Cranston, RI, USA, December 17, 2021 -/DailyVoice/- Vintage Spider-Man comic books – even ones in poor condition – can still bring dizzying prices at auction, as was proven in Bruneau & Co.’s Comic, TCG, Toy & Sports Auction held December 11th, online and live at the Cranston gallery. Two early 1960s comics featuring Spidey – one graded CGC 1.0 and the other CGC 2.0 – brought a combined $36,562.

The top lot of the 545-lot sale was a copy of Marvel Comics’ Amazing Fantasy #15 from August 1962, featuring the origin and first appearance of Spider-Man and the first appearance of Uncle Ben and Aunt May. Despite its CGC grade of 1.0, bidders saw it for what it was: a great entry-level copy to the undisputed fan favorite book from the Silver Age of comics. It sold for $25,000.

Marvel Comics, quickly realizing it had a winner on its hands, gave Spider-Man his own comic in March 1963 with Amazing Spider-Man #1. The book featured the first appearance of J. Jonah Jameson and Chameleon, the first Fantastic Four crossover. It also retold the origin of Spider-Man. The copy sold, graded CGC 2.0, had tape on the cover and inside, but still rose to $11,562.

“The comic market closed out 2021 strong,” said Travis Landry, a Bruneau & Co. auctioneer and the firm’s Director of Pop Culture. “It shows great promise for what New Year’s Day might hold for us. It’s not too often you see comics like that coming up for auction.” He was referring to a small but potent 20-lot New Year’s Day Premier Comic Auction slated for Saturday, January 1st.

Following are additional highlights from the December 11th auction. Internet bidding was provided by LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, Bidsquare.com, bidLIVE.Bruneauandco.com and the mobile app “Bruneau & Co.”. All prices quoted include a 25 percent buyer’s premium.

A copy of Marvel Comics’ Giant-Size X-Men #1 (Summer 1975), featuring the first appearance of the new X-Men and second full appearance of Wolverine, graded CGC 9.2, realized $9,375. A copy of Marvel Comics’ Incredible Hulk #180 (Oct. 1974), featuring the first appearance of Wolverine in cameo on the last page, plus a Wendigo appearance, graded CGC 9.6, hit $8,438.

Sports memorabilia was highlighted by 1930s-era Goudey baseball cards. A 1933 Goudy Babe Ruth card #149, graded BVG 2, gaveled for $8,125; a 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth card #53, graded BVG 2, fetched $7,188; and a 1933 Goudey Lou Gehrig card #92, graded BVG 4, made $4,500.

“While it was not the largest section by lot count, the collection of early tin toys was fantastic,” observed Kevin Bruneau, Bruneau & Co’s president and an auctioneer. “They all came out of one estate in Ware, Massachusetts. They were the lady’s mother’s toys. The Fischer clown was one toy we might not see again for a very long time.” Again, bidders ignored condition issues.

The rare, early 20th century German Fischer tin clown tricycle windup toy, graded C8, went for $2,875, despite not being in working condition. “The paint presented very well, with only minor areas of scratching,” Mr. Bruneau explained, “while the tin lithography showed slightly darker from age. Otherwise, it was a great example of a scarce and early toy.”

The upcoming January 1st New Year’s Day Premier Comic Auction may only contain 20 comic books, but don’t let the size fool you. The books are from a single-owner Midwest collection (Bruneau & Co. sold the bulk of the collection this past year); what remains are his last, final comics, to be sold without reserves. The sale will be held online and live in the gallery.

All 20 lots are rare, highly desirable Marvel comics from the Silver and Bronze Age, to include Amazing Fantasy #15 CGC 5.5, Amazing Spider-Man #1 CGC 7.5, Fantastic Four #1 CGC 8.0, Strange Tales #110 CGC 9.2, Incredible Hulk #1 CGC 6.5, and Werewolf By Night #1 CGC 9.8. Comics of this caliber rarely come up at auction. Serious collectors need to mark their calendars.

Three comics carry estimates of $50,000-$80,000. One is lot 11: a copy of Tales of Suspense #39 (March 1963), graded CGC 8.5. The comic features the origin and first appearance of Iron Man, plus an iconic cover by Marvel legend Jack Kirby. Two other examples of the comic in the sale, but with lesser grades of 5.5 and 5.0, are estimated at $15,000-$20,000 and $12,000-$18,000.

