Editor’s Picks: September 2023 -2nd Edition

The only way one could obtain a copy of the Pokémon Pikachu Illustrator was through a series of illustration contests presented by CoroCoro Comics in 1998. Only 39 copies were distributed, making the Pikachu Illustrator an extremely rare card. But scarcity isn’t the only reason this card shines. The artwork is by Atsuko Nishida, who designed several of the most well-known Pokémon, including Pikachu. Additionally, this example is one of just three copies certified a CGC Gem Mint 10. 

Pokémon “Pikachu” Illustrator Unnumbered Promo CoroCoro Comics
CGC Trading Card Game Gem Mint 10
The Pokémon Company, 1998
Auction: September 23-24

Parisian artist and jeweler Jean Schlumberger was the first Tiffany & Co. designer given the privilege of signing his name to his jewelry, and the colorful Croisillon bangle, first introduced in 1962, is one of his signature designs. Meticulously crafted by layering enamel with 18k gold, the bracelet style was a favorite of Jacqueline Kennedy, whose first Croisillon was a gift from husband John F. Kennedy. The first lady wore the bangles so frequently the press began calling them the “Jackie bracelets.”  

Schlumberger Studios for Tiffany & Co. Enamel and Gold Croisillon Bracelet
Estimate: $15,000-$20,000
Auction: September 28

Agamography is a printing process pioneered by Paris-based Yaacov Agam. Using lenticular printing to present different images dependent upon viewing angle, the Israeli sculptor and experimental artist creates abstract, kinetic work such as 1983’s Spinning Polymorph. Encouraging active involvement from the spectator has remained at the core of Agam’s practice throughout his career, and much of his work is placed in public spaces to emphasize viewer participation. Notable Agam works include the world’s largest menorah, which stands 32 feet tall and resides in New York City.   

Yaacov Agam Spinning Polymorph, 1983
Agamograph on wove paper, acrylic and enameled aluminum
11-1/2 x 12-1/2 x 4-3/4 inches (29.2 x 31.8 x 12.1 cm)
Ed. 26/150
Estimate: $2,000-$3,000
Auction: September 28

Frank Frazetta’s art for Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars book series set a standard for other artists to follow. He helped to cement the characters and locales into the minds of a whole new generation of fans. This 1970 graphite piece, which appeared on Page 156 of the Doubleday hardcover edition of A Princess of Mars, features John Carter and Princess Dejah Thoris faced with a Barsoomian warrior. It is one of only three interior illustrations. 

Frank Frazetta A Princess of Mars Interior Illustration Original Art Doubleday, 1970
Auction: September 14-17

In the late 16th to 17th centuries, snuff, a luxury import from the West, took the Chinese Qing dynasty elite by storm. Small and elaborate snuff bottles, carried in pockets and sleeves and often presented as gifts from the imperial court, were created in precious materials, with the designs growing more elaborate over the centuries. This late 19^th-century yellow glass snuff bottle from the Tappan Family Private Collection features a detailed elephant wrapped around its body.  

A Chinese Yellow Glass Elephant Snuff Bottle, late 19th century
Estimate: $1,000-$2,000
Auction: September 20

Bvlgari, the prestigious Italian jewelry house founded by Greek silversmith Sotirio Bvlgari in 1884, has long been known for its striking use of colored stones, and this Ceylon purple sapphire and diamond ring is no exception. The ring’s centerpiece, a 10.67-carat cushion-shaped pinkish-purple sapphire, is surrounded by sparkling baguette-cut diamonds weighing a total of approximately 4.50 carats. The ring’s auction appearance comes at an opportune time for gift givers as sapphire is the birthstone for September.  

Bvlgari Ceylon Purple Sapphire, Diamond and Gold Ring
Estimate: $90,000-$110,000
Auction: September 28