In the News

A white rhino shoulder mount charged past its estimate to sell for $9,000 at Cordier’s July 31 Firearms and Militaria Auction, which featured the exotic taxidermy collection of Jim and Barb McCarthy.  Other highlights at the Harrisburg auction house included Colt revolvers, military hand and long guns, and a vintage tool collection. Prices quoted are hammer prices.

The exotic taxidermy collection, the result of local couple Jim and Barb McCarthy’s decades of professional adventuring, also included two full body leopards mounted together ($4,500) and a full body lion with an impala mounted under its front paw which sold for $2,300. Another impressive full body lion hammered down at $2,800. Other notable pieces included a European brown bear ($1,300) and a beautiful ceiling mount of a mountain lion on a tree limb which brought $1,400. A musk ox on a base sold for $1,600.

Antique firearms featured an 1851 Colt Navy Revolver inscribed to John G.B. Adams. Adams was a Prisoner of War and a Medal of Honor recipient during the Civil War. The revolver brought $8,500, one of the leading results among the firearms. A W.L Evans 1826 Navy Pistol dated 1831 hammered down at $1,000. In the Military Handguns category, German Lugers remained popular with a Mauser Code 42 1940 dated Luger selling for $1,200.

Modern Handguns also performed well, highlighted by a Colt 6” blued Python ($2,750), and a Browning Hi-Power GP Competition Pistol ($1,200).

In Long Guns, a Vietnam War commemorative Thompson model 1927A1 shot past its high estimate of $1,200 to sell for $1,900, while a brand new Springfield Armory M1A rifle in 7.62 NATO caliber hammered down at $1,700.

Military Collectibles drew heavy interest at this auction, with the Home Service Helmet of British Colonel Hugh Fortescue Coleridge of the 1^st Loyal North Lancashire Regiment ultimately selling for $1,300 after spirited bidding. Edged weapons also did well, notably an early Prussian staff officer’s sword which sold for $450 and a Civil War era D-Guard bowie knife which brought $550.

Rounding out the day was the vintage tool collection from the estate of William Snyder, Carlisle, which featured numerous Stanley Planes in original boxes. Over half a dozen of Stanley’s popular #55 plane were sold, ranging in price from $250 to $475 each. Other standout lots include a Stanley #444 dovetail tongue and groove plane in the original box ($600), a Stanley #85 Plane ($375), and a Miller’s Patent Stanley #141 combination plane ($450).

Forrest Hills Tennis Stadium in New York. The reel-to-reel recording, which was won by the consignor as a radio contest giveaway, will be among the featured lots in Cordier’s August 13 and 14 Antique and Fine Art Auction to be held at 1500 Paxton Street in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The sale will also be highlighted by a single-owner gold coin collection and almost 200 lots of Asian and Ethnographic Art.

The Beatles recording (est $2,000 - $4,000) will be sold on day one of the two day sale, along with Coins, Jewelry, Silver, and a small grouping of 19^th century Russian icons. Among the icons is a beautiful golden 19^thcentury Palkh icon of St. George slaying the dragon (est $1,000 - $1,500). Coins will include over 50 lots of gold coins from a single-owner collection, while jewelry offerings include a modernist 14k gemstone brooch (est $1,000 - $1,500).  

Day one will also feature six sterling flatware sets including a Gorham Etruscan set (est $1,000 - $1,200) and a set of Stieff Rose (est $1,500 – $2,000), as well as Tiffany and S. Kirk and Son pieces.

Almost 200 lots of Asian and Ethnographic arts will cross the block on day two, including over 100 lots of ivory. Highlights of those pieces, which mostly hail from the collections of two estates, include a large carved ivory wedding boat (est $5,000 - $8,000), and an animated carved ivory tusk depicting elephants and big cats (est $400 - $600). 

Art will be headlined by a large and beautiful painting by the Iranian artist Nasser Ovissi (est $40,000 - $50,000) as well as three lots of experimental pottery by Richard DeVore, a former master of ceramics at the Cranbook Academy of Art. The pottery pieces, given by DeVore to the consignor, include Two Trees and Secret House (est $500 - $1,000 each).   An intimate watercolor scene by Umberto Cacciarelli (est $2,000 - $3,000) is also among the highlights in the art category. A rare eight day Eli Bentley, Taneytown MD, tall case clock (est $4,000 - $6,000) is to be among the clocks offered.

