iPhone auction included lots of pop-culture and vintage collectibles from popular franchises Star Wars, GI Joe, Transformers, and Masters of the Universe generating more than $535,000 in sales
For the second time in the last four months, a 2007 factory-sealed first-edition iPhone sold for a new record price of $63,356 on Sunday night in the 2023 LCG Winter Premier Auction. The previous record price of $39,340 was established in October, also by LCG Auctions.
In all, the 200+ auction lots of pop-culture and vintage memorabilia generated over $535,000 in sales. In addition to the record price paid for the iPhone, other record prices were established for a 1978 Star Wars Boba Fett action figure; a 1982 Masters of the Universe Battle Ram vehicle, a 1984 G.I. Joe Dragonfly vehicle; and a 1984 Transformers Bumblebee figurine.
“It is clear that the market is still strong across many different pop-culture and vintage collectible categories as our average sale prices were consistent with previous events and many of the items surpassed the pre-auction estimates,” said Mark Montero, Founder of LCG Auctions. “We want to thank all of our consignors and congratulate the record number of bidders who were able to add to their collections.”
Here’s a look at some of the key auction items and the final sale price. * Indicates a record sale price for the item. The complete auction catalog is available HERE.
- Lot #2 2007 Factory Sealed iPhone First Edition – $63,356*
- Lot #11 1978 Star Wars Boba Fett Canada 20-Back AFA 85 – $22,206*
- Lot #79 – 1982 Master of the Universe Battle Ram AFA 85 – $20,920*
- Lot #8 1984 Transformers Bumble Bee AFA 85 – $18.353*
- Lot #1 1983 GI Joe Snake Eyes Explosion Back AFA 90 – $15,972
- Lot #3 1982 Masters of the Universe Heman 8-Back AFA 80 – $13,789
- Lot #4 1982 Masters of the Universe Skeletor 8-Back AFA 80+ – $11,395
- Lot #7 1984 Transformers Optimus Prime AFA 85 – $10,360
- Lot #15 – 1983 G.I. Joes: Dragonfly XH-1 AFA 85 (85-85-90) – $9,418*
- Lot #6 1993 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Scratch the Cat Figurine AFA 85 – $9,418
- Lot #5 1986 VHS Back to the Future REWIND 9.4/4-Star Seal – $7,075
Originally released at retail on June 29, 2007, for $599, the original iPhone included 8 GB of storage, a touchscreen, a 2-megapixel camera, and a web browser. The iconic box features a life-size image of the iPhone with 12 icons on the screen. It quickly became Apple’s most successful product, forever changed the smartphone industry, and was named the Time Magazine Invention of the Year in 2007.
Here’s the backstory behind the phone. In 2007, when the consigner landed a management job at PetSmart her friends gifted her the phone. But because she already had three phone lines with Verizon and you could only activate an iPhone via AT&T, she hesitated to pay three early termination fees. In addition, she did not want to lose her cell phone number which ended in 5555 as in those days you could not keep your phone number if you changed carriers. Instead, she put the phone away and forgot about it. She considered selling it a few times over the years and in 2019, she appeared on the Treasure Hunt segment of the syndicated television show “The Doctor & The Diva” during which Dr. Lori appraised it for $5,000.
LCG Auctions is currently accepting consignments for its 2023 Spring Auction.
To consign an item:
- Visit LCGAuctions.com/consign-an-item/
- Call 985-282-2533
- Email info@LCGAuctions.com
For more information, visit LCGAuctions.com, Facebook, or Twitter.
About LCG Auctions
LCG Auctions was founded in 2021 by a team of passionate vintage toy collectors and experts and is the industry’s first marketplace exclusively for premium vintage toys. It offers rare, difficult-to-find, high-end vintage pieces rarely available in other marketplaces. Items are authenticated and professionally graded, giving collectors peace of mind in their investment.
LCG utilizes state-of-the-art auction software that includes a zoom feature allowing collectors to thoroughly examine the condition of every item. LCG Auctions LLC is fully licensed and bonded by the state of Louisiana (License #: LA AB-551).
