Collectibles and Curiosities

The Monopoly game set designed by Michael Graves (b. 1934 Indianapolis, IN - 2015 Princeton, NJ) for Parker Brothers. Circa 2002. Signed with Graves' signature incised in small metal disk on underside. Features a cherry-finished wood box that opens up to a game board, with a built-in, pull-out drawer contaning original game pieces and accessories including 6 polished metal game tokens, 2 dice, classic Monopoly money, Chance and Community card sets, and also two velour drawstring bags to hold houses and hotels. Dimensions of board: ??Closed: 16 inches L x 8 inches D x 3.5 inches H / Open: 16 inches L x 16 inches D x 3 inches H Notes from the Archive: ?American architect, Michael Graves' legacy includes designing over 350 buildings, and 2000 products. The Michael Graves Design brand at Target was the first example of an architect/designer having his own consumer brand of products. This collection transformed the retailer from a discount store to a design destination. It was Graves' own idea to design new versions of classic games beginning with a chess set in 2000 with inspiration from the famous Bauhaus Chess Set...

Ships spyglass telescope appropriate for use on a yacht, ship, or anywhere with a view. This is a small one. This has been meticulously polished and lacquered. We just restored a gre...

North American Wild Flowers by Mary Vaux Walcott, signed limited edition 1925 This is copy #129 of 500 Published by The Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 6 volumes. Folio (14....

Big wave balsawood pintail surfboard shaped by the late Dick Brewer (1936-2022) in the early 2000s. Features tri-stringer design with beautiful Hawaiian koa wood fins and 10 piece w...

Hemingway, Ernest. A Farewell to Arms. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1929. First trade edition, first issue. In the original first-state dust jacket and publisher’s black cloth boards. Presented in a new archival ¼ leather and cloth clamshell case, with raised bands, gilt tooling, and titles to the spine. Presented is a first trade edition, first issue of Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. The book was published by Charles Scribner’s Sons in New York, in September of 1929. This first printing is presented with its original first issue dust jacket. The dust jacket, as designed by Cleonike Damianakes Wilkins, is considered by many to be one of the greatest of the 20th century and rivals even The Great Gatsby in its collectibility. Set during World War I, A Farewell to Arms tells the story of a young American Lieutenant serving as an ambulance driver in Italy struggling through love and war. The story is told through first person narration detailing many aspects of war that would have been very familiar to readers at the time, as the book was published only 11 years after the 1918 armistice. The simple, direct tone his character uses when giving his unromanticized account of the war later defined Hemingway’s writing style. A Farewell to Arms is loosely based on Hemingway’s own experiences. The author briefly served overseas as an ambulance driver in the Italian Army, sustained injuries, and met a nurse who he eventually proposed marriage to but was declined. The novel’s post-war disillusionist subject assigned Hemingway to the “Lost Generation” of Modernist artists. A Farewell to Arms was Hemingway’s most successful publishing venture to date. Charles Scribner's Sons issued seven impressions of the novel in the short time between September and December of 1929, with over 100,000 volumes sold. The novel secured Hemingway’s place as a popular American author and became his first bestselling book. Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) was an American author and journalist. His distinctive writing style, characterized by economy of words and dry understatement, strongly influenced 20th-century fiction, as did his life of adventure and his public image. Hemingway produced most of his work between the mid-1920s and the mid-1950s, winning the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. Hemingway published seven novels, six short story collections, and two non-fiction works during his lifetime; a further three novels, four collections of short stories, and three non-fiction works were published posthumously. Many of his works are now considered classics of American literature. The book’s striking dust jacket design was illustrated by the artist Cleonike Damianakes Wilkins, who worked under the pen name of Cleon. Wilkins was known for her distinctive fusion of Art Deco and Hellenistic styles. She designed the dust jackets for Hemingway’s earlier The Sun Also Rises in 1926 and his later publication In Our Time in 1930, as well as Conrad Aiken’s Great Circle, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s All the Sad Young Men,and Zelda Fitzgerald’s Save Me the Waltz. Wilkins was chosen by Hemingway’s celebrated editor at Scribner’s, Maxwell Perkins. In order to differentiate Hemingway’s tale from other, competing WWI novels on the bookshop shelves, Perkins sought to widen its appeal through the dust jacket. The resulting design was Wilkins’ interpretation of Sandro Botticelli’s epic oil painting “Venus...

