happening at Stair.
from our sales archive.
1911
Colin’s great-grandfather, Arthur C. Stair and his partner, Valentine S. Andrew, established their antiques business, Stair & Andrew, Ltd., a firm specializing in fine antique English furniture.
1931
Alastair Arthur Stair, Colin’s grandfather, joined Stair & Andrew, Ltd.
1936
Mr. Andrew retired and Alastair bought the business, renaming the firm “Stair & Company.” He relocated the company to a beautifully restored townhouse at 59 East 57th Street.1960s
Colin’s father, Alastair John Stair, completed his tour of duty in the U.S. Marine Corps and his service in Vietnam. John relocated to London and worked at Sotheby’s under the great mastermind, Peter C. Wilson. John was invited to join Sotheby’s Board of Directors, with the understanding that he would eventually return to New York.
1970s
John opened his own gallery with Ward Landrigan, a former Sotheby’s colleague who currently owns the iconic jeweler, Verdura. John then reunited with Sotheby’s to launch the company’s Restoration Division.
Mid 1980s
John Stair moved most of the operations of Sotheby’s Restoration from Manhattan to Claverack, NY. Under John’s supervision, the department achieved a national reputation for excellence in historical restoration. Meanwhile, John’s son, Colin, had been working under John at Sotheby’s Restoration. Colin also spent time cataloguing furniture at Sotheby’s in England.
June 2001
Colin opened Stair Galleries, an auction house specializing in fine art and antiques.
May 25, 2002
Stair Galleries set a world record for the artist Paul Seifert (1840-1921) selling his watercolor depiction of a Wisconsin farmhouse for $66,700.
September 17, 2005
The first sale in our new building was held, where we brought $1 million in sales for English and Continental furniture, paintings and decoration. Diana and a Satyr, a European School oil painting, sold for $86,250.
December 1, 2007
We sold Search for the Right Address, an oil on canvas by Mark Tansey (b. 1949) for $247,250.
June 2008
We sold over $3 million in property within one month in our Salander-O’Reilly bankruptcy auction and our Antiquities and Modern Art sales.
October 8, 2010
We set a record for a Middle Easter Carved Ivory or Bone Plaque which sold for $230,000.
January 15, 2011
We had a record-breaking sale for Stair Galleries, which nearly topped $1 million for Asian, Middle Eastern and Ethnographic items. A Greek Carved Marble Bust of Hercules, from the Collection of Robertson and Mary Paige Alford in Norfolk, CT, sold for $74,750.
October 26, 2013
We set a world record with a rare Fabergé Imperial figure, Lot 125, which sold for $5,980,000, against a pre-sale auction estimate of $500,000 to $800,000. The last hardstone figure sold for $1.8 million in 2005, at Sotheby's, New York.
1912
Stair & Andrew became the first London antiques firm to open branch offices overseas. A gallery was opened in Manhattan, which included a decorating department that sold architectural woodwork from historical English interiors. Additional galleries were opened in Palm Beach and Williamsburg, VA. The firm also maintained a fully staffed restoration company, Oxford Restoration.
1926 – 1934
Arthur C. Stair resides at The Yellow House, Bayswater, London, which also serves as an extension to Stair & Andrew showrooms.
1934
Stair & Andrew was one of the initial exhibitors at the inaugural Grosvenor House Fair.1935
Alastair A. Stair transferred to the New York branch to work with Mr. Andrew.1954
Alastair A. Stair founded the Winter Antiques Show in Manhattan, a benefit for East Side House Settlement. He also founded the National Antique and Art Dealer’s Association of America.1964
Sotheby’s purchased Parke-Bernet. John Stair, working with Louis and John Marion, spearheaded the effort to make Sotheby’s an international presence. In the process, they created the largest fine art auction house in the United States.
1985
Alastair A. Stair sold Stair & Company to David Murdoch, a Los Angeles financier. Alastair then joined Sotheby’s New York where he served as a well-respected consultant.
