BALTIMORE - Businessman Stephen A. Geppi announced on April 8 that one of his companies, Diamond International Galleries, has purchased Morphy Auctions, a fast-rising Pennsylvania auction house that specializes in all categories of toys and Americana. In a separate but concurrent deal, Diamond acquired Adamstown Antique Gallery, a popular multidealer showcase mall located on the Adamstown antiques strip in Denver, Pa.; and the semiannual York Toy, Doll, Holiday & Advertising Show. Financial terms of the transactions were not disclosed. Dan Morphy was the sole owner of the Adamstown Antique Gallery and York Toy Show, and jointly owned Morphy Auctions with Tom Sage Jr. The latter company held its auction debut in April 2004 and produced four million-dollar-plus sales in less than 12 months’ time. "Dan Morphy and Tom Sage Jr. have done an incredible job in only a short period to establish Morphy Auctions as a premier auction destination for both buyers and sellers,” Geppi said, adding that one of the keys to the company’s success was the partners’ belief in mounting extensive media campaigns, which helped them develop an international following in less than a year. Both longtime dealers, Morphy and Sage are knowledgeable in many categories of American antiques, including advertising, cast-iron banks and doorstops, Western memorabilia, marbles, clocks, folk art and all types of toys, from 19th century antiques to playthings of the boomer years. In many ways, the partners experienced similar childhoods, both having fathers who were active dealer-collectors. 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. Sage Jr. 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, Pa., is one of the best-known antique toy dealers in the world, and likewise involved his son in collecting from an early age. Geppi’s extensive roster of companies includes Hake’s Americana & Collectibles, and Diamond International Galleries, a retail facility that displays high-end comic books, toys, original comic art and memorabilia in a museum-like setting. A part-owner of the Baltimore Orioles, Geppi also recently acquired a controlling interest in Memorabilia Road Show (now known as Geppi’s Memorabilia Road Show), a new sports collectibles auction house that obtains its consignments directly from professional athletes, their families and estates. Geppi’s publishing company, Gemstone, is licensed to reproduce Disney's standard characters in comic book form, and also prints The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide. On April 12, Steve Geppi hosted a festive evening at Diamond International Galleries’ headquarters in Timonium, Md., to introduce Morphy Auctions’ employees to their new “family.” Dan Morphy and Tom Sage Jr., their wives and staff were present, as were officers of Diamond International Galleries. Representatives from Geppi’s other companies also attended, including Chuck Parker and Larry Swanson of Diamond Comic Distributors; Bob Overstreet, Jamie David and J.C. Vaughn of Gemstone Publishing; Ted and Jonell Hake, Jeff Robison of Hake’s Americana & Collectibles; and Spencer Lader of Geppi’s Memorabilia Road Show. Commenting on the future of Morphy Auctions, Diamond International Galleries’ president John K. Snyder Jr. told Antique Toy World: “This business needs enthusiasm and people who’ll commit and put effort into the needs of this industry. Diamond’s acquisition of Morphy Auctions will give (Morphy and Sage Jr.) the means to take it where they want to go. They would have gotten there anyway, but now they’ll get there faster.” Morphy remarked that the unification of Diamond and Morphy Auctions has been a very positive experience because the principals involved on both sides of the merger constantly strive for excellence. “We couldn’t be more pleased about working with Diamond International Galleries and Gemstone Publishing. Everyone involved shares the same belief about how things should be done. Tommy and I have always insisted on a top-quality representation of the items consignors entrust to us. Our goal is to make sure that both the buyers and consignors are happy, and Diamond’s management is right behind us on that point.” “Both Tommy and I feel very fortunate to be able to work under the expertise of Steve Geppi and John Snyder. It’s a real privilege to be able to learn from professionals who operate at the very top tier of the business world.” : www.morphyauctions.com
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