Marvel comic sets a world-record price
A 1939 copy of Marvel Comics No 1 offered at Heritage Auctions set a world auction record for the most expensive Marvel comic ever sold.
On November 21 in Dallas it took a $1.05m/£814,000 hammer price ($1.26m including 20% buyer’s premium), which is also a house record for a comic book at Heritage.
It was first bought from a newsstand rack by a postman in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, who purchased every No 1 issue he could of both comic books and magazines, beginning in the 1940s.
The comic was graded 9.4 on a scale of 1 to 10, making it the best condition ever found, according to the Certified Guaranty Company.
Fresh faces at restorers’ group
The British Antique Furniture Restorers’ Association (BAFRA) has welcomed two new members and appointed a new chairman.
New BAFRA members Janusz Chyrowski (left) and Phil Lyons (right) are welcomed by outgoing president Jim Broughton.
Clive Payne has succeeded Jim Broughton after two years at the helm. The two new members are Janusz Chyrowski, an accredited specialist member in gilding, and Phil Lyons, a full accredited member.
Chyrowski has specialised in the craft of gilding for over 30 years, starting as an apprentice and continuing in the tradition after his father in his business Chyrowski Gilding & Restoration Studio.
Lyons has been running his Buckinghamshire restoration business Lyons Restoration for 13 years alongside his wife Kat who is a traditional upholsterer.
Phillips makes two new art expert hires
Auction house Phillips has hired Lori Spector as senior international specialist in 20th century and Contemporary art and regional director in Zurich, Switzerland.
Lori Spector has joined Phillips. Photo: Peter Hauser.
The firm has also appointed Kirsten MacDonald regional director for Scandinavia, based in Copenhagen. She will work with Phillips’ senior executives in Europe, Asia and the US. MacDonald previously worked at Bruun Rasmussen.
Meanwhile, Thibault Stockmann becomes international specialist for Modern and Post-War art in Paris. He has previously worked at Christie’s in Belgium and Paris.
Unknown Pissarro sells in Paris
A previously unrecorded painting by the French Impressionist Camille Pissarro (1830-1903) sold above estimate at auction in Paris on November 22.
Camille Pissarro’s 'Le Jardin de Maubuisson, l’Hermitage, Pontoise' made €280,000 (£241,340) at Ader’s auction.
Le Jardin de Maubuisson, l’Hermitage, Pontoise made €280,000 (£241,340) at Ader.
The 15 x 18in (38 x 45.5cm) unsigned oil on canvas was brought into the auction house with its authorship unknown.
Specialist Nicolas Nouvelet felt instinctively that it was the work of a very talented artist and, after 18 months of research, auctioneers David Nordmann and Xavier Dominique fully attributed the picture to the artist and dated it to c.1878-80. It was estimated at €100,000-120,000 but sold at €280,000 (£241,340) to an overseas collector.
Saleroom’s first birthday special
Auction house Elstob & Elstob is to hold its first specialist sale at Newby Hall near Ripon, North Yorkshire, on December 5 to mark its first year of trading.
David Elstob – formerly of Thomas Watson in Darlington – founded his Bedale-based business in partnership with his wife Beth in January.
The sale will feature around 300 items ranging from candlesticks and snuff boxes to diamond rings and gold watches, with estimates from £60-10,000.
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In Numbers
90
The number of England international football caps as captain awarded to Bobby Moore (1941-93), out of 108 in total. The 12th cap – his first as captain – was consigned to Shropshire auction house Mullock’s by a ‘direct descendant’ of the 1966 World Cup-winning West Ham defender.
Bobby Moore's 12th cap for England – his first as captain – that sold for £11,000 at Mullock’s.
On November 20 this cap, for a 1963 friendly win against Czechoslovakia, sold for £11,000 against an estimate of £8000-10,000.