1995
John Stair retired and Colin took over Sotheby’s Restoration as Managing Director and Vice President.
2001
Sotheby’s closed their restoration division. Colin purchased the facility and created his own company, Stair Restoration, a firm that continues the highest standards of excellence established by its predecessor.
October 20, 2001
The first auction was held at Stair Galleries, with 481 lots totaling $235,538 and within the first year and a half, the sales totaled $3 million.
2005
With business rapidly growing, Stair Galleries relocated to a 25,000 square-foot building on Warren Street in Hudson, NY.
April 22, 2006
At our first sale of only American and European paintings, featuring the Thomas Van Loan Collection, which sold over $1.7 million in fine art, we set records for the artist William Mason Brown (1828-1898), with his White Mountain View, oil on board, selling for $43,700, and for Frank Anderson (1844-1891), selling his oil painting of the Hudson Highlands for $212,750.
May 23, 2009
In our American Indian Works of Art Sale, we offered property from the Collection of Herbert G. Wellington. A Sioux Woman’s Dress sold for $12,650.
November 20, 2010
We sold property from the Estate of Dominick Dunne, an American writer and investigative journalist.
October 27, 2012
We offered property from the Estate of Ralph Vallone, as well as from the Estate of Katherine W. Mellon. A Fine George III Carved Giltwood Oval Mirror, from a Private Collector, sold for $69,000.
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October 26-27, 2013, Lot 125 Estimate: $500,000 – $800,000 |
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April 30-May 1, 2016, Lot 555 Estimate: $80,000 – $120,000 |
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October 24-25, 2015, Lot 241 Estimate: $5,000 – $8,000 |
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October 26-27, 2014, Lot 419 Estimate: $7,000 – $9,000 |
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April 25, 2015, Lot 613 Estimate: $80,000 – $100,000 |
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May 17-18, 2014, Lot 562 Estimate: $5,000 – $10,000 |
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April 30-May 1, 2016, Lot 671 Estimate: $700 – $900 |
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October 25-26, 2014, Lot 330 Estimate: $30,000 – $50,000 |
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March 14-15, 2015, Lot 243 Estimate: $1,000 – $1,500 |
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February 21, 2015, Lot 122 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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June 28, 2014, Lot 240 Estimate: $30,000 – $50,000 |
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June 26-27, 2015, Lot 390 Estimate: $700 – $900 |
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January 18, 2013, Lot 275 Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000 |
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May 19, 2012, Lot 255 Estimate: $30,000 – $50,000 |
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December 6, 2014, Lot 20 Estimate: $50,000 – $70,000 |
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April 2, 2016, Lot 1 Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000 |
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June 21, 2013, Lot 4A Estimate: $15,000 – $30,000 |
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December 6, 2014, Lot 29 Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000 |
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October 29-30, 2016, Lot 249 Estimate: $1,500 – $2,500 |
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June 21, 2013, Lot 316A Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000 |
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November 19, 2016, Lot 204 Estimate: $8,000 – $12,000 |
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October 26-27, 2013, Lot 726 Estimate: $10,000 – $20,000 |
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October 25-26, 2014, Lot 966 Estimate: $500 – $700 |
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October 29-30, 2016, Lot 236 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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December 5, 2015, Lot 727 Estimate: $20,000 – $40,000 |
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October 27-28, 2012, Lot 694 Estimate: $2,500 – $3,500 |
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February 25, 2017, Lot 156 Estimate: $600 – $800 |
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April 30-May 1, 2016, Lot 688 Estimate: $800 – $1,200 |
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October 27-28, 2012, Lot 876 Estimate: $20,000 – $40,000 |
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May 17-18, 2014, Lot 604 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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May 8, 2010, Lot 661 Estimate: $20,000 – $40,000 |
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June 25, 2011, Lot 394 Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 386 Estimate: $500 – $700 |
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April 2, 2016, Lot 87 Estimate: $7,000 – $10,000 |
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March 10-11, 2012, Lot 617 Estimate: $6,000 – $9,000 |
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December 4, 2010, Lot 191 Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000 |
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June 21, 2013, Lot 84 Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000 |
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May 17-18, 2014, Lot 768 Estimate: $1,200 – $1,800 |
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June 25, 2016, Lot 371 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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October 25-26, 2014, Lot 293 Estimate: $10,000 – $20,000 |
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September 9, 2016, Lot 114 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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April 2, 2016, Lot 83 Estimate: $8,000 – $12,000 |
