Steampunk Inspiration

Antique is not steampunk.

However steampunk is inspired by the past, and antiques as props, inspiration, or a source of materials can create a greater realism for steampunk projects.

This illustration could easily be mistaken for a steampunk fantasy, but it is, in fact, one of a series of published paintings depicting the aviation technology of the time, from a bound volume of Scribners magazines for sale at our auction.

I love the earphones, the goggles, the gloves, and all the wood and brass... that guys mustache!  But I think what impresses me the most is that these guys FLEW in that thing.

Another item that stirs my imagination is this cool old watchmans clock.  A conversation piece as-is, I can imagine it's potential as decor, fashion, or part of some wild invention.  

The leather strap makes it easily wearable as a prop or fashion accessory.

Cameos are often part of steampunk fashion.  Why not upgrade from mass-produced plastic to a unique antique work of art, hand carved in shell from the Victorian era? 

Little tiny gears are fun and all, but how about some big wooden gears and machine parts?  You could dust them off and hang them on a wall, as unique art.

My research he suggests they were foundry molds, and this is only a sample of what we have.  I'm still trying to round them all up.

We have many more cool items, selling without reserve.  June 14, 2014.  Online bidding will be available.

Nellie at Superior Auction has started listing official photos on her website as well.   

You can find her at SuperiorAuction.net.

Old Books: Collector Books.

To go directly to the auction site: go to SuperiorAuction.net.   More items will continue being added as we get closer to the auction date.   

One catagory we have a huge selection of is books.   Fiction, non-fiction, informative, interesting, all different kinds of vintage books.

The only thing collectors love almost as much as the things they collect, are books about the things they collect.

We have auction catalogs and price guides, beautiful coffee table books, and informative histories.  

 

These are just a few examples.

And Even More Books

We have historically important books, literary books, funny books, reference books.  We have books to add authenticity to your steampunk study or color to your modern den.  

And, we have beautifully illustrated books.

There will be some who will buy books with the intention of taking them apart for the prints.
Unless the book is already falling apart, it's better if I don't know.

 Unfortunately, I can't tell you if we have your favorite illustrator, because I don't know.  I can tell you, we have many beautiful illustrations, and this is just a small random sample.

The Scribners and other bound magazines are full of them.

This is from a great article about armor, with many illustrations:

Bird Portraits in Color, illustration by Allan Brooks:

Portrait of Henriette Sontag the opera singer.

Pierre-Louis 'Henri' Grevedon (artist)
Samuel Freeman (engraver)

Books, Books, and More Books

A small and somewhat random sampling of the many books we will be selling on June 15th, 2014.  

My last post was about the 1925 Harlem issue of The Survey, so I'll start by continuing with the Black history theme.

The Life of Blessed Martín De Porres, Saintly American Negro and Patron of Social Justice.   By J. C.  Kearns, O.P.   Hardcover.  Published by P. J. Kennedy and Sons, New York, 1937.

The Coming Battle of Germany.  1942.  Signed by the author, William B. Ziff.

 

Numbered first edition of The Mammoth Cod by Mark Twain.

A Gentleman's Guide to Scientific Seduction in Eight Easy Lessons.

A large collection of hardcover books with colorful book jackets 

And beautiful sets.

 

 

(to be continued)