NEW YORK (AP) – A tiny hymnal from 1640 believed to be the first book ever
printed in what is now the United States is going up for auction, and it could sell for
as much as $30 million.

Only 11 copies of the Bay Psalm Book survive in varying degrees of completeness. Members of Boston’s Old South Church have authorized the sale of one of its two
copies at Sotheby’s Nov. 26.

"It’s a spectacular book, arguably one of the most important books in this nation’s 
history," said the Rev. Nancy Taylor, senior minister and CEO of the church, which 
was established in 1669. Samuel Adams was a member and Benjamin Franklin was baptized there.

At one time, the church owned five copies of the 6-by-5-inch hymnal. One is now at
the Library of Congress, another at Yale University and a third at Brown University.

Taylor says the church voted to sell one of its two remaining copies—both of which
are in "excellent condition" — to increase its grants, ministries and "strengthen our
voice in general as a progressive Christian church."

The book was published in Cambridge, Mass., by the Puritan leaders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. It came just 20 years after the Pilgrims landed at
Plymouth.

 
James T. Kirk (William Shatner) with his phaser rifle

A rare phaser rifle used by William Shatner in the second pilot made for 
the original Star Trek series sold recently for $231,000 at an auction
conducted by Julien’s. It is the second-highest paid at auction for a prop
from the 1960s edition of Star Trek, surpassed only by the $304,750 a
collector laid out for the captain’s chair in 2008. In 2006, a miniature
special effects model of the enterprise from Star Trek: The Next
Generation sold for $576,000. 

The phaser prop is made of wood with an aluminum barrel and is painted
with a metallic blue-green paint. The rifle was never appeared in another
episode, though it was seen in publicity photos of Shatner as Kirk and on
an early lunchbox (below).

(New York Post) – A rare 1909-11 baseball card featuring Honus Wagner sold
at auction for $2.1 million early this morning, following a period of extended
bidding. That price includes a buyer’s premium.

The item was the centerpiece of Goldin Auctions’ April 5th showcase. Other
notable items included a copy of Alex Rodriguez’s 2009 World Series ring
($50,398) and a signed Derek Jeter 2001 World Series game-used bat
($37,486).

But Wagner, one of baseball’s first superstars, dominated the headlines
again. The T206 Wagner is baseball’s most famous card, with about 50 to
100 copies believed to exist. The auctioned card was classified as the
"Jumbo" Wagner because its edges are 1/16 inches larger than standard
cards.

The card’s story contributes to its legacy. T206 series cards were featured
in cigarette packs, a precursor to bubble gum cards and today’s high-gloss,
high-end releases.

For some reason, Wagner’s cards were pulled from packaging. Legend
persists that Wagner railed against his card being included with cigarettes
(he didn’t want to encourage children to smoke) – but he may have also
been miffed over his compensation from card manufacturer American
Tobacco Company.

      Johannes Peter "Honus" Wagner (2-24-1874 to 12-6-1955)

Wagner was nicknamed "The Flying Dutchman" due to his superb speed
and German heritage.

Most baseball historians consider Wagner to be the greatest shortstop
ever. In 1936, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted Wagner as one of the
first five members.

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (AP) -The bomber jacket worn by President John
F. Kennedy (above) on Air Force One sold for $665,500 on Sunday, according
to the auction house. The jacket was among hundreds of auctioned items that
belonged to David Powers, a longtime aide of the president.

The transformed one-of-a-kind 1955 Lincoln Futura

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Batman’s ride is up for sale — just the thing for cruising
on those Dark Knights.

The original Batmobile from the 1960s TV series will be auctioned on Jan. 19 at
the Barrett-Jackson auction house in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The 19-foot-long black, bubble-topped car was used in the ABC-TV show that
starred Adam West as the Caped Crusader.

Just like Batman, the Batmobile has its secrets. The auction house won’t say
how much it hopes to get for the car.

        

From left: Robin (Burt Ward) and Batman (Adam West) in the Batmobile