Printed books, movie memorabilia, and Chinese porcelain were among the auction market's superstar categories with great stories in 2010. Record prices for art, antiques, and collectibles were achieved and then quickly surpassed throughout the year.

Of note, American historical documents and objects soared to premium prices.

In December, an 1863 copy of the Lincoln Emancipation Proclamation achieved the highest price ever paid at auction for a U.S. Presidential document at $3,778,500.

Earlier in the year, a rare deep sapphire blue flask called "General Washington and Bust" brought $100,620 at an online Heckler Auction. The flask bears the names Thomas Jefferson and John Adams and is called the "Firecracker flask" because both men died on July 4, 1826.

George Washington's personal map of the Battle of Yorktown, which descended through the family of an aide to Washington, was auctioned for $1.15 million at James Julia Auctions.

The $305,000 price netted by the Maltese Falcon figurine and $266,500 price paid for Roy Rogers' stuffed horse Trigger made headlines in the movies memorabilia category while hefty prices were realized for Roman antiquities, American silver, Carnival glass, a baseball card and Babe Ruth ball, and a copper alloy penny, according to Kovels report.