by William A. Gage, Department Head

Rear Admiral’s pennant with 2 stars, this would have been flown aboard USS Tuscaloosa during D-Day invasion

James D. Julia, Inc. is proud to have been selected by the Maria Ten Eyke Mayo Deyo (Lila) Garnett estate to sell at auction the personal effects of Vice Admiral Morton Lyndholm Deyo (July 1 1887–November 10, 1973).

Deyo had a storied 38 year naval career starting with his graduation from the United States Naval Academy in 1911, and proceeding through to the Second World War and beyond.

Prior to WW II Deyo served on no less than 7 different ships and taught at the Naval War College and was an aid to the Secretary of the Navy.

In WWII in the early 1940s he was commander of Destroyer Squadron II and in 1944 he commanded the Western Operation Neptune Force “U” supporting the landing of the American First Army at Utah and Omaha beaches. It was for this navel gunfire support at Utah Beach in the Normandy invasion that he was awarded his first “Legion of Merit” medal from the President. It was on the ship “Tuscaloosa” (CA-37) that he coordinated the bombardment.

After the landings at Normandy and assisting in the successful landings of the First U.S. Army in the Madeleine area as well as commanding a group of warships that blasted enemy strung points in the vicinity of Cherbourg, France he commanded task groups in the pacific.

Deyo was named to command Task Force 54, the bombardment group for the Okinawa invasion. Considered his crowning achievement in the pacific was his command of gunfire and covering force for the assault on Iwo Jima and the occupation at the battle of Okinawa. For this service he was awarded the “Distinguished Service” medal. It was during this time his Flagship the “Tuscaloosa” was targeted by two Japanese Kamikaze but was able to continue with the action after “splashing” them in their wake before harm could befall them…During the battle of Okinawa he was the last naval commander to form a battle line with battleships as they prepared to intercept the Japanese battleship “Yamato.”

At the war’s end, he accepted the surrender of Japanese forces in the Pacific at Sasebo, Kyushu. He received his second Legion of Merit award in the form of a gold star in lieu of a second award of the Legion of Merit.

Planning maps used by Admiral Deyo aboard the USS Tuscaloosa on D-Day June 6, 1944

After his death in 1973 his namesake lived on with the launching of the USS Deyo (DD 989) on March 31, 1979. It was the 27th Spruance class destroyer. It saw action in both the Persian Gulf wars and supported Desert Storm. The destroyer was decommissioned on November 6, 2003.

In James D. Julia’s Winter Fine art, Asian & Antiques auction on February 8th & 9th it is with great anticipation and honor that we offer a number of historical items from both his Atlantic and Pacific campaigns. These items will be auctioned on Day 2 (Feb 9th) and include:

1. The invasion charts used on the bridge of the “Tuscaloosa” by Vice Admiral Deyo in the bombardment and support of troops landing at the Utah and Omaha beaches in the invasion of Normandy (Lot 2091)
2. A large photography scrapbook portraying the Okinawa invasion campaign including the raising of the flag at Iwa Jima and chronicling the surrender ceremonies of the Japanese at the end of the war (Lot 2092)
3. A Japanese sword presented to Vice Admiral by a Japanese Officer at the signing ceremony (Lot 2097)
4. Flags of Vice Admiral Deyo used during the invasion of Normandy and on board his ship the “Tuscaloosa” (Lot 2090)
5. The presentation christening bottle and documents relating to the launching of the USS Deyo on March 31, 1979 along with a number of items from his desk and office including hats, awards, badges, and personal mementos (Lot 2095)
6. Presidential commissions and Naval Academy Diploma (Lot 2093)

This exciting auction features several stunning collections from across New England, including the finest grouping of antique powder horns to come to auction in memory.

Fairfield, ME ~ January 8, 2018. Fairfield, Maine will again be the epicenter of the antiques world this winter as James D. Julia, Inc., a division of Morphy Auctions, hosts its annual Winter Fine Art, Asian & Antiques auction on February 8th and 9th, 2018. This $3.6 million auction includes over 1,200 lots of carefully curated offerings and many once-in-a-lifetime rarities. All items will be available for preview on February 7th from 9am-5pm, February 8th and 9th from 8am-10am, and during each auction session.

This auction hits the ground running with over 350 lots of outstanding paintings, prints, and sculptures. It’s fair to say that lot #1025, Paul Manship’s “Sagittarius,” from a model of the Celestial Sphere, is a star amongst these top-tier selections. This signed and foundry marked bronze comes with a letter dated July 3, 1956 from Manship describing the piece as, “from a model of the celestial sphere I made some years ago and represent constellations for the sky – Sagittarius = the zodiacal sign = Nov 22 to Dec 21-22 with the Corona Australis = the little band of stars is the outline of the Milky Way.” This absolute rarity, which has descended directly within the artist’s family, is estimated at $500,000-700,000.

