 |
 PEGGY LEE autographed 8X10 photo RD33 BTG2298 $125.00 Time Remaining: 29d 5h 16m Buy It Now for only: $125.00 |
 ROBERT DUVALL TOMMY LEE JONES Lonesome Dove signed photo $99.99 Time Remaining: 4h 58m |
 F Lee Bailey SIGNED Secrets Novel Book OJ Simpson Trial $9.99 Time Remaining: 8h 1m |
 JAMIE LEE CURTIS autographed 8x10 photo RD33 BTG1227 $105.00 Time Remaining: 29d 5h 16m Buy It Now for only: $105.00 |
 Bruce Lee Enter the Dragon Fist of Fury Rare SIGNED Photograph REPRINT $4.69 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 10h 43m |
 John Schneider Tom Wopat Dukes of Hazzard Signed General Lee Model JSA Cert $109.95 Time Remaining: 29d 5h 33m Buy It Now for only: $109.95 |
 Batman Lee Meriwether Signed Catwoman Photo $22.00 Time Remaining: 15h 46m |
 Spiderman 1 Untold Talessigned by Stan Lee $50.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 16h 37m |
 Autographed LEE MERIWETHER The Catwoman BATMAN $35.00 Time Remaining: 15h 17m Buy It Now for only: $35.00 |
 Spiderman 1 Untold Talessigned by Stan Lee $100.00 Time Remaining: 16h 43m Buy It Now for only: $200.00 |
 Michele Lee signed photo was in Knotts Landing and The Love Bug The Comic $24.95 Time Remaining: 28d 16h 38m Buy It Now for only: $24.95 |
 CHRISTOPHER LEE ROGER MOORE CAST 007 BOND SIGNED $79.00 Time Remaining: 17h 17m |
 Star Wars Full Comic Book Set Signed By Stan Lee $100.00 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 17h 49m |
 Jerry Lee Lewis Autographed 8X10 Picture Autograph Photo With Elvis $89.95 Time Remaining: 18d 10h 58m Buy It Now for only: $89.95 |
 MEN IN BLACK II CAST SIGNED POSTER WILL SMITH TOMMY LEE JONES MIB JSA LETTER $100.00 Time Remaining: 18h 30m |
 Abby Lee Miller Signed Dance Moms 8x10 Photo RARE $55.00 Time Remaining: 24d 22h 35m Buy It Now for only: $55.00 |
 BUDDY EBSEN LEE MERIWETHER signed AUTOGRAPH 8 x 10 barnaby jones RW14177 $3.89 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 4h 49m |
 JAMIE LEE CURTIS signed AUTOGRAPH 8 x 10 RW14237 $0.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 5h 25m |
 Dorothy Lee Vintage signed photo was in The RainmakersRio RitaThe Cuckoos $139.95 Time Remaining: 28d 16h 25m Buy It Now for only: $139.95 |
 Original Autographed Photo of Peggy Lee $55.00 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 38m |
 Kathie Lee Gifford Signed 8 x 10 Photo Autographed $9.99 Time Remaining: 29d 12h 46m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 JOSIE LEE signed AUTOGRAPH RW14781 $0.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 6h 43m |
 Peggy Lee Personally Autographed Photo $50.00 Time Remaining: 1d 6h 58m |
 JOHNNY LEE Autographed promo PHOTO country artist URBAN COWBOY $20.00 Time Remaining: 24d 6h 33m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 SARENNA LEE AUTOGRAPHED PICTURE 5 X 10 $20.00 Time Remaining: 1d 7h 18m |
 LEE MAJORS AUTOGRAPHED PHOTO $14.99 Time Remaining: 7d 6h 45m Buy It Now for only: $14.99 |
 Gordon Porky Lee Little Rascals Signed Photo UACC $9.95 Time Remaining: 1d 8h 41m Buy It Now for only: $12.95 |
 LEE REMICK signed AUTOGRAPH 8 x 10 photo RW14103 $0.95 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 10h 39m |
 FT Island Lee HongGi Autographed Photo New Korea 46 signed signature free ship $19.00 Time Remaining: 20d 23h 38m Buy It Now for only: $19.00 |
