In a follow-up to a before-the-sale story in the Aug. 28 issue (Vol. 56, No. 34), a rare Peter Derr punch set sold for $6,200 on Sept. 12 at Horst Auctioneers. The buyer was dealer Greg Kramer. A well-known 19th-century metalsmith, Peter Derr (1793-1868), whose works, primarily lighting, such as betty and kettle lamps, are sought after by folk art collectors today. Working in the summer hills area of New Schaefferstown, near Bernville, Pa., anyone who studies Berks County history knows the story of Derr. In the first half of the 20th century, James Spear was a collector of epic proportions. His book House of Derr was first published in 1949. A second printing was done in 1973. It is a compilation history of the Derr family, notably the patriarch, Peter. Spears wife was an antiques dealer and had a shop in the barn on their Penn Avenue property in Robesonia and handled many things made by Derr. James died in 1961. Pennypackers handled his estate in a series of sales. The rare and unique punch set was strongly believed to have been used in the shop of Derr. Housed in a wooden, chamfered front, holder, one iron punch is dated 1858. Derr is believed to have made his own tools, such as these nine-piece hot strike numbering punches. Each punch is handwrought rectangular stock with a forged and file-worked number. The wooden stand is numbered with a matching number. A separate lot in the auction, a wrought iron and brass collar dough scraper stamped 25/P.D/1850 sold for $1,400. The large number size 1850 was possibly done using this particular punch set. A number of Derr scrapers with the small 25 are known. A comparable dough scraper dated 1851 with 25 above realized $1,888 on Nov. 8, 2025, at a Kleinfelters Auction sale. Horst Auctioneers are located in Ephrata, Pa. For further information, call 717-738-3080.