Roy Rogers' horse, Trigger, Christie's New York, lot 38, July 14, 2010

I’m old enough to remember the Roy Rogers Show on Saturday mornings in the 1950s. It was a great show for kids. I enjoyed listening to Roy and Dale (Evans) singing “Happy Trails To You” to end their show each week. And don’t forget Roy Rogers’ trusty steed, Trigger. Well, guess what? You could have bought the taxidermic remains of Trigger at Christie’s New York sale of the Roy Rogers & Dale Evans Museum Collection on July 14-15, 2010. Sounds awfully creepy to me. Do you know anyone who has had his favorite dog or cat stuffed by a taxidermist and put on display in his or her home? I certainly don’t. I’m sure it’s been done, but by nobody I want to be close friends with.

Back to the auction. Trigger was lot 38 and estimated to sell for $100,000-200,000. The final price was $266,500, exceeding the high estimate and proving that some people were not as creeped out as I was. I wouldn’t have taken him home if they gave him to me for free.

Roy Rogers' show saddle by Edward Bohlin, Christie's New York, lot 37, July 14, 2010

The top lot of the sale was the previous lot, #37, Roy Rogers’ saddle, custom-made by Edward Bohlin, at a price of almost $1,000 in the early 1940s. Roy posed with this saddle for many famous photographs, including some shots in front of the Alamo to help sell war bonds. It carried a pre-sale estimate of $100,000-150,000 and more than doubled the high estimate, realizing $386,500.

Other lots that did very well were Roy’s personal Pontiac Bonneville ($254,500) and another Bohlin saddle (for Trigger, Jr., $242,500). And to continue the creepiness, you could have also bought his dog, Bullet, for $35,000, Trigger, Jr. for $18,750, and another horse, Buttermilk, for $25,000. Close to fifty lots sold for under $1,000, starting with a group of autographed golf memorabilia that sold for $313.

For the complete results of the sale, click on the following link. Christie’s Roy Rogers’ results.

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Please send me your comments or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer you in a future blog.