The second is a copy of Fantasy Four #1 (Nov. 1961), graded CGC 8.0, the comic that arguably brought the entire Marvel Universe into existence. Featuring the origin and first appearance of the Fantastic Four and Moleman (Marvel’s first-ever superhero team), the book sports one of the most famous covers by Jack Kirby in comic history. This is a must-have for dedicated collectors.

The third is a copy of Amazing Fantasy #15 (Aug. 1964), graded CGC 5.5, featuring the origin and first appearance of Spider-Man and the first appearance of Aunt May and Uncle Ben. The cover art is a collaboration between Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko, helping it land in the number one spot atop Overstreet’s list of Top 50 Silver Age Comics. It’s a true Holy Grail collectible.

A preview is available by appointment the week of and day of sale, with doors opening at 9 am Eastern time. The auction will begin at 12 noon. Bidding is available via in-person, absentee, telephone or Internet, with a 20% buyer’s premium (or 18% with cash, check or wire transfer).

Internet bidding will be facilitated by LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com, Bidsquare.com, bidLIVE.Bruneauandco.com and the mobile app “Bruneau & Co.” on iTunes or GooglePlay.

To learn more about Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers and the 20-lot New Year’s Day Premier Comic Auction on Saturday, January 1st, please visit www.bruneauandco.com. Updates are posted often.

About Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers:
Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers is always accepting quality consignments for future auctions, with commissions as low as zero percent. Now would be a perfect time to clean out your attic. To contact Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers about consigning a single piece or an entire collection, you may send an e-mail to info@bruneauandco.com. Or, you can phone them at 401-533-9980. To learn more about Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers please visit www.bruneauandco.com.

Cambridge, MA and Marion, MA, December 17, 2021 -/DailyVoice/- South Coast Improvement Company (SCI), a design-build general contractor serving states in the eastern region of the United States from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean, recently completed work on a $6.75 million renovation project for Rafi Properties at 9 Dana Street in Cambridge, Mass. The Marion, Mass.-based company completed work in August 2021.

The project was a selective demolition and renovation of a 26-unit apartment. The project featured a structural interior renovation, including a structural exterior ramp and lift platform.

“This was the second project we have done for Rafi properties. This one was a challenge in that it was an urban site located right down the street from Harvard University,” said Tom Quinlan, president of South Coast Improvement Company. “The goal of the project was to provide a much more “open concept” to the units in the building, which was constructed in the 1940’s.

Added Quinlan, “There was extensive structural work done to achieve the open floor plans as many of the walls were load-bearing walls.”

As part of the project, an all-new HVAC system was installed as was new electrical service to the building and multiple plumbing relocations. In addition, an ADA unit was added on the ground level, which necessitated a complete reshaping of the limited frontage of the building to achieve the required pitch for the walkway.

SCIC gutted all the building’s kitchens and baths, and new ones were installed.

The Cambridge Fire Department required a new fire suppression system for the renovated building. This presented several challenges, the biggest being the distribution of the new electrical system in areas where the wall was not demolished. These areas also presented a challenge in that new wall and old wall/new ceiling/old ceiling had to blend and look consistent.

“I’m happy to say we were successful on both of these challenges,” said Quinlan. “The end result speaks for itself.”

In addition to South Coast Improvement, the project team included Kripper Architecture Studio, Norian/Siani Engineering, Inc., Collective Wisdom Corporation, Wolf in Sheep Design and Norton E. Remmer, PE.

Est. 2011, Rafi Properties started with a multifamily investment in Coolidge Corner, Brookline, with one goal in mind – deliver quality constructed living space. Through its 10-year history, Rafi Properties’ goal has evolved into creating a unique urban lifestyle with each mixed-used properties in Boston, Brookline, and Cambridge. For more information, www.rafiproperties.com.

Based in Marion, Mass. and with an office in Reading, Pennsylvania, South Coast Improvement Co is a recognized leader in providing building and renovation services to a client base of senior living, healthcare, institutional and retail clients. For more information, please call 508-748-6545 or visit www.southcoastimprovement.com.