 BRENDA LEE signed AUTOGRAPH 8 x 10 photo RW54375 $0.95 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 37m |
 MOTHER COURAGE Playbill LEE RICHARDSON Autographed McCARTER Princeton NJ 1975 $10.00 Time Remaining: 22d 4h 40m Buy It Now for only: $10.00 |
 Dukes of Hazzard GENERAL LEE Die Cast 7 Autographs 1969 Charger 118 COA pix $225.00 Time Remaining: 1d 11h 46m Buy It Now for only: $249.95 |
 Tommy Lee Motley Crue Signed lot 2 drumheads+Cd ALL autographed 1 Concert used $199.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 1d 11h 47m |
 BRA PANTIES JAMIE LEE CURTIS signed TRUE LIES 8X10 Photo EXACT PROOF $199.95 Time Remaining: 28d 17h 9m Buy It Now for only: $199.95 |
 TOMMY LEE JONES signed AUTOGRAPH RW54895 $9.38 (4 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 12h 34m |
 JAMIE LEE CURTIS HAND SIGNED AUTOGRAPH BANK CHECK 1977 TO BEVERLY STATIONAIRES $39.99 Time Remaining: 28d 13h 10m Buy It Now for only: $39.99 |
 Authentic AUTOGRAPHED Lee Van Cleef photo $149.99 Time Remaining: 1d 14h 34m |
 Bernard Lee signed 55x35 stock photo James Bond M Deceased Actor 1981 COA $74.70 Time Remaining: 1d 17h 9m |
 Batman Show Lee Meriwether Catwoman autographed sexy photo PSA DNA $49.95 Time Remaining: 26d 14h 56m Buy It Now for only: $49.95 |
 DIANA LEE HSU RARE 007 JAMES BOND AUTHENTIC AUTOGRAPH $1.00 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 1d 17h 29m |
 GEDDY LEE SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED RUSH 8X10 PHOTO PROOF COA $299.99 Time Remaining: 21d 17h 39m Buy It Now for only: $299.99 |
 Lee Ann Womack Autograph The LAW Cap Signature $14.99 Time Remaining: 2d 1h 44m |
 Lila Lee 1901 1973 hand signed vintage 8x10 $29.00 Time Remaining: 2d 2h 24m |
 NOW THATS HOT PARIS HILTON AUTOGRAPH+COA PSA DNA+BONUS JAMIE LEE CURTIS AUTO $79.99 Time Remaining: 16d 10h 13m Buy It Now for only: $79.99 |
 Autographed Lee Greenwood postcard COA Proud to be an American $0.99 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 39m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 |
 REMICK LEE REMICK autographed 8x10 photo GOLDENAGE BTGSAG20355 $175.00 Time Remaining: 26d 4h 57m Buy It Now for only: $175.00 |
 Geddy Lee of Rush Signed Autographed Beyond the Lighted Stage DVD $45.00 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 47m Buy It Now for only: $55.00 |
 Stan Lee Signed Marvel Super Heroes Cast 16x20 Photo ASI Proof $199.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 54m |
 Blues legend JOHN LEE HOOKER HAND SIGNED The Real Folk Blues LP cover w NM LP $749.99 Time Remaining: 27d 11h 7m Buy It Now for only: $749.99 |
 Stan Lee Signed Wolverine X Men Marvel Mask ASI Proof $249.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 54m |
 Autographed JAMIE LEE CURTIS matted check photo $85.00 Time Remaining: 26d 16h 11m Buy It Now for only: $85.00 |
 Stan Lee Signed Venom Spiderman Mask ASI Proof $299.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 54m |
 Stan Lee Signed Incredible Hulk Marvel 16x20 Photo ASI Proof $199.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 54m |
 KIM LEE 8X10 PHOTO SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED SEXY BEAUTIFUL IN PINK BIKINI GAI $44.99 Time Remaining: 27d 14h 53m Buy It Now for only: $44.99 |
