Auction Details

Advertising & Coin-Op Auction

Auction Starts at 9am

Over 140 Saving Mugs, 100 Coin-Op Including Jukeboxes and Pinball Machines, 380 Coca-Cola & Other Soda Related Lots Including the Moxie Collection of the Late Jan Miller Bacci and 300 Other Advertising Lots

Friday

LOTS

1 – 100           9:00 AM

101 – 200 10:00 AM

201 – 300 11:00 AM

301 – 400 12:00 PM

401 – 500  1:00 PM

500 – 566  2:00 PM

SATURDAY

LOTS

600 – 700           9:00 AM

701 – 800 10:00 AM

801 – 900 11:00 AM

901 – 1000 12:00 PM

1001 – 1100  1:00 PM

1101 – 1194  2:00 PM

Coca-Cola beauties, Mr. Peanut among American icons in Morphy’s Oct. 4-5 Premier Advertising & Coin-op Auction

Morphy’s Oct. 4-5 Premier Advertising & Coin-Op auction contains more than 1,100 top-quality lots from several high-profile collections. There are dozens of early coin-op, slot, penny arcade and pinball machines in the sale; as well as 60+ lots of superb tobacco tins from the David Hirsch collection, and one of the most comprehensive Moxie collections ever amassed, that of the late Jan Miller Bacci of Boston.

The Hirsch collection includes many of the finest known tobacco tins. “All of them are in beautiful condition, and some are believed to be the only ones of their type in existence,” said Dan Morphy, CEO of Morphy Auctions.

Lot 8, a Century Tobacco flat pocket tin is estimated at $1,000-$1,500; while Lot 11, a pre-1900 Old Abe Chewing Tobacco flat tin is estimated at $1,200-$1,600. Images of American Indian chiefs adorn Lot 7, a Prairie Flower Chewing Tobacco tin, $1,000-$2,000; and Lot 12, an extremely rare Kipawa Cigar tin, $2,000-$4,000. Perhaps the star of the collection is an Alcazar round cigar tin picturing a world famous racehorse from which the brand took its name. Near mint, it is expected to make $6,000-$8,000.

The late Jan Miller Bacci’s collection devoted to the soft drink Moxie was a labor of love, according to those who knew the Boston executive. “She learned about Moxie in the 1970s and began amassing what would end up being the consummate Moxie collection. It contained many great rarities and was exhibited at the National Heritage Museum in Waltham, Massachusetts. Her husband, Chuck, said she was so enamored with Moxie, she not only drank it, she also dreamed about it,” Morphy said.

The Bacci collection represents 110 lots in the auction, with highlights including Lot 229, an extremely rare, all-original Moxie Nerve Food Baird clock, $4,000-$8,000; and Lot 230, a circa-1900 embossed tin sign depicting a man offering a mug of Moxie to a lady, who comments: “Moxie? Certainly! I just love it.” Estimate: $7,000-$10,000.

Over 150 lots of soda pop advertising will be available, including many coveted, early pieces that promote Coca-Cola and its little-known offspring – Coca-Cola Chewing Gum.

Launched around the turn of the 20th century, Coca-Cola Chewing Gum wasn’t a commercial success for the Atlanta-based company. “Apparently, it just didn’t taste good,” Dan Morphy explained.

Lot 458, one of the finest and earliest signs promoting Coca-Cola Chewing Gum dates to 1903 and features the elegantly dressed model Hilda Clark, who graced many Coke ads of that era. Deeply embossed on enameled cardboard, the 20 by 16in easel-back sign is embellished with gilt cabriole edging, and mauve and white chrysanthemums. “It’s the actual example shown in Petretti’s price guide, ” said Morphy. “It’s a rare find, especially in such nice condition.” Estimate: $20,000-$30,000.

Lot 459, a 1914-1916 cardboard cutout sign depicting a Dutch boy running in his clogs and clutching an oversize pack of Coca-Cola Peppermint Pepsin Gum is another Petretti book example. Vibrant and colorful, the 29 by 22in sign is described in Morphy’s catalog as “important and rare.” It is expected to make $15,000-$25,000 on auction day.

The Saturday session will open with the third offering of occupational shaving mugs from the collection of the late Ray Jones and his wife, Theresa. Ray Jones’ navy career is reflected in many of the mugs he acquired for his collection, including Lot 641, shipbuilder, $800-$1,200; Lot 702, deep sea diver, $2,000-$3,000; and Lot 736, USS Philadelphia warship, $1,200-$1,500.

Coin-op and arcade machines will follow, with top entries including two prized Caille machines: Lot 795, a pre-1900 Puck 5-cent upright slot in working order, $18,000-$22,000; and Lot 760, a 5-cent Bullfrog upright slot, $25,000-$30,000. The selection also includes many arcade games of skill and more than 15 pinballs from the 1950s/60s. A Pace FOK slot machine is actually new/old stock and retains its original shipping crate. The coinage for this machine is the French franc, which is the same size as a US quarter. The machine left Chicago in the late 1930s, bound for Shanghai. It made it as far as Paris, but the outbreak of World War II prevented it from ever making it to China. It is estimated at $7,000-$8,000.

Several vintage jukeboxes stand ready to create lively mood music for the auction. Lot 838, a Wurlitzer Model 81 on “Mae West” stand, is estimated at $12,000-$15,000. It will be followed by a Wurlitzer Model 800, $7,000-$9,000.

Mr. Peanut will take his turn in the auction spotlight, as well, with Lot 825B, a 1920s peanut roaster topped by a papier-mache figure of the iconic dancing goober, leading the Planters selection. Estimate: $15,000-$20,000. Lot 825A, a fully functional Hamilton stand-on scale, 44½in tall, with a fantastic painted iron figure of Mr. Peanut, could weigh in at $7,000-$10,000.

Within the 100+ general store lots are numerous hunting and fishing-related advertising signs. Lot 922, a 1907 Winchester paper-on-linen poster realistically depicts four hunting dogs, $3,500-$5,000. Lot 920, a 1910 cardboard cut-out sign with the image of a shell dog and two quail, could realize $2,500-$4,000.

A large, single-owner collection of insurance advertising signs is led by Lot 1100, a reverse-on-glass sign for Niagara Fire Insurance Co., with a striking and very colorful image of Niagara Falls. Estimate: $1,000-$2,000. Among the gems in the small grouping of automotive advertising is Lot 1119, an extremely rare, circa-1920s Tropical Gas globe. A recent discovery, the globe passed by direct descent through a family that once owned a Tropical Gas station. Its auction estimate is $10,000-$15,000.

The session will conclude with 30 lots of Halloween items. Lot 1133, a mechanical candy container in which a rabbit feeds itself a carrot, is estimated at $800-$1,200; while Lot 1134, a large, hunched papier-mache rabbit candy container could reach $500-$800.

Morphy’s Oct. 4-5 Premier Advertising & Coin-Op Auction will commence at 9 a.m. Eastern Time on both days. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through Morphy Live, Artfact and LiveAuctioneers.