Articles by Hector Cantu on ArticleSnatch.com

Fans Get Chance to Own 'Charlotte's Web' Illustrations

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:28:00 -0400

Few children's books have impacted pop culture as much as "Charlotte's Web." The 1952 book, by E. B. White (1899-1985) and illustrator Garth Williams (1912-1996), tells the tale of Wilbur the pig, who is saved from being slaughtered by a clever spider named Charlotte. The work has spawned movies, theatrical plays, video games, toys and stuffed animals. Now, the Williams' estate is making the book's illustrations available to collectors in what experts say is the first time in recent memory that original art from a significant children's book has been auctioned. More than 40 original illustrations from "Charlotte's Web", including the cover, are featured in Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries' illustration auction, scheduled for Oct. 14, 2010, in New York City. Barry Sandoval, director of operations at Heritage's comics division, says "Charlotte's Web" is the best-selling children's paperback of all time. "Anytime you see a poll of the most beloved children's books, it's at or near the top," Sandoval says. "It's a touching story that appeals to boys and girls in the U.S. and around the world." The original cover art for the book is expected to sell for between $20,000 and $30,000. **End Summary** Topics: Garth Williams]]> Charlotte's Web]]> E.B. White]]> Heritag]]> auction]]> children's books]]> Stuart Little]]> Princeton University]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Andy Warhol Silkscreen Could Fetch Up To $18,000

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:02:58 -0400

In the 1950s, Van Heusen hired celebrities like Ronald Reagan, Charleton Heston and Mickey Rooney to promote the company's collar-attached shirts. "Won't wrinkle ... ever!" the ad featuring Reagan stated. Thirty years later, after Reagan was elected president of the United States, the ad was the basis of a silkscreen by Andy Warhol (1928-1987), considered by many the most influential and controversial American artist of the second half of the 20th century. "Van Heusen (Ronald Reagan)" was part of Warhol's "Ads" portfolio, whereby the artist rendered popular subjects such as commercial advertisements, corporate logos and celebrity portraits into art forms of their own. It was part of a body of work that continued Warhol's fascination with consumerism and pop culture. "To his critics, he was the cynical magus of a movement that debased high art and reduced it to a commodity," Tony Scherman and David Dalton write in their book "Pop: The Genius of Andy Warhol" (Harper, $40). "To his admirers, he was the most important artist since Picasso. Indisputably, Andy Warhol redefined what art could be. **End Summary** Topics: Andy Warhol]]> Ronald Reagan]]> auction]]> Heritage]]> silkscreen]]> Van Heusen]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Q&A: Former Museum Director Has Witnessed Changes in Art of the American West

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:50:03 -0400

As executive director at the Dallas Historical Society, Michael Duty was responsible for 3 million objects in the organization's collection, and a key player in the successful campaign to renovate the Texas Hall of State, a national landmark building. Before working at the historical society, Duty was a top administrator at the National Western Art Foundation in San Antonio, Texas; the Rockwell Museum in Corning, N.Y.; the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indian and Western Art in Indianapolis, Ind.; and the California Historical Society in San Francisco. He is author of several books on Western art, including "Dave McGary, American Realism in Bronze"; "Under Western Skies: The Art of Bob Pummill"; and the upcoming "Texas Traditions: Contemporary Artists of the Lone Star State." His book "Cowboy Artists of America" won the Wrangler Award for best art book of 2003, presented by the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City. In 2008, Duty joined Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries as director of the auction house's Art of the American West department. Q: How did you get interested in Art of the American West? **End Summary** Topics: Frederic Remington]]> C.M. Russell]]> Taos Society of Artists]]> Maynard Dixon]]> Dave McGary]]> Bob Pummill]]> Victor Higgins]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Stephen F. Austin Handwritten Note Is Rare Piece of Texas History