 Stan Lee Signed Spiderman Marvel 16x20 Photo ASI Proof $199.99 Time Remaining: 2d 5h 54m |
 PSA DNA Certified Jerry Lee Lewis Autographed 8X10 Picture Autograph Photo RARE $375.00 Time Remaining: 3d 12h 5m Buy It Now for only: $375.00 |
 Autograph of Lee Grant and Angie Dickerson 1950 Era $6.99 Time Remaining: 2d 6h 5m |
 ORIGINAL FRAMED SIGNED 1931 PHOTO OF RIN TIN TIN SIGNED BY LEE DUNCAN MINT COND $243.00 Time Remaining: 2d 6h 17m |
 ENTER THE DRAGON CAST PP SIGNED POSTER 12X8 BRUCE LEE $8.61 Time Remaining: 11d 10h 55m Buy It Now for only: $8.61 |
 Tommy Lee Authentic Signed drumstick Given to me by Tommy at cd signing event $175.00 Time Remaining: 2d 10h 35m Buy It Now for only: $245.00 |
 Gena Lee Nolin actress signed photo Baywatch Sheena authentic COA $22.50 Time Remaining: 1d 18h 19m Buy It Now for only: $22.50 |
 Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis 8x10 Autograph signed w coa $49.99 Time Remaining: 2d 10h 38m |
 Robert Duvall Tommy Lee Jones in Lonesome Dove Hand Signed $8.99 Time Remaining: 2d 11h 39m |
 Kim Lee Hangover 2 FOUR 8X10 AUTOGRAPH $25.00 Time Remaining: 15d 1h 9m Buy It Now for only: $25.00 |
 ABBEY LEE KERSHAW SIGNED 8X10 PHOTO AUTOGRAPH $16.99 Time Remaining: 2d 13h 58m |
 Lee MinHo Autographed with pen Photo 4X6 New Korea freeship 02 $19.00 Time Remaining: 15d 20h 34m Buy It Now for only: $19.00 |
 Authentic Autographed Ben Lee Awake Is The New Sleep CD w Photo Proof $39.99 Time Remaining: 2d 15h 17m |
 KIM LEE SIGNED 8X10 PHOTO AUTOGRAPH $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 15h 52m |
 BRUCE LEE SIGNED PHOTO RE PRINT 183 $7.83 Time Remaining: 28d 7h 7m Buy It Now for only: $7.83 |
 JERY LEE LEWIS signed LP record album House Of Blues New Orleans autographed $74.99 Time Remaining: 2d 16h 4m Buy It Now for only: $124.99 |
 Shinhwa Lee Minwoo Autographed with pen the return Photo New Korea46 freeship $19.00 Time Remaining: 15d 16h 28m Buy It Now for only: $19.00 |
 LEE DANIELS SIGNED AUTOGRAPH 8 X 10 PHOTO PRECIOUS w COA $4.95 Time Remaining: 2d 16h 19m |
 LEE MERIWETHER hand signed BATMAN 8x10 CATWOMAN ROBIN closeup AUTHENTIC W COA $19.50 Time Remaining: 2d 16h 42m |
 FT Island Lee HongGi Autographed with pen Photo New Korea 46 free ship 02 $19.00 Time Remaining: 21d 20h 31m Buy It Now for only: $19.00 |
 STAN LEE MARVEL LEGEND HAND SIGNED AUTOGRAPHED 8X10 PHOTO $39.99 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 2d 16h 59m |
 FTIsland Lee HongGi Autographed with pen Photo size46 New Korean $19.00 Time Remaining: 25d 17h 49m Buy It Now for only: $19.00 |
 LEE GRANT ORIGINAL HAND SIGNED EXCELLENT 8X10 PHOTO COA $9.99 Time Remaining: 2d 17h |
 LEE MAJORS signed AUTOGRAPH 8 X 10 photo rw14181 $5.50 (7 Bids) Time Remaining: 2d 17h 34m |
 Signed Gunnery Sargeant R Lee Ermey Autograph 8X10 Photo Auto USMC Marine Gunny $49.99 Time Remaining: 11d 5h 37m Buy It Now for only: $49.99 |
 MEN IN BLACK II CAST SIGNED POSTER WILL SMITH TOMMY LEE JONES MIB JSA LETTER $100.00 Time Remaining: 2d 18h 33m |
 JOHNNY LEE Autographed BW promo PHOTO country artist URBAN COWBOY $20.00 Time Remaining: 24d 6h 31m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 |
 michele lee autographed photo 8x10 inscribed the love bug $9.50 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 50m |
 lee meriwether autographed 8x10 photo insc $9.50 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 50m |
