Steve Geppi Acquires Morphy Auctions
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leading auction house specializing in collectible Americana, and Adamstown
Antique Gallery, a premiere collectibles retail center, have been acquired by
one of his companies, Diamond International Galleries. Terms of the transaction
were not disclosed.
“Dan Morphy and Tom Sage, Jr. have done an incredible
job in only a short period to establish Morphy Auctions as a premiere auction
destination for both buyers and sellers, and I’m pleased that they are joining
our family of companies,” Mr. Geppi said. “With their years of acumen developed
prior to forming Morphy Auctions and their experience since its launch, it’s
great to have their expertise on board.”
Morphy Auctions was
launched in early 2004 when Dan Morphy, owner of the Adamstown Antique
Gallery, and long-time dealer Tom Sage, Jr. joined forces. Their auctions met
with immediate success, specializing in a widening array of Americana such as
tin toys, advertising signs, western toys and memorabilia, pressed steel items,
cast iron pieces, mechanical banks, door stops, clocks, and other compelling
genres. At their Denver, Pennsylvania-based Antique Gallery, items are displayed
months prior to the sale where a no-pressure atmosphere exists with staffed
antique experts. The 10,000 square foot facility houses over 300 collector
showcases and is located in Lancaster County just off the Pennsylvania Turnpike,
adjacent to the famed Adamstown strip, also known as the “Antique Capital of
America.”
Mr. Morphy and Mr. Sage implemented an extensive media
campaign targeting the most influential antique publications and other media,
and quickly developed an extensive following for their auctions. Morphy Auctions
events include live bidding by phone, fax or internet, as well as mail
bids.
Mr. Geppi is the owner of Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest
distributor of English-language comics, toys, collectibles and related
merchandise. Geppi also owns Diamond International Galleries, the only facility
of its kind that displays a collection of some of the finest examples of comic
books, toys, original comic art and memorabilia presented in a museum quality
setting. His Gemstone Publishing is licensed to produce Disney’s standard
characters in comic book form, and also publishes the “bible” of comic book
guides, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.
The auction
house’s founders have had a lifelong involvement with antiques, both growing up
with fathers who were active dealer-collectors. Mr. Morphy’s father, Pittsburgh
physician Dr. John Morphy, has been a collector of mechanical banks since the
younger Morphy was a child and introduced him to the business through shows and
conventions. Mr. Sage is a respected dealer of antique and vintage toys, with a
specialty in trains, robots, postwar Japanese toys and pop culture memorabilia.
His father, Tom Sage, Sr., of Allentown, Pennsylvania, is one of the best-known
antique toy dealers in the world and likewise involved his son in the collecting
world from an early age.
Morphy Auctions’ auction and office functions
will remain at its present headquarters in Denver, Pennsylvania.
Morphy
Auctions can be found online at http://www.morphyauctions.com.
Adamstown
Antique Gallery can be found online at http://www.aagal.com.
Diamond
International Galleries can be found online at http://www.diamondgalleries.com/.