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 March 8, WorthPoint added 244,239 items to the Price Guide, with a collective value of $15,392,279.67 and an average lot value of $63.21.
Historically Significant
Today’s focus is all about historical items, both good and bad. One such item that stands out is a rare, identified preliminary version of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation, which sold for $18,000 at Freeman’s Hindman. This miniature pamphlet, printed by abolitionist John Murray Forbes in Boston, was once owned by 1st Lieutenant George W. Taylor of the Massachusetts Light Artillery, whose name is inked on the cover. Designed for distribution to Union soldiers and freedmen, this document is one of the few remaining copies of its kind. The sale also included other Civil War and slavery-related documents, with the top five lots bringing in a total of $58,000. It’s a powerful reminder of how even the smallest items can carry immense historical significance.
Fairhill Auctions featured a striking piece of WWII history: a pair of Adolf Hitler’s dark brown leather gloves, saved by his orderly, Willy Schneider, who found them abandoned at Felsennest in 1940. According to a two-page letter from Schneider, Hitler had multiple pairs of these gloves, and no one thought to claim them once they were left behind. The gloves, which had been with Hitler during his travels to various headquarters, sold for $10,000. Accompanying the gloves was Schneider’s letter, providing additional context and making this lot even more significant.
Other alleged personal items of Adolf Hitler also found their way into the sale, though without any proven provenance. These included a sterling silver serving pitcher decorated with the Reichseagle and Hitler’s initials “AH,” which sold for $8,750. The pitcher, marked “800 Bruckman,” stands ten inches tall and features a Roman Key pattern. Also included was a cup and saucer by Allach, each adorned with the German eagle and swastika and monogrammed with Hitler’s initials. This lot brought in $1,875, with both pieces marked with the Allach stamp and SS runes.
Marilyn Monroe Pill Bottle
Ewbanks recently sold some truly standout entertainment memorabilia, including an iconic green glass pill bottle once owned by Marilyn Monroe. This particular bottle, which contained Nembutal prescribed for her insomnia, almost fetched $4,000—though it fell short of the $12,500 that a similar bottle sold for at Julien’s in 2022. The bottle came from Monroe’s close friend and personal secretary, May Reis, who provided a letter of authentication, noting the prescription was filled at Schwab’s Pharmacy on Sunset Boulevard. Meanwhile, the highest-selling item in the sale was a distinctive prop gun used by Russell Crowe in 3:10 to Yuma. This gun, which features an 18K gold crucifix on the handle to signify “the hand of God,” sold for $7,208. A truly unique piece for any film memorabilia collector.
Goldin Does It Again
Goldin Auctions once again lived up to its reputation, with the top five lots bringing in over $160,000, including a standout 1/1 Shohei Ohtani card that sold for $68,598. This unique collectible, encased and sealed by Topps, features a game-used memorabilia component and Ohtani’s blue ink signature. As the unanimous 2024 NL MVP, Ohtani’s 54 home runs and 59 stolen bases helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a World Series victory, cementing his legacy as one of the game’s greatest players. The card’s limited edition and serial-numbered “1/1” status made it a true gem for any collector.
Medals from War Heroes
Elsewhere, Lymington Auction offered an exceptional set of World War I and II medals, including those belonging to Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gilbert Mathias of the Welsh Regiment and his son, Lieutenant Owain E. Mathias, that sold for $2,412. The impressive collection, which included a Distinguished Service Order Medal and WWII service medals, came with personal photographs and newspaper clippings.
Antique Firearms
Meanwhile, Leland Little saw great interest in some antique firearms, including a pair of highly detailed Charles Hellis & Sons shotguns, each with matching serial numbers and exquisite rose and scroll engraving that sold for $9,000. These beautifully crafted guns, in excellent condition, came with original factory leather-bound oak cases and included the original maker labels, cleaning rods, and attachments.
Rough and Ready
Finally, Enlisted auctioned off a 1947 Famous James Motorcycle for $2,887. Though rough and in need of restoration, it was running and ready for a new owner.
With so many fascinating items making waves across various auctions, it’s worth checking out WorthPoint to keep track of the latest treasures.
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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