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:43:33 -0400

A note written in 1836 by the "Father of Texas," Stephen F. Austin, is expected to fetch up to $10,000 at a September auction. It's one of the few known pieces from Austin's brief tenure as Texas' first Secretary of State. Four months after Sam Houston defeated Mexican Gen. Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto, the Republic of Texas held its first presidential election. Austin was so confident that he would win that he offered the secretary of state position to Virginia congressman William S. Archer. But at the last minute, Houston announced his candidacy and was overwhelmingly elected president on Sept. 5, 1836. Houston, one of the first to revere Austin as the "Father of Texas," chose Austin as his own secretary of state on Oct. 28, 1836. Acting in that capacity, Austin wrote a note requesting a horse from David Randon sometime between his appointment and his death two months later from pneumonia. Randon was among the first 300 families brought to Texas by Austin by late 1825. He had taken an active part in the Texas Revolution, urging war and organizing militias. "Mr. **End Summary** Topics: Texas]]> Stephen F. Austin]]> Sam Houston]]> auction]]> history]]> revolution]]> Lone Star State]]> Heritage Auction]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Q&A: Art by Famed Disney Artist Being Auctioned

Thu, 22 Jul 2010 13:42:30 -0400

Kerby Confer has vivid memories of collecting stamps as a kid growing up in Williamsport, Penn. "I had a five and dime stamp collection," he recalls. "You could buy a packet of stamps for 25 cents, put them on hinges and put them in a book." Even as a boy, Confer knew about the ultimate collectible stamp. "I was 9 or 10 and I remember telling myself, 'You know what? The Inverted Jenny? That's the stamp. That's the one you're going to get someday.' "My earliest goals," Confer says today, "came out of collecting." Sure enough, after a successful career in radio and TV -- including a stint as a TV dance show host that helped inspire the movie "Hairspray" -- Confer acquired a block of Inverted Jennies, the postage stamp first issued in 1918 in which the image of a Curtiss JN-4 airplane is accidentally printed upside-down. But Confer was interested in more than just acquisitions. For him, it became vital to make a connection with his collection. **End Summary** Topics: Walt Disney]]> Carl Barks]]> Heritage Auction Galleries]]> Heritage Auctions]]> Donald Duck]]> Scrooge McDuck]]> paintings]]> art]]> Mickey Mouse]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Sir Isaac Newton's Rare 'Principia' Book Sells for $191,200

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:28:12 -0400

Sir Isaac Newton is often called one of the most influential people in human history. His writings formed the foundation of classical mechanics and helped explain gravity and planetary motion. His "Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica," Latin for "Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy," was published in 1687 and has come to be known as the greatest work in the history of science. When the first edition was printed in 1687, it's believed 250 to 300 copies were produced before the printer swapped out a title page to incorporate the name of bookseller Samuel Smith. Experts believe roughly 50 copies of this second issue were printed. Although scholars believe the two issues were printed simultaneously, first-issue copies remain more popular with collectors, with some fetching more than $300,000. The highest price realized for a second issue was $125,000. But at a February 2010 rare book auction by Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries, a second issue from a private collection realized nearly $200,000. It's believed to be a world record price for a second issue. **End Summary** Topics: Sir Isaac Newton]]> Principia]]> Heritage Auction Galleries]]> James Gannon]]> physicist]]> physics]]> rare]]> book]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Bobby Orr Jersey Fetches Nearly $200,000 at Auction

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 12:05:18 -0400

When he was a teenager, John Rows received a gift. His uncle, Garry Young, ran a hockey school near Toronto, and Rows had spent a few summers there helping out. Young, who also was chief scout for the Boston Bruins, thought his nephew would appreciate a hockey jersey. "I brought it home and I put it away and I've had it in a box ever since," Rows, now 58, told the Canadian Press. "I might have got it out of that box maybe two or three times in the last, well, almost 40 years." A few years earlier, in 1966, Bobby Orr was a rookie for the Boston Bruins. It was the start of a legendary career in which the Canadian-born Orr would lead his team to two Stanley Cup championships. With his induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1979, he would be acknowledged as one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Nearing retirement, Rows thought about selling his white, black and gold jersey. **End Summary** Topics: Bobby Orr]]> hockey]]> auction]]> Heritage Auction]]> Mickey Mantle]]> sports]]> jersey]]> Wayne Gretsky]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Elvis Presley Love Letter Being Offered to Fans

