The X-Men, a campaign button from 1920, the Grateful Dead, Star Wars, and Mickey Mouse led Hake’s Auction #245 to a $2.3 million total. The premier auction’s eclectic mix of 1,592 pop culture and historical collectibles closed on November 18-19, 2025.

X-Men #1 CGC 9.2 with the first appearances of Professor X, Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Beast, and Angel, and their biggest nemesis, Magneto realized $131,334. Through the X-Men, creators Jack Kirby and Stan Lee introduced the concept of mutation, opening the door for limitless character designs and power sets. Their original roster of seven characters has grown to include a multitude of mutants who star in ongoing titles, event series, and many offshoots.

The Grateful Dead 1966 “Skeleton & Roses” first printing Family Dog concert poster CGC 9.8 cranked the volume up to $59,059. Designers Stanley Mouse and Alton Kelley utilized a 19th century illustration by Edward Joseph Sullivan from the Arabian poetry publication, The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. It is the most recognizable from the Family Dog posters and is considered a defining image of the San Francisco psychedelic music scene of the 1960s.

The Mickey and Minnie Mouse on Motorcycle tin wind-up toy cruised to $58,410, well over the $35,000 estimate. The classic Tipp & Co. toy from 1930 is considered to be the most desirable Disney toy, not only coveted by collectors of Disneyana but motorcycle and wind-up collectors as well. This example is complete and all original aside from two small spots of touch-ups to Mickey Mouse figure; less than 10 of this toy are known in their original state.

Mickey Mouse toys produced several of the auction’s big prices, including a rare 1930s Mickey and Minnie “Mickey the Musical Mouse” tin toy that hammered for $27,258. The very rare 1930s “Mickey Mouse Scooter” wind-up celluloid and tin toy sold for $25,960. A Mickey Mouse chariot being pulled by Horace Horsecollar 1930s celluloid wind-up saw $22,983.

The Cox and Roosevelt 1920 jugate button Hake #2010 topped the historical and political memorabilia when it sold for $50,740, well beyond the $35,000 estimate. The 7/8” button is one of the finest known examples of the jugate, which is considered the crown jewel of political campaign buttons.

The top Star Wars sale was the Power of the Force Luke Skywalker (Imperial Stormtrooper) first shot/photo sample action figure AFA 75. It totaled $33,748, besting the $20,000 estimate and setting a world record. The first shot Kenner figure (light brown hair variety) with a prototype rubber Stormtrooper helmet was used for photography purposes. This very rare first shot/photo sample combo is the most sought after first shot from the Power of the Force line and is the only AFA-graded example.

Star Wars toys continued to deliver with a Jawa vinyl cape variety 12-back-A AFA 85+ that brought $20,768. A Luke Skywalker double-telescoping 12-back-C AFA 80 sold for $12,176.

A Hyrum & Joseph Smith “Temple of Nauvoo” circa 1847 historic Mormon plate quadrupled its $5,000 estimate when it realized $20,768. The 9-1/4” ceramic plate features portraits of Hyrum Smith and Joseph Smith that were likely after an 1847 print published in London by Moses Martin.

The Kent State Shooting Apology document signed by Governor Jim Rhodes and Guardsmen from an out of court settlement sold for $16,874. The document refers to the students that were wounded and killed on May 4, 1970, when National Guardsmen opened fire on unarmed students who were protesting the US invasion of Cambodia.

The rare Roosevelt on the Ark 1910 cartoon button unlisted in Hake brought $15,576, tripling the $5,000 estimate. The 1-1/4 button shows Theodore Roosevelt astride the ark’s cabin roof clad in a safari outfit holding his rifle, surrounded by several animals. The design was inspired by his return to America from his African safari in 1910.

The Transformers Series 1 Optimus Prime AFA 85 rolled out beyond the $10,000 estimate when it cleared $15,340. The Autobot Commander is in the box with the registered logo and is considered among the most desirable Transformers toys. The Series 2 Shockwave AFA 80 (one of the most desirable from Series 2) brought $11,449.

Luis Domínguez’s Ghosts #82 cover also bested its $10,000 estimate when it sold for $12,136. It features the horror art Domínguez was known for during the Bronze Age. The thrilling scene shows a pair of frightened acrobats terrified by the skeletal ghost that has joined their high-rise performance.

The historical and political sections were filled with results that sold above their preauction estimates. A Roosevelt & Johnson “Progressive” bull moose Liberty Bell jugate button doubled its $5,000 estimate when it went for $10,254. The rare “For President Harry S. Truman” 1948 real photo sketch portrait button cleared $9,735, over the $5,000 estimate. A circa 1932 Pollock’s Cuban stars baseball club photo PSA Type 1 signed by Lazaro Salazar reached $9,086, well beyond the $2,000 estimate. A rare Roosevelt “The Man of the Hour” 1912 bull moose button hammered for $8,638, quadrupling the $2,000 estimate.

All of the results from Hake’s Auction #245 can be viewed on hakes.com.