Just released: Our latest Sports Collectibles Market Report!
The News: A rare bottle of 1926 Macallan whisky, potentially the world's most expensive, is set to be auctioned at Sotheby’s in London with an estimate of £1.2 million (~$1,450,000). Only 40 bottles of this unique Adami 1926 variant were ever produced, elevating its already legendary status among collectors.
Why: This specific bottle, aged in sherry casks for six decades before being bottled in 1986, is renowned not only for its rarity but also for being the first of its kind to be reconditioned by the Macallan distillery. This process involved the replacement of its capsule and cork, as well as a 1ml liquid sample for authenticity testing against another 1926 bottle in Glasgow.
What's Next: Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s global head of spirits, remarks, "This must surely be the most desirable bottle of whisky ever to come to the market." However, despite its exorbitant value and rich history, the chances of the buyer actually tasting the spirit are slim. Of the original 40 bottles, only one has ever been confirmed to be opened and consumed. GUARDIAN
The Highlights: Phillips’s 20th Century and Contemporary Sale in London garners a lukewarm $22.4 million with 40 lots sold. A majority of the top ten art pieces sold under the anticipated price or were not sold at all.
Key Takeaways: The top lot results revealed concerning trends. Two of the most awaited pieces were withdrawn due to insufficient presale interest. Meanwhile, the leading sales, including a Banksy mural and a Luc Tuymans piece, barely met or were below their estimates. Several artworks, previously bought at higher prices, were sold at a loss, hinting at a declining market value.
Market Trends: While some lots, such as Mohammed Sami's Childhood and Stefanie Heinze's Median (Fin Fotole), experienced intense bidding and doubled their estimates, others like Damien Hirst's works underperformed. The fluctuating bidding patterns suggest a market filled with unpredictability. ARTNET
A long-lost 20-inch model of the X-wing starfighter from 1977's Star Wars sold for a record $3.135 million at a Heritage Auction in Dallas. The screen-used prop, once part of Oscar-nominated modelmaker Greg Jein's collection, was recently discovered in Jein's garage after being missing for decades. THR
A Mark Rothko painting titled "Olive over Red (1956)" is set to be offered for $40 million at Paris+ par Art Basel by Pace gallery, coinciding with a major Rothko retrospective at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. The artwork, once owned by financier Thomas H. Lee who purchased it for $1.9 million in 1995, hasn't been publicly displayed since 1971 and will test the art market amid current geopolitical volatility. ARTNET
A collection of 3,300 T206 cards will go up for sale at Heritage in 2024. The collection has been passed down for three generations and includes 10,000+ period cards. TWITTER
Templum, Inc. has launched Templum One, a first-of-its-kind ecosystem for private markets and alternative assets, streamlining investments in alternatives to be as straightforward as buying public stocks. The platform connects issuers, investors, and other market participants, offering a unified solution for alternative investment opportunities ranging from private equity and real estate to art and collectibles. TEMPLUM
Ryan Hoge, president of PSA, tweeted out some numbers regarding how closely each PSA office matches eachothers grading output. TWEET
Collectibles investment company, Rally Road, recently announced their purchase of Mickey Mantle’s childhood home in Commerce, Oklahoma. ESPN writers Sara Coello and Dan Hajducky dive into Rally’s plans and what to expect out of this endeavor. ESPN
The Blackhawks have begun offering fans the chance to purchase commemorative physical tickets along with the digital ticket they use to get into the stadium. TWITTER
Feel free to reach out to Keenan@Altaninsights.com for any questions/comments.
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