Len Dawson's game-worn Super Bowl IV jersey from 1970 brings $34,500 at Philip Weiss Auctions

June 25, 2012 - PRLog -- (OCEANSIDE, N.Y.) – Quarterback Len Dawson’s game-worn MVP jersey from Super Bowl IV in 1970, when he guided the Kansas City Chiefs to a 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the last game played between an NFL and AFL team before the two leagues merged just days later, sold for $34,500 at a three-day auction held June 14-16 by Philip Weiss Auctions.

   The jersey was the top earner of the estimated 2,000 mostly fresh-to-the-market lots that came up for bid. Dawson completed just 12 of 17 passes in the game, for 142 yards, but it was his determination and leadership that resulted in an upset victory. An AFL shoulder patch, sewn onto the jersey, was worn for just that one game, adding to the item’s sports history significance.

   Each day of the weekend auction had its own distinct flavor and set of offerings. June 14 featured mostly toys, trains, toy soldiers and play sets. June 15 was dedicated to sports items, comics and comic art (the Dawson jersey sold that day.) June 16 had political memorabilia, a great collection of occupational shaving mugs, militaria, circus memorabilia and ballet items.

   Following are additional highlights from the auction. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer’s premium. Internet bidding was facilitated by Proxibid.com.

   The regulation Confederate States of America uniform of Capt. Charles A. Hawkins (38th Georgia Volunteers), with the coat constructed of fine quality gray wool with blue wool facing on the standup collar, breezed to $24,140. Hawkins was killed in battle at Winchester, Va. As he fell, he cried, “Boys, they have killed me, but go on.” He died the next day -- on June 14, 1863.

   A pair of original Peanuts daily (not Sunday) comic strips, drawn by Charles Schulz, brought handsome prices. One, dated April 8, 1955, with Charlie Brown and Lucy discussing Lucy becoming Mayor of the United States, went for $21,850. The other, dated Aug; 26, 1960, featuring the Peanuts gang, plus a letter from Charles Schulz on his stationery, rose to $20,700.

   A rare and beautifully painted occupational shaving mug for the Colonial Hall Hotel in Oceanside, N.Y., dated 1904 (the hotel’s first year of operation) sold for $13,800. The Colonial Hall was a premier hotel of its time, with choice location right on the ocean boardwalk, adding to the mug’s desirability. And the painted image of the hotel was stunning in its attention to detail.

   A 33-star United States national flag, with the words “Preserve the Union” and measuring 47 inches by 102 inches, with stains and holes to be expected for an artifact of its age, garnered $11,100. Also, a baseball single-signed by Hall of Famer Tris Speaker, with a strong signature on the “sweet spot” and graded EX-NM 6.5 by the PSA, with a letter of authenticity, hit $4,255.

   Two sports-related lots commanded identical prices of $7,475. The first was a photo of the late Heisman Trophy winner Nile Kinnick, who died quite young in a plane crash, making anything signed by him rare and valuable. In the photo, which Kinnick signed, he is holding a baby (the consignor, as it turns out), wearing a T-shirt that says, “Iowa 1960” (Class of 1960).

   The other was an archive of material pertaining to Roy E. Moore, considered the father of gymnastics in the United States and the nation’s first Olympic coach in the sport. Items included Moore’s personal scrapbook, his uniform worn during the opening and closing ceremonies of the 1932 Olympiad in Los Angeles, and numerous photos, programs, plaques, buttons and ephemera.

   Comic art featured a 5 inch by 7 inch pen-and-ink illustration by Frank Frazetta for The House of Arabu, signed lower right ($6,900); original artwork for a Phantom comic strip dated Dec. 17, 1939, from the personal collection of Phantom creator Lee Falk ($6,038); and original, rare comic strip art from Dreams of the Rarebit Fiend by Windsor McCoy, dated 1907 ($5,175).

   An American Revolution muster roll, dated July 27, 1776 and measuring 18 ½ inches by 15 inches, soared to $6,900. The muster roll was under the command of Loammi Baldwin, the commanding officer of the Woburn militia in New York. He ran to the call of Paul Revere on April 18, 1775, and fought at the Battle of Lexington and Concord, rising to the rank of colonel.

   A watchband with ties to the Kennedy assassination brought $4,600. The band originally came with a Cartier watch that Jackie bought for JFK as a wedding anniversary gift in 1957. But Kennedy didn’t like the band and set it aside. However, upon his assassination, when the new band was cut from his wrist, this one replaced it. Jackie later gifted it to special agent Clint Hill.

   Philip Weiss Auctions will conduct an auction on Wednesday, Aug. 15, at 2 p.m., that will comprise over 400 lots of collectible toy soldiers. Featured in this highly specialized sale will be a large collection of Britains, Durbar, Mignot, Courtenay, Dimestore and more. Preview dates and times will be posted in the coming weeks. Watch www.weissauctions.com for details.

   Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. To consign an item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (516) 594-0731, or e-mail them at phil@weissauctions.com. To learn more about Philip Weiss Auctions and the firm’s calendar of events, to include the Aug. 15 toy soldier auction, please log on to www.WeissAuctions.com.

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