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 11:56:06 -0400

1958 was a pivotal year for Elvis Presley. In August, Gladys Presley fell ill with acute hepatitis. Earlier that year, the rock 'n' roll star had entered the U.S. Army. He was granted emergency leave to visit his beloved mother in Memphis, arriving two days before she passed away. Presley reported back to Fort Hood, Texas, before heading to New York and boarding the USS Randall and sailing to Friedberg, Germany, where he was stationed for 18 months. During this period, "The King" wrote a four-page letter to girlfriend Anita Wood, an aspiring actress who hosted a Memphis TV dance show. "Sometimes we would go to the skating rink and he would rent it all night long," Wood said in a 2006 interview. "Sometimes we would get on the motorcycle, just Elvis and I, and ride through Memphis. [Those were] some of my best times with him." Like a typical -- but famous -- soldier, Presley wrote love letters and in one particular message acknowledged accounts of his flirtations with a German girl. "I just received your letters," he writes, "and I can judge by the last 3 that you are a little disappointed. **End Summary** Topics: Elvis Presley]]> Anita Wood]]> Priscilla]]> Memphis]]> Gladys]]> love letter]]> Heritage Auction Galleries]]> rock 'n' roll]]> music]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

'Regulated' Gold Coins Could Sell For Up To $80,000

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:35:05 -0400

After the United States won its independence from England, trade exploded between the major seaports of the northeast and the islands of the West Indies. Ships were laden with foodstuffs, finished goods and that most desirable trade item of all, gold. Remarkably productive mines in Brazil made Portuguese gold the dominant gold coinage of early America. Varying weights and values of these pieces, however, made them a challenging medium. "With typical American ingenuity, some of the continent's best-known goldsmiths solved this problem by regulating the circulating gold medium, marking coins of appropriate weight with their hallmark while plugging coins that were underweight," says Cristiano Bierrenbach, vice president of international numismatics at Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries. "This phenomenon later became widespread throughout the West Indies, and it has been within collections of this specialty where many of these important American artifacts have long been hidden from view." Heritage's World Coins ANA auction in Boston, scheduled for Aug. 12-16, 2010, includes dozens of examples produced by some of America's best-known silver and goldsmiths of the 18th century. Some are expected to sell for up to $80,000. **End Summary** Topics: Gold]]> coins]]> Brazil]]> Heritage Auction Galleries]]> regulated]]> world coins]]> reis]]> Rio]]> mint]]> ]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Ken Norton's 1973 Title Belt Going Up For Auction

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:23:14 -0400

It was a bout that stunned the world. In 1973, Muhammad Ali was near the height of his career, having suffered only one loss two years earlier at the hands of Joe Frazier. But by March 1973, "the Greatest" was again the North American Boxing Federation heavyweight champion. Ken Norton's professional ring career began in 1967 at the age of 23. His bout with Ali was not expected to be memorable. The fight, as Pulitzer Prize-winning sportswriter Jim Murray wrote at the time, would show Norton to be "a keyboard for the great maestro, a chance to hit a few high C's for a great voice. The fight would just be a complicated solo." Of course, those weren't Norton's plans. By Round 12, Ali was staggering with a broken jaw. In a split decision, the victory went to Norton, giving Ali only the second defeat of his career. "Ali defeated everyone mentally first," Norton said in a recent radio interview. "Mentally, Ali could not defeat me and physically I felt I was as much a physical power as Ali was." Now, boxing fans can own a piece of boxing history. **End Summary** Topics: Ken Norton]]> Muhammad Ali]]> boxing]]> Heritage Auction Galleries]]> NABF]]> championship]]> title]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Q&A: Neiman Marcus Curator Julie Kronick Remains Focused on Company Goals

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 19:56:05 -0400

In 1951, Alexander Calder (1898-1976) was bursting onto the international art scene. Two years earlier, the Philadelphia native constructed his largest mobile, "International Mobile," for the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Third International Exhibition of Sculpture. His works were featured in the best galleries and a retrospective was mounted at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Shows in Paris followed. But before he began focusing on large-scale commissioned works -- such as ".125" at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York and "El Sol Rojo" in Mexico City -- Calder met Stanley Marcus (1905-2002). At the time, Marcus had just assumed the CEO post at Neiman Marcus, the department store founded by his father and aunt. Impressed with the artist's work, Marcus purchased a Calder mobile in 1951. "Today, it's the most prized piece in the Neiman Marcus Collection," says Julie Kronick, corporate art curator at the Dallas-based luxury retailer. "We like to say that's when the collection officially started." "Stanley Marcus had impeccable taste," adds Greg Rohan, president of Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries, "and that extended to his art collection. **End Summary** Topics: Alexander Calder]]> Rufino Tamayo]]> Jean Dubuffet]]> Heritage Auctions]]> Neiman Marcus]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Marie Antoinette Serving Dish Ended up in White House

