(LYNBROOK, N.Y.) – An extremely rare 1891 Coca-Cola wall calendar – the first year Coke began making calendars and possibly the only surviving example in existence – plus other turn-of-the-century Coca-Cola items, will be part of an eclectic auction scheduled for Saturday, March 15, by Philip Weiss Auctions, in the firm’s gallery at 74 Merrick Road in Lynbrook, N.Y.

The auction will also feature Part 1 of the John Panza collection of ice cream and soda fountain memorabilia, items from the “Moonlight Kid” collection of motorcycle memorabilia, rare and vintage advertising posters, coin-ops (including slot machines and pinball machines), Black Americana, petroliana and automobilia, and World’s Fair and Coney Island collectibles.

“It isn’t often we have so many great items in so many different categories, but that is exactly the case with this auction,” said Philip Weiss of Philip Weiss Auctions. The sale will get underway promptly at 10 a.m. (EST). For those unable to attend in person, internet bidding will be provided by Proxibid.com and Invaluable.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted.

The 1891 Coca-Cola calendar is colorful and has a graphic of a pretty young woman (as so many did that followed). It is housed in a gold gilt frame and has all the months intact, with January displayed first. It reads “Asa G. Candler & Co., 47 Peachtree Street,” a reference to Asa Griggs Candler, the co-founder of Coca-Cola. The logo is unlike the iconic present-day logo.

Other antique Coke items certain to attract attention will include a 1905 oval serving tray (“Drink Coca-Cola at Soda Fountains, Delicious and Refreshing, 5 Cents”); a 1903 round tray (“Delicious and Refreshing”); and a framed 1908 calendar, with October showing (“Sold Everywhere, 5 Cents”). All three feature a lovely lady in period Victorian dress enjoying a Coke.

Part 1 of the John Panza ice cream and soda fountain memorabilia will feature antique syrup dispensers, soda fountains, rare and high-end ice cream scoops (one of which is especially scarce and desirable), ice cream serving sets, advertising signs and more. The collection is too massive and important to be crammed into one auction. Part 2 will be offered later on this year.

Headlining the vintage posters category will be an example from 1937, in French, by the artist G. Ham for the Journee Internationale Automobile road race, dated May 1937. It is colorful and shows race cars in action along the course. Also sold will be 1939 New York World’s Fair posters by Albert Staehle, John Atherton and Joseph Binder, and many other World’s Fair items.

The “Moonlight Kid” collection of motorcycle memorabilia will feature a circa-1915 Indian Motorcycle genuine photo postcard, an Indian Motorcycle fob with “Laughing Indian” logo, a Harley-Davidson factory visitor’s badge, motorcycle and aircraft oil cans (to include Harley-Davidson and Indian Motorcycle), a complete circa-1920s Speedway Riders tobacco card set, an Indian Motorcycle advertising blotter, advertising signs, pins, badges, decals and more.

The automobilia and petroliana offerings will include a rare pair of “Purple Flash” gas globe signs (15 inches in diameter), and a group of automotive oil cans and automotive decals. The Black Americana will feature porcelain figurines, nodders, tobacco jars, a rare carved wood adjustable nutcracker, paper ephemera and more. Many Maxfield Parrish prints will also be sold.

Philip Weiss Auctions will have another big sale at the end of the month, on Saturday, March 30, beginning promptly at 10 a.m. (EST). Sold will be a strong selection of automotive toys (Dinkys, Matchbox, Corgis and Japanese friction), many European trains and accessories, a Buddy L train set, a nice collection of mint-in-the-box Built-Rite playsets, lunchboxes and more.

Noteworthy lots will include a 1954 Superman vs. The Robot lunchbox, a 1968 Star Trek dome metal lunchbox, a Marx Fire House playset in the box, a Roy Rogers Rodeo Ranch playset, a Rin Tin Tin Fort Apache playset, a Marx Davy Crockett at the Alamo playset still in the box, a Marx Zorro playset still in the box, and many character lunchboxes from the 1950s and the ‘60s.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions. To consign a single item, an estate or a collection, you may call them at (516) 594-0731; or, you can send an e-mail to Philip Weiss at Phil@WeissAuctions.com. For more information about Philip Weiss Auctions and the March 15 and March 30 auctions, log on to www.WeissAuctions.com.

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