In the antiquing world, people still use the word fresh to describe something that has both not been on the open market in a long time and is desirable. Thats the buzz word. In the auction business, it is important. Fresh-to-market has the ability to draw bidders in. This occured at the May 12, 13, and 14 Rich Penn Auction when several thousand bidders from over a dozen countries bid on three considered fresh-to-market collections. With over 1,500 lots to choose from, including over 5,000 items from coins to cars and an array of antique advertising, almost 3,000 bids were placed before the live action began. Online bidders won 26 and in-house won 24 of the top 50 lots. The top lot over the three days was a 1971 Ford Mustang Boss 351. With just under 49,000 miles, it sold to a buyer on the East Coast for $47,600. Prices reported include buyers premium. The runner-up for top spot was another Ford product from the same consignor. This 1964 black-on-black Ford Galaxie 500 XL, with with just over 70,000 miles, sold to an in-house buyer for $19,800. But it wasnt a typical in-house buyer. A young auctioneer just out of auction school, named Sonny Jensen, stepped up and had the top bid on the phone. Jensen works for Rich Penn Auctions and fell in love with the Galaxie. Im really glad Sonny ended up with that car. He told me that he always wanted a 64 Galaxie, and now he has one, and its a good one. Its like it stayed in the auction family, said Rich Penn. Advertising took some of the top honors right along with the cars. Breweriana advertising lithos were strong throughout. An exceptionally colorful and early one for Crescent Brewing Co., ca. 1885, featuring Aurora Lager Beer, sold at $17,100. The stunning litho was produced by Wm. Burford, an Indianapolis Lithographer, founded in 1875. It went to a buyer in New England. Some strong prices were paid for neon. A 10-foot-long hotel double-sided animated sign for Rooms $5.00 and FREE TV flashed up a winning price of $8,100. An automotive skeletal three-color neon dealer piece for three lines under the Buick banner, Le Sabre, Invicta and Electra, sold for $6,000. Spark plugs were an important automotive industry in the 1920s and 30s and a competitive one, including the dominant Champion Spark Plug Co. A smaller competitor, the Splitdorf Ignition company, made their famous Green Jacket spark plugs in the 1920s. They made an impressive display for their products. Their counter display had superb lithography by American Artworks on the front and sides. The Green Jacket is no longer produced, but the display survived and sparked a winning bid of $3,900. Another display piece that did well came from Ford. A dimensional cast metal and wood Ford 1953 Jubilee sign was produced for dealers and celebrated the new-half ton pickup. The same emblem showed up on the truck badges. The hanging sign realized $4,270. License plates also saw strong interest. A three-digit 1906 Pennsylvania porcelain plate registered a price of $3,660. Another Pennsylvania porcelain plate, 1905, brought $3,000. Both were in excellent condition. Other great pieces like the Wolfs Head neon clock and an Auto-Lite display cabinet each sold at $2,200 to the same in-house buyer. There were notable highlights in soda advertising as well. A Neon Cleveland Pepsi clock with lightup marquee took a top price of just under $4,000. Another Pepsi piece, a double-sided 1956 cardboard sign in its original aluminum frame, brought $2,600. From soda to tires to clothing, were still in the same price range. A Goodyear Tire & Battery sign rolled away at $2,700. Another Good Year sign, this one for Farm Tire Service, brought $2,600. Another spark plug piece, the Champion Americas Favorite light up clock, sold at $1,600. A near-mint sign for International Clothing sold at $1,600. It was followed by another clothing piece, the Neon Products light-up clock for OshKosh Bgosh Work Clothes, sold for $1,450. When buyers say they want fresh, thats what we should offer them. We did, and they stepped up. That means it was a great auction, said Penn. For additional information, visit www.RichPennAuctions.com.