1756-dated Poor Richard’s Almanac takes $11,377

NEW ORLEANS – On March 20-22, New Orleans Auction Galleries realized more than

$2.4 million in a three-day estates auction. The new gallery, located just blocks from the company’s previous space, was officially unveiled at an evening preview reception on Thursday, March 19. New Orleans Auction Galleries occupied its former location for over two decades.

“This was a landmark sale that sets the stage for a year of growth and success, thanks in part to our spectacular new facilities. Our St. Joseph Street location enables us to streamline our operations and entertain clients in a premier venue,” remarked Susan Sarofim, CEO of New Orleans Auction Galleries.

The three-day sale featured the contents of Glenridge Hall, a sprawling estate in Sandy Springs, Georgia, that was built by influential Atlanta-area businessman and philanthropist Thomas K. Glenn and his wife, Elizabeth Ewing. Property offered from Glenridge Hall included many of the original purchases made by the Glenns during their buying trips to Europe, as well as later additions to the home by descendants of Thomas Glenn.

Sale highlights from Glenridge Hall include a fine Edwardian chinoiserie-decorated satinwood breakfront that soared to $39,360 against a $3,000 to $5,000 estimate and an Italian polychrome and parcel-gilt cabinet with an estimate of $2,500 to $4,000 that reached $23,370.

The personal library of New Orleans printer and noted antiquarian William Pfaff also garnered tremendous interest. Highlights from this important collection were a first edition Poor Richard’s Almanac for 1756 by Benjamin Franklin that soared to $11,377 against a $3,000 to $5,000 estimate and a lot that included a first American edition and three other editions of “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens that sold for $4,428.

Sunday began with an impressive selection of jewelry. An 18-karat white gold, sapphire and diamond ring with a central cushion-cut sapphire with an approximate weight of

9.35 carats sold to a phone bidder for $49,200, a 14-karat white gold and fancy yellow and white diamond ring, composed of a central prong-set oval brilliant-cut diamond, with a total weight of 4.94 carats realized $41,820, and an 18-karat white gold and diamond necklace composed of 878 round brilliant-cut diamonds and 617 baguette-cut diamonds achieved $51,660.

Other notable sales include an opulent Continental giltwood pet’s bed that achieved $5,904, a painting by Max Friedrich Rabes, titled “The Costume Ball,” that sold for $49,200, a Chinese gilt-bronze Buddha Shakyamuni that far exceeded its $4,000 to $7,000 estimate to reach $51,660, and a Steinway and Sons satin ebony “Model B” piano that realized $29,320 against a $10,000 to $15,000 estimate.

A full listing of the March 20-22 sales results is available online at http://neworleansauction.com. The next estates auction takes place May 30-31, 2015.