A pair of reclining Leopards ($4,000 - $6,000) and an African White Rhino shoulder mount ($5,000 – $8,000) will be among the approximately 50 pieces of exotic Taxidermy to be featured in Cordier’s Summer Firearms Auction Sunday, July 31.  Other highlights will include an Engraved Colt 1851 Navy inscribed to Charles L. Robinson, the 1^st Governor of Kansas ($8,000 - $10,000), and a Springfield Armory M1A Rifle ($1,000 - $1,500). 

Over 100 pieces of Antique Tools from the collection of the late William Snyder, Carlisle, will round out the auction. The offerings include several #55 Stanley Woodworking Planes with boxes. The sale will be held at Cordier’s auction house at 1500 Paxton Street, Harrisburg.

The stunning taxidermy collection is the result of Jim and Barb McCarthy’s lifelong shared passion for hunting and the outdoors. The McCarthys began their hunting career together in 1970, and by 1980 they were booking outdoor adventures for clients all over the world through their company Jim McCarthy Adventures, based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Pieces in the collection hail from such diverse regions as Yugoslavia, Kenya, Mongolia, and Zimbabwe. Standout lots include two full-body mount Lions ($2,000-$3,000 each), a pair of Leopards mounted together ($4,000 - $6,000), and a White Rhino shoulder mount with original horns, estimated to bring $5,000 to $8,000.

Among the antique handguns, collectors will find a W.L. Evans 1826 Flintlock Pistol dated 1831 ($600-$900). Additional early 19^th century military pistols to be offered include an Asa Waters 1836 Flintlock Pistol dated 1844 ($800 – $1,200). Modern handgun enthusiasts will not be disappointed, as the sale also features a 6” Blued Colt Python ($1,800 – $2,200) and a Smith & Wesson Model 25 1955 Target Model ($1,000 - $1,500).

Fine antique and military rifles will also cross the block, including an antique John Grove (Greene County) PA Long Rifle ($800-$1,200) and a Spencer Repeating Carbine ($1,200 - $1,800). Military rifles will feature a Russian Mosin Nagant Sniper rifle ($400-$500), and a new in box Springfield Armory M1A rifle ($1,000-1,500).

Military collectors will find items from the Civil War, World War I and World War II including Civil War Letters, a Military Shako, and a WWII era German Police Sports Shirt.  In edged weapons, bidders will have the opportunity to win an 1833 Naval Cutlass ($300 - $500), and a 19^th Century Prussian Staff Officer’s Sword ($400 and $600), as well as several Sword Canes and a C. Roby 1860 Pattern Cavalry Sword.

The second part of this sale will feature an Antique Tool Collection which includes an impressive group of Stanley Wood Working Planes and other early hand tools from the estate of William Snyder of Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Highlights of the over 100 pieces to be offered include a number of examples of Stanley’s popular #55 Combination Plane in the original boxes ($300 – $500 each). The Stanley No. 55, which has been called the “Swiss Army Knife of hand planes” and touted as being “a planning mill within itself,” has long been a favorite among collectors and woodworkers alike. Also to be sold are a #444 Plane also in its original box ($300-$500) and a complete #52 Chute Board ($300 – $500).

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) is inviting the public to an auction of items removed from its collection including a 1909 Zimmerman touring car and a stage coach.  The auction is being conducted by Cordier Auctions & Appraisals, 1500 Paxton Street, Harrisburg on July 9 at 10 am. 

The auction will feature a variety of items from across the commonwealth including books, furnishings, agriculture and industrial tools and equipment, prints, engravings, and an assortment of 19^th and 20^th century household and merchandising objects.  Of note are a 1909 Model I Surrey High Wheeler Touring Car by Zimmerman Manufacturing Co, an 1850 enclosed sleigh used to deliver mail in New England, and a restored 1849 stage coach.

The items were formerly held at the Anthracite Heritage Museum, Cornwall Iron Furnace,  Ephrata Cloister, Fort Pitt Museum, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the State Museum of Pennsylvania, and Washington Crossing Historic Park. 

The pieces being sold have no special significance to the history of the Commonwealth or duplicate what is already in the state’s collection.

Prior to being consigned for sale, the objects were offered to other PHMC properties as well as other historic museums state and nationwide.  Money raised from the auction can only be used to buy or conserve artifacts that enhance the PHMC's mission of preserving the Commonwealth's natural and cultural heritage as steward, teacher and advocate for the people of Pennsylvania.

Select lots will also be available for online bidding.  Details are available by visiting www.CordierAuction.com. Questions can be directed to Cordier Auctions & Appraisals at mhartman@cordierauction.com or by calling 717-731-8662.  The media contact for the PHMC is Howard Pollman who can be reached at 717-705-8639.