About South Coast Improvement Company:
South Coast Improvement offers a range of design, construction and management services across a variety of sectors—interiors as well as exteriors—including office buildings, health care facilities, educational institutions, commercial properties, assisted living facilities, and residential communities. South Coast Improvement’s services include: Preconstruction analysis; Construction management; General contracting; Design/build services; Capital improvement; Building envelope improvements; and Interior renovations.

For more information, visit https://www.southcoastimprovement.com or call 508-748-6545.

Melbourne, Australia, December 18, 2021 -/DailyVoice/- Community-focused platform MRHB DeFi has received an investment from Australian Gulf Capital, a global investment management company, as part of the strategic venture round of the world’s first inclusive and ethical DeFi ecosystem platform.

The funding from Australian Gulf (AG) Capital is not the first from the region, with the Islamic DeFi pioneer having received investments from institutions such as Blockchain Australia and other Aussie angel investors. The AG Capital investment presents further opportunity to expand MRHB DeFi’s presence and growth in this key market.

“We are pleased to have an early-stage opportunity to support first-mover Marhaba in the development of their high-growth, disruptive venture in ethical and halal DeFi,” commented CEO and founder of AG Capital, Salman Masaud. “Our investments are typically focused on a company’s early funding stages when the product is nascent and the upside potential is the greatest. We expect to support the project by bringing our legal, consulting and investment banking expertise to assist the Marhaba team in launching their socially impactful vision.”

The Australian PE/VC funds management company is also currently in the process of establishing a license under ADGM in the UAE, a key growth hub for MRHB DeFi, having recently signed a partnership with local partner Masary Capital to provide halal crypto solutions to the retail and institutional sectors in the UAE.

“Australia Gulf Capital’s ethos of actively supporting startups who align with their ambitious growth vision makes them a strong partner for us,” said MRHB DeFi CEO Naquib Mohammed. “As we continue on our journey of building the world’s first ethical DeFi platform, it is this shared vision and support from amongst our family of investors and partners that will help transform our dream into reality.”

MRHB DeFi: An Islamic Finance DeFi Pioneer

MRHB DeFi was created to bridge a perceived gap – by providing excluded and crypto-cautious communities greater access to the growing opportunities and utilities of the cryptosphere. The project is underpinned by faith-based DeFi offerings which adhere to the ethical investment and financing principles rooted in Islamic Finance. Many values upheld by the halal platform also align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Business practices deemed ethical include those that avoid interest, usury, social exploitation as well as support sustainability, asset or utility backed financing, transparency and equitable risk-reward sharing. These principles have universal appeal far beyond the faith conscious community.

With the Islamic Finance market sized at around USD 3 trillion of assets, bringing even a small portion of Shariah-sensitive liquidity into DeFi will represent a major boost to the total value of the DeFi sector worldwide.

About MRHB DeFi:
MRHB DeFi is a halal, decentralized finance platform built to embody the true spirit of an “Ethical and Inclusive DeFi” by following faith-based financial and business principles, where all excluded communities can benefit from the full empowerment potential of DeFi.

The diverse team comprises researchers, technocrats, influencers, Islamic fintech experts & business entrepreneurs, who came together to ensure that MRHB DeFi prevails in a manner that will impact society as a whole, essentially bridging the gap between the faith-conscious communities and the blockchain world.

MRHB DeFi Official Channels:
Website: https://marhabadefi.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/marhabadefi
Telegram: https://t.me/mdf_official
Telegram Announcements: https://t.me/marhabadefi_ANN
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHuvZG9DbS5ffeoqLX_bERg
Medium: https://medium.com/@mrhbdefi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marhabadefi
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MRHB-DeFi-105893235209147
Telegram (Arabic): https://t.me/mdf_arabic
Telegram (Russian): https://t.me/marhabadefi_russia
Telegram (Turkish): https://t.me/MarhabaDefiTR

About Australian Gulf Capital:
Australian Gulf Capital is a prominent global investment management company specializing in alternative investments and providing innovative world-class products and services. AG’s substantial and diversified investor base includes corporations, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, superannuation/pension funds, insurance companies, qualified high-net-worth investors, and family offices.

