A circa 1849 Midwestern stagecoach hammered down at $16,500 at the July 9 Deaccession Auction, far exceeding its $2,000-$4,000 estimate. The auction was held on behalf of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) at Cordier’s auction facility located at 1500 Paxton St., Harrisburg, Pa. A 1909 Zimmerman touring car and a New England mail sleigh were among the other top performing lots. Prices reported are hammer prices and do not reflect a buyer’s premium.
Active online, floor, and absentee bidding pushed many lots of the auction to realize significant prices, raising a total of almost $65,000 for the state museum commission. The 1909 Zimmerman touring car was one of only 12 extant Zimmermans known and the only known touring car model. Interested bidders volleyed over the historic car before it finally hammered down at $26,000. At a hammer price of $2,300, the 19th century New England mail sleigh was also a standout.
Other exciting pieces included an 18th century edition of “Martyr’s Mirror” ($900) deaccessioned from the Ephrata Cloister, an early poster of Rome ($600), antique charcoal buggies ($475 each), and a painting attributed to DeWitt C. Boutelle, a 19th century Pennsylvania artist, which brought $750.
The PHMC contracted Cordier to auction items that had no special significance to the history of the Commonwealth, or that duplicated what was already in the state’s collection.
Prior to being consigned for sale, the objects were offered to other PHMC properties as well as other historic museums state and nationwide. Money raised from the auction can 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.
The items were formerly held at the Anthracite Heritage Museum, Cornwall Iron Furnace, Ephrata Cloister, Fort Pitt Museum, Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum, Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, the State Museum of Pennsylvania, and Washington Crossing Historic Park.
For additional information, call Cordier Auctions & Appraisals at 717-731-8662 or email arundle@cordierauction.com. To contact the PHMC, call media contact Howard Pollman at 717-705-8639.