Morphy Auctions

Dave Bushing joined the Morphy Auctions team in July, 2014. Dave is a veteran gun collector, dealer and authenticator and will serve as the Firearms division expert. Renowned on the gun show circuit, both for his knowledge of out-of-production firearms and his willingness to share information with collectors at all levels. Dave will represent Morphy Auctions at gun shows, obtaining firearms consignments, and authenticating and cataloging all guns prior to our specialty sales. He will also be present at all of our gun previews and auctions, making himself available to anyone who has a question about an auction item and evaluating firearms brought in by collectors or potential consignors. Dave is hugely respected in gun-collecting circles nationwide, and his track record as a gun appraiser is impeccable. We’re genuinely honored that he has joined our team.

Brian Estepp joined the Dan Morphy Auctions team as its marble consultant in 2009. His primary duties are to gather consignments for the company, with his specialty being marbles, among other things. Brian also represents Dan Morphy Auctions at shows around the country and provides catalog descriptions and valuations on marbles in all Morphy sales.Brian is well known to marble collectors and has a superb reputation for quality and honesty. Dan Morphy Auctions is pleased to have Brian as part of the team. Watch for him at shows around the country.

Mike Fredericks joins the Morphy Auctions team from James D. Julia and is our Department Head for the Fine and Decorative Arts Division. Mike is a 13-year veteran with the company, most recently as Julia’s Department Head for the Rare Lamps, Glass and Jewelry division, specializing in 20^th century lighting and art glass of the Victorian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods.  Prior to this position, he was the Operations Manager and Staff Supervisor of James D. Julia, overseeing logistics and production workflow for the organization. Mike previously worked in the commercial printing industry, having been an Account Executive and Manager for a leading New England company with a niche in the auction catalog market. His love of history, photography, experience with production management, and fascination with the auction process made for a natural transition to our industry. Mike has been a licensed auctioneer since 2011.

A U.S. Army Veteran, Mike graduated from various Professional Development and Leadership schools during his five years of service as a Non-Commissioned Officer, and proudly served during the Gulf War of 1990/1991. Following his military commitment, Mike earned certifications from the Maine Criminal Justice Academy, serving both as a Sheriff’s Deputy and Corrections Supervisor.

David, a fourth generation antique dealer and appraiser, has been professionally involved in the firearms industry since 2000. He has been collecting arms and armor since he was five years old and buying and selling as a dealer at shows since he was ten. Today David has special expertise in Kentucky rifles; early French, Indian, English, and American guns; and edged weapons. David will be responsible for identifying and valuing fine arms and armor, cataloging, developing and growing consignment networks, and representing Morphy’s at firearms events nationwide.

A graduate of the University of Maine system, Jeremy brings a breadth of experience to the Morphy’s team. Coming from the James D. Julia Inc. team, Jeremy has been an intricate part of the Firearms Division, working with both consignors and buyers to achieve their goals. Prior to joining Julia’s he was the Senior Sales and Marketing Executive for over 11 years with Shooting Sportsman Magazine  and Fly Rod & Reel and has attended many trade and consumer firearms shows around the country, working closely with individual clients and companies. A lover of fine sporting guns and pointing dogs, Jeremy is “hands on” in the field as well. He grew up in a sporting family and to this day can often be found wandering through the mountains or following a pointing dog through the uplands of New England. He is a member of the NRA, Ruffed Grouse Society, American Woodcock Society, North American Versatile Hunting Dogs Association, North American Deutsch Kurzhaar Club, and the Maine Trappers Association. Jeremy is a fully licensed Master Maine Guide for twenty years, a great accomplishment in and of itself.

Tom Hathazy joined the Dan Morphy Auctions team in the winter of 2005 as our pressed steel/pedal car consultant. Tom came highly recommended because of his extensive knowledge of Sturditoy, Buddy ‘L,’ Steelcraft, Sonny, Kingsbury and Keystone are obvious from the professional catalog descriptions, conditions and appraisals he provides for our pressed-steel items.Tom’s interest in antiques started with his love of antique cars. He had already been an active collector and hobbyist for more than 20 years when he purchased his first piece of pressed steel in the mid-1980s at the Hershey Car Show. Tom was a history teacher whose love of the past turned to the history of the pressed-steel toy companies. His experience with antique car paint restoration and non-original parts became the foundation for his understanding of pressed-steel toys. Over the years he had amassed such an extensive collection that he became active in the business and enjoys bringing new collectors into the hobby to share his love of antiques. Morphy’s is pleased to have Tom as a part of the team.

Tommy Sage joined forces with Dan Morphy in 2004 to establish Morphy Auctions. Tommy is well known in the industry for his expertise in toys, trains and sports memorabilia. His primary duties are to act as chief operating officer of Dan Morphy Auctions, to gather consignments, provide catalog descriptions, and to represent Dan Morphy Auctions at various shows around the world.Tommy grew up in the antiques trade and attended his first show with his father at the age of six, started selling trains at the age of 12 and ran his first antique shop in the Poconos at the age of 16. It’s not surprising that the younger Sage was attracted to the antiques trade at an early age. He recalls, “I was exposed to the business through my father, a long-time dealer, and was able to learn what collectors wanted, how to find it, and who to sell it to.” In the 1980s, Tommy relocated to the Adamstown, Pa., area to continue his pursuit of the antiques business. He is now an integral part of Dan Morphy Auctions and brings vast knowledge and experience to the forefront of the company’s daily operations.

