Pop culture Americana spans 235 years in latest Hake’s sale

'Nation's attic auction' offers something for everyone

The lead-off rarity in Hake's Americana & Collectibles auction No. 202 is based on the flashlight ring (lot #1671) of Clarabel the clown from Howdy Doody. There are fewer than five known examples of this illuminated face with hat ring and this is the only example known in near mint condition.

beatles yellow submarine store display
Hake’s Americana’s Auction #202 presents a terrifically varied cross section of Americana spanning 235 years. In between are some 3,200 other objects, from a record number of consignors, in some 200 collecting categories.

Among those 3,200 lots are many rare premium rings. The lead-off rarity is lot #1672, based on the Howdy Doody Flashlight ring. A Clarabell the clown illuminated face with hat ring is one of fewer than five known examples, and this is the only example known in near mint. Also, there are two rare Radio Orphan Annie Secret Guard rings: lot #1752 Magnifying ring and lot #1753 Altascope ring.

Collectors won’t want to miss their opportunity to bid on seldom-offered radio premium prototypes. Robbins Co. of Attleboro, Mass., designed and produced many of the classic radio premiums from the 1930s to the early 1950s. Five unique prototypes pictured in the Hake’s guides are offered in Auction #202: lot #1738, Tom Mix Ranch Boss Badge; lot #1743, Sky King Secret Compartment Belt Buckle; lot #1744, Sky King Kaleidoscope Ring; lot #1804, “Jack Armstrong All American Boy” Lead Proof Ring; and lot #1805, “Jack Armstrong” Decoder Lead Proof.” None of these were ever produced.

Theodore Roosevelt is represented in the current Hake’s auction with several outstanding lots, including lot #39, Roosevelt Bears drinking mug by Buffalo Pottery; lot #240, his “For Vice-President” button showing him full figure in Spanish American War uniform, and most spectacular of all, lot #257: a giant 3 1/4-inch tall vertical celluloid button with easel back and real photo front issued to promote Theodore Roosevelt for a second term in 1908.

Hake’s Americana’s Auction #202 is online now through Feb. 1.

Lot #3095 is a colorful, 58-inch-tall geometrically configured in-store display to hold the “Yellow Submarine” soundtrack record album released January 1969.

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