Antique early twentieth century model of the American clipper ship Flying Cloud by Thomas Rosenquist of Far Rockaway, New York. He has works in many museums. Famous builder from the past. With carved...

A rare pug or bulldog Figurine bought in Austria. It is made of Celluloid and very delicate, this would be a great addition for your Toy or Bulldog collection. It is in nice conditio...

Hand-made unique piece. Beautiful French Art Deco mother & child statue by René MERCIER, France, 1920s. Wood. Hand carved.. Height : 16.1"(41cm), width : 9"(23cm), depth : 9.8"(25cm)...

AUTHOR: KENNA, Michael - Henry Adams. TITLE: Mont-Saint-Michel. PUBLISHER: 21st Editions, 2007. DESCRIPTION: SIGNED LIMITED EDITION. 1 vol., 16-3/4" x 14-3/4", limited to 60 numb...

Charming model of a coastal steamship set into clay waves and a felt lined glass and wood display case. Intricate model with exceptional cabin detail with arch top windows...

Sculptured model of a smoked Papua Mummie, papier mâché, 20th C Burial practices vary in New Guinea, just as they do everywhere else in the world. Some cultures believe the soul is d...

Pelham Galleries Ltd Dealers in Antiques & Works of Art Established in 1928. First Edition catalog circa 2000 with black pictorial wraps; Unpaginated, profusely illustrated with color photos. Text is in English. The catalog contains fine furniture and decorative items, accompanied by extensive descriptions, including a beautiful harpsichord probably by the Couchet family of Antwerp, a pair of 17th century Neapolitan cabinets with painted glass panels, a pair of George II giltwood console...

Rare antique wooden child's ride on wooden toy boat by Nautilus Toy Co. London wonderful Folk Art object. 1920s ride on toy made by the Nautilus Toy Compan...

Art deco mechanical perfume dispenser Perfu-mist designed by Ronson. This is a beautiful and rare perfume dispenser flask, created in the city of Newark, New Jersey United States by...

Hand made early 20th century Moroccan antique Berber case flask, carved wood covered with brass and silvered metal filigree, delicately hand-hammered metal with animals decor for pow...

Early 20th century English papier Mache butchers shop display pig figures A pair of quirky and authentic early 20th century English papier Mache butchers shop display pig figures. O...

Ships spyglass telescope appropriate for use on a yacht, ship, or anywhere with a view. This has been meticulously polished and lacquered. We just restored a great collection of thes...

A Wenger SA Giant Swiss Army 16999 giant knife 2007 manufactured in Délemont, Switzerland. This Guinness world record Swiss knife contains 87 tools that ca...

Great map of Egypt Unframed Original color By John Bartholomew and Co. Edinburgh Geographical Institute Published, circa 1920 Free shipping.  

Collection of (7) mostly French Doll House Furniture or possibly Salesman's Samples or simply Child's Toys? One of the pieces was made from an Ameri...

Leroux, Gaston. The Phantom of the Opera. New York: Grosset & Dunlap, [1925]. Illustrated by Andre Castaigne. Signed by actress Carla Laemmle. 8vo. Rebound in black 1/.4 leather and cloth boards, with raised bands, gilt stamps, and gilt titles to spine. New matching archival slipcase. Presented is a photoplay edition of Gaston Leroux’s best-known novel, The Phantom of the Opera. This printing was published by Grosset & Dunlap, in New York, in 1925, to accompany the 1925 Universal Pictures film adaptation starring Lon Channey. It is illustrated throughout with scenes from that production, as well as with illustrations by Andre Castaigne. Additionally, the book is signed on the full title page by actress and prima ballerina Carla Leammle. The book has been beautifully rebound in handsome ¼ black leather and black cloth boards, with raised bands and gilt stamps and tiles to the spine, and a matching black archival slipcase. Partly inspired by historical, nineteenth century events that took place at the famous Paris Opera, the novel chronicles the masked Phantom’s obsessive love for a young chorus girl named Christine. The Phantom of the Opera was first published as a serial in the French Magazine Le Gaulois from September 1909 to January 1910. It was released in volume form in late March 1910 by Pierre Lafitte & Cie. The first American edition was published by Bobbs-Merrill in 1911. Due to its popularity, The Phantom of the Opera became the source for numerous adaptations, including the 1925 Universal Pictures film starring Lon Chaney and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Tony Award-winning 1986 musical. Alexander Grosset and George T. Dunlap first met while working for the American Publishers Corporation. In 1898, Grosset & Dunlap formed a new partnership with the goal to shift the focus of the publishing industry from expensive books for the few to inexpensive books for the masses. In order to avoid paying royalties and other publishing fees, Grosset & Dunlap started reprinting books that were already in print. With these profits, the partners purchased paperbound books in bulk to rebind them in cloth and resell. As the company grew, Grosset & Dunlap were able to purchase reprint rights from publishers before publication, including reprint rights from Edward Stratemeyer for the Hardy Boys...

