Auction Details

Advertising & Pinballs

Auction Starts at 9 a.m. Both Days

View Digital Catalog

Morphy’s Feb. 21-22 Advertising Auction introduces world-renowned David Silverman collection of pinball machines

Featured: Tobacciana, chewing gum & soda pop advertising including 500 Coca-Cola lots

DENVER, Pa. – Dazzling colors, flashing lights and clanging bells will provide the soundtrack for Morphy Auctions’ Feb. 21-22 auction featuring Part I of the David Silverman collection of vintage pinball machines. The 1,300-lot auction will include 75 machines from the 35-year Silverman collection, which is considered one of the largest and most exciting pinball groupings ever amassed.

“David Silverman founded the National Pinball Museum, originally located in Washington, DC. All of the machines we will be auctioning in a series of sales, starting with this one, come directly from David’s collection, which were on view in the museum,” said Morphy Auctions CEO Dan Morphy.
Some of the highlights within the introductory grouping include Lot 13, a 1950 Gottlieb Bank A Ball, with a $2,000-$3,000 estimate; Lot15, a Gottlieb Sittin Pretty, $2,500-$3,000; Lot 17, a Gottlieb Knock-Out, $3,000-$5,000; and Lot 66, a Bally Revenge From Mars, $3,000-$3,500.
The auction moves from pinballs to 70 lots of automobilia. Some of the highlights include a collection of more than 15 vintage gas pumps. The lineup includes Lot 159, a Bennett Model 150 $1,800-$2,500; and two designs by Wayne: Lot 162, a Model No. 60, $2,000-$3,000; and Lot 163, a No. 60 computing pump, also $2,000-$3,000.
A fine selection of tobacciana will follow, with highlights including Lot 199, a Safety Brand Cigar label $800-$1,200; Lot 203, a Big Run Good Luck Cigar label, $1,000-$1,500; and Lot 281, a Jack Rose paper poster, $1,500-$2,500. Lot 295, a celluloid sign advertising Ditto Cigars, is expected to make $1,200-$2,200, while Lot 303, a Recruit Cigars porcelain door push, is entered with a $2,000-$3,000 estimate. Lot 305, a window display for Lucky Strike, is estimated at $2,000-$4,000. Metal tobacco containers are led by Lot 318, a Dunnsboro Tobacco tin, $1,200-$1,800; Lot 321, a Mohawk Chief Cigar can, $1,000-$2,000; and Lot 353, a North Pole Tobacco tin, $800-$1,400.
For “chewsy” collectors there will be approximately 30 early gum-related lots. Top entries include Lot 387, an Adams Pepsin Gum die-cut, $800-$1,500; Lot 380, a Beech-Nut Gum display, $1,500-$2,500; and the star of the group, Lot 386, a rare circa-1900 Star Pepsin Gum machine, $10,000-$15,000.
The Friday session concludes with a variety of antique advertising items covering many consumer categories. Lot 494, a Graphite Paint poster, features a colorful Uncle Sam image and could reach $2,000-$4,000. Lot 495, a poster for American Rubbers, carries a $1,000-$1,500 estimate. Lot 507, a Butter Krust Bread embossed tin sign, could realize $4,000-$6,000. Also of embossed tin, Lot 534, advertising Kabo Corsets, is estimated at $2,000-$4,000. Other prized items include Lot 554, an 1880s Baker Cocoa Tin sign, $2,000-$4,000; Lot 580, an International Paints porcelain sign, $3,000-$4,000; and Lot 627, a very early wood sign touting “Brown Wagons.” It is cataloged with a $4,000-$6,000 estimate.
Saturday’s session begins with more than 50 barber shop-related items. Some of the key pieces include Lot 711, an antique occupational shaving mug emblazoned with an automobile, $1,000-$2,000; Lot 718, a shipbuilders shaving mug, $600-$1,000; Lot 745, an early wood barber pole, $1,000-$1,500; and Lot 746, a Koken barber chair, $1,500-$2,500.
Much of Saturday’s activity is devoted to 500+ Coca-Cola lots. The list of highlights is impressive and includes: Lot 835, a 1905 Coca-Cola serving tray, $3,000-$4,000; Lot 884, a 1901 Coca-Cola calendar, $10,000-$15,000; Lot 885, a 1902 calendar top, $12,000-$18,000; Lot 890, a 1913 Coca-Cola calendar top, $10,000-$15,000; and Lot 904, a 1930s Coca-Cola Brunhoff illuminating sign, $10,000-$15,000. Lot 905, a 1908 Coca-Cola poster carries the highest estimate among the Coke collectibles at $18,000-$25,000. Other noteworthy items include: Lot 923, a 1905 Coca-Cola cardboard sign, $3,000-$5,000; Lot 923, a 1937 Coca-Cola window display, $3,500-$6,000; Lot 956, a 1927 Coca-Cola “leaves” festoon, $5,000-$8,000; and Lot 967, a 1903 Coca-Cola tin sign, $10,000-$15,000.
Many other brands of soda pop are represented in the sale. The selection includes Lot 1093, a Pepsi celluloid pin-back, $3,000-$5,000; Lot 1109, an Orange Crush Rockwell sign, $1,500-$2,500; and Lot 1115, a Lime Crush cardboard sign, $2,000-$3,000. A Whistle Masonite clock, entered as Lot 1257, is a cheerful timekeeper with a $2,000-$3,000 estimate, while Lot 1311, a Wineberry syrup dispenser is a sweet choice at $10,000-$15,000. An Allen’s Red Tame Cherry tin die-cut sign concludes the list at $6,000-$9,000.
For additional information on any item in Morphy’s Feb. 21-22, 2014 Advertising Auction, call 717-335-3435 or email serena@morphyauctions.com. The sale will start at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. All forms of bidding will be available. Preview the online catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live online as the auction is taking place through Morphy Live (www.morphyauctions.com), Invaluable.com or LiveAuctioneers.com.