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 17:12:31 -0400

By 1793, the French Revolution had ended the reign of Louis XVI and his queen Marie Antoinette. Perhaps an early example of a "government surplus" sale, a piece of china owned by the French queen -- a striking 15.5-inch Paris porcelain serving dish in an unusual diamond shape -- was purchased in 1794 by then-American Minister to France James Monroe for another president-to-be, James Madison. It was used at Madison's Virginia home, Montpelier, until the White House, burned by the British during the War of 1812, was refurbished. Sometime during Madison's second term, the china service was brought to the capital for use in the restored presidential mansion. Although the history of the platter is well documented, nothing was known of the disposition of the china set following Madison's presidential years. "Presumably, it was returned to Montpelier," says Tom Slater, director of Dallas-based Heritage Auction Galleries' historical department. "However, as the Victorian inscription added to the present specimen reveals, at least this particular piece came into the possession of Mrs. John Quincy Adams, whose husband had occupied the White House from 1825 through 1829. **End Summary** Topics: White House]]> Marie Antoinette]]> James Madison]]> Dolly Madison]]> Heritage Auctions]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

Alexander Pope Jr. one of America's Leading Sporting Artists

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 16:30:20 -0400

Alexander Pope Jr. (1849-1924) was one of the leading sporting artists of his day, known for his exquisite paintings of hunting dogs and his realistically rendered still lifes. His trompe l'oeil technique became a visual calling card, and helped to popularize the style in the late 19th century. Having trained briefly with William Rimmer and William Copley, Pope was a celebrated member of the Copley Society of Boston, the oldest art association in America. Pope's work was acquired by such high-profile collectors as Czar Alexander III of Russia and is found today in museums like the Boston Museum of Fine Art, the National Museum of Wildlife Art, and the Brooklyn Museum. A favorite portrait artist among high-society circles, Pope completed "Dogs in a Kennel" around the turn of the 20th century, most likely on commission by high-profile horse breeder and New York hotelier David S. Hammond (1840-1900). The work shows three pure-breed dogs peering out from a wooden crate. Pope's trompe l'oeil technique gives the painting a three-dimensional feel. "Hammond was part owner of the famed Murray Hill Hotel, where he lived among such notable residents as Mark Twain, Grover Cleveland, and J.P. **End Summary** Topics: Alexander Pope Jr.]]> Heritage Auctions]]> spaniel]]> bulldog]]> sporting]]> New York]]> hotelier]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

Comic Collecting Is A Family Affair

Mon, 29 Mar 2010 12:00:03 -0400

Putting together one of the best comic collections in America has always been a family affair for Gary Keller. It began with visits to his grandparents' home when he was a boy in the 1960s. "They lived near Larry's Comic Book Store, which was on Devon Avenue in Chicago," Keller says. "I spent a lot of time there and that's what kind of got me going as a kid, just spending time in an old, damp, dusty, musty comic book shop and loving every second of it." It helped that Keller's father liked comics as well, and often joined him on trips to the comic store. "My father was absolutely a comic collector," Keller says. Nearly five decades later, Keller's collection is one of the best in the hobby. "From doing business with Gary over the years, we know he has an eye for quality," says Ed Jaster, vice president at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions (HA.com), which specializes in comic-book auctions. "But the other secret to his collecting success is support from the folks back home." Growing up, Keller bought comics wherever he could find them. **End Summary** Topics: Comic books]]> collecting]]> Wolverine]]> DC]]> auction]]> Heritage Auctions]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

