Hake’s Auction #242 was overflowing with rare, impressive collectibles from across a multitude of collecting categories. One of the most important political pins was offered beside a Kurt Cobain-used guitar, a Shoeless Joe Jackson card was next to the pinnacle of Star Wars collectibles. These and many other items in the premier event pushed it to an auction total of $2.5 million when it closed on November 19-20, 2024.

The guitar that Kurt Cobain stage used and smashed during a Nirvana concert at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington led the auction when it sold for $157,772. The show was held in January 1991, months before the band would record Nevermind, the album that made them international superstars. The guitar is a left-handed Memphis Stratocaster that Cobain used to play “Endless Nameless” as the closing number of the set. As Grohl and Novoselic continued to play, Cobain smashed the guitar with a hammer. After the show ended, a concert attendee took the destroyed guitar, then gifted it to a friend who owned it ever since.

The Boba Fett rocket-firing prototype (L-slot) AFA 85 shot its way to $114,224. The figure was originally made for the 1979 Kenner toy line, however the rocket-firing capability was deemed a choking hazard and the figure was dropped. The only examples available are in prototype form, and that number is further limited because many were damaged while Kenner ran safety tests on them. With several of the already finite number in rough condition due to those tests, higher graded examples like this one have become among the most sought after Star Wars figures.

The Glasslite Star Wars: Droids Vlix AFA 80, which is the single highest graded example, hammered for $44,261. The figure was only released in Brazil because the animated series was cancelled, making this the rarest of all Star Wars figures that were commercially released. This is one of just 12 graded by AFA.

The historical section was led by the Cox/Roosevelt Club presidential campaign button Hake #1 that sold for $36,580. The 1” button has a patriotic color scheme with red text and the candidates’ portraits in red. This jugate is the apex of campaign button collecting and is likened to Action Comics #1 or the Honus Wagner T206 baseball card.

Marvel keys dominated the comics section in this auction. Amazing Spider-Man #1 CGC 7.5, with the debuts of J. Jonah Jameson and the Chameleon, the first Fantastic Four crossover, and retelling of Spider-Man’s origin, sold for $29,983. Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 4.0 with the Hulk’s first appearance, and the debuts of Rick Jones, Betty Ross, and General Ross, smashed its way to $21,303.

The Grinch Santa costume display from Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas sleighed well past the $10,000 estimate to sell for $25,960. The 76” tall costume and foam facial appliance was used during the filming of Ron Howard’s holiday tale that starred Jim Carrey. The coat has a custom label with printed “Mr. Jim Carrey” and handwritten “C. O’Hara – Hero” referencing Carrey’s ski scene stunt double Chris O’Hara.

The 1917 Collins-McCarthay E135 #82 Shoeless Joe Jackson PSA authentic-altered card hit over its $20,000 estimate to sell for $26,780. It comes from Collins-McCarthy Candy Co.’s only set featuring non-Pacific Coast League baseball players. The Shoeless Joe Jackson card is one of the most valuable cards from the set.

Nirvana and Cobain continued striking a chord in the auction when the Nirvana original mechanical master art concert poster reached $25,700 over the $20,000 estimate. It advertises the important concert at the OK Hotel in Seattle in April ’91, when Nirvana debuted their new song, “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Action figures and related toys from the ‘70s and ‘80s were well represented in Auction #242. The Transformers Series 1 Optimus Prime AFA 85 that was released in Mexico by Plásticos IGA, more than doubled the $10,000 estimate when it went for $20,060. The main difference in packaging is the Spanish text and the absence of the tech spec chart on the back of the box, which has been replaced w/Spanish language character biography and Plásticos IGA logo.

The rare “Youth for Kennedy” 1952 Senate pre-presidential campaign button garnered $12,331, over the $10,000 estimate. The 2-1/4” button has a portrait of Kennedy in blue with red text; to the best of Hake’s knowledge, this is the first time the rare piece has come to auction.

The William Henry Harrison cobalt blue stoneware log cabin bank more than doubled the $5,000 estimate when it cleared $11,682. Attributed to Thomas Haig Jr., the bank is inscribed on the bottom with “1846.” The log cabin has a hard cider barrel by the door, a raccoon is on the roof, and one door is slightly open for coin placement.

A rare Roosevelt and Johnson bull moose on map of America jugate button sold for $11,136, just over the $10,000 estimate. The 1-1/4” button shows Hiram Johnson and Teddy Roosevelt shaking hands in the foreground with a large moose standing on a map of the US, implying a Progressive sweep of the country in 1912. It is among the most desirable Roosevelt/Johnson jugates.

Several other items sold for far more than their preauction estimates. The Empire Strikes Back Walrus Man card with Bib Fortuna (white cape) AFA 70 salesman’s sample brought $28,556, over the $20,000 estimate. A 1964 Aurora “Master Monster Maker” model contest kit scared up a winning bid of $18,748, well beyond the $10,000 estimate. The Empire Strikes Back Yoda 32-back-B AFA 90 (orange snake variety) more than tripled the $5,000 estimate to sell for $18,568. A 1926 Exhibits Charlie Gehringer rookie card PSA/DNA 5 Ex autograph 10 (the highest graded example) doubled the $5,000 estimate when it reached $10,500.

All of the top results can be viewed on Hake’s website.