John leads our BATF compliance efforts as well as being responsible for identifying, evaluating, appraising and cataloging specialty military firearms for auction. He specializes in Class 3 machine guns from the first half of the 20th century. He also has expertise with machine guns from the 1950s onward, as well as last century military firearms. Complementing this encyclopedic knowledge is his understanding of the complex rules and regulations associated with different machine gun classes as defined by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (BATF). As such, he is a huge asset to Class 3 buyers and sellers, able to facilitate and complete transfer forms properly, with extensive experience and expertise in handling transfers from estate situations after the registered owners have deceased, as well as making updates and corrections to the all-important BATF Class 3 registry.

Mr. Keene is a retired Army combat veteran who has proudly served our country for over 28 years. Keene was a charter member and officer of the Hiram Maxim Historical Society.

A lifelong firearms enthusiast, Josh began studying, collecting and shooting guns with his father and brother when he was just eight years old. He particularly enjoys American sporting guns including the classic American sporting guns from the Golden Age.  Josh is a Life member of the Parker Gun Collectors Association, having served on the Board of Directors as Secretary, and events coordinator.  He is a Life Member of the NRA, A life member of the L.C. Smith Collectors Association, a member of the Lefever Arms Collectors Association, the Colt Collectors Association, the A.H. Fox Gun Collectors Association, the Smith and Wesson Collectors Association, the German Gun Collectors Association, and the Winchester Arms Collectors Association.

Josh has a proven track record in delivering outstanding customer results, as well as sales and marketing success. Prior to joining the Julia Morphy Team, Josh spent 13 years in the life insurance business having sold over $100 million dollars in premium with various carriers, most recently TIAA where he was responsible for life insurance and annuity sales in the Southeastern U.S.  He has been a part of the Julia’s and Morphy Team since 2013 and represents clients throughout the country counseling them on their treasured firearms and other assets and has become a trusted expert in helping clients to achieve success in the monetization of firearms at auction.

While at Julia’s, Jay was responsible for some of Julia’s most successful doll and toy sales events over the past decade. Jay specializes in the identification and valuation of antique dolls and related materials, but is also a nationally recognized expert on trains, coin-op machines, and advertising. He has over 45+ years professional experience in the toy trade, beginning as a youngster in 1968 when he started focusing on fine vintage trains. His interests grew to include coin-operated machines in 1971 and antique dolls in 1981. Jay was fortunate to learn firsthand from many old time, legendary collectors and dealers who today are considered pillars of the vintage toy industry.

Jay is an active and veteran member of several well-known professional toy societies, including United Federation of Doll Clubs, National Antique Doll Dealers Association, Train Collectors of America, Schoenhut Club, Antique Toy Collectors of America, and Coin Operated Collectors Association. He was a guest appraiser on season 15 of the iconic PBS “Antiques Roadshow” TV program. Jay and his team of six experts are committed to growing Morphy’s doll division into the preeminent and most respected auction choice for buyers and sellers from all over the world, and to helping customers reach their collecting or deaccessioning objectives.

Dr. John Morphy, a retired physician, was part of the Morphy team long before “the team” ever existed. As the father of Dan Morphy Auctions’ CEO, Dan Morphy, Dr. Morphy was the guiding force who sparked and nurtured Dan’s interest in the antiques industry. With his knowledge and appreciation of antiques, “Doc,” as he is known to one and all, was Dan’s most important influence and a constant source of encouragement to his son as he ventured into antiques as a profession.Dr. Morphy’s primary duties are to provide catalog descriptions and condition reports, appraise goods and assist with the shipping of items purchased at auction. His expertise developed over 35+ years in the industry and includes, but is not limited to, art glass, fine art, antique toys, country store, holiday and general antiques. He also represents Dan Morphy Auctions at many shows across the country. Dr. Morphy is an integral part of the day-to-day operations at the gallery, and in his free time he is still buys, sells and collects the antiques he has grown to love.

Dan Morphy, owner and chief executive officer of Dan Morphy Auctions and founder of the Adamstown Antique Gallery in Denver, Pa., also acts as the mechanical and still bank specialist for the company.Dan grew up in a family of avid collectors, with his retired physician father, John Morphy Sr., and his mother, Janet, constantly encouraging the appreciation of antiques in the home and fostering a love of collecting among their children. “I grew up around antiques and attended many shows and auctions with my dad at a very early age,” Dan said. At the age of 10, Morphy started buying still banks through the mail. Within a few years, he was both buying and selling mechanical banks through various sources and meeting collectors who are now among the most revered in the hobby. And while he has bought, sold and collected 30 to 40 different types of antiques over the years, Morphy says it is mechanical banks that have consistently held his fascination.Dan is deeply invested in the day-to-day operations of Dan Morphy Auctions and the antiques industry, and also supports and belongs to many collector clubs. His exceptional knowledge and experience with mechanical banks was shared with the hobby worldwide through the writing and publication of Dan Morphy’s Price Guide to Mechanical Banks, which is considered the premier reference in its category.