Philanthropy of Max Factor Cosmetics Family Is Legendary

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:28:08 -0400

When it comes to glamour and beauty, few families have influenced Hollywood more than the Factors. Behind the makeup, however, is a tradition of philanthropy. Max Factor founded Max Factor & Co. at the St. Louis World's Fair in 1904 before moving to Los Angeles, where he launched his theatrical makeup and wig shop, eventually working with stars like Joan Crawford, Jean Harlow, Claudette Colbert, and Bette Davis. As Factor laid the groundwork for what eventually would become a global brand, his family took root in Hollywood society. Dorothy Levinson still recalls one particular wedding reception where the Factors and Levinsons were guests. She was only 7, but she remembers dancing with the youngest of Factor's four sons. Sidney pushed little Dorothy around the dance floor on a chair. "They talked about getting married," says her son Max Factor III. Ten years later, as young adults, Dorothy and Sidney reconnected. They fell in love and launched a romantic 65-year marriage. "They had a very loving and happy marriage," says their son, an attorney in Southern California. "They were lovers, best friends, best supporters. **End Summary** Topics: Max Factor]]> Tom Wesselmann]]> Arman]]> cosmetics]]> auction]]> jewelry]]> Heritage Auctions]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

Julian Onderdonk's Masterwork Up for Auction

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:31:09 -0400

The life of Julian Onderdonk (1882-1922) almost perfectly brackets the Impressionist movement in the United States. "The period from about 1885 to 1920 constitutes the years of [Impressionism's] ascendancy [in the United States] and the achievements and innovations of the principal American masters of the movement," writes William H. Gerdts, author of more than 25 books on American art. Onderdonk studied under one of the movement's principal masters, William Merritt Chase (1849-1916), who provided Onderdonk with the tools to paint the south-central Texas landscape in the Impressionist style. It was Onderdonk, along with Frank Reaugh (1860-1945), who kept Texas in the national avant-garde mix until the former's untimely death. By 1917, Onderdonk was already recognized as a master interpreter of the Texas landscape. That year, he completed "Bluebonnets at Sunrise." Two elements make the work particularly special, says Atlee Phillips, director of Texas Art at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions (HA.com). In addition to being titled, signed, and dated on the back, Onderdonk added a unique handwritten note stating that because the original buyers took it home before the paint was dry, they needed to return it so he could "attend to" the varnishing. **End Summary** Topics: Julian Onderdonk]]> bluebonnet]]> auction]]> Heritage Auctions]]> Texas]]> painting]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

Brush With Space Pioneers

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:23:06 -0400

Marian Monta fondly recalls her days as a teacher at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. In the early 1960s, the base was home to the first U.S. astronauts and Monta was always running into the space pioneers and their children. "One time," Monta says, "we were putting on a production at the base school. I asked Scott Carpenter if we could borrow some astronaut helmets and he said of course, but someone got upset and we couldn't do it. So the kids ended up using shower caps instead." Carpenter was among the "Mercury Seven" -- the original group of astronauts selected by NASA in 1959 to begin the nation's exploration of space. The astronauts' children attended the base school, and Monta recalls Carpenter was an active parent. "All the parents were involved in their kids' education," Monta recalls. Monta often purchased books for her class. One book -- "The Astronauts: The Story of Project Mercury" by Martin Caidin (New York: E.P. Dutton & Co. Inc., 1960) -- was particularly relevant to the kids in her class. **End Summary** Topics: Astronauts]]> John Glenn]]> Buzz Aldrin]]> Heritage Auctions]]> Langley Air Force Base]]>]]> About the Author: ]]>

First Edition of Harry Potter Book Could Bring $25,000

Wed, 09 Dec 2009 20:33:13 -0500

By June 1997, J.K. Rowling was beginning anew. After separating from her husband, living on welfare and battling depression, she had completed a novel on an old manual typewriter. The story had been rejected by numerous editors before a small London company took a chance and published "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone." With her characters about to storm the literary world, Rowling worked to publicize the book. Among the first to interview the author was Elisabeth Dunn, working for The Daily Telegraph. It was the first interview of Rowling to be published in a national newspaper. The interview was conducted in Nicholson's Cafe in Edinburgh, Scotland, a favorite writing spot for Rowling. At the time, Rowling had recently given up smoking, Dunn recalls. "I hadn't, and throughout our meeting, Rowling continually leaned into the smoke to pick up the secondary nicotine." Rowling gave a copy of her book to Dunn, who asked that it be signed -- "a novel experience for her at the time," Dunn says. Rowling thought for a moment before writing: "Breathe some more smoke my way! J.K. Rowling". **End Summary** Topics: Harry Potter]]> J.K. Rowling]]> rare book]]> Heritage Auctions]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu and Joe Fay are contributors to Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Hunting for Rare Books