It’s a stroke of genius when it comes to this auction’s offerings of outstanding works on paper and canvas. Lot #1194, Fernando Botero’s “A Lawyer” is estimated at $125,000-175,000. This piece features a portly, pensive looking man carrying a book and is signed “Botero 98.” It is featured in Marc Fumaroli’s Botero Drawings, 1999. Enthusiasts will be challenged to pick a favorite among the eight Haley Lever paintings on offer. Two of particular note are lot #1047, his “Fishing Boats – Sunrise” from 1904 which is titled on a Clayton-Liberatore Art Gallery label and lot #1048, his “Fishing Boats, St Ives, Cornwall” from 1908 which has its title inscribed on its stretcher. Both are signed and are estimated at $50,000-100,000 and $12,000-18,000 respectively.

A prizewinning selection of paintings featuring sporting themes and motifs will also be offered on day one. Two by Ogden Minton Pleissner deserve special mention. The first is lot #1113, titled “A Big One Hooked,” which is estimated $80,000-120,000. This masterpiece, featuring three men fishing in a rocky river, is titled on its label from The Caldwell Gallery. The second is his “Grouse Hunting,” which is estimated at $30,000-50,000. This painting shows two sportsmen shooting at a bird and a hound dog at the ready. Lot #1122 is Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait’s “Quail And Young,” estimated at $20,000-40,000. This painting, featuring two adult birds and nine babies, bears its gallery label from Gerold Wunderlich & Co. and is Illustrated on page 146 and listed as 59.1 in Henry Marsh’s Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, a Checklist of His Works. All three of these sporting-themed paintings have provenance to a South Pomfret, VT collection.

Julia’s enjoys a much-deserved reputation for leadership in Rockport School and Maine related fine art. With over 50 examples from these categories on offer, works from Thieme, Hibbard, and Gruppe, are certain to inspire waves of interest amongst enthusiasts. Lot #1055, William Lester Stevens’ “The Merton Bachelder Barn” is estimated at $12,000-18,000. This barnburner retains on verso its Rockport Art Association Retrospective Exhibition label and was featured on pg. 95 in the Rockport Art Association’s W. Lester Stevens, N. A. 1888–1969. Among the offerings from Maine artists is lot #1023, Bernard Langlais’ “Lion.” This carved, stained, and painted wood relief panel is estimated at $15,000-25,000.

The first day of this auction also features over 50 fine Asian items. Lot #1432, an early 20th century Chinese framed scroll painting, is estimated at $2,000-2,500. Executed with gouache on paper, the image depicts a courtyard with a central waterway and four maidens standing in the foreground. Lot #1427, a beaker form, Meiji period Satsuma vase by Yabu Meizan is estimated at $4,000-6,000. It is exquisitely painted with a continuous waterfront landscape around the lower half and a procession of figures around the top. And another precious highlight among these jewels is lot #1382, a fine natural jadeite, diamond and gold Guanyin pendant, estimated at $10,000-15,000. It is accompanied by a Hong Kong Gems Laboratory certificate indicating it is a 101.49ct “Natural Colour Fei Cui” (Type A).

Day one of this auction offers something for everyone with its fine selections of other merchandise, including decorative arts, silver, and furniture. Lot #1484, a last quarter 19th century Black Forest carved walnut hall stand from Switzerland is estimated at $4,000-6,000. This fine example depicts a Chamois on rockwork beneath a stylized tree surmounted by an agitated raptor; its stylized branches forming hat and coat hooks center a shield shaped mirror set within the trunk. Lot #1473, an 86 piece sterling Hepplewhite flatware set by Reed & Barton is estimated at $1,500-2,000. The boxed set is monogrammed “S F H” for Susan Frances Hill (Gould) and is accompanied by a letter detailing the family’s history. And as a final note for day one, please check out lot #1475, an equally handsome and functional Aesthetic Movement Wooton standard grade walnut desk, estimated at $5,000-8,000.

Given its amazing offerings of antique archival materials, ephemera, and items associated with important people, places, and things, the second day of this auction is certain to make history.

A significant number of lots on offer on February 9th are from two Maine area estates. These focus on property belonging to Stephen Decatur, who led successful naval battles in both Barbary Wars, North Africa, the French Quasi War, and the War of 1812; and Morton L. Deyo, a World War II hero who commanded naval gunfire support at Utah Beach in the Normandy invasion, amongst other notable accomplishments. One of these collections, from the Maria Decatur Mayo Deyo (Lila) Garnett family of Kittery Point, Maine, is the same family that auctioned off the map of the Battle of Yorktown used by George Washington through Julia’s in 2010 for $1,150,000, which at the time set the record for the most expensive map ever sold at auction and also the highest price ever for any auction sale in the state of Maine. The Decatur and Deyo offerings are certain to be of interest to Naval enthusiasts, historical and militaria societies, and museums around the world.

