistress of England's 3rd Earl of Aberdeen, nicknamed "The Wicked Earl" because he raised three families simultaneously. He installed Penelope Dering at Ellon Castle, once a grand place.

In other original artwork, an oil on canvas rendering of two Parisian women by Charles Levier (1920-2004), signed lower left and measuring 29 inches by 39 inches, brought $4,520, while an oil on canvas nude work by Pal Fried (1893-1976), measuring 30 inches by 39 inches and signed lower left, made $3,503. Both were great paintings that sold within their estimates.

A menu from the legendary Birdland night club in New York City, signed for Charlie Parker & the Jazz Stars by other legendary names from the world of jazz (to include Louis Jordan, Roy Haynes, Billy Eckstein, Connie Pursel, Joe Carrell, Fred Robbins, Al Feller, Tommy Potter and Gaetano Musumecimany) hammered for $4,068. The menu was dated July 27, 1950.

From the Disney memorabilia category, an original Donald Duck watercolor by Carl Banks, titled Mirror, Mirror, Tell Me True, 9 inches by 11 ¾ inches (16 inches by 19 inches framed) climbed to $4,181; and a hand-painted production cel from Disney's The Pointer (1939), showing Mickey Mouse and Pluto and with a preliminary or Courvoisier background, hit $3,390.

Philip Weiss Auctions' next big sale will be another two-day event, slated for July 21-22, with unusual start times of 2 p.m. both days. The July 21 session will feature wonderful estate merchandise, to include paintings, porcelains and more. The July 22 session will be dedicated to toys, dolls, toy soldiers and trains. Watch the website for details, at http://www.weissauctions.com.

Then, in the fall, with dates and times yet to be determined, Philip Weiss Auctions will hold sales loaded with original comic art (to include the fabulous Adirondack Collection), Disney material (to include Part 2 of the Joel Cohen Collection), vintage cameras and violins from several prominent estates, and trains, toys and toy soldiers spread out over several sales.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (516) 594-0731, or e-mail them at phil@weissauctions.com. To learn more about Philip Weiss Auctions and the firm's calendar of events, to include upcoming July 21-22 auctions, please log on to http://www.weissauctions.com.