Amoskeag Auction Company’s 53rd sale began promptly at 10 am with a standing room only crowd in the auction hall.
The sale featured an eclectic mixture of fine and rare handguns, quality shotguns, Civil War arms and collectibles, and scarce point-of-purchase die-cut firearms advertising. Amoskeag Auction’s item number one set the stage for the remainder of the day. A like-new Colt Commercial Model Ace in its original box sold over its $2,5/3,500 presale estimate, realizing $4,312. Sales continued strong throughout the day with active telephone bidders as well as on-the-floor action.
A Colt single action Army revolver that was factory engraved by Wilbur Glahn sold for $40,250; it was the top lot of the sale. A much anticipated and rare Parker GHE on “half” frame with a presale estimated of $4/6,000 sold for $8,050.
Two nearly like-new Civil War arms proved strong, a PeabodyCarbine selling for $3,162 and a Starr Model 1863 revolver sellingfor $7,475, its holster bringing $1,150 immediately after. A CivilWar grouping of personal affects including a canteen, regulationcup and haversack identified to an Ohio soldier who died six monthsafter entering service sold for $2,300.
The die-cut advertising also went very well; the top lot in this category was a Winchester 1914 display that sold for $5,175. A framed “War Ministry Report” from 1808 that was signed by Napoleon Bonaparte held a preauction estimate of $2/3,000 but failed to sell. A pair of African elephant tusks, taken in the late 1940s, sold strongly, going to a bidder in the hall for $12,650.
The sale ended just after 4:30 pm with 1,080 lots having crossed the auction block, an average of 2.7 lots per minute. All prices given reflect the 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Amoskeag’s Auction Gallery is at 250 Commercial Street, #3011. For information, www.amoskeagauction.com or 603-627-7383.