Lot #2068, a Gold Freedom Box presented to Decatur from the city of New York in 1812, is estimated at $125,000-175,000. Gold Freedom boxes were used to confer honorary privileges on distinguished individuals from the mid-18th century; other notable recipients include General George Washington. Lot #2072, a signet ring given to Decatur in 1805 from The Bey of Tunis upon his surrender of Tripoli, is estimated at $10,000-15,000. This ring is made of gold with about a 3/4″ Carnelian engraved with the seal of Hammuda Ibn Ali, ruler of Tunis from 1782 until his death September 15, 1814. Lot #2080, a pair of French Empire bronze dolphin candelabrum taken by Decatur as prize from the French Privateer “Croyable” when captured by Decatur on July 7, 1798, is estimated at $8,000-12,000. This beautiful 16” cast bronze pair features dolphin bases with their curled tails holding florally decorated, detachable double candleholders. Lot #2090, an archive of Morton L. Deyo materials, is estimated at $5,000-10,000. Included in this important collection is his WWII era visor cap, two 48-star flags, as well as a two-star Admiral’s Pennant thought to have been with Deyo when commanding the USS Tuscaloosa during the bombardment of Normandy on D-Day. And lot #2091, four massive hand drawn and painted planning maps used by Deyo aboard the USS Tuscaloosa, is estimated at $800-1,200. These include 1) an overview of the British and French coast in one map, 2) a view of the French beach with Utah Beachhead squared off, 3) a large map showing that section with pasted label “UTAH BEACH 6 JUNE 1944,” and 4) a detailed map showing the position of beach “Tare Green” and beach “Uncle Red” – code names for two entry points on Utah Beach with exit positions shown going inland.

Historical ephemera, archival materials, and first-person journals from the early 1800s onward also tell their tales during the second day of this auction. Lot #2173, a Wright Brothers biography archive, is estimated at $4,000-6,000. This collection, concerning the writing and publication of the 1930 biography of Orville and Wilbur Wright by John R. McMahon, includes letters, a book manuscript, glass plate negatives, press clippings, and other materials. This auction’s selections of records related to United States sailing vessels is also quite impressive, with materials on the Congress, Constitution, Columbus, Constellation, and Potomac – among others – on offer. Lot #2063, a large folio, 300 page journal documenting a cruise on the USS Congress in 1817-1818 and another on the USS Constitution in 1821-1822 is estimated at $15,000-25,000. The first adventure, “Journal of a Cruise in the United States Frigate Congress, Arthur Sinclair Commander From Norfolk Virginia To South America,” starts on December 4, 1817, ends on September 11, 1818, and includes details about events around Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina. The second adventure, aboard the USS Constitution from Boston to the Mediterranean, is titled “Instructions For the Navigation of the Rio de la Plata.” It starts on May 13, 1821 and ends on May 22, 1824 with the ship being hauled into the Navy yard. And finally, several lots of ambrotype and tintype images of Civil War soldiers will be offered. A good example is lot #2159, a group of ten outstanding armed Civil War hard images is estimated at $4,000-6,000. Each image features a military man in uniform holding or wearing armaments and/or field gear.

Enthusiasts just might go to battle over the fine selections of militaria available through this auction. Exceptional powder horns and battle axes from two important collections highlight this genre. Lot #2007, a group of 13 Revolutionary War era powder horns carved by the “Folky Artist,” is estimated at $25,000-30,000. This group of horns represents 13 of about 30 known powder horns carved by this artist whose name has been lost to history. He is thought possibly to be from the south, as southern icons, such as palmetto trees, long leaf pine sprouts, and a Spanish mission are among the subjects engraved on his horns. Lot #2004, a fine French and Indian War Powder Horn of Moses Walcut, Fort Edwards, 1758, is estimated at $8,000-12,000. This well-known and elaborately decorated example is pictured in Jim Dresslar’s 1996 book, The Engraved Powder Horn. Lot #2026, a massive Plains Indian pipe tomahawk with a double cutout head, is estimated at $15,000-20,000. This 2-pound example is from the Mark Francis Collection; its decoration is highly desirable and often forged. And lot #2027, a Pierre Choteau Missouri marked war axe, is estimated at $15,000-20,000. Pierre Choteau was a trader from St. Louis who worked in the 1780-1790 timeframe; similarly, other forged iron implements with this mark are on display at the Missouri State Historical Society Museum along with additional items in the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, NE. Its provenance includes the Choteau Family and the John Baldwin Collection; it was sold at Sotheby’s in May, 2013.

