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FRIDAY DECEMBER 8, 2023 • VOL. 53, NO. 49
Once Traded For Tie Tack, “Lobsterman” Painting By Maud Lewis Fetches $53,100 At Auction
PBA Galleries Holds D.C. Universe Comics Sale Restored Copy Of “Detective Comics #27” Sells For New Record $275,000 By Karl Pass On Nov. 9, PBA Galleries of Berkeley, Calif., held its Batmanfocused premiere D.C. Universe Collection Auction, which featured a restored copy of “Detective Comics #27,” the iconic debut of “Batman,” selling for a recordbreaking $275,000. The sale had a 96-percent sale rate, with numerous comics exceeding their high estimate.
Ellington enjoyed “The Lobsterman” in his home for roughly 50 years before consigning it to New Hamburg, Ontario, based Miller & Miller Auctions, where it sold for $53,100. A rare Maud Lewis (1903-70) painting, traded by a London, Ontario, artist in the 1970s to a London goldsmith for a tie tack, recently sold at auction for $53,100. The late artist John Kinnear, a snappy dresser, was reeled in by a blue sapphire tie tack goldsmith John Ellington had in his jewelry shop and so the two men agreed to a trade: one custom sapphire tie tack for any painting Kinnear had in his studio down the street. When the time came to make
the trade, Ellington shied away from Kinnear’s own paintings, which were appealing, but too large. Instead, he set his eyes on the only Maud Lewis on the wall, a small painting of a pipe-smoking lobster fisherman. Kinnear initially resisted, saying that was his favorite painting, but Ellington reminded him he had said “any painting,” so in the end they happily did the swap. Ellington enjoyed “The Lobsterman” painting in his home for roughly 50 years before
The late London, Ontario, artist John Kinnear traded his Maud Lewis (1903-70) painting titled “The Lobsterman” to jeweler John Ellington (pictured here) for a sapphire tie tack in the 1970s.
consigning it to New Hamburg, Ontario, based Miller & Miller Auctions for their Oct. 14 Folk Art sale, where it sold for $53,100 (including buyer’s premium). This is the second Maud Lewis painting obtained through a noteworthy barter arrangement with Kinnear. In May 2022, Miller & Miller Auctions sold one of Lewis’s paintings, “Black Truck,” for a record-breaking $350,000. Kinnear had traded that painting to the owners of a London, Ontario, restaurant for a few grilled
cheese lunches. John Kinnear had struck up a friendship with the late Maud Lewis (1901-70), now considered one of Canada’s most renowned folk artists, and whose work has since drawn interest internationally. Lewis lived in Marshalltown, Nova Scotia, while Kinnear was in London, Ontario. In 1965, he had seen her profiled in “The Star Weekly” and on CBC-TV and was deeply moved by her poverty and Continued on page 2
Embassy Holds Pottery And Glass Specialty Sale Rookwood Vase Realizes $3,660 By Karl Pass Embassy Auctions International of Kinzers, Pa., held a pottery and glass sale on Nov. 9 of assorted antique glass and mostly art pottery. There was Roseville, Rookwood, and Van Briggle pottery and work from other companies. An 1882 Rookwood Pottery vase by Mary Louise McLaughlin brought the high of $3,660. A 1919 Van Briggle matte brown bowl #737 sold for $793, and a 1932 Roseville blackberry vase, $396.50. A collection of Roseville Pottery in blue pinecone pattern Continued on page 2
A restored CGC graded 5.5 “Detective Comics #27” sold for $275,000. One of the jewels in the auction’s crown was Batman #1, which marked the debuts of two of Gotham’s most infamous villains, the Joker and Catwoman. This historic comic fetched an impressive $40,625, a testament to the enduring allure of the Dark Knight. “Detective Comics,” the series that introduced “Batman” to the world, took the spotlight with a dazzling display of key issues. Five scarce and coveted editions of “Detective Comics” soared above Continued on page 2
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . starting on page 2 This 1882 Rookwood Pottery vase by Mary Louise McLaughlin realized $3,660.
SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 4 These three 1934 Roseville luffa pattern vases sold together for $442.50.
EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 5 AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . on page 5 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . starting on page 7
FEATURED ARTICLE: Early Owego’s “SantaLand” Event - Page 9
CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . .on page 10