Australian Gulf Capital’s business activities are distinguished by exceptional vigor and a profound understanding of clients’ needs and risk profiles. They have become the company of choice because of their insightful approach to creating partnerships with clients for sourcing and investing in attractive investment opportunities. Australian Gulf Capital employs high-caliber teams with diverse expertise and extensive experience.

Singapore, December 21, 2021 -/DailyVoice/- For most of history, games have had no direct link with finance, and players had nothing to do with investors. GameFi has now enabled the connections between them with mechanisms such as playtoearn, which opens up a brand new sector in the market.

PokeMine is a new action card mobile game with Pokémon as its theme. It is the first Pokémon mobile game where players can independently evolve elves and change their appearance. The overall game restores the Pokémon world in depth, adding a variety of rich gameplay such as the classic Pokémon gacha system, Pokémon cultivation system, checkpoint battles, Z move, Pokémon dispatch (mining), and many others. There are also Budokan, Invasion of Mythical Beasts, Daily Trail, Team Hunting, Battle Tower, Champions Road, Budokan Battle, Quartz Assembly, Alliance War, Cross-server PK and many other gameplay varieties available.

A Deeper Look at PokeMine

Pokemon has created a unique NFT mechanism that enables a user’s NFT to no longer just be a work of art but a way to build characters in a game. PokeMine has 4 different colors of Pokemon NFTs, red being the most powerful, followed by orange, then purple, then blue. More powerful Pokemons are relatively rare. Users can upgrade NFTs through PVE, or upgrade Pokemon with equipment. Equipment in the game can increase the Pokemon’s combat power, dispatch time, etc. PokeMine has many features to explore, and more detailed tutorials will be released when the official version is released.

Breaking Down the Pokemon Gaming Model

Pokemon Exploration: Users can explore the levels to obtain rewards and reach higher levels for their Pokemon. Higher levels, better attributes, and stronger skills make the user’s Pokemon more valuable.

Pokemon Dispatch: Players can get rich rewards by dispatching. The longer the dispatch period, the better the quality of the Pokemon, the more lucrative the rewards, such as diamonds. Using the ‘limit Pokemon Dispatch’ will also double the revenue, depending on the actual profit. Each dispatch line accounts for the dispatch time independently, and each dispatch queue has 4 hours of free dispatch time every day. You can increase any dispatch queue’s available time on the same day by using the “Time aquatic” item produced by [Exploration Level].

In addition, the “limited Pokemon” mechanism and sending “limited Pokemon” can provide a certain percentage of dispatch value bonus for this dispatch queue. The higher the quality of the qualified Pokemon, the greater the increase.

Exploring level and Adventure level: Adventure points and exploration points both require stamina, so it is best to use the stamina of adventure levels in the early stages to level up your team, unlock new features, and then improve your Pokemon overall with appropriate experience gains. Players upgrade Pikachu to unlock to multi-adventure levels. Diamonds are consumed at each level. The amount consumed increases with the progress of the level.

Changeable Combat Strategies: Pokemon types are divided into attack, heal, skill, and defense, and each Pokemon can play according to its positioning characteristics, making the entire gaming experience a battle of wit and courage, and full of strategization.

Cultivate Pokemons: There are more skills that players can use in the game to make you invincible, as well as to increase the level of Pokemons, stars, skill levels, and more so that the Pokemons can continue to grow, allowing players to cultivate a unique and powerful Pokemon from scratch.

Equipment: Elf armor can be upgraded to increase stats. Armor attributes are given to corresponding Pokemons, which is the player’s goal.

Pokemon Center (Gacha Center): Pokemon center’s Gacha System is the main way for players to obtain Pokemon and Pokemon shards. The Pokemon are randomly selected, by consuming diamonds or props. And there are rare Pokemon hidden in it, which can make for surprises.

Pokemon Social Interaction: The built-in gaming environment can also be used for real-time interaction, efficient data interaction, and processing capabilities, so that all users’ data can be displayed in real time. Players can exchange ideas and experiences with other players in the “world” at any time, offering users an immersive experience.

