Columns

These sought-after sections offer expert auction analysis, cultural commentary, and more, adding depth, variety, and a personal touch to every issue. Columns include Gavels ’n’ Paddles, Psychology of Collecting, The Beat, Pop Culture Collecting, Toys from the Attic, and Civil War Collector.

June 25, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Janet Jackson jacket, Julien's Auctions, Ken Hall

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Janet Jackson jacket, $81,250, Julien’s Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall Singer Janet Jackson’s epochal Rhythm Nation jacket with 1814 metal ...

June 22, 2021 / Antiques Peek, Antiques Peek, Jessica Kosinski, Ripley's Believe it or Not

The Ripley’s Museum at night on the Atlantic City Boardwalk

Antiques Peek: Ripley’s Believe It or Not!

by Jessica Kosinski Atlantic City has one of the most well-known boardwalks in the United States, and arguably the world ...

June 18, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Ken Hall, Letter from Hamilton to Madison, Lion Heart Autographs

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Letter from Hamilton to Madison, $113,850, Lion Heart Autographs

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A letter written by Alexander Hamilton to James Madison in ...

June 11, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Miller & Miller, Supertest petroliana sign

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Supertest petroliana sign, CA$21,240, Miller & Miller

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A Canadian Supertest Service Station double-sided porcelain hanging sign from ...

June 10, 2021 / Atlantic City, boardwalks, Coney Island, historic boardwalks, Ocean City, Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Talk of the Trade, The Atlantic City Boardwalk

Boardwalk Memories

Talk about boardwalks and almost everyone has a favorite and memories to share. Growing up in New York City and ...

June 4, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Ken Hall, whale totem pole

A 19th century Northwest Coast whale totem pole featuring a polka-dotted whale with a raven perched on its tail and a man’s face at the base sold for a little over $17,000 at a Native American Indian Auction held March 24th by Pook & Pook in Downingtown, PA.

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Whale totem pole, $17,000, Pook & Pook

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A 19th century Northwest Coast whale totem pole featuring a ...

May 28, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Ken Hall, signed letter Albert Einstein

A typed signed letter by Albert Einstein, dated March 10, 1954, sold for $28,800 at a Fine Books and Manuscripts sale held March 13th by Potter & Potter Auctions in Chicago, IL

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Einstein signed letter, $28,800, Potter & Potter

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A typed signed letter by Albert Einstein, dated March 10, ...

May 21, 2021 / cast-iron, Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Girl Skipping Rope, Ken Hall, mechanical toy bank

A J & E Stevens (American) Girl Skipping Rope cast-iron mechanical toy bank in pristine to near-mint condition sold for $156,000 at Part 1 of the sale of Aaron and Schroeder mechanical bank and toy collection held March 5-6 by Bertoia Auctions in Vineland, NJ

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: J & E Stevens toy bank, $156,000, Bertoia Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A J & E Stevens (American) Girl Skipping Rope cast-iron ...

May 20, 2021 / ALPCA, Antiques Peek, Antiques Peek, Automobile License Plate Collectors Association, Jessica Kosinski, Numberplates, Vintage License Plates

Early Massachusetts Porcelain License Plate

Antiques Peek: From Numberplate to License Plate

by Jessica Kosinski There are many automobile-related collectibles people enjoy collecting. People have had fascinations with cars since the first ...

May 14, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Ken Hall

A hockey puck used in the final Stanley Cup championship game of 1928, won by the New York Rangers over the Montreal Maroons, 2-1, with Frank Boucher scoring both goals for the Rangers, sold for $66,000 in an online Sports, Non-Sports, Pulps, Comics & Comic Art auction held April 14th by Weiss Auctions in Lynbrook, NY

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: 1928 Stanley Cup puck, $66,000, Weiss Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A hockey puck used in the final Stanley Cup championship ...

May 9, 2021 / automobile travel, automotive history, historic road trips, history of domestic travel, on the road, Talk of the Trade

“Traveling Back in Time”: We drive forward from the 19th century to explore the impact and inspiration of automotive travel in America

It was a big country but prior to the 20th century, few knew from first-hand experience how big ...

May 7, 2021 / Gavels 'n' Paddles. Ken Hall, Gavels n Paddles, Kobe Bryant, Rookie Card, Topps

A black label pristine A black label pristine 1996-1997 Topps Chrome Refractors #138 Kobe Bryant rookie card sold for $1.796 million in a Winter Auction ending March 6-7 by Goldin Auctions, based in Runnemede, NJ.1996-1997 Topps Chrome Refractors #138 Kobe Bryant rookie card sold for $1.796 million in a Winter Auction ending March 6-7 by Goldin Auctions, based in Runnemede, NJ.