 BOLO YEUNG signed autograph In Person 8x11 20x28cm ENTER THE DRAGON Bruce Lee $115.00 Time Remaining: 26d 8h 46m Buy It Now for only: $115.00 |
 lee ann womack autographed 8x10 photo inscribed $9.50 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 50m |
 SHANNON LEE MARR hand signed HOT SEXY 8x10 PINK LACE PANTIES closeup UACC RD COA $9.99 Time Remaining: 6d 10h 12m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 |
 lee horsley autographed 8x10 photo insc $9.50 Time Remaining: 2d 19h 50m |
 Lee Rocker SIGNED Racin The Devil CD stray cats $9.99 Time Remaining: 3d 4h 46m |
 EVANESCENCE AMY LEE AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED MAGAZINE WITH JSA COA PROOF $55.00 Time Remaining: 6d 15h 40m Buy It Now for only: $55.00 |
 General Lee 1 144th Scale The Dukes of Hazzard Signed by Bo Luke Duke $74.99 Time Remaining: 3d 13h 21m |
 Kim Lee Hangover 2 TWO 8X10 AUTOGRAPH $25.00 Time Remaining: 15d 1h 6m Buy It Now for only: $25.00 |
 GORDON PORKY LEE signed OUR GANG VERY YOUNG 8x10 SPANKY ALFALFA BUCKWHEAT coa $17.50 Time Remaining: 3d 16h 28m |
 LEE MERIWETHER hand signed STAR TREK 8x10 w coa LOSIRA in THAT WHICH SURVIVES $14.50 Time Remaining: 3d 16h 34m |
 CATHERINE BACH SIGNED DAISY DUKE WITH GENERAL LEE DUKES OF HAZZARD UACC RD 244 $59.99 Time Remaining: 18d 8h 15m Buy It Now for only: $59.99 |
 NANCY SINATRA LEE HAZLEWOODNancy Lee US PCV Autographed By Lee Hazlewood $328.98 Time Remaining: 3d 20h 13m |
 BRENDA LEE Autographed signed 10 x11 poster $60.00 Time Remaining: 3d 18h 22m Buy It Now for only: $60.00 |
 LEE MARVIN Signed Card Matted With CAT BALLOU Pick $100.00 Time Remaining: 4d 7h 50m |
 Chingwah Lee in the Good Earth Signed Autograph RPPC Date $3.00 Time Remaining: 4d 14h 18m |
 Van Halen Singer David Lee Roth Sammy Hagar Authentic Autographed 11x14 Photo $249.00 Time Remaining: 23d 10h 2m Buy It Now for only: $249.00 |
 LEE ANN WOMACK AUTOGRAPHED 8 BY 10 PHOTO $9.99 Time Remaining: 4d 15h 47m |
Record Results at Smythe Autograph Auction
Manhattan, New York – January 24, 2008 - New York auction house RM Smythe & Co, Inc held one of the most successful autograph auctions in its 125-year history on Thursday, January 17, 2008. The sale, featuring the collection of Steven Lee Carson, saw an unprecedented 77 percent of offered lots sell. Although the auction suffered a few delays due to technical problems with E-bay Live Auctions, in the end bidders on the floor, on the phone, and at their computers were able to take home a remarkable variety of historical autographs and Americana.
Not surprisingly, the highest hammer price was won by a letter written by President Abraham Lincoln, asking Secretary of War Edwin Stanton to approve the resignation of a cavalry captain at the request of the officer’s wife. Lincoln, typically a “soft touch” in such cases, makes the argument that “we are rapidly getting an over-proportion of officers.” The letter sold for $14,500, not counting a buyer’s premium. The Great Emancipator wasn’t the only family member bringing high prices. A pair of 1869 letters (one incomplete) from his widow, in which she refers to him as having been “from my eighteenth year – Always – lover – husband – father and all, all to me – truly my all,” brought nearly as much, $13,000.