How to start playing Pokemon:

1. Players need to register an account on https://deme.games, then connect their wallets and e-mails.
2. To download the game, sign in on the official website: https://deme.games/#/home

The Real World Impact of NFTs in Gaming

Besides gameplay, NFTs have more real-world value. NFT items in games are not just items sold on NFT platforms, but they can deal directly on the markets, making the dealing process much easier than in traditional games.

GameFi is one of the ways that can help users understand Metaverse with more clarity. While its beginnings are in the game industry, in the future, it will have a strong impact on more aspects of human civilization, for instance in finance and socialization. It is estimated that in 2021 the global game market will reach profits of $175.8 billion. It is expected that during 2023, the gains will exceed $200 billion. GameFi is at a relatively early stage of development, and it still has enormous growth potential.

The integration of NFT and GameFi has produced a huge impact on gaming and will continue to have both micro and macro effects on business models as well as virtual assets ownership rights.

With the combination of Pokemon and GameFi, PokeMine is without a doubt, the rebirth of the Pokemon world in the real world.

Successful Fundraising and NFT Deployment

PokeMine was officially launched on December 16th, 2021. After completing its first round of $5 million funding on November 16 2021, more functions have been increasingly launched one after another in stages. The first funding round was financed by GMC, Blockchain Ventures, Hayek Capital, YIBI Exchange, YSL Capital, HKD.COM, NKCCapital, and others. The funds are being used for Pokemon’s technology development and team building so as to fund international growth.

Currently, PokeMine NFTs have been deployed on the Heco-chain and Binance Smart Chain based on the ERC-721 token standard. There are two different types of assets in PokeMine: NFTs and PokeMine Diamonds ($PMD). Users can purchase PokeMine NFTs on Treasureland and purchase $PMD from MDEX and ButterSwap and use PMD to get Pokemon NFTs from the Pokemon center in the game.

The project has also made an official announcement to attract influencers for PokeMine. The influencer initiative purports to give influencers the opportunity to join and share in a large portion of the bonuses. Influencers need to promote across Pokemine social platforms, which include: Telegram, Discord and Twitter.

Pokemine is Poised to be a Leading GameFi Offering

Diverse game scenarios and unique gameplay have made Pokemon a high-profile GameFi project. There are plenty of strategies and methods to explore, both in the PvE scenario and future PVP. Better strategization will not only be more fun for the player, it will lead to a higher return on investment. In the aspects of game quality and tokenomics, PokeMine is one of the leading offerings in this market.

No Deme games will be deployed on centralized service clients like Amazon in the future. All Deme games will be deployed on the DEME mainnet node, a system which is completely decentralized. Technically, that is the biggest advantage of Deme.

Journey To Metaverse

In the future, Deme will access Metaverse and empower more Web 3.0 applications. Meanwhile, Deme will support Cross-chain bridge, Multi-chain wallet, NFT trading markets, and Defi assembly kits. It also sorts the utilities of Metaverse, helps users create decentralized identities, and makes it convenient for users to manage Token and NFT assets easily. What’s more, Deme will let users enjoy all kinds of encrypted applications, and build SocialDAO blocks, open up encrypted application communities, and decentralized governance. Deme will build a highly-decentralized Metaverse platform, inspiring the unlimited vision of every gaming and crypto enthusiast to the encrypted world.

PokeMine’s Official Links:
Website: https://deme.games/#/home
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PokemineG
Telegram: https://t.me/PokeMineGameFi
Discord: discord.gg/9QPWk6dwqD
Medium: https://medium.com/@pokeminefi

Singapore, December 21, 2021 -/DailyVoice/- Blockchain-powered sports and entertainment NFT solution, Jetcoin, just secured sleeve sponsorship rights for Huddersfield Town A.F.C. for their FA Cup game against Burnley on Saturday, January 8th 2022.

Jetcoin is no stranger to football, having previously sponsored Italian Serie A teams, an EFL team and FA Cup games, not to mention digital banner advertising at 33 English Premier League games. The latest football sponsorship with Huddersfield comprises both an FA Cup game sleeve sponsorship as well as a digital partnership for perimeter LED banner ads for the 2021-2021 season with Huddersfield.