This auction includes two historically important awards. The first is lot #2050, a gold Tiffany snuff box presented by the citizens of Buffalo to Lt. John Worden, estimated at $30,000-50,000. Worden was the hero of the Victory of the Monitor Over the Merrimac. This handsomely decorated box is engraved with the battle scene between the U.S. Navy Ironclad “Monitor” and the Confederate Navy Ironclad “C.S.S. Virginia” (Merrimac), as well as other naval themes. It is personalized, “Lieut. John L. Worden, U.S.N.” / “From the Citizens of Buffalo, N.Y./ April 8, 1862.” / “YOU BEAT THE MERRIMAC AND SAVED THE MINNESOTA.” Our catalogers note that this is one of the most important American Civil War U.S. Navy artifacts to be presented for public auction. And lot #2166, a silver Congressional Medal for survivor “Charles Tong Sing” of the “Jeannette” Arctic Expedition of 1879-1882 is estimated at $12,000-18,000. This medal was produced for either the survivors or the next of kin of those who had perished in the expedition. Eight gold and 25 silver medals were struck by the Philadelphia Mint and were probably designed by Charles E. Barber or George Morgan, chief engravers to the mint at the time.

Now let’s take a look at the boatloads of fantastic nautically themed selections available through this auction. Lot #2222, James Buttersworth’s “Portrait of the Merchant Ship Dolphin Off Portsmouth England,” is estimated at $10,000-15,000. This fine oil on canvas shows the three-mast ship sailing right to left with several other ships in the background, all under a pink and blue sky with gray and white shaded clouds. Lot #2205, a Napoleonic POW bone model of a 48-gun frigate mounted in a domed glass case, is estimated at $5,000-10,000. The war between Napoleon’s French Navy and the naval forces of England lasted so long that the captured French prisoners had to find ways to pass the time. Captors encouraged prisoners to produce objects to sell in the camp’s civilian markets; among the most popular were ship models like this one, representing British naval ships of the period. Lot #2210, a 19th century Masonic scrimshaw decorated whale’s tooth snuff bottle, is estimated at $1,500-3,000. It is fitted with a tiger maple incised end cap and a turned ebony or rosewood fill spout. And it’s easy to get carried away over lot #2316, an early 1920s Nantucket lightship basket, estimated at $1,500-2,500. The example is attributed to A. D. Williams, located at 120 Orange Street, Nantucket, MA, and features a circular hinged lid with a turned maple centerpiece and a flattened round knob finial.

The second day of this auction rounds out with can’t miss selections of antique American furniture, weathervanes, and other surprise finds. Lot #2232, an exceptional grain painted slant lid pine desk with its original free form sponge decoration with diagonal squiggle line borders, is estimated at $8,000-12,000. Lot #2408, a last quarter 19th century setter dog weathervane attributed to Washburn and Company, is estimated at $5,000-8,000. The dog is in a classic pointer stance with its head and tail parallel to the ground. And it’s easy to go to pieces over lot #2180, an outstanding solid gold, marked, micro-mosaic Russian hinged box, estimated at $4,000-6,000. The 2″ x 3″ scene shows a man on a horse crossing a river with others following, while women are seen on foreground with soldiers.

According to Department Head Bill Gage, “Our selections of fine and decorative art, as well as historical rarities on offer through this auction are truly world-class. My colleagues and I worked tirelessly over the past six months to bring our customers the finest, rarest, and most interesting merchandise and I am certain they will not be disappointed. The Commodore Stephen Decatur Gold Freedom Box is even more impressive in real life; its history, provenance, and presentation truly put it in a class all unto itself. The same can be said of the newly discovered Sagittarius Bronze by Paul Manship, which is one of the most unique and exciting lots we have ever brought to auction.”

More information on James D. Julia, Inc.’s Winter Fine Art, Asian and Antiques auction, as well as the full catalog, can be found online at www.jamesdjulia.com. In addition to pre-bids, telephone bids, and in-person bids, Julia’s accepts bids via Invaluable.com as well as Bidsquare.com. Bill Gage and Tony Greist welcome your questions and inquiries; they can be reached at antiques@jamesdjulia.com or by calling 207-453-7125.

About James D. Julia, Inc.:
James D. Julia, Inc., a division of Morphy Auctions, is one of the top ten antique auction antique houses in North America as measured by annual sales. In business for over 45 years, the company conducts high-end antique, collectible and fine art auctions throughout the year. The company has routinely established new world records through its auction events through three key divisions, including Rare Firearms; Fine Art, Asian & Antiques; and Rare Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry. Each division is regarded for its excellence and is staffed with world-class specialists to guarantee fair and professional authentication, identification, and valuation services. In December of 2017, James D. Julia, Inc. merged with Morphy Auctions of Denver, PA. Morphy Auctions and James D. Julia, Inc. share a common purpose of delighting collectors worldwide with aligned missions and unparalleled customer service standards. Joining forces creates a synergistic team of passionate staff members to better serve our customers and strengthen the antiques and collectibles industry. For more information, please visit www.jamesdjulia.com.