Great maps of the USA in 3 sections Unframed Original color By John Bartholomew and Co. Edinburgh Geographical Institute Published, circa 1920 The measurements given is for just...

SATURDAY SALE Oversized retail advertising presentation brass fountain pen and mechanical pencil display signs from the early 1920s when they would have been featured within a wood and glass display cabinet at the pen counter of a stationary store. Originally the fountain pen would have been marked on its side "Wahl Pen...

This superb example of a sterling silver Nef carries import marks for London, 1925 by Thomas Callow & Son. Nefs are extravagant table ornaments a...

Christie's New York The Doris Duke Collection, New York June 2004, session 1. The catalogue consists of 623 pages with 1337 lots mostly illustrat...

Early 20th century English Folk Art Figure We share what we love, and we love this early 20th Century example of an English doubl...

Complete collection set of gilt leather bound library book set of one hundred twenty nine volumes. PURDON'S Pennsylvania Statutes & Consolidated Statutes Annotated. Copyright 2003 by...

Set of four vintage weights: 5, 2, 1 and a half kilograms. By unknown manufacturer, circa 1920. In original condition, with minor wear consistent with ...

Early 20th century scratch-built tricycle model. A charming example of an English scratch built folk art child’s tricycle model. Constructed from a metal frame, wooden wheels, han...

Rare 100 year old French toy in it's original box depicting two acrobats attached to a wire frame with brown barrel weights, cascading down a green metal ladder. Once assembled (loop...

The Chronicle of a Family, by Clemence Dane. Garden City, New York: Doubleday, Doran and Company, Inc., 1928. 1st Ed hardcover of four novelettes, two of...

Great Houses of New England by Roderic Blackburn, Text and Geoffrey Gross, Photography. Rizzoli, NY, 2008. Signed by the author 1st Ed hardcover with dust jacket. In the tradition of Rizzoli's Historic Houses of the Hudson Valley and The Houses of McKim, Mead & White, Great Houses of New England features a stunning array of newly photographed houses that range over four centuries and are distinctive examples of the architecture of the region--from the mid-17th-c New England Colonial Judge Corwin House (Witches...

This rare large double sided desk was designed by Lajos (Ludwig) Kozma, who had an unprecedented influence on the European design through his drawings, buildings and furniture. Th...

Taking One's Own Ship Around the World. A journal descriptive of scenes and incidents, together with observations from the log book. Recorded on the Voyage Around the World October 25, 1928 to May 16, 1929 of the Yacht Ara, Written and Signed by William K. Vanderbilt. This is a First edition of Vanderbilt’s account of his voyage around the world aboard the diesel yacht Ara. Bound in the original brown buckram, with gilt titles and tooling on the spine, and a gilt top edge with pictorial endpapers. Illustrated with colored engravings after photographs by Wiliam E. Belanske, Pierre C...

Early twentieth century ships telescope with a leather and rope wrapped barrel. Single focal tube is engraved Hughes and Son Ltd. London EC3. Circa 1920. Barrel end is fitted with a ...

Rare Bobby Jones Signed 1927 Open Golf Championship Picture. An original 1930 limited edition lithograph titled "Robert Tyre Jones Jr. Winning the British Open Golf Championship". The colour lithograph print is one of 999 prints published, with copyright by Currier & Ives, Inc. It depicts Jones with his Calamity Jane...

Limited edition Designer toy 0602/1000 Ocellus designed in 2000 by Michael Lau for Crazysmiles. This rare piece comes with it's original box in great condi...

Garden Ornament by Gertrude Jekyll and Christopher Hussey. 2nd edition printed in Great Britain 1927.

Earhart, Amelia. 20 Hrs. 40 Min. Our Flight in the Friendship. New York: G. P. Putnam's and Sons, 1928. First trade edition. Signed on the free endpage. Rebound in maroon ¼ leather a...