“Being a sleeve sponsor of Huddersfield for the prestigious Emirates FA Cup game together with digital sponsorship for the rest of the season gives Jetcoin an unparalleled global exposure,” said Jetcoin CEO and founder Eric Alexandre. “This is a chance for our interactive JET NFT card holders to get airdropped unique merchandise and other rewards straight into their wallet during the rest of the football season. We are looking forward to this exciting partnership!”

“We are delighted that Jetcoin has agreed to support our FA Cup journey with the sponsorship of our sleeve,” commented Ian Birtley, Commercial Director of Huddersfield. “Jetcoin is an exciting proposition within the blockchain space and we look forward to seeing the brand displayed on the sleeve and across our stadium digital assets for the remainder of the season.”

Huddersfield Town was the first club to win the English League title three times, a feat that has only been repeated by three other teams – Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. Huddersfield has also previously won the ‘Football Association Challenge Cup’, the oldest national football competition in the world, now currently known since 2015 as the Emirates FA Cup, named after its headline sponsor.

The FA Cup game will kick off at 12:30 pm UK time on January 8th 2022 and has been selected for exclusive international live broadcast on Sky Sports across 38 countries. Jetcoin has also announced that fans stand to win three match shirts, redeemable through the JET Interactive NFT cards.

Jetcoin disrupts the fan-talent relationship in the world of sports and entertainment by deploying blockchain and NFT technology. With the Jetcoin solution, emerging talents are empowered by the active participation of their fans to support their career aspirations through purchases of their limited-edition NFT series offerings. In return, fans get access to exclusive rewards, an opportunity to reap the potential upside of their NFTs and most importantly, become integral to their talents’ success stories.

Currently, the JET (BSC) token pre-sale is live on Pinksale. Launchpad and pre-sale details can be found here.

About Jetcoin:
Blockchain-powered Jetcoin ($JET) is digital fuel that gives fans and supporters in the world of sports and entertainment a unique opportunity to benefit directly from the success of their favorite athletes and stars. Through the JET NFTs, individuals participate in their talents’ success stories when they choose to purchase unique NFT series of artwork and collectibles from emerging talents in sports and entertainment. When the talents mature in their careers, the value of their image rights increase, translating into rewards for the fans holding the NFTs.

To date, Jetcoin has sponsored English Football League Derby County FC, Wigan Athletic F.C., English Premier League perimeter banner advertising, two Serie A football teams (A.C. Chievo Verona and Hellas Verona); three luxury yacht shows (Singapore, Phuket and Penang Rendezvous); and three Formula One Official After-Parties in Singapore.

Jetcoin Official Channels:
Website: https://jetcoin.io/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JTCinstitute
Telegram: https://telegram.me/joinchat/ERrH8w3gjAsfmdCrgjGCOQ
Medium: https://jetcoins.medium.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGDlUZ10qHQ8Te8IpZkLLGQ

About Huddersfield Town:
Huddersfield Town Association Football Club is an English professional football club based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. Founded on 15 August 1908, it entered the Football League in 1910. The team is currently competing in the Championship, the second tier of English football.

Huddersfield Town A.F.C. Official Channels:
Website: https://www.htafc.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/htafc
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialHTAFC
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/htafc/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/htafc/

East Meadow, NY, USA, December 21, 2021 -/DailyVoice/- World Auction Gallery will ring in the New Year with a major, 535-lot auction on Sunday, January 2nd, led by a large collection of items by Yaacov Agam (Israeli, b. 1928) from a private collection; the largest collection of Judaica items, including silver, bronzes and more; and exceptional paintings by noted and listed American, Chinese and European artists.

Also offered will be wonderful enameled Russian silver and Buccellati silver pieces; European porcelain, including Meissen and KPM; and Chinese and Japanese items. The auction will start promptly at 10 am Eastern time. Previews will be held December 28th thru January 1st, from 10 am to 4 pm by appointment only. To schedule a gallery appointment you may call 516-307-8180.

