The Votes Are In - Heritage Galleries Political Memorabilia Auction Wins in a Landslide!

Dallas, Texas: The first sale of Heritage Galleries and Auctioneers (HGA) newest division, Heritage-Slater Americana, held November 12, 2004 in Dallas, Texas, was an unqualified success, raising the bar for all auctions of political memorabilia.

The sale, which featured political, Presidential, and patriotic items, included the first part of the Joseph G. Brown Collection of 19th century campaign items. An incredible 96% of the 555 lots found buyers, and sales totaled $559,000 including buyers' premium.

"This auction set an all-time record for a political item auction" declared Tom Slater, formerly of Slater's Americana, now Director of Heritage-Slater Americana, "breaking the previous record set by Slater's Americana's April, 2003 sale, whose political section did just over $500,000 in sales."

"We couldn't have been happier with the bidding," Slater reports. "It showed both breadth and depth, with more new bidders than we have seen in a long time. Clearly, access to Heritage Galleries' extensive network of serious collectors, combined with an aggressive advertising and promotional program, the likes of which have never before attempted in this field, produced dramatic results."

Dozens of items set new individual high-water marks, according to Slater, with Abraham Lincoln items showing particular strength. Some 60 lots featured America's 16th President, and nearly all sold well above their estimated values. Most dramatically, an attractive 1860 campaign ribbon on pink silk fetched $9,775, far exceeding the previous record price at auction for a single-picture Lincoln ribbon.

A lovely sash picturing Henry Clay, from the 1844 election, brought $11,500 against an estimate of $2,500 to $3,500.

An impressive copper sword belt buckle, believed to have been worn at Washington's 1789 Inauguration, sold for $13,800

And a tiny, never-before-seen shank button picturing Washington realized $5,000.

The auction also contained a small but select offering of celluloid pinbacks, led by a rare Harding-Coolidge jugate button from the 1920 campaign, at $9200, while a charming brass shell pin of Teddy Roosevelt tripled its pre-sale estimate at almost $2200.

An impressive array of display items, including a John Tyler snuff box at $8625 (pre-sale estimate $5000 to 7000), was another feature of this record-breaking sale. A scarce 1844 campaign flag for Henry Clay sold for $13,800 despite being in less than perfect shape, while a very rare 1840 glass whale oil lamp featuring the log cabin and cider barrel, symbols of William Henry Harrison's candidacy, brought the same price.

The most expensive lot in the sale proved to be a unique 1872 campaign ribbon picturing Horace Greeley and his vice presidential running mate, which sold for $19,550. "This was an impressive lot," Slater noted. "We believe this to be a record price for any political ribbon at auction."

But perhaps the auction's greatest strength, according to Slater, was the consistently high prices attained by "meat and potatoes" items. "Spectacular rarities will often find their levels," he observed. "The real test of an auction is what the standard items fetch. We were delighted with this auction in that regard, as lot after lot in the $50 to $500 price range sold for substantially above what we would have expected in a Slater's Americana sale. Clearly we are on the right track, and expect great things in the future from Heritage-Slater Americana auctions."

The firm's next sale, scheduled for April, 2005, will be a huge, two-volume catalog covering a wide range of collectable Americana categories. It will feature Part II of the Joseph G. Brown Collection, as well as an array of autograph and manuscript items. Visit the firm's website, HeritageGalleries.com for developing details about this auction. Potential consignors are invited to contact Tom Slater, TomS@HeritageGalleries.com, or by phone at 800-872-6467, ext. 441 or contact John Hickey at JohnH@HeritageGalleries.com, or by phone at 800-872-6467, ext. 264.

Heritage-Slater Americana is headquartered at 3500 Maple Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75219-3941

For more information about Heritage's auctions, and a complete record of prices realized, along with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit www.HeritageGalleries.com. Heritage-Slater Americana is headquartered at 3500 Maple Avenue, Dallas, Texas, 75219-3941