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October 26-27, 2013, Lot 122 Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000 |
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October 25-26, 2014, Lot 298 Estimate: $5,000 – $8,000 |
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June 21-22, 2013, Lot 390A Estimate: $1,000 – $1,500 |
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November 19, 2016, Lot 446 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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March 14-15, 2015, Lot 888 Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000 |
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June 21-22, 2013, Lot 6 Estimate: $12,000 – $15,000 |
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May 17-18, 2014, Lot 989 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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November 19, 2016, Lot 206 Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000 |
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June 28, 2014, Lot 343 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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June 12, 2016, Lot 201 Estimate: $6,000 – $9,000 |
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December 10, 2016, Lot 173 Estimate: $100 – $200 |
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May 19, 2012, Lot 250 Estimate: $20,000 – $40,000 |
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May 19, 2012, Lot 99 Estimate: $20,000 – $40,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 219 Estimate: $6,000 – $9,000 |
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June 7, 2014, Lot 304 Estimate: $12,000 – $18,000 |
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June 12, 2016, Lot 62 Estimate: $15,000 – $25,000 |
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June 28, 2014, Lot 109 Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000 |
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October 29-30, 2016, Lot 327 Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000 |
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March 10-11, 2012, Lot 415 Estimate: $5,000 – $10,000 |
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March 14-15, 2015, Lot 1026 Estimate: $6,000 – $8,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 657 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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October 27-28, 2012, Lot 529 Estimate: $10,000 – $20,000 |
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October 29-30, 2016, Lot 228 Estimate: $800 – $1,200 |
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October 26-27, 2013, Lot 123 Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000 |
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October 26-27, 2013, Lot 490 Estimate: $150 – $250 |
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September 27, 2014, Lot 147 Estimate: $4,000 – $6,000 |
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October 29-30, 2016, Lot 6 Estimate: $1,000 – $1,500 |
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December 6, 2014, Lot 248 Estimate: $1,500 – $2,000 |
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November 19, 2016, Lot 246 Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000 |
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October 26-27, 2013, Lot 121 Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000 |
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December 5, 2015, Lot 634 Estimate: $15,000 – $25,000 |
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October 26-27, 2013, Lot 401 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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October 29-30, 2016, Lot 550 Estimate: $2,500 – $3,500 |
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June 21-22, 2013, Lot 83 Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000 |
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May 17-18, 2014, Lot 871 Estimate: $6,000 – $8,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 817 Estimate: $15,000 – $25,000 |
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November 19, 2016, Lot 258 Estimate: $6,000 – $9,000 |
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January 15, 2011, Lot 56 Estimate: $150 – $250 |
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September 5, 2014, Lot 5 Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000 |
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October 29-30, 2016, Lot 226 Estimate: $800 – $1,200 |
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January 15, 2011, Lot 122 Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000 |
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January 13, 2017, Lot 247 Estimate: $250 – $350 |
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October 29-30, 2016, Lot 401 Estimate: $800 – $1,200 |
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October 27-28, 2012, Lot 453 Estimate: $8,000 – $12,000 |
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October 29-30, 2016, Lot 241 Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 412 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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November 16-17, 2012, Lot 11 Estimate: $6,000 – $8,000 |
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January 15, 2011, Lot 247 Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000 |
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November 19, 2016, Lot 249 Estimate: $7,000 – $9,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 858A Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000 |
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January 15, 2011, Lot 318 Estimate: $300 – $500 |
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September 27, 2014, Lot 33 Estimate: $5,000 – $8,000 |
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April 30-May 1, Lot 594 Estimate: $6,000 – $8,000 |
