Golf, Collecting and Sam Snead Auction At Heritage

I love to play golf. I’m not very good at it, even by the most generous standards, but I still love the game. Golf is like life and will teach us about ourselves if we reflect and pay attention. In 4-5 hours and 18 holes, you get a snapshot of yourself and your fellow players. How do we handle success, failure, challenges? Can we concentrate, have a sense of humor, or behave badly? Do we drink too much, gamble or swear?

1949 Masters Championship Trophy Won by Sam Snead

What I know about myself from years of playing is that regardless of how well or poorly I play, I never give up. And while I might sulk with disappointment or smile with success, I always come back for more. Similarly, I do not gloat or act like an ass when I succeed. I’m a pretty modest sort who appreciates compliments, coaching and condolences. Also, my short game is where I need the work. Inside a 100 yards is where I give away strokes. In the rest of my life this is symptomatic of my lack of interest in details and little stuff. Both my life and my game would be better if I focused on both.

The reason I wanted to run this story about Sam Snead is related to my interest in golf and collecting. I often wonder what a player like Snead, Bobby Jones or other early 20th century greats would have scored with modern equipment, conditioning, shoe sponsors , etc. Any way, enjoy the article from Heritage Auctions about Sam Snead. Oh, and my birthday is December 7 in case you want to get me something!!

Major Championship trophies, match used clubs and Snead’s trademark straw hats among the lots on offer December 6-7 in Dallas. 

DALLAS — On the heels of its $1.1 million debut in August, Part II the Sam Snead Collection is again expected to make headlines when his 1949 Masters Championship Trophy, estimated to bring $100,000+, and his very own 1951 Ryder Cup Captain’s Trophy, which may sell for $50,000+, cross the block December 6-7 in Heritage Auctions’ Golf Catalog Auction in Dallas.

“It was a great thrill to launch the Snead Collection in our August Platinum Night Auction, but this event represents a far more comprehensive offering from the personal collection of the PGA Tour’s most prolific winner,” said Chris Ivy, Director of Sports Collectibles at Heritage. “This is unquestionably the most significant golf collectibles auction in over a decade.”

The lots on offer range from victor’s trophies and medals from Snead’s record eighty-two PGA Tour victories, dozens of clubs used in building that peerless resume, contestant badges, match-worn clothing and much more. Notable are several iconic straw hats Snead made famous on the links, and Snead’sfirst set of matched irons used on a PGA tour, circa 1935-36, anticipated to hammer at $10,000+.

The two-day auction closes in an Internet-only Extended Bidding format, with the Snead Collection ending Friday, December 6. Highlights from Day Two of the auction, closing on Saturday, December 7, include the personal collections of links legends “Long” Jim Barnes, Doug Sanders, Ellsworth Vines and rare Bobby Jones artifacts from the estate of his personal secretary at the Augusta National. Top-ranked offerings from this portion of the sale include Barnes’ 1921 US Open Championship Gold Medal, Chick Evans’ 1920 US Amateur Championship Medal, and a rare and important handwritten letter from Bobby Jones.

One of the most significant offerings of early golf ceramics derives from perhaps the most comprehensive private collection in the genre, with a consistent theme of rarity and spectacular condition throughout. Spectacular representations from Lenox, Royal Dolton, and O’Hara charmingly recall the turn-of-the-century game.

Additional highlights from the Snead collection include, but are not limited to:

A Trophy Tea Set won by Snead at the 1960 Masters Par-3 Championship. Estimate: $20,000+.

The 1969 Ryder Cup Captain’s blazer owned and worn by Snead. Estimate: $12,000+.

The Los Angeles Open Championship gold pendant won by Snead in 1950. Estimate: $10,000+.

An early century feather ball given to Snead by King Edward VIII. Estimate: $8,000+.

Guy Wiggins’ Classic Wall Street Storm (Old Trinity, New York) May Bring $100,000 In Heritage Auctions’ Inaugural Art Of New York Auction

NEW YORK — Wall Street Storm, Guy Carleton Wiggins‘ classic winter depiction of Old Trinity Church, is expected to sell for $100,000+ Dec. 5 in Heritage Auctions’ inaugural The Art of New York Signature Auction, a celebration of paintings, drawings, and memorabilia from private collections coinciding with the centennial anniversary of the Armory Show

“The Art of New York tells the story of New York City and is specially timed to pay homage to the seminal 1913 Armory show, which introduced New York to Modern Art,” said Aviva Lehmann, Director of American Art at Heritage New York. “What better way to celebrate and give tribute to our great city than with a specialized section devoted to New York?”