Contact:
Scott Wentzell
Director of Marketing for James D. Julia, Inc.
SWentzell@JamesDJulia.com
207-453-7125

Image	Description
	Lot 1023. Bernard Langlais (American, 1923-1977) Lion
	Lot 1025. Paul Howard Manship (American, 1885-1966) “Sagittarius” “From a Model of the Celestial Sphere”
	Lot 1047. Hayler Lever (American, 1875-1958) “Fishing Boats – Sunrise”
	Lot 1113. Ogden Minton Pleissner (American, 1905-1983) “A Big One Hooked”
	Lot 1194. Fernando Botero (Colombian/American, 1932-) “A Lawyer”
	Lot 1427. Satsuma Pottery Vase by Yabu Meizan
	Lot 2004. Fine Identified French and Indian War Powder Horn of Moses Walcut, Fort Edwards, 1758
	Lot 2026. Plains Indian Massive Pipe Tomahawk with Double Cutout Head
	Lot 2050. Solid Gold Tiffany Presentation Snuff Box Presented by the Citizens of Buffalo to Lt. John Worden, Hero of the Victory of the Monitor Over the Merrimac
	Lot 2068. Rare Gold Freedom Box, Commodore Stephen Decatur from the City of New York, 1812
	Lot 2090. Admiral Morton L. Deyo Archive
	Lot 2166. Silver Congressional Medal for Survivor “Charles Tong Sing” of the “Jeannette” Arctic Expedition of 1879-1882
	Lot 2180. Solid Gold Russian Hinged Box with Micro Mosaic Classical Scene
	Lot 2222. James E. Buttersworth (American/British, 1817-1894) Portrait of the Merchant Ship Dolphin Off Portsmouth England
	Lot 2232. Exceptional Grain Painted Slant Lid Pine Desk Signed George Pierce, Manlius, New York

Joe “J.R.” LaRue
September 7, 1940 – December 14, 2017 For 25 years, J.R. LaRue and Jim Julia worked together travelling all over North America and throughout the world examining some of the finest firearms collections available. J.R. LaRue and Jim Julia with the famous Dr. Joseph Murphy Collection of Colts, the finest of its kind ever to come to auction. While at Julia’s, J.R. cataloged between $200 million and $300 million of rare guns from some of the finest collections. J.R. LaRue and Jim Julia on one of their many hunting trips together, May 2006
Jim Julia and J.R. LaRue ready for the hunt, September 2008
Jim Julia and J.R. LaRue taking a break from dove hunting in Argentina, June 2012

by Jim Julia

I am extremely sad to announce to the Firearms community the passing of a dear friend and fellow colleague, Joseph LaRue, (however, he always insisted on being called “J.R.”). For those of you who knew him, he was an extraordinary man and I consider myself extremely fortunate to have known him and been a friend. J.R. was a great patriot and dedicated his life to his country for 22 years in the U.S. Air Force. He was a humble man but also extraordinarily knowledgeable with an incredible ability of recall. He was affable and made friends with almost everyone he met and always made time to talk to them. He was also extraordinarily strong, determined and for most of his life, able to overcome almost every adversity. J.R. was generous to a fault.

J.R. grew up in the Ozarks, specifically in the town of Metropolis. His family was very poor but his roots were extremely important to him throughout his life. He was a brilliant young man, so much so, the schooling system skipped him over a grade on two occasions and he graduated high school at only 16 years old. Without any money, he had no aspirations for college but thought he might be a cowboy. So within a couple of days of graduation, he packed a duffle bag and hitchhiked to the Southwestern United States and got a job on a huge sheep ranch. He rode the range and mended fences on a 7-10 day trip sleeping under the stars. J.R. soon realized this was not his life avocation.

In 1957 he joined the U.S. Air Force, eventually attaining the rank of Master Sergeant and distinguished himself throughout his career. He was selected for the Air Force Office of Special Investigations distinguishing himself on multiple occasions and was highly decorated. He was involved in counter-espionage and narcotics investigations but was also selected for Special Ops during the Vietnam War. On one covert assignment he was helicoptered along with two Marines 50 miles behind enemy lines. They then had to hike through the jungle for 10 miles. This being a covert operation, they were not allowed to exchange names and it was understood that if anyone was badly wounded they would be “disposed of.” As they made their way back to the helicopter pick up site, one of the Marines was shot and killed by a Viet Cong with buckshot, and J.R. was wounded in the leg. He made light of the wound but as they made their way towards the helicopter pick up site, it became more difficult to walk. They missed the pickup and had to make their way through 50 miles of dense jungle. By the time they got out of the jungle, he was taken immediately to a field hospital, his leg had swollen to twice its size and was nearly black. The doctors were going to amputate, but J.R. refused and they did save his leg. When J.R. told me the story, the ending bothered him dearly because to this day he never knew the name of the Marine who saved him and has never been able to thank him.

