POSTCARDS, COMICS AND COINS TOTAL JUST SHY OF 1 MILLION AT JACKSONS INTERNATIONAL

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA- A silver dollar for $5,290.00, a postcard for $546.00, and a 1963 comic book for $2,760.00, who says the economy isn’t strong. At least it certainly was at Jackson’s International’s October 27th auction featuring coins, postcards and comic books. The 1,500-lot sale totaled $993,104.00 and attracted some 804 registered bidders worldwide.

The sale began with a collection of coins and currency, which witnessed active bidding across the spectrum, particularly in gold. The top lot to cross the block was a 1994 Chinese “Unicorn” 2000 Yuan gold coin that to a buyer from California for $19,550.00. That was followed by a 1997 Chinese “Panda” 2000 Yuan gold coin that sold to the same buyer for $17,250.00. A complete set of U.S. Barber Quarters crossed the block at $14,950.00. A set of Morgan silver dollars (1878-1921) in various states of condition, sold for $10,120.00. An 1893-S Morgan dollar in PCGS MS VF20 sold to a buyer from St. Paul, Minnesota for $5,290.00 and an 1807 U.S. gold half eagle made $4,830.00. A pair of U.S. 1934-S Peace Dollars totaled $6,785.00 and a pair of U.S. gold dollars, 1851-O and 1857-D totaled $2,875.00.

The second session featured postcards from the lifelong collection of Connecticut native Howard Lounsbury (1908-2003). Howard Lounsbury was the quintessential “lifelong” collector. Included in the offering was Howard’s first Santa Postcard which he received as a newborn from his grandmother. Lounsbury was one of the founding members of the Connecticut Post Card Club. His collection covered a wide range of subjects including trade cards.

The first cards on the block were Real Photo postcards. As evidenced by this auction, subject matter more than anything else is the factor that most determines value. As an example, a lot of eight real photo postcards of the VIN FIZ went to a buyer from Michigan for $4,370.00. The VIN FIZ was the name of the airplane which was the first to cross the continental United States in the year 1911. The name was derived from a popular soft drink of the day produced by J. Ogden Armour the planes sponsor. The VIN FIZ cards were followed by an interesting real photo postcard depicting a Harley Motorcycle riding photographer that sold to a New York buyer for $1,092.00. A real photo postcard depicting a lynching sold for $632.00 and a real photo “occupational” postcard depicting a Shaker woman putting rush on the seat of a chair crossed the block at $546.00.

Next up were color lithograph postcards. There were no surprises on what’s hot in this area- good Halloween and Santa cards. Strong colorful and interesting images are what are most sought after. Generally only those cards which are in mint to near mint condition bring premium prices. However, at this auction at least, condition did not seem to be as important as average cards seemed to sell for premium prices. A lot of four Halloween cards with goblins and witches sold for $862.00. A lot of three Tuck Halloween cards did $575.00 and a lot of three Winsch Halloween postcards also finished at $575.00. A paper lace edge Santa postcard came in at $675.00. A group of three die-cut hold to light Santa’s did $517.00 and a mechanical Santa postcard sold for $431.00.

The third and final session featured a small collection of Golden Age comic books and a collection of Silver Age comic books. Additionally a variety of other ephemera was also offered plus a small collection of books and stamps. All of the Golden Age comic books were well read and well loved with none being in exceptionally good condition. Nevertheless there were a number of desirable examples, albeit all lower in grade. The top lot of comics was All Select comic book #1, circa 1943. Estimated at $1-$1,200, it sold to a buyer from Chicago for $3,105.00. Amazing Spiderman comic book #1, circa 1963 with torn cover sold well above its $500-$1,000 pre-auction estimated bringing $2,760.00. A Captain America Comic book #7 sold for $1,955.00 and a Batman comic book #10 did $1,610.00.

Other highlights from the third session include a group of about 4,000 19^th century trade cards that totaled $10,091.00. A complete run of Sport Illustrated magazine up through the 1990’s sold for $4,370.00. A group lot of 8 cabinet photographs of Ulysses S. Grant as president together with numerous reprinted images sold for $2,530.00.A group lot of 16 exposition medallions circa 1876-1893 made $920.00. A group lot of seven Victorian scrap albums finished at $1,035.00. A signed copy of Theodore Roosevelt’s “African Game Trails” sold for $1,380.00 and a copy of “The Knave of Hearts” illustrated by Maxfield Parrish came in at $920.00.