Few other artists capture the beauty of New York as does Wiggins in his masterful street scenes. Just off 5th Avenue at 53rd Street (á la Childe Hassam), 1939, a view from the southeast corner of 53rd Street and Sixth Avenue, looking toward Fifth Avenue, is expected to sell for $80,000+. The painting is Wiggins’ tribute to America’s foremost flag painter Childe Hassam, who visited the same corner in 1916. Two additional classic Wiggins winter scenes appear in the auction: The Library, 5th Avenue, circa 1940, and Financial Center, both of which are expected to sell for $30,000+ each.

At its heart, the auction presents views of the same city skyline as interpreted by different artists. Carlos Nadal’s Port de New York, circa 1980, expected to bring $15,000+, is juxtaposed with Early Evening, Empire Park, New York, circa 1910, by Paul Cornoyer, which is estimated to sell for $50,000+.

Few works depict New York’s diversity and distinctive personality better than a selection of photographs that were hand selected for the auction. Berenice Abbott’s Newsstand, East 32nd Street & Third Avenue, Manhattan, estimated to bring $3,000+, gives new perspective to a mundane street corner, while Annie Leibovitz’ 1997 chromogenic print of Brooke Astor in her apartment — appearing at auction directly from Astor’s personal collection — pays homage to the personalities that make the city great. It is expected to sell for $1,000+.

Additional highlights include, but are not limited to:

January Snow Storm, by Laurence A. Campbell. Estimate: $30,000+.

Winter, Brooklyn, by Rosalyn Bodycomb. Estimate: $8,000+.

The Pulitzer Fountain, Grand Army Plaza, Manhattan, 1919, by Ezra Winter. Estimate: $5,000+.

42nd Street from Bryant Park, 1920, by George Copeland Ault. Estimate: $5,000+.

Alphabet City, Manhattan, New York, by Samuel Rothbort. Estimate: $4,000+.

The Katie Couric Show is coming to Heritage Auctions Tomorrow, Wednesday Oct. 30thfrom 12PM Noon to 3PM!

Calling all Dallas collectors!!!

The Katie Couric Show is coming to Heritage Auctions Tomorrow, Wednesday Oct. 30^thfrom 12PM Noon to 3PM!

Could your latest flea market purchase or unique family heirloom be worth big bucks? Katie Couric’s talk show is coming to the Lone Star State to see if you could be sitting on a goldmine!

Bring your item to Heritage Auctions from 12PM Noon to 3PM for a free verbal estimate.  You could even be selected to travel to “Katie’s”’ NYC studios to be part of a taping onMonday, November 4^th!

About your items:  Bring your jewelry, artwork, found items, coins, sports or entertainment memorabilia, comic books, family heirlooms and more!  However, weaponry will not be appraised at this time.  You must be able to carry the item yourself, and if selected, bring your item with you to New York for the Katie Show taping.

Where: Heritage Auctions

1^st Floor Auction Room

3500 Maple Ave

Dallas, TX 75219

*Covered Parking On-Site!

When: Wednesday, October 30^th

12PM Noon to 3PM

Don’t want to wait in line? Let us know you are coming.

Contact Bianca Hammonds at 212-456-3465 or Bianca.Hammonds@katiecouric.com

Antique Trader Antiques and Collectibles 2014 Price Guide

Unfortunately I ran out of time before I could ask Eric about the Mantiques Guide. Maybe next time.

This week on The Collectors Show we welcome the author and editor of the “Antique Trader Antiques and Collectibles 2014 Price Guide”, Eric Bradley. This year’s guide has more than a dozen new categories, 4,500+ fresh images, and market reports on categories ranging from country store to Western Art.

Each entry is illustrated with a full color image, making Antique Trader a pioneer among antiques and collectibles references guides. At 816 pages it explains and illustrates a broad range of antiques and collectibles, from affordable and accessible items to more illusive and illustrious examples.

Eric Bradley is a public relations associate for Heritage Auctions, the largest auction house founded in the United States and the world’s third largest. A lifelong student of antiques, Bradley served as editor of Antique Trader magazine in addition to writing hundreds of articles on antiques, collecting, and the trade, Bradley has made several media appearances as an expert on the antiques and collectibles market. His work has received press from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. To contact Eric directly, write to him at mantiquesguide@gmail.com.

Also, Laurence C. Zale discuss the need for collectors to make plans for their collections after they pass this world to the next. Larry has many options for listeners to consider including loans to museums, partial sales and other solutions that will save heirs and executors time and money. To contact him directly, go to lczale@aol.com.