Great news for gun collectors:
Guns and gems go up for sale at a Scottsdale auction house Thursday, July 3, including a 1981 Super Bowl Joe Montana San Francisco 49ers sample ring.
A second auction on Wednesday, July 9, highlights hundreds of African masks that were once auctioned at New York auction houses Christie’s and Sotheby’s.
The ring, which J. Levine Auction & Appraisal is valuing at between $3,000 and $5,000, is a salesman’s sample ring engraved with the name of the Hall of Fame quarterback. The size 11, 10-carat gold ring has a 5.7 millimeter diameter cut faux diamond in the center with more faux diamonds depicting the shape of a football.
More than 150 guns also are for sale. They range from the Civil War era to modern times and include several Nazi weapons. Among them is a 1945 Walther P-38 Nazi Waffen Grey Ghost expected to sell for between $3,000-$4,000 and a Nazi Waffen Mark 9mm, model 1939, which could fetch up to $4,000.
Auction house owner Josh LevineCQ said the April auction of some guns belonging to Wyatt Earp brought gun collectors from three different estates forward to sell the guns.
“That’s what brought them out of the woodwork and it kind of put us on the map with guns,” Levine said.
The July 9 auction comes from the estate of a private, Tucson collector. About 300 sculptures and African masks will be auctioned. The collector purchased some of the masks during at auctions during the 1970s through ’90s at New York auction houses, Levine said.
Many of the masks are from 1910 through 1920.
“That is considered antique for the genre,” Levine said. “Many were used for actual ritual purposes. When you see the masks in person you will have a visceral reaction.”
Levine does not expect many Arizona collectors to be interested in the niche collection, but expects international interest in the masks. Many of the masks will auction for up to $400, Levine said.
The July 3 auction for the gems and guns is auction is at 6 p.m. with a special preview with including music, refreshments and appetizers beginning at 4 p.m. The July 9 auction is at 1 p.m. with a preview starting at 9 a.m.
J. Levine Auction & Appraisal is located at 10345 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale.
Source: http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2014/06/25/scottsdale-auction-levine-guns-super-bowl/11353415