He was selected as a special agent to work with the Turkish Secret Police and spent nearly a year on a sailboat by himself learning the Turkish language. He not only mastered the language but also the various dialects. As such, J.R. was one of the top agents for OSI in Turkey. He not only worked with the Turkish National Police but also the DEA and FBI on many investigations. In one sting operation involving narcotics, J.R. posed as a buyer with a briefcase full of money. The Turkish Police and members of the military were hidden nearby and were to close in once the deal was done. The army screwed up and a firefight ensued. 30 caliber and 50 caliber rounds passed easily throughout the entire building and J.R. was desperate for a hiding place. He somehow upended a huge cast iron rendering pot and was, as a result, the only person in the building who survived.

J.R. was extremely kind and generous with people he liked and he absolutely loved the Turks. In the fall, with some of his Air Force friends, they would go to a region near the Euphrates and Tigress Rivers to hunt waterfowl. J.R. discovered a small, poor agricultural village and over the years, he and his friends stayed there. One year when they arrived, the people of the village were very depressed. In speaking with the village elder, J.R. discovered that they had just gone through a terrible drought, had little food, and expected that during the winter some of the village members would starve and worse yet, they would be forced to eat their seed grain and have nothing to plant in the spring. That weekend, J.R. and his friends shot hundreds of waterfowl and gave them to the villagers. When he returned back to the base, he took up a collection and acquired all the legumes and dried beans he could get with other necessities. He then convinced fellow officers to come hunt with him. That weekend they shot thousands and thousands of waterfowl. When they left the village, all the houses had strings of wires between them on which hung frozen waterfowl. As a result of his efforts, the villagers survived the winter and the next year when J.R. and his friends visited the village, the villagers gave him a tremendous welcome and anxiously directed him to the special house they had built for J.R. and his friends to use from that day forward. The house still stands today.

In the early 1980s, J.R. was stationed at Pease Air Force Base where he dealt in firearms in his spare time. After 22 years in the Air Force he retired. In 1986 he proudly opened LaRue Firearms in New Hampshire. His shop was the go-to place for any sportsman in the area and J.R. was a wonderful person to do business with, often times being a little too generous in his deals. He closed his store in the early 1990s and shortly thereafter, it was my great fortune, pleasure, and honor to have met and begun doing business with him. J.R. and I had the greatest respect for one another. He was a man of great integrity and we both shared a common interest in doing business in a fair and honest way. As a special agent, one of the things he was continually tasked to do was to focus his recall on his surroundings and be able to remember in detail. This tremendous ability to recall served him so well in the firearms world. When J.R. took a gun apart or read some information about a gun, he was likely to remember it many years later. He developed an extraordinary breadth of knowledge for all types of firearms and military items. His assistance and expansive knowledge was critical in the early days in my firearms auction business. Regardless of how diverse the collection was or what it consisted of, J.R. had at least a general knowledge and thus could talk and deal intelligently with anything that he might pick up. J.R. was a humble man and as I said, never forgot his roots. He dressed casually and talked in a very informal, friendly, open manner. It was always an immense pleasure when he accompanied me to look at a collection. When we arrived, me in my blazer and slacks and J.R. in his Remington jacket with blue jeans; the clients directed their conversation to me and if they did not know J.R., they would likely pay little attention to him at all. Eventually the client would pick out a special gun and hand it to me asking my thoughts on the gun. I would automatically hand the gun to J.R., step out of the way and watch with delight at the interaction. J.R. always impressed clients with his expansive knowledge and by the time we left, my clients invariably held him in high esteem.

J.R. was one of my very best friends and also a colleague. My association with him was critical in helping to grow my firearms auction company’s reputation to the finest in the world for honesty, fair dealing and expertise. J.R. had an amazing breadth of knowledge about so many things and was a great companion on trips. He loved to hunt, spend time with family and friends, and live life on his own terms. He also died on his own terms. J.R. and his wife, Diana, regularly traveled throughout the United States for their own business, Carter Mountain Consulting Agency, and to visit friends and family. His calendar was always full. Over the last year, J.R. was challenged with cancer, congestive heart failure and so many more obstacles but he absolutely refused to change his lifestyle despite the many new challenges and was looking forward to one last trip to Argentina for dove hunting. He loved to quail hunt with members of my firearms team in Georgia and each year looked forward to our trip in December. Despite his illness, he was resolute in the fact that he was going to make the trip. He did and had a great time but on the third day was suffering and decided to not hunt. When I left to go home, I understood he was going home for a few days and then on a trip to Montana for some firearms. But I was wrong. He actually left Georgia and went straight to Montana, met with a friend, and closed a great deal including some fabulous firearms. He called my cell phone that night and left a message. His voice was filled with enthusiasm and passion about the guns he had just gotten. The next day, I tried to call him and congratulate him and left a message. Unbeknownst to me, he was already in the hospital in a coma and within a few days, he passed. A terrific hunt, a bunch of friends, closing a deal on a fabulous collection of guns; that is exactly the way my amazing friend would want to spend some of his last days. As I said, he lived his life on his own terms and died on his own terms.

