Collecting Illustrator Art: A Spotlight on Original Characters and Animators
Animation has always blended storytelling and visual artistry. Before the digital age, every cartoon you watched was built frame‑by‑frame using hand‑drawn sketches and painted cels. Each cel is a one of a kind painting created by a studio artist to be photographed over a background painting to form a frame in the finished cartoon. Because these production cels were used in the creation of films and television shows, they are highly sought after by collectors; they capture a tangible moment of pop‑culture history and can fetch strong prices depending on character and scene.
Alderfer Auction to Offer Rare Autographs of U.S. Presidents and Historical Figures
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Alderfer Auction to Offer Rare Autographs of U.S. Presidents and Historical Figures from Noteworthy Family Collection. HATFIELD, PA – July 15, 2025 – Alderfer Auction is pleased to announce that its upcoming Collectors Auction on July 24, 2025, will feature a remarkable collection of historical autographs, meticulously preserved and passed down through the generations of the Robert Frank Lehman (1859-1931) and Robert Lehman Benner (1910-2002) families.This extraordinary offering provides a unique opportunity for collectors to acquire signatures from some of the most influential figures in American history. Highlights of the collection include autographs of several United States Presidents, such as Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, and Grover Cleveland. Beyond the Oval Office, the auction will also present signatures from numerous 19th-century United States Supreme Court Justices, distinguished military leaders, Vice-Presidents of the United States, state governors, and various prominent politicians.
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Back by Popular Demand: Another Rare 1935 Maytag Toy Racer Hits the Market!
When a 1935 Maytag Toy Racer rolled into our auction this past April, it didn’t just turn heads—it turned into a headline. Bidding was fierce, interest poured in from collectors nationwide, and when the gavel finally fell, it sold for an impressive $18,000. We thought it might be a once-in-a-career consignment. But now, just months later, another remarkable example is revving its tiny engine—and heading straight into our auction lineup.
Alderfer Auction To Offer Important Historical Biometric Prosthetics As Part Of Collectors Auction
On July 24, 2025 Alderfer Auction, as part of Alderfer’s Collectors auction, will offer a pair of prototypes of biometric prosthetic arms that were developed in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s to provide a working mechanical limb for soldiers that had lost limbs due to injuries received in military actions during the Vietnam War.
Raymond Rocklin: A Visionary Voice in Sculpture and Studio Jewelry Returns to Auction
On July 24th, 2025, Alderfer Auction presents a significant opportunity for collectors, institutions, and enthusiasts of modern American art to acquire the work of Raymond Rocklin—an artist whose legacy bridges fine art, wearable design, and philosophical exploration. This curated offering includes both sculpture and studio jewelry and reflects the renewed attention to Rocklin’s contributions as a seminal, though often underrecognized, figure in American Abstract Expressionism and artist-made jewelry.
A Life Rooted in Adversity, Art, and Resilience
Paul McCobb’s Influence on American Mid-Century Interiors
Paul McCobb (1917–1969) stands as a seminal figure in the landscape of 20th-century American design. While his name may not have reached the same level of popular familiarity as Charles and Ray Eames or George Nelson, his impact was arguably broader and more accessible.
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A Study in Elegance: John Singer Sargent’s Enduring Allure
A previously unknown, signed oil portrait by John Singer Sargent – depicting a refined young woman in profile – has surfaced as one of the highlights of Alderfer Auction’s June 12 Fine and Decorative Arts sale. Anonymously donated to a local charity, this painting offers a rare convergence of fine art and philanthropy. The subject sits in serene profile, bathed in soft illumination as Sargent’s masterful brush captures the spirit of Gilded Age elegance. The canvas (about 30 inches high by 25 inches wide) exhibits Sargent’s hallmarks: an effortless command of light, lush yet loose brushwork, and informal grace. It draws viewers into a bygone era of society glamour while demonstrating why Sargent’s allure remains timeless.
