(LYNBROOK, N.Y.) – A pair of original Peanuts Sunday pages by the legendary comic illustrator Charles Schulz sold for a combined $78,200 at a multi-estate sale held Thursday, June 6, by Philip Weiss Auctions, in the firm’s new post-Hurricane Sandy gallery in Lynbrook. The firm was forced to move from their longtime home in Oceanside after the storm’s devastation.

One of the Peanuts Sunday comics, dated March 1, 1964, was personalized by Schulz, “To Susie and George with friendship.” It was a wonderful page, with eleven characters in a movie theater line, including Charlie, Lucy, Patty, Violet, Linus, Shermie, Schroeder and others. Some light staining in several panels didn’t keep it from becoming the sale’s top lot, at $41,400.

The other original Peanuts Sunday, dated Feb. 12, 1961, featured Violet giving grooming advice to Pig Pen and Charlie Brown. It realized $36,800, against a pre-sale estimate of $18,000-$24,000. Also, a rare Charles Schulz horizontal two-panel daily for Li’l Folks (the comic strip that preceded Peanuts, and becoming increasingly harder and harder to find) garnered $6,038.

The auction was a success by any measure, grossing more than $225,000 and boasting a wide array of categories, to include nautical items, rock ‘n’ roll and Hollywood memorabilia, occupational shaving mugs, and collections pertaining to “Oziana” (The Wizard of Oz) and the book’s author, L. Frank Baum. Internet bidding was provided by Proxibid.com and Auctionzip.

Occupational shaving mugs are a big hit with collectors, and this auction had many desirable examples. The top achiever was a mug for a service car tow truck driver named “C. Wiegand.” It had a great image and the bottom was stamped “Royal China International.” No noticeable chips, cracks or repairs could be detected on the 3 ½ inch tall mug, which hit $10,925.

Also sold was a shaving mug for a movie projectionist with a name that appeared to be “Chals. Zingale,” with the bottom edge incised “Germany” ($4,370); a mug for a golfer named “Al Thompson” with a graphic of a golfer taking a swing ($3,450); and a rare mug for the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair administration building with the bottom stamped “D&C France” ($2,415).

A first-edition hardcover copy of the immortal classic children’s book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum (George M. Hill Co., Chicago, 1900) went to a determined bidder for $3,000. The book, in very good condition but with no jacket, was a fine copy of a later state first-edition printing (circa 1899-1900). The book came from the estate of Evan S. McCord.

A first-class dining chair from the ocean liner S.S. Normandie went for $2,645. The rare piece of maritime history had its seat cushion replaced, but the cushion on the back of the chair was original. A handwritten note on the bottom of the chair said, “Captain’s Chair off the S.S. Normandie – French line – burned chair given to B.O. Hawes for medical care on Mrs. Hawes.”

A letter on U.S. Senate letterhead by then-U.S. Senator John F. Kennedy, written Feb. 28, 1957, was a bargain for $1,980, against a pre-sale estimate of $2,000-$3,000. Kennedy wrote of “the Middle East situation” and “sanctions against Israel.” He signed the letter boldly and inscribed it with, “The situation seems to be improving!” The original envelope was included.

From rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia, an original “UK Souvenir Programme” for a May 29, 1966 concert by The Who, signed by Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, Keith Moon and John Entwistle on their respective full-page pictures, went for $1,150; and a copy of the Queen LP A Day at the Races, signed by all four band members, including Freddie Mercury, made $1,200.

An original 16 inch by 20 inch silver gelatin limited-edition photo of Marilyn Monroe by photographer Frank Worth, showing Marilyn on the set of the film How To Marry a Millionaire, numbered (23/195) and estate stamped, fetched $990; and a 1940 color lithograph poster for the American Negro Exposition, by Robert Pious (1865-1940), 13 ½ inches by 21 inches, hit $863.

Rounding out some of the day’s top lots, a vintage wooden advertising display cabinet for Dr. Leisure’s Famous Remedies Vet, with a lithographed tin front door image of a horse’s head, changed hands for $1,323. The 27 inch by 21 inch by 7 inch cabinet would have brought much more, but the tin had some scuffs, scratches and pitting and the interior showed some wear, too.

Philip Weiss Auctions’ next big sale will be held Thursday, June 27, at 3 p.m. (EST) in theLynbrook gallery and feature stamps, coins, postcards and ephemera. Offered will be an inverted 1-cent Pan American Scott #294A, huge collections of U.S. and face value material, an extensive collection of first-day covers, currency, ancient coins and gold and silver U.S. coins.

Then, on Tuesday, July 30, also at 3 p.m., an estate sale packed with porcelain, pottery, paintings and more will be held. Highlights will include an oil on canvas by Gaston Sebire, a metalwork photograph by Andrew Levitas (signed and numbered, 6/10), an oil on canvas by Jan De Vliegher, a stained glass table lamp (possibly Handel), Royal Doulton, Lladros and more.

Rounding out the summer schedule will be a Tuesday, July 30 auction dedicated mainly to toys, trains and toy soldiers. The sale will include trains by Marklin, Bing, Lionel, American Flyer, Marx, French and other European makers; toy soldiers by Britains, Mignot, Dime Store and other makers; pressed steel trucks and vehicles; tin litho wind-ups and other vintage toys.

Philip Weiss Auctions is always accepting quality consignments for future sales. 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 upcoming summer auctions, please log on to www.weissauctions.com.

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