Not only did J.R. value the personal and professional relationships he developed over many years with people in the firearms industry, he also valued his membership in a number of firearms clubs and organizations. As such, he was an active member of the following organizations: Certified Appraisers Guild of America, NRA Benefactor Member, NRA 2nd Amendment Task Force Charter Member, Member NRA Eagles, Life Member Ohio Gun Collectors, Life Member Carolina Gun Collectors, Member Winchester Arms Collectors Association, Charter Member Collectors Arms Dealers Association, Member Cody Firearms Museum, Life Member Wyoming Weapons Collectors Association, Life Member Major Waldron Sportsman’s Association, and the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons since 1974.

J.R. will be missed immensely by his extensive family and all his friends throughout North America and across the world. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife Diana and her family that he thought of as his own, including Toni Jo Coppa of Windham, ME, Gina Clark of Skowhegan, ME, Joseph Coppa of Southwick, MA and grandsons Michael Coppa & Steven Giles, both of Skowhegan, ME. He leaves his only son William LaRue & favorite and only daughter-in-law Leanne of Lincoln, AL and his only daughter Jeanne Pryll & husband Raymond of Kittery, ME; He leaves his grandsons R.J. & Mark Pryll of Kittery, ME; granddaughters Virginia Clark of Dover, NH & Abageal Freeman of Munford, AL; He leaves his sisters Vera Kirkpatrick & her husband William of San Angelo, TX, and Verneita Simmons & her husband Donald of Butler, PA; Sisters-in-law Earlene LaRue of Balch Springs, TX and Linda Boucher & husband Richard of LaFollette, TN; He leaves Great-grandchildren Lucy, Evan, Adylene, Ruby, Sadie & Zander and countless nieces & nephews that he loved dearly, mostly in Southern Illinois and Texas. He leaves behind his longest friend in life, Jim Rankin of NV & WY and so many other wonderful friends around the country and the world. He may have left them but his love and memories will always be cherished. He is predeceased by the mother of his children, Linda LaRue.

He is also survived by his second family (as he called it), all the employees and consultants at James D. Julia Auctioneers.

To Make a Donation in Memory of J.R. LaRue:

J.R. worked very closely with the Cody Firearms Museum and worked many years with his friend, Warren Newman. For those wishing to remember J.R. it was his specific request that a donation be made to the Cody Firearms Museum. To make a donation in J.R.’s memory, use the link below to donate online and be sure to indicate your donation is in memory of J.R. LaRue in the “Designation” section and your donation will be directed to the museum itself in J.R.’s name:

CELEBRATION OF LIFE:
A special Celebration of Life will take place in conjunction with our March 2018 Firearms Auction on the evening of Tuesday, March 20 (the day before the start of the auction) at Governor Hill Mansion in Augusta, Maine. CLICK HERE for additional details.

If you would like to send condolences to Diana LaRue, please address to:

Diana LaRue
P.O. Box 70408
Knoxville, TN 37938-0408

Morphy Auctions has Merged with James D. Julia to be International Leader in Multiple Collecting Categories

Denver, Pennsylvania: Effective December 14th, 2017, Dan Morphy of Morphy Auctions, proudly announced that he has successfully merged with the renowned international auction company of James D. Julia, Inc., which will become a division of Morphy Auctions.

Morphy Auctions and James D. Julia, Inc. share a common purpose of delighting collectors worldwide with aligned missions and unparalleled customer service standards. Joining forces creates a synergistic team of passionate staff members to better serve our customers and strengthen the antiques and collectibles industry.

Both companies take pride in having the most talented and knowledgeable experts in the industry. One of the biggest advantages to this merger is blending both teams of leading experts to enhance processes, descriptions and valuations.

Morphy Auctions realized annual sales of $35 million within the last year. Within this same time, Julia’s generated $43 million in annual sales; for a combined gross of $78 million. With this combined total of potential annual sales, Morphy Auctions is poised to become one of the largest antique auctions house in North America.