Collodi, Carlo. Pinocchio: The Story of a Puppet. Philadelphia and London: J. B. Lippincott, [1920]. Illustrated by Maria L. Kirk. Gift Edition. In the publisher's original gray cloth boards, stamped with green and orange, illustrated cover label and top edge gilt. With 14 color plates and numerous border illustrations and decoration throughout. Presented with a new archival slipcase. Presented is a charming English edition of Carlo Collodi’s children’s tale, Pinocchio: The Story of a Puppet. This book was published in Philadelphia and London by J. B. Lippincott, as a special "Gift Edition," circa 1920. It features 14 full color plates by illustrator Maria Kirk and numerous border and chapter decorations throughout the book. It is presented here in its original gray cloth boards, stamped in green and orange, with a beautiful illustrated cover label of Pinocchio in a forest. The book is protected by a new custom archival slipcase. Collodi’s La Storia di un Burattino (trans: The Story of a Puppet) first appeared in serial form in the Italian weekly publication for children, Giornale per i bambini. The first installment was published on July 7, 1881 and continued for nearly four months and 15 chapters. Following the mischievous adventures of an animated marionette named Pinocchio, the original series was written as an educational tale of warning to Italian children, stressing the importance of morality, responsibility, and obedience to one’s parents and authority. In the original, serialized version, the flawed and irresponsible Pinocchio is penalized and hanged for his numerous poor decisions and faults of character at the end of Chapter 15. At the request of his editor and by the demand of his many readers, Collodi resumed his serialized story in February of 1882. In these later chapters, Chapters 16–36, the Fairy with Turquoise Hair rescues and revives Pinocchio and eventually transforms him into a real boy. Pinocchio acquires a deeper understanding of himself and his moral responsibilities, making the story more palatable for children. In February 1883, the story was published in Italy as a single book, illustrated by Enrico Mazzanti. It was a huge publishing success. The Adventures of Pinocchio is the world's third most translated book, after the Bible and The Little Prince. Pinocchio was first translated into English by Mary Alice Murray in 1892, whose translation was added to the widely circulated Everyman's Library in 1911. The first US edition was published in 1901, translated and illustrated by Walter S. Cramp and Charles Copeland...

Arman, 1928-2005 is a French book by Frederic Ballester and Jean Ferrero, published in 2006, from the Jean Ferrero Inédits Collection. This book presents the sculptures, paintings, a...

Fine scale model of the American frigate USS Constitution. Planked hull with varnish finish. Clove hitched shrouds, quarter galleries, rigged cannon etc. No case. Weight: 26 lbs...

Hallmarked in Birmingham in 1920 by John Collard Vickery, this stylish, Antique Sterling Silver Cigar Lighter is modelled to look like an...

Bing Surfboards 1966 model pintail Pipeliner. Gorgeous red tinted bottom/wrapped rails and blue fin with white halo. Dual t-band balsawood stringers. Shaped by the late Dick Brewer (...

Girl Scouts Loan Exhibition of Colonial and Early Federal Furniture, Portraits and Glass 1929. Published by American Art Galleries, New York, 1929. 1st Ed s...

Dancer by Demétre Chiparus 1886 - 1947 Large chrysoelephantine sculpture in gilt bronze Marble base. Signed "D. H. Chiparus". Measures: 36 cms. with base and 28cm alt. total and 19 c...

