Dan Morphy’s new Discovery Auctions continue to gain momentum;
April 20 sale earns highest series gross to date

DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions’ popular new series of Discovery Auctions continues to enjoy not only an increased following but also higher sale totals with each successive outing. On April 20, Morphy’s third Discovery Auction – featuring 590 lots of antique advertising, toys, figural cast iron, decorative art and a selection of dime registering banks – topped the $140,000 mark. All prices quoted include a 15% buyer’s premium.

“I was extremely pleased with the result,” said Morphy’s CEO Dan Morphy. “We felt from the beginning that these sales would take off. We keep them manageable in size, which the buyers like, and offer a quick turnaround time on payouts, which the consignors really appreciate. But the main reason for the success of these sales is that we’ve kept the level of quality high. These sales contain very nice things.”

The April 20 auction contained a fine selection of painted cast-iron doorstops, doorknockers, bottle openers and other novelties. Topping the category was an attractive 8-inch Lighthouse doorstop described in the catalog as the only known example. Estimated at $1,750-$2,000, it lit up the gallery with a final bid of $5,750. Another big winner was the 15½-inch-tall Bradley & Hubbard Owl on Pedestal doorstop, which flew to $3,738.

A Pansies doorknocker made by Hubley ignored its $350-$450 estimate to settle at $1,495; while a wall-mount Amish man bottle opener earned an above-estimate $1,035. Another bottle opener, fashioned as a golf caddy with a bag of golf clubs, birdied at $632.

Antique advertising was led by a 1930s-1940s Quaker State Oil poster of boys skinny-dipping at the old swimming hole, which made a big splash at $3,163. A tin, double-sided Diamond Squeegee Service sign nearly doubled its high estimate at $978; and a Red Indian Tobacco “mammy” roly poly tin achieved $805.

Toys of many different types were offered. The favorite of the day was a rare cast-iron Vindex toy tractor with “John Deere” embossed on both sides of the engine. It motored its way to an $863 finish.

More than 30 lots of beautiful, early graniteware in several colors – some of them rare forms – were offered in the auction. A scarce 18-inch American-made red and white swirl frying pan cooked up a top bid of $1,265.