Noted art dealer Patrick Orbe has joined Morphy Auctions’ team of experts as special consultant to the company’s Fine Art department. In his new position with Morphy’s, Orbe will oversee all fine art consignments, assessing and cataloging works for authenticity, attribution, condition and value. Additionally, he will manage all consignor and buyer relationships that pertain to fine art entrusted to Morphy’s.

Based in Bergen County, New Jersey, Orbe has been an established art dealer in the New York metro area for the past 23 years, advising and selling mostly to a private clientele. He operates his business by appointment only from a gallery space in Manhattan’s Upper East Side. His educational credentials include continuing scholarship at The Art Students League of New York, Pratt Phoenix School of Design, NYU School of Continuing Education, and Bergen Community College (N.J.).

Orbe’s métier is American and European art of the 19th and 20th centuries, with a particular expertise in Hudson River school, modern period, contemporary and French academic paintings. Orbe also works with living artists who are launching or developing their careers. His stellar network of contacts in the trade includes a number of prestigious galleries.

“We are especially pleased that Patrick has joined our team of experts,” said Morphy Auctions CEO Dan Morphy. “His knowledge and connections will enable us to build a strong Fine Art department, an aspect of our business that is going to become increasingly important to us. Some do not realize that Morphy’s is a full-service auction house with a roundtable of top specialists managing our departments. The only missing link was someone highly knowledgeable in fine art who could handle the influx of art consignments coming to us from estates and other consignors. We found the perfect person for the job in Patrick.”

John and Nancy Smith joined Dan Morphy Auctions in the spring of 2004 as our figural cast iron consultants. As widely recognized authorities on doorstops and figural cast iron, they provide the catalog descriptions on much of the figural cast iron offered in sales conducted by Dan Morphy Auctions.John and Nancy are the authors of The Doorstop Book – An Encyclopedia of Doorstop Collecting, and have been avid collectors of cast iron, folk art and country Americana for more than 35 years. As dealers trading under the name “American Sampler,” they have appeared at major antique shows since 1971 and are always available to answer any questions concerning Dan Morphy Auctions and consignments. John is the founder of the Figural Cast Iron Collectors Club, and both he and Nancy have been members of the Still Bank Collectors Club of America since 1971. Based in Barnesville, Md., John and Nancy are busy exhibiting at shows, updating their Web site, and gathering consignments Dan Morphy Auctions. Dan Morphy Auctions is pleased to have this dynamic duo as a part of the team.

Peter joined Morphy auctions in 2008 as a consultant cataloguing antique and modern silver, and now heads the silver division. For over fifteen years he acted as a collector’s agent and advisor, buying antique silver in London and South- Eastern England for several private collectors, and he continues to keep in contact with the London silver trade. Peter began as a spoon collector in his late teens, with a special interest in silver hallmarks. He has a BA in History and Art History from William & Mary,a Diploma from the Royal Society of Arts in London from the Christies Fine Arts Course, and is a member of the Silver Society (London). He continues to advise private clients on acquisitions of English and American silver, as well as preparing appraisals and inventories.

Tony has been prominent and active in the collectible firearms industry since the 1980s. He attended over 40 national firearms shows each year, is a Life Member of the NRA and owed a retail establishment in the Washington DC suburbs. It is impossible to be an expert at everything, so Tony developed expertise in historic firearms, particularly European and American small military arms from 1840-1950,Winchesters and fine Colts. Recognized for his unique knowledge, Tony has frequently consulted for collectors, museums and business owners around the country.

Tony’s primary focus is Colts, Winchesters and 20th Century military firearms. However, with over 30 years with 200 plus days a year on the road attending gun shows, Tony has been exposed to thousands of different firearms and with this hands on experience has a fabulous knowledge of firearms and their market values. Tony also understands the retail side of the firearms business, owning an operating his own gun store in the Washington D.C. area.

Withem received his first gun at age 12. Today, he has more than 40 years of experience collecting, appraising, and buying and selling firearms and sporting collectibles, including WW1 German militaria. Withem has deep expertise with Luger pistols, Winchesters, and Colt revolvers. He has contributed to several published books, including History Writ in Steel German Police Markings 1900-1936 (Thai Watana Press Co., Ltd., 2009); Simson Lugers: Simson & Co, Suhl, the Weimar Years (Brad Simpson Publishing, 2007); and Police Lugers: German Police Lugers and Their Markings 1918-1958 (Golden Belt Printing Inc., 2012) and is currently working on a book about the Colt 1877 DA. Withem is a member of the Winchester Collectors Association and the Colt Collectors Association. Prior to Morphy’s, Withem owned and ran a firearms store in Southern Oregon.