E. Howard clock hits $52,900 and Henry rifle brings $48,300 at auctions held by Cottone

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 02, 2009 – (GENESEO, N.Y.) – A vintage E. Howard & Co. (Boston) Astronomical Observatory Regulator clock soared to $52,900 and a rare and antique Henry rifle purchased by the U.S. government for use during the Civil War hit a bull’s eye for $48,300 at a pair of sales held Aug. 15 and Aug. 29 by Cottone Auctions. Both sales were held at Cottone’s spacious gallery, located at 120 Court Street in Geneseo.

   The Aug. 15 event was dedicated to antique guns and historical books and featured the estate collection of John Wallace of Pavilion, N.Y. The Aug. 29 sale was a fine clocks auction and featured the collection of Joe Butta of Larchmont, N.Y. “These were guy sales for the most part,” Sam Cottone said with a chuckle. “Lots of guns and clocks -- let’s say there weren’t many ladies in attendance either day.”

   Nevertheless, both auctions enjoyed a brisk turnout – about 150-200 people per sale. Around 250 lots came up for bid at the guns and books auction, while a little more than 200 clocks changed hands. The online bidding component for both events was facilitated by Artfact.com, and Mr. Cottone said “quite a few” absentee and phone bids were recorded both days. “It was a good month,” he remarked.

   He added, “I was happy with the results of the first auction. The market for antique guns has been good and remains quite strong. As for books, they were mainly European titles, and the market for those is also strong. There weren’t many American books in the sale. As for the second auction, I was pleased with that as well. Clock enthusiasts are very specialized. They look for specific things at a sale.”

   The Howard clock and the Henry rifle were the top lots in their respective sales. The Howard boasted a cherry case with original rosewood finish, original signed and silvered engraved brass dial, brass engraved 8-day time-only pendulum and unusual 24-hour hand. The .44 caliber Henry featured a period cavalry leather scabbard and the official mark of government inspector Charles George Chapman.

   Following are highlights from the Aug. 15 antique guns and historical books auction. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

   Another Henry rifle performed well, as an early first model (serial #1588) hit $32,200. The totally original and untouched .44 rimfire caliber firearm featured a nice uncleaned patina on the brass frame and butt plate. Also, a vintage box of 53 rounds of ammunition for Henry’s Repeating Rifles climbed to $7,590. The green box was intact and of the “Bold 4’s” type, with a raised “H” in a circle headstamp.

   A five-volume atlas of the world, by Jacques  Nicolas Bellin (Paris, 1764), titled Le Petit Atlas Maritime: Receuil de Cartes et plans des Quatre Parties du Monde, with 575 copper-engraved maps, went for $17,250. Also, a book titled Texas in 1840, or, The Emigrant’s Guide to the New Republic (New York, W.W. Allen, 1840), with a hand-colored litho of Austin on the frontpiece, brought $4,140.

   Most of the day’s top lots were dominated by Winchester, a name familiar to and coveted by collectors. A Model 1866 (second model) .44 rimfire caliber rifle with 24-inch barrel (serial #20478) fetched $24,150; a Model 1886 .50 caliber (express) rifle with 26-inch barrel (serial #102658) garnered $21,160; and a Model 1886 .45/70 caliber saddle ring carbine rifle (serial #38881) commanded $10,062.

   Other Winchesters included a Model 1886 .45/70 caliber rifle (serial #102958), with 26-inch round barrel ($10,235); a Model 1885 .44/40 caliber saddle ring carbine rifle (serial #75759), with standard 15-inch barrel ($8,280); a Model 1886 .33 caliber rifle (serial #155352), with 24-inch takedown barrel ($6,325); and a Model 1886 .45/90 caliber rifle (serial #32882) with 26-inch barrel ($8,510).

   Rounding out the Winchesters, two rifles breezed to identical sale prices of $6,326. One was a Model 1873 (third model), .44 caliber (serial #139830), with 28-inch special-order barrel. The other was a Model 1876 (second model), .45/60 caliber, with a standard 28-inch barrel. Also, a Model 1873 (third model) .44/40 caliber rifle (serial #153295) rose to $4,888, while a Model 1876 “50 Express” hit $4,600.

   Following are highlights from the Aug. 29 fine clocks auction. All prices quoted include a 15 percent buyer’s premium.

   A rare Juvet table-top clock with 11-inch globe, gilt bronze three-dolphin base, mounted on marble, 34 inches tall, with painted Roman numerals, sold for $24,150; an unusual and scarce figural magician oil night timepiece with original polychrome, patina and gilt decoration rose to $5,405; and a Sawin & Dyer of Boston lyre clock with carved mahogany case in a fine old finish topped out at $4,600.

   A fine Joakim Hill (Flemington, N.J.) tall case clock in a fine inlaid mahogany case with fluted ¼-columns and a nice old patina realized $18,975; a very rare Laporte Hubbell solar globe shelf clock in a carved walnut case in the Gothic style, one of only a few examples known, wowed the crowd for $10,350; and a Joakim Hill tall case clock with original signed and painted iron dial achieved $9,200.

   A beautiful Seth Thomas #14 floor regulator with a carved and burl walnut case in the original finish, two side finials and wood bezel around the dial earned $16,905; a fine and rare Simon Willard & Son banjo clock in a mahogany case with stenciled front in original finish and stenciling commanded $14,950; and a J.C. Brown acorn shelf clock with laminated rosewood and mahogany case hit $9,200.

   Rounding out the top lots: an 18th century Italian bracket clock in an ebonized case with brass finials brought $4,140; a Howard & Davis (Boston) #1 banjo clock in a cherry case with nice old patina hammered for $4,830; a Sawin & Dyer (Boston) lyre clock in a carved mahogany case with old finish and good color went for $4,600; and an Asa Munger (Auburn, N.Y.) Empire shelf clock brought $4,140.

Next up for Cottone Auctions is a Fall Antiques & Collectibles Sale, slated for Saturday, Nov. 14, beginning at 11 a.m. Cottone Auctions has been conducting specialized auctions for selling fine art and antiques for over 25 years. The firm is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (585) 243-3100, or e-mail them at scottone@rochester.rr.com. For more information, log on to www.cottoneauctions.com.