Date: Fri 25-Jun-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: LIZAM

Quick Words:

MacPhail-Easton

Full Text:

MacPhail Auctions Country Store Items

By Rita Easton

SWANZEY, N.H. -- Frederick M. MacPhail held a May 8 auction featuring

old-fashioned country store items.

As described by the auctioneer, the event comprised "the contents of an

upstate New York country store that was loaded with everything from Americana

to Stickley. [It was] a wonderful opportunity to purchase stock signs,

displays, toys, and ephemera from the late 1800s to mid-1940s in like-new

condition, [as well as] early baseball, automobile and weapons catalogs,

samplers, mechanical banks" and a host of additional items.

Zipping along at 100 lots per hour, the unreserved auction ran for three hours

before an audience of approximately 150, plus phone and absentee bidders, for

a gross described as "better than average" by MacPhail, which he attributed to

the mint condition of most items.

"A lot of the paper looked as it had never even been touched," he said.

The unreserved event sold every item offered, which was about half of the

contents of the country store. A second auction offering the remaining lots

from the collection will be held by MacPhail on June 26.

Garnering the highest bid of the day, $1,350, was a porcelain Columbia Records

sign, approximately 24 by 18 inches, featuring the Columbia trademark logo of

two musical notes inscribed "Columbia Records" over a record disc, with the

words "Columbia Accredited Dealer" printed in large type on the sign.

"Condition seemed to be the requisite for bringing good money," MacPhail

noted.

A large sideboard with backsplash, crafted from chestnut with black walnut

trim, reached $1,100; a Gustav Stickley slat back chair in oak brought $700;

an L. & J.G. Stickley, 42-inch round table, with cross stretcher base, the oak

piece pegged, made $950; and a rare and winning Grape-Nuts sign in poor

condition, measuring 24 by 18 inches, depicting a girl going to school

accompanied by her enormous St. Bernard dog who carries her purse, the caption

reading, "To school well fed on Grape-Nuts; There's a Reason," garnered $500.

A turn-of-the-century Armand Marseille doll, with its original box, in mint

condition, standing 29 inches high, was also offered. The doll featured eyes

that close and was completely outfitted in original clothing of a pleated

skirt, lace trimmed blouse, and two bows in her long dark hair. It realized

$600.

A Weller jardiniere on a matching pedestal in greens brought $750; and a sign

printed with "Different from all others, Canadian Club, 5c cigar," with an

image of a gentleman enjoying a cigar, rang up $400.

A Kenton circus wagon with musicians, pulled by a decorated horse, the wagon

on cast iron wheels, 15 inches long by eight inches high, achieved $450; a

"Winner" cut plug tobacco tin reached $165; a Coates spool cabinet with

original stenciling brought $625; a New Hampshire sampler sold at $400; a 1767

sampler went to a California buyer at $300; and a paper-thin, tin beverage

sign, in excellent condition, featuring a rendering of several oranges

surrounding the familiar ridged bottle and the words "drink Orange Kist and

other Kist Flavors," went out at $300.

Prices quoted do not reflect a required ten percent buyers premium.