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:44:19 -0500

When it comes to rare books, James Gannon has some simple advice: "Handle your books carefully, with clean hands," says the director of rare books at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions. "Do not over-open a book, do not keep collectible books in direct sunlight, and do not use a book as a coaster for your coffee cup!" Yes, Gannon says, he has seen coffee stains on rare books. Maybe that's why serious collectors often hire skilled bookbinders to custom-make conservation cases for their rare books. "It's a smart move," Gannon says. Here's more from Gannon on collecting rare and valuable books. Q: What's your best advice for beginning rare-book collectors? A: Collect what you love. Your passion for a subject or genre will help you educate yourself about the foundation books for that area, and about what to look for in collectible copies of books. Find a few specialist dealers in the area you want to collect and begin a relationship with them. Ask questions about books they are offering, or ask their advice about books you find elsewhere. It is good also to find like-minded collectors to interact with, and follow rare-book blogs or listserves. **End Summary** Topics: Rare books]]> auction]]> valuable]]> collecting]]> collector]]> collectible]]> Harry Potter]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

John Dillinger Belongings Head to Auction Block

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:01:25 -0500

Mike Thompson vividly remembers the knock. It was 1971 and he was a teenager. "I opened the door and standing there was Rod Serling from 'The Twilight Zone' and another gentleman," Thompson says. "They were working on a documentary and they wanted to interview my mom. I invited them in. It was surreal." Thompson's mother was Frances Dillinger, the younger stepsister of notorious bank robber John Dillinger. Thompson telephoned his mom, but she was working and said she might not be able to break away. "Serling waited for a while, but they had to leave," Thompson says. "They couldn't wait." His mom's reaction was not too surprising, Thompson says. "She always kept quiet about John. We never thought too much about it." But since Dillinger's death in 1934, the legendary status of the infamous gangster has only grown. He robbed at least 20 banks during the Great Depression, escaped from jail twice and was idolized by many as a modern-day Robin Hood. He's the subject of numerous books, with his life of crime most recently told by Johnny Depp in the movie "Public Enemies. **End Summary** Topics: John Dillinger]]> Johnny Depp]]> hunting suit]]> Rod Serling]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Newly Discovered 1860 Campaign Banner Breaks Auction Record

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:24:07 -0500

A rare political banner issued by the campaign of a Kentucky lawyer who unsuccessfully ran against Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 presidential elections sold for nearly $100,000 at a November auction. John C. Breckenridge previously had served as President James Buchanan's vice president and was one of three candidates who ran against Lincoln. After his loss, Breckenridge was elected to the U.S. Senate, but was expelled for supporting the rebellion that led to the Civil War. Breckenridge's 1860 campaign banner was not known to exist until the example put up for auction was discovered in the floorboards of a house. The banner resembles the U.S. flag, with a portrait of Breckenridge in the upper left corner. Over 13 red and white stripes are the words, "For President, John C. Breckenridge, Vice President Gen. Jos. Lane." Experts at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions called it "perhaps the most important American political textile to appear at auction." It sold for $95,600. "Collectors stepped forward for this excellent opportunity," said Tom Slater, director of Heritage Auctions' Americana department. "The importance of a find like this cannot be overstated. **End Summary** Topics: Abraham Lincoln]]> Ronald Reagan]]> Heritage Auctions]]> Booker T. Washington]]> politics]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com). For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Comic Legend Joe Kubert Opens His Vault to Fans

