Valentine Estate Auction
David Valentine was both enthusiastic and competitive as a collector for more than 40 years in Southeastern Michigan. We became friends over the years while being fierce competitors at Estate Auctions. David’s favorite saying when we would share our knowledge about early items of interest was, “It’s Right as Rain” whereby I would reply “I agree….. It’s Right as Rain”. More times than not we would bid against each other and both were genuinely satisfied when either of us won the item. David, like myself, was a sponge for knowledge and was always doing research on pieces he had acquired. I will miss him and was honored to buy several items that we had competed for in the past.
The Auction was no less than walking into a Museum filled with quality early American items including Historical Glassware, Bottles, Jars, Pattern Glassware, Sandwich Glassware, Stoneware, Redware, MochaWare, FlowBlue, Early Bennington, Early Folk items of many types, Paintings, Early American Furniture, Native American Basketry, Early Woodenware and Pantry related items and so much more. My dear friend, Brian Braun, conducted this auction and did a truly wonderful job both setting up and attracting buyer’s to participate in this monumental One Day Auction. There was no shortage of Quality Items and the bidding was quite spirited until the very end. The pictures shown with this post should give you a good idea as to the Quality and Quantity of items that crossed the Auction Block on August 15th, 2024. Highlights Included: Rochester N.Y. Masury’s Sarsaparilla Compound Bottle in Light Sapphire Blue $28,600.00, Lansing Double Handled Harvest/Presentation Jug with Name in Blue Slip on front $28,600.00, 3 Different Rare Michigan Strapside Flasks sold for $1550.00-$2750.00 Each and the Stoneware prices were strong across the board with a very rare 1868 Dated Ohio crock bringing nearly $6,000. The box lots were aggressively assembled which kept bidders on their toes and one early Michigan bottle lot with three pontiled examples brought $2,500.00. The fruit jar lots varied as individual jars sold and several box lots, ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to $1,200.00 each. The fruit jar highlights in this auction were the Olive Green CFJ Half Gallon, Yellow Olive Lightning Pint, Straw/Citron Globe Quart, Empire Half Gallon (Misspelled EMPIRC with Ghosted KEYSTONE on Back) and a few other nice colored Mason jars.
I was happy with my purchases and only wish I had bought more – Happy Collecting!!