President and founder of James D. Julia, Inc., Jim Julia, has been involved in the auction business for nearly 50 years. He began as a small country auctioneer in Maine but grew the company to an internationally renowned business, which currently consists of 3 divisions; Rare Firearms, Rare Lamps, Glass & Fine Jewelry, and Fine Art, Asian & Antiques.

Morphy Auctions has experienced tremendous growth over the years. The combination of the highly experienced and much acclaimed Julia team together with the outstanding auction team that Morphy has already formed, will make Morphy Auctions the ultimate place to go for rare firearms and important lamp & glass; as well as, toys, dolls, advertising, coin-op, automobilia and petroliana, and all forms of decorative arts.

Dan Morphy, Founder and President of Morphy Auction Company stated, “I have literally spent all my life watching and learning from Jim. With nearly 50 years in the industry, Jim has an undisputed reputation and I admire and will emulate his business approach towards his clients and employees. It is an honor and privilege to have this new association with someone I have considered to be a mentor and leader in the industry.

Over the years, Jim Julia crafted an extraordinary team and unique auction company as a result of his philosophy, business acumen and direct, honest approach with his clients whether they be buyers or sellers. I have always tried to incorporate the same approach. In merging with Julia’s extraordinary team, I intend to make the transition as seamless as possible. The bottom-line is that I not only want to merge Jim Julia’s company and his people but I want to expand the philosophy of our business to include much of what created extraordinary success for Jim.

Jim Julia, Founder and President of James D. Julia, Inc., shared, “I had never considered not being in the auction business and I have, for many years, contended that I, like my father (who passed away at nearly 90 years old this past year), would continue to auction well into my 80s, provided my health allowed it. The limitation in my mind had always been my personal health. But in November of 2016, my wife received a devastating diagnosis of incurable brain cancer. I immediately realized that as much as I loved the people, the antiques, and the excitement of the auction; there was nothing more important in this world to me than my wife, and I elected to devote my time to my wife, Sandy. From November of 2016 until today, my auction company never skipped a beat and has been extremely successful under the leadership of my good friend and CEO, Mark Ford, who continued to lead, improve and expand our company.

In transitioning my company to Morphy’s, I will miss the wonderful friends I have developed with consignors and buyers throughout my auctions. I will miss the incredible camaraderie of my auction team and the thrilling and exciting experience of the actual auction. Most importantly, I will miss the satisfaction I received from a job well done. I must also say, selling my company to Dan is a great relief. It now has removed all of my responsibilities in regards to auctions and overseeing the management of a valued team. Now Sandy and I can focus completely on each other. I will transition to Morphy Auctions as a consultant for Dan and the team. Under the circumstances, I could not imagine a better conclusion for my business and for Sandy.”

Both the Morphy Auction Team and the Julia Auction Team will be represented once again at the 2018 Las Vegas Arms Show, January 19th – 21st, 2018.

“We encourage anyone attending the show to stop by the booths and meet our newly blended and expanded Firearms Auction Team,” Dan Morphy concluded.

Julia’s currently has scheduled a Fine Art, Asian & Antiques auction in February of 2018 and their spring Firearms Auction which will take place in March. To facilitate a seamless transition, the Julia team will manage and conduct both sales in Fairfield, Maine, as they have in the past. Morphy’s will hold all future auctions and accept consignments in their Pennsylvania and Nevada locations.

About Morphy Auctions:
Morphy Auctions, the finest destination for a fresh to the market collectables is headquartered in Denver, Pennsylvania. The company also has a satellite office in Las Vegas, Nevada. A full service auction house, Morphy’s presents over 35 premier auctions annually. The company’s three part mission includes ensuring consignor satisfaction with every auction, offering world class customer service that goes above and beyond the call of duty and providing relentless buyer support to create confidence for all clients seeking a trustworthy purchasing experience. Morphy’s team of specialists include the nation’s finest and most recognized experts in popular collectable collecting categories; including advertising, firearms, fine automobiles, automobilia, petroliana, coin operated machines, antiques and decorative arts, dolls, bears, toys and trains, cast iron toys, marbles, jewelry and wrist watches. Morphy Auctions is owned by President and Founder, Dan Morphy, himself a lifelong and passionate collector of antiques, banks, and numerous other categories. Morphy’s has been in business since 2004 and have grown from 2 to over 65 employees in a span of a decade.

Morphy Auctions is located at 2000 North Reading Road, Denver, Pennsylvania 17517 and can be reached by telephone at 877.986.8880, Facsimile 717.336.7115. Email info@morphyauctions.com. Our Denver Auction Gallery is open 7 days a week, Monday through Friday, 9.00 am-4.00 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 9.00 am-1.00 pm. Our Las Vegas facility is located at 4520 Arville Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89103 and is open Monday through Friday from 9.00 am-4.00 pm. For more information regarding Morphy’s Auction Company, please visit www.morphyauctions.com.