COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Cordier Sells Rare 1902 Gardner-Serpollet Steam Auto For $109,200 FRIDAY OCTOBER 18, 2019 • VOL. 50, NO. 42
Elverson Antiques Show Slated For Oct. 26 And 27 Great Semiannual Country Show Is Among Highlights Of The Year For Antiquers The popular semiannual Elverson Antiques Show will be held for the 100th time on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 26 and 27. How does a show that began 50 years ago keep going and going? It must reflect changes in the antiques market while continuing the tradition of a good, old fashioned country show where people can find antiques that fit into their contemporary lifestyle at affordable prices. From its start as a fundraiser for the Elverson Fire Company in 1969, the show now helps to support the Twin Valley High School lacrosse teams. Students and their parents work as porters, help with setup, and run the food stand. It is a true team effort to produce a quality antiques show where visitors can find first-class merchandise at buyable prices. Located high on a hill in Chester County, in Elverson, Pa., the show is
like a treasure hunt and a true throwback to the way antique shows used to be. It has a reputation for offering outstanding selections of folk art, unusual smalls, and country antiques. From early china, stoneware, fraktur, holiday items, and baskets to quilts, furniture, and weathervanes, the Elverson Antiques show has it all. While most of the dealers are from Pennsylvania, visitors will find dealers from several surrounding states, including Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Ohio. The show is held in the Twin Valley High School, located at 4897 North Twin Valley Road, Elverson, Pa. It is within easy driving distance from Continued on page 6
In a deaccession auction for the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) held on Sept. 14, Cordier Auctions sold a rare 1902 GardnerSerpollet steam automobile for $91,000 hammer ($109,200 with 20 percent buyer’s premium). The brothers Leon and Henri Serpollet spent years perfecting the flash tube boiler, and in 1898 they met wealthy American Frank Gardener. Together, Gardener-Serpollet began producing vehicles in 1900. With the flash boiler, the Serpolletpowered cars featured some of the most impressive ranges for horseless carriages in their day. This example was offered with other deaccessioned items from across the state and drew attention from around the country. Prior to being consigned for sale, the objects were offered to other PHMC properties, state agencies and other historic museums.
AAN Current News This 1902 Gardner-Serpollet steam automobile sold for $109,200 on Sept. 14 at Cordier Auctions in Harrisburg, Pa.
Money raised from the auction may 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. For more information, call 717731-8662 or visit www.Cordier Auction.com.
Morphy’s To Offer Important American Treasure: Musket That Fired First Shot At 1775 Battle Of Bunker Hill
First Bodnar’s At The Jersey Shore Sale Slated on page 4
Blue Dog Painting Is Blue Chip on page 6
Musket And Commission Has Remained In Family For 244 Years
Arguably the most significant, positively identified Revolutionary long arm in existence, the Dutch flintlock musket that fired the first shot at the 1775 Battle of Bunker Hill will be offered on day two of Morphy’s Extraordinary Firearms Auction to be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 22 and 23. It is expected to sell for $100,000-$300,000.
The .79-caliber Dutch flintlock musket with bayonet was originally the property of Private John Simpson (1748-1825) of Deerfield, N.H. After shooting began at the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Simpson joined a volunteer militia led by Capt. Henry Dearborn and marched with that company to Boston. They arrived there on June 17, 1775, and merged with two other New Hampshire outfits. In anticipation of the Redcoats’ arrival by water, Col. William Prescott ordered his patriot forces to fortify their position on the beach with a makeshift barrier of rocks and wood. During what would become known as
Antiques And Artisans Show Planned For Vincentown, N.J., On Nov. 2 on page 8
Locati To Offer Fine Massachusetts Chippendale Chest In October Sale on page 8
In This Issue
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the Siege of Boston, The historically significant, fully documented Dutch .79 smoothbore Type III flintlock musket and bayonet of Private John Simpson, who fired the first shot at the Battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775, will be accompanied by Simpson’s New Hampshire commission to second lieutenant.With an unbroken line of family provenance since 1775, the estimate will be $100,000$300,000.
SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 5 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 7 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 7
FEATURED AUCTION: Bodnar’s Auction - Oct. 24, 2019 in Cape May, N.J. - page 4
AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . . on page 9 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 23