Private collections of impeccable quality prompted an avalanche of bids in Morphy Auctions’ Sept. 11-13 Fall Sale, which realized $1.7 million (inclusive of 15 percent buyer’s premium). The sale’s headliner, the Andy Huffer toy motorcycle collection, knocked down incredible prices, with a Hubley 8½-inch cast-iron Harley-Davidson bike with nickel wheels and near-perfect paint roaring to a $57,500 finish. The faithful representation of a 1930 Harley factory DAH Hill Climber, with driver in forward “uphill” pose, made well over three times the high estimate.

After the three-day sale, Dan Morphy’s expressed his amazement over the amount of bidding that had come in through the Internet. “We had the most online bidders we’ve ever had since the beginning of Morphy Auctions. We couldn’t believe it,” he said. Postsale statistics showed that there were 1,990 registered Internet bidders, with 108,611 online catalog visitors registering 147,323 hits.

Morphy Auctions will conduct a special single-owner sale on Nov. 22 featuring the Arthur Richmond Collection of Americana, American furniture and art. All items from this important Virginia collection, which includes several George Washington portraits, will be offered without reserve.

To contact Morphy Auctions, call 717-335-3435 or email morphy@morphyauctions.com. Visit the company’s Web site at www.morphyauctions.com.

Posted: 09|26|08 at 9:59 am. Filed under: Auction News.