One of the most exciting possibilities at any auction is watching a lot begin at a modest opening price only to rise and rise. That is just what happened with an extremely rare autograph note signed by beloved artist Norman Rockwell that had on it an original concept sketch for one of his covers for the Saturday Evening Post. A typical autograph note by the author might bring about $200-300, and the lot had been given a modest estimate of $650. Due to mail bids received before the auction, the lot opened at $2000; furious bidding drove it to a final price of $5500. Another high climber was a fascinating typewritten letter signed by Theodore Roosevelt as president during his negotiation of the treaty ending the Russo-Japanese War, complaining about the stubbornness of both sides. Estimated at $2500, it sold for $8500. Also shooting well beyond its estimate was a signed copy of Woodrow Wilson’s book Why We Are at War, which was estimated at $700 and sold for $3000, a record price. According to American Book Prices Current, it was the first copy to sell at auction in thirty years.
When asked why these lots were estimated so low, Smythe’s Bob Litzenberger explained that in some cases, there were no recent sales results to use as a reliable guide. He added that there are strategic advantages to setting conservative estimates, too. “High estimates, even if you’re confident a lot can reach them, discourage bidding. When an item opens low, more bidders get involved, and even if it goes so high that only those with deep pockets can stay in the game, it makes the auction more fun for everyone. If you know you can get in on the action, you’re going to come back, and you’re going to also bid on other items and win them. Consignors, too, are much happier when something sells much higher than its estimate than they are when it sells for even a little less. They also know we aren’t going to give them false expectations just to get hold of their material.”
As usual, early presidents and first ladies were a hot item, with a very unusual letter by Abigail Adams in which she commiserates with a friend whose son died in battle bringing $7000. A great document signed by her husband, authorizing a letter of marque for the Quasi-War with France, sold for $6000. An autograph letter of recommendation signed by the ever-popular Thomas Jefferson while vice president brought $10,000.
Highlights from other collecting areas included an outstanding content typed letter signed by novelist Henry James in 1914, with his views on wartime topics ($850 - a record for him in that format); a delightful original drawing of the Grinch signed by animator Chuck Jones, who directed the television version of Dr. Seuss’s book ($700); an autograph letter signed by beloved “Peter Rabbit” author Beatrix Potter ($850); and a scarce program for a 1942 German marksmanship competition signed by notorious dictator Adolf Hitler ($2050).
Along with great autographs, Smythe offered collectible Americana, books, prints, and photographs in a mail bid and online sale following the public auction. Here, too, there were valuable rarities. A most unusual hand-drawn map of the area around Vicksburg, MS, used by soldiers under Gen. W.T. Sherman during the Union siege of that city, sold for $2100. A large tapestry celebrating the Declaration of Independence went for $1900. A letter from a girl who had witnessed the horror of the Great Chicago Fire reached $600, while a wonderful diary along with a few letters of a Civil War soldier, telling of his participation in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, went all the way to $3250.
This is just a fraction of the sale’s results. Prices realized for the entire sale can be found at the firm’s web site, www.smytheonline.com.
Smythe is already accepting consignments for its next auction of autographs and Americana, scheduled for spring 2008. Interested parties can contact the company at 1-800-622-1880 for more details.
Accredited media interested in scheduling an interview to discuss this release or past or upcoming auctions are encouraged to contact Mary Herzog at 212-943-1880
About R. M. Smythe & Co.
R. M. Smythe and Co., established in 1880, buys, sells, and auctions coins, paper money, stocks and bonds and autographs at their corporate headquarters at 2 Rector Street in the heart of the Financial District in New York City. To order a catalog, to contact any of the firm’s specialists, or to make general inquiries, call 212-943-1880 or 800-622-1880, or visit the firm’s website at: http://www.smytheonline.com.
About the Author
BILLY LEE RILEY - BABY PLEASE DON'T GO!!! Autographed SUN 45