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Kobe Bryant Topps rookie card, $1.796 million, Goldin Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A black label pristine 1996-1997 Topps Chrome Refractors #138 ...

April 30, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Ken Hall, Rock-Ola 1937 World Series Baseball arcade game

A fully functioning 1937 Rock-Ola 1937 World Series Baseball arcade game sold for $34,375 at an auction held March 21st by Fine Estate, Inc. in San Rafael, CA.

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Rock-Ola World Series coin-op, $34,375, Fine Estate, Inc.

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A fully functioning 1937 Rock-Ola 1937 World Series Baseball ...

April 23, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Ken Hall, Ming dynasty bowl, Sotheby's

A Ming dynasty, Yongle period exceptional and rare blue and white '”floral” bowl originally purchased for $35 at a Connecticut yard sale achieved $721,800 following a spirited battle between four bidders in an Important Chinese Art Auction held March 17th by Sotheby’s in New York City

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Ming dynasty bowl, $721,800, Sotheby’s

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A Ming dynasty, Yongle period exceptional and rare blue ...

April 16, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Minneapolis Luthier Kurt Nelson, The "Cloud" Guitar

The “Cloud” guitar custom-made by Minneapolis Luthier Kurt Nelson in the 1990s for the musician Prince sold for $132,868 in an online auction that began on Feb. 19 and ended March 10 by RR Auction, based in Boston.

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Prince’s “Cloud” guitar, $132,868, RR Auction

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall The “Cloud” guitar custom-made by Minneapolis Luthier Kurt Nelson ...

April 9, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Hake’s Auctions, MLK jailhouse logbook

Four jailhouse logbook pages bearing 12 signatures of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and five signatures of his associate Ralph Abernathy, signed during their 1963 incarceration at the Birmingham (AL) jail, sold for $130,909 at Premier Auction #231 held Feb. 24-25 by Hake’s Auctions in York, PA.

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: MLK jailhouse logbook, $130,909, Hake’s Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall Four jailhouse logbook pages bearing 12 signatures of ...

April 2, 2021 / American Flyer train, auction results, Gavels n Paddles, Gavels n Paddles, Philip Weiss Auctions

An American Flyer S gauge smoke-in-tender Northern 332 steam locomotive, 1946 or 1947, with a bronze brake tank, sold for $5,400 at a Toy & Train auction held February 24th by Weiss Auctions in Lynbrook, NY.

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: American Flyer train, $5,400, Weiss Auctions

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall An American Flyer S gauge smoke-in-tender Northern 332 steam locomotive, ...

March 24, 2021 / Civil War Collector, The Civil War Collector

Union soldier Benjamin Gustin’s letters worth more than the usual average price of $20 each, but the content will determine final values.

The Civil War Collector

by John Sexton Q: Mr. Sexton, I am writing hoping you can help me identify a pistol that has passed ...

March 22, 2021 / Talk of the Trade

In the Maker’s Hands: Connecting objects with their makers enhance our understanding of the antiques we value

At the heart of the items that we collect and admire are the stories behind their creation, craft, and use ...

March 5, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: 1787 gold doubloon coin, $9.36 million, Heritage

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A 1787 gold doubloon coin, the finest example of just ...

March 3, 2021 / Columns

Early 19th century English Glasschord by Chappell & Sons. According to Wikipedia, the glasschord is a crystallphone that uses keyboard-driven hammers to strike glass bars instead of metal bars. photo: Yale School of Music

Great Collections: The Yale Collection of Musical Instruments

The Yale Collection of Musical Instruments was established in 1900, when Morris Steinert, an entrepreneurial figure who played an important ...

March 3, 2021 / Antiques Peek

Antiques Peek: Take A (Music) Stand

by Jessica Kosinski In the world of music, there are many instruments you could choose to play. However, deciding on ...

February 19, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Kobe Bryant road jersey, $337,334, Grey Flannel

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall A 2009 Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers NBA Finals game-worn ...

February 19, 2021 / Talk of the Trade

“Collecting Music in the Virtual Age.” Now that music is online and digital-based, what is left to collect?

The ways we listen to music are always changing, but the people who feel the need to amass as much ...

February 12, 2021 / Gavels n Paddles

Gavels ‘n’ Paddles: Hasselhoff’s K.I.T.T. car, $345,000, Diligent Auction

Recent Auction Results from Near & Far By Ken Hall Actor David Hasselhoff’s personal K.I.T.T. Knight Rider car, with full ...