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:47:19 -0500

One of comics' legendary artists and creators was barely 12 years old when he began a career that would lead to work on some of comics' most popular characters. But ask Joe Kubert about the most fulfilling part of his journey and he won't mention his work on Sgt. Rock, Hawkman, the Flash, Tarzan, Enemy Ace, or Batman. "The most satisfying work is the work on my table right now," Kubert, 83, says from his studio in New Jersey. "The more I can get into the work I'm doing, the more satisfaction I get from the work." On cue, Kubert tells how his latest work -- a graphic novel about a Special Forces team fighting in Vietnam -- was born, starting with the soldier he met decades ago while working on the Tales of the Green Berets newspaper comic strip to the true Vietnam war stories that "made the hair on my neck stand up." The book from DC Comics is due in stores in early 2010. It's the latest accomplishment in a storied career. "It's funny," Kubert says, "but I got into this business thanks to pure, unadulterated luck. **End Summary** Topics: World War II]]> Joe Kubert]]> war]]> Sgt. Rock]]> Heritage Auctions]]> Tarzan]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Hulk Comic Book Sells for $125,000

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:39:36 -0500

A near-mint edition of The Incredible Hulk #1, considered one of the most difficult Silver Age Marvel comics to find in high grade, has sold for $125,475. Barry Sandoval, director of comics operations at Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, said the auction Nov. 19-21 showed that the vintage comic market remains "quite strong." "Collectors took full advantage of great prices on a broad and striking array of superb books and vintage art and our consignors fared just as well," Sandoval said. "We had seven consignors bring in more than $100,000 and four of those surpassed $200,000." The Hulk was Marvel's second Silver Age superhero series, with his first issue dated May 1962. It was preceded by the Fantastic Four. Spider-Man and Thor followed before the end of 1962. Unlike the Fantastic Four and Spider-Man, the green giant was not an overnight success and the book was canceled after six issues. "It's probably why so few copies of the first issue survive," Sandoval said. "Those that did were mostly in poor condition, as the midnight blue cover background ruthlessly exposed even the smallest imperfection in any given copy. **End Summary** Topics: Hulk]]> Heritage Auctions]]> Marvel Comics]]> Stan Lee]]> Spider-Man]]> Fantastic Four]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com). For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Ring Linked to Media Tycoon William Randolph Hearst Up For Auction

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:25:17 -0500

Kendall Brown was only a teenager, but he already was being mentioned in the national gossip columns of Louella Parsons. It was the 1950s and Brown kept company with some of America's most famous celebrities. His dad Horace had a small role in "Gone with the Wind," and appeared as a bit player in numerous Hollywood movies. Along the way, the elder Brown befriended media mogul William Randolph Hearst and his companion Marion Davies. In the months following Hearst's death in August 1951, the relationship between Davies and Brown blossomed and the two were married (Horace's own wife had died 10 years earlier). Visitors to the home included Clark Gable, Dick Powell, Glenn Ford, Mary Pickford and Joe Kennedy. Ken Brown and his brothers were immediately thrust into the celebrity spotlight. "We were in Life magazine," says Brown, now 77. "One day, [champion boxer] Jack Dempsey's daughter showed up at our home in Beverly Hills to meet us, and we started dating." The first Christmas after his father married Davies, the actress gave her new husband and stepsons cat's eye rings made from one of her favorite brooches. **End Summary** Topics: William Randoph Hearst]]> Marion Davies]]> Heritage Auctions]]> Gone With the Wind]]> jewelry]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.

Movie Poster a Treasure for California Family

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 12:17:17 -0500

In 1978, Anne Stafford was shopping for a gift for her husband's birthday. "He is a B horror movie fan and he loved Dracula and Sherlock Holmes and stuff by Roger Corman," says the California mom. Stafford ended up in an antiques store, not certain what she was looking for or what she would find when a stack of movie posters caught her eye. She began flipping through the sheets when one in particular stood out. "When I saw it, it was just stunning," Stafford recalls. "I knew I had a terrific hit on my hands. "It was the perfect gift," she continues. "There were maybe 10 movie posters on that table, but honestly I don't remember what the others were. I just remember the 'Freaks' poster." Stafford paid $10 for the 14-by-36 inch poster and her husband was delighted with the gift. When released in 1932, 'Freaks' shocked moviegoers. It was based on a short story about circus performers published in February 1923 in Munsey's Magazine. Rather than using actors in costumes and makeup, director and producer Tod Browning cast real performers as "freaks. **End Summary** Topics: Sherlock Holmes]]> Freaks]]> antiques]]> movie posters]]> collecting]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Hector Cantu is editorial director at Heritage Magazine (www.HeritageMagazine.com), where this story originally appeared. For a free subscription, visit www.HeritageMagazine.com.