OHIO STATE FLAG WITH CIVIL WAR VETERANS' OVERPRINT FROM THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC POST IN COLUMBUS, MADE IN MOURNING OF THE 1925 PASSING OF NATIONAL G.A.R. COMMANDER IN CHIEF DANIEL M. HALL, WHO ALSO SERVED AS COMMANDER OF THE OHIO DEPARTMENT OF THE G.A.R., AS WELL AS THE LOCAL CHAPTER Flag of the State of Ohio, printed on oilcloth-like cotton, affixed to its original wooden staff. Made for Civil War veteran's use, the flag bears a stamped overprint in the striped field that consists of an open wreath of laurel branches, inside which is the following text: “GAR [Grand Army of the Republic] Post, Dan Hall, Columbus, OH”. Born on October 20th, 1842, Daniel M. Hall enlisted with the Union Army as a Private at the age of 18 on August 25th, 1861. On October 8th of that year he mustered into the Co. H of the 2nd Ohio Cavalry. Discharged for disability on June 28th, 1862, he reenlisted approximately 17 months later, on November 11th, 1863, and mustered into Co. F of the 12th Ohio Cavalry at Camp Cleveland. He was at some point promoted to the rank of Sergeant, and, on February 21st, 1864, to the rank of Corporal. He mustered out at Nashville on November 14th, 1865. Hall mustered into the Hamlin Post of the Ohio G.A.R. on May 23rd, 1883. He would go on to serve not only as Commander of the Dept. of Ohio for the organization, but as National Commander of the entire Grand Army of the Republic. The Grand Army of the Republic was the primary veterans association for Union Civil War soldiers. Founded in 1866, its members dressed up in Civil War uniforms, attended parades and reunions, and the organization was somewhat more fraternal in nature than today’s VFW or American Foreign Legion. Flags overprinted for the purpose of advertising are a specialized form in American flag collecting. A flag with a basic G.A.R. overprint is the most common type. This might be accompanied by a post number and a date. More elaborate the overprints are more highly desired, such as this one, which is the only variation I know of that honors a particular person who was not the namesake of the chapter itself. It is of interest to note that a sister variety of 48 star parade flag is known, printed on the same fabric, that bears the same overprint, accompanied by the words: “We Mourn Our Comrade." From the additional text on the 48 star variety, one can extrapolate that the flags were made to mourn the passing of this important leader of Civil War veterans on October 19th, 1925, just one day before his 83rd birthday. The State Flag of Ohio was designed in 1901 by Cleveland architect John Eisenmann, who designed the Ohio building for the state's exhibition at the Pan American Exposition World's Fair in Buffalo, New York. It was officially adopted by the Ohio legislature on May 19th, 1902. It's elements are centered on a red disc, set against a circular white ground that forms a letter "O." This simultaneously represents a buckeye, the fruit of the state tree and an iconic Ohio symbol. The flag's 5 stripes are said to represent the state's waterways and roads, while the triangular shape of the union is said to illustrate hills and valleys. The presentation of 13 stars along the hoist end, arranged in a semi-circular medallion with two off-set stars above and below, reflects the original 13 colonies. The diamond of stars, towards the fly end. bring the overall count to 17 to reflect Ohio's admission. When the design was adopted by the state legislature, the position of these stars was changed slightly, moving them further around the circle to form a wreath. Flag expert Whitney Smith, who coined the term Vexillology in the late 1950's (the accepted term for the study of flags), pointed out that the format of the flag itself was reminiscent of Civil War cavalry guidons, carried by Ohio regiments throughout the state. These were of swallowtail form, though with 13 stripes, all horizontal and 90 degrees to the hoist. Most often these had circular star patterns around an open center, which makes them even more similar to the Ohio flag...

The Ruba Rombic ashtray, produced by the Consolidated Glass Company, stands as an iconic example of Art Deco design. Crafted in Jade green cased glass, this stunning piece features b...

JFK & Jackie. Unseen Archives by Tim Hill. London: Parragon, Incorporated, 2003. First edition; first printing. Hardcover. JFK and Jackie: unseen archives c...

Christie's, important European Furniture, sculpture and tapestries, including, reflected glory, a Private collection of magnificent mirrors, Thursda...

The Legend of Dick Turpin part 1 and 2, Thursday 9 March 2006 (Christie's). Maurice 'Dick' Turpin (1928-2005) was one of the great characters of the Englis...

La Tapisserie Gothique, par Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins, by E. Planès, Directeur de la Manufacture Nationale des Gobelins. Published by Albert Morancé...

Great map of Sweden and Norway Original color. Good condition Published by Alexander Gross Unframed.

Great maps of Persia. Unframed. Original color. By John Bartholomew and Co. Edinburgh Geographical Institute. Published, circa 1920. Free shipping.  

Author: Van Dyke, John Henry Title: Blended Worlds. Publisher: Miami, Arizona: Southern Arizona Publishing Co., 1927. Description: First edition. 1...

A ball table lighter designed by Ronson. Very beautiful RonDeLight Junior desk lighter, created in Newark United States by Art Metal Works Inc. for The Ro...

The medicine ball is part of a big collection from the 1920s-1930s, the time of the first gym enthusiasts in Germany. The ball is handmade and filled with horse hair. All balls are i...

From the Visionaire website: 37 VREELAND MEMOS synthesizes an archive of Diana Vreeland's memos contributed by Richard Avedon. Dating from 1966 to 1972, the memos, which were dictat...