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April 30-May 1, Lot 574 Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000 |
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October 25-26, 2014, Lot 287 Estimate: $4,000 – $8,000 |
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March 19-20, 2011, Lot 662 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 150 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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October 26-27, 2013, Lot 302 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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January 18-19, 2013, Lot 601 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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February 2, 2013, Lot 10 Estimate: $5,000 – $10,000 |
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October 25-26, 2014, Lot 310 Estimate: $700 – $900 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 378 Estimate: $200 – $300 |
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June 21, 2013, Lot 1 Estimate: $6,000 – $8,000 |
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April 6-7, 2013, Lot 655 Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 618 Estimate: $1,000 – $1,500 |
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April 6-7, 2013, Lot 433 Estimate: $1,500 – $2,500 |
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September 27, 2014, Lot 31 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 618 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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June 25, 2011, Lot 19 Estimate: $5,000 – $7,000 |
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April 30-May 1, 2011, Lot 545 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 455 Estimate: $2,000 – $3,000 |
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April 30-May 1, 2011, Lot 450 Estimate: $10,000 – $15,000 |
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September 27, 2014, Lot 113 Estimate: $12,000 – $18,000 |
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April 22-23, 2017, Lot 102 Estimate: $500 – $800 |
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January 18-19, 2013, Lot 600 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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January 18-19, 2013, Lot 459 Estimate: $3,000 – $4,000 |
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October 25-26, 2014, Lot 358 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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October 26-27, 2013, Lot 124 Estimate: $1,000 – $2,500 |
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May 17-18, 2014, Lot 20 Estimate: $2,500 – $3,500 |
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April 6-7, 2013, Lot 549 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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October 15-16, 2011, Lot 221 Estimate: $20,000 – $30,000 |
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June 7, 2014, Lot 181 Estimate: $2,500 – $5,000 |
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October 15-16, 2011, Lot 327 Estimate: $1,000 – $2,000 |
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April 6-7, 2013, Lot 779 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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October 25-26, 2014, Lot 699 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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October 26-27, 2013, Lot 374 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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June 5, 2015, Lot 167 Estimate: $14,000 – $18,000 |
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October 24-25, 2015, Lot 350 Estimate: $600 – $800 |
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June 26-27, 2015, Lot 742 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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January 18-19, 2013, Lot 337 Estimate: $700 – $1,000 |
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January 18-19, 2013, Lot 589 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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June 7, 2014, Lot 337A Estimate: $2,000 – $5,000 |
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June 28, 2014, Lot 231 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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September 10, 2011, Lot 212A Estimate: $100 – $200 |
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January 15, 2011, Lot 312 Estimate: $200 – $400 |
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March 14-15, 2015, Lot 775 Estimate: $1,000 – $1,500 |
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June 25, 2011, Lot 17 Estimate: $3,000 – $5,000 |
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June 21, 2013, Lot 98 Estimate: $17,000 – $25,000 |
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June 7, 2014, Lot 28 Estimate: $5,000 – $8,000 |
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June 28, 2014, Lot 568 Estimate: $4,000 – $8,000 |
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October 15-16, 2011, Lot 1012 Estimate: $800 – $1,200 |
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June 28, 2014, Lot 594 Estimate: $1,500 – $3,000 |
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December 6, 2014, Lot 279 Estimate: $2,000 – $4,000 |
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June 28, 2014, Lot 492 Estimate: $4,000 – $8,000 |
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December 6, 2014, Lot 124 Estimate: $800 – $1,200 |
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October 15-16, 2011, Lot 961 Estimate: $400 – $800 |
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Expert Insight
June 15, 2018
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Featured Interest
May 18, 2018
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Expert Insight
May 30, 2018
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Expert Insight
April 18, 2018
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