Will Seippel, CEO of WorthPoint, enjoys watching the items sold at auctions held by our WorthPoint Industry Partners. We thought it would be a great idea for him to select some of his favorite sold items and explain why those sales stood out to him. Gaining insights from Will is an excellent way to learn about buying and selling trends in our industry. We want to empower you to buy and sell with confidence. Take a look at his thoughts on a few of our partners’ recent sales.
On May 13, 2025, WorthPoint added 246,251 items to its Price Guide, totaling $17,283,232.70—an average of $70.18 per item.
Owned by the Man in Black
Karat’s of Minnesota held a sale that would make any Johnny Cash fan do a double-take—and maybe even bid twice. With 628 lots bringing in a solid $466,785, the average item hammered down at just over $256. The top lot was a bold 2.5-carat diamond ring owned by the Man in Black himself, crafted in 14k white gold and featuring an arresting mix of irradiated blue and brilliant-cut white diamonds. Though it sold for $24,600—on the lower end of its $20,000–$40,000 estimate—the provenance and style made it a steal for collectors. But the real sparkle came from an Oscar Friedman sapphire and diamond necklace that looked like it wandered in from a royal estate. With an appraisal north of $139K, it ultimately sold for just $18,358.80—talk about singing the blues.
Of course, not everything found its final curtain call. A headline-making 107-pound hunk of amber—grandly titled “Heaven’s Flame”—was expected to fetch between $5 million and $10 million, but even its glow couldn’t light up a bidder at the $450,000 reserve. The piece lacked any stated provenance, and buyers weren’t biting without a backstory. Still, the sale had something for every flavor of fan: personal mementos, instruments, and enough glitter to outfit a Cash comeback tour. Whether you came for the music, the man, or the mega-gems, this sale didn’t disappoint.
Firepower on the Block
Dyer’s Auction hosted a lively Western Americana sale filled with artifacts that blended history and frontier charm. The top lot was a Civil War-era Sharps carbine, complete with inspector markings on the stock and original R.S. Lawrence and Sharps patent stamps on the case-colored frame. This authentic, no-ring example brought a respectable $3,737.50—reasonable for such a well-preserved piece of American military history. But it wasn’t all firepower on the block. A standout pair of chaps, once owned by DeForest Richards, the fourth governor of Wyoming, added a rugged political touch and sold for $2,242.50. The mix of firearms, gear, and historical ties made this auction a treat for collectors and Wild West enthusiasts alike.
Five Key-Figure Autographs
eMoviePoster.com is, without question, one of my favorite auction houses in the world. I’ve always loved movies (even if I could do without the endless Hollywood drama), and what makes this house stand out is its sharp curation and transparency—you know exactly what you’re buying. Their posters are thoroughly described, often authenticated by provenance or detailed history, and they’re surprisingly affordable given their cultural significance. This auction featured 2,530 items and brought in a total of $254,968, with a very approachable median price of just $59.04. With 1.6 million items already in the WorthPoint database, their sales are an essential resource for both casual collectors and serious investors.
The auction’s top lot was an original advance one-sheet poster for the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only, autographed by five key figures, including Roger Moore and producer Albert R. Broccoli, selling for $6,100. The poster features a striking image of the Bond Girl armed with a crossbow, making it a perfect centerpiece for any man cave or Bond collection. The consignor obtained these signatures in person over several years, including time spent on set during the filming of A View to a Kill. Another major highlight was an original teaser one-sheet for Ghostbusters, signed by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis—both signatures personalized to the consignor and believed to be authentic despite the lack of a COA. That piece hammered at $5,200 and is an exceptional example of pop culture memorabilia at the intersection of nostalgia and value.
A Major Surprise
My final thoughts of the day go to Van Eaton Galleries in Hollywood, which delivered a major surprise for collectors of vintage pop culture. If you didn’t already know, lunch boxes—yes, lunch boxes—can command serious money at auction. Until now, the highest sale we had tracked for one (whether you spell it “lunch box” or “lunchbox”) was $21,000. Van Eaton shattered that record by selling not one, but two prototype lunch boxes for $25,000 each. These were early production prototypes made by Universal Vacuum Products for Dudley Do-Right and Rocky and Bullwinkle—each paired with a matching Thermos featuring wraparound photostats of the beloved cartoon characters. Though showing wear from production use, their rarity and nostalgic appeal clearly made them priceless to the right buyers. It’s a strong reminder that even the most everyday objects can become extraordinary collectibles with the right provenance and pop culture pedigree.
Will Seippel is the founder, president, and CEO of WorthPoint. Will has been an avid collector since 1974 and dealer of just about all things antique—with an emphasis on ephemera— since 1984. He is also the creator and founder of HIP, a website devoted to recording the best of the world’s history that has been saved on film.
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