Pieces in the Yaacov Agam collection include an Agamograph lithograph titled Festival #5, fully signed and numbered (42/99), in the original frame measuring 23 inches by 24 inches (estimate: $800-$1,000); and two Judaica kinetic Shalom Menorahs, both on a tri-base, both fully signed and numbered and housed in their original padded cases. Each is expected to bring $600-$800.

Judaica items will feature a rare silver Torah shield (Warsaw, Poland, dated 1862), 17 ½ inches tall, with a certificate from Judaica Research dated June 16, 1999, plus added items (estimate: 3,000-$4,000); and a large bronze and marble Hanukiah, gold color, 20 inches tall, by Salvador Dali (Spanish, 1904-1999), signed and numbered (5/250), dated 1980 (estimate: $1,000-$1,500).

A Russian enameled silver basket with jewels, fully hallmarked and in generally very good, tarnished condition, 8 ½ inches by 4 ½ inches handle-to-handle, should bring $1,000-$1,500; while a Russian monumental oil on canvas painting, apparently unsigned, titled Lenin Talking to Farmers, 19 inches by 16 inches (sight, less the beautiful frame), should realize $800-$1,200.

A pair of silkscreens on canvas signed and dated by Pop Art icon Andy Warhol are expected to gavel for $50,000-$75,000 each. One, titled 5 Coke Bottles, 20 inches by 16 inches (sight), is inscribed “Merry Christmas, 1962” with a Christmas tree on the back. The other, titled Flowers, from 1964, is 24 inches square and even has the original “Galerie Ileana Sonnabend, Paris” label.

Fine creations by other noted American artists are plentiful and include the following pieces:

• A rare bronze and painted cast plaster sculpture by Arnaldo Pomodoro (b. 1926), titled Gyroscope, 20 inches in diameter, originally purchased from the Marina del Rey Gallery in New York, with just a couple of minor losses due to age (estimate: $8,000-$10,000).
• A newspaper covered resin sculpture by Niki De Saint Phalle (1930-2002), titled Nanna, signed and dated 1994, in good condition, the stand is missing (estimate: $2,000-$3,000).
• A 3-D serigraph by Charles Fazzino (b. 1955), titled Jets Football Team, New Jersey Meadowlands, signed and numbered, beautifully framed under glass, 19 inches by 16 inches (sight, less frame), measuring 27 ¾ inches by 24 ¼ inches (estimate: $400-$500).

Two very different lots have identical estimates of $3,000-$4,000. One is a monumental sterling silver Buccellati hand-chased vase, 22 inches tall, fully signed and hallmarked and in excellent condition (117 ozt). The other is an antique Japanese carved wood etagere / cabinet, circa 1880s, 89 inches tall by 57 inches long with decorations of Mount Fuji, flying cranes, dragons and birds.

Still more expected auction highlights are a Paul Evans (American, 1931-1987) cityscape table lamp, with two parts fitting into each other, the top 20 inches square (estimate $600-$800); and an antique Meissen porcelain reticulated plate with a hand-painted Watteau scene, fully marked, 9 ¾ inches diameter, in excellent condition, with perfect gilt and enamel (estimate: $500-$600).

Other noteworthy items up for bid will include a rare Ilya Shor Judaica sterling silver pendant, a Fernand Leger limited edition glazed porcelain plaque, a Judaica bronze Menorah by the artist known as Erte, a monumental sterling silver two-handle centerpiece, and paintings by Chinese artists Meishu Li (1902-1983), Wen-Chuan Chang (1909-2003) and Wen Liang Yan (1893-1990). Refer to the World Auction Gallery website or bidding platforms for the entire catalog.

Due to pandemic concerns, there will be no live audience on auction day. For the previews, the World Auction Gallery showroom is located at 228 East Meadow Avenue in East Meadow, N.Y. There are five ways to bid: at WorldAuctionGallery.com, LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and phone and absentee (proof of funds and deposits are required on bids of $50,000 and above).

To learn more about World Auction Gallery, please visit www.worldauctiongallery.com. Updates are posted often.

About World Auction Gallery:
World Auction Gallery is a family-owned business located in East Meadow, Long Island, New York. The company serves thousands of buyers and sellers around the world. Its specialists travel extensively and work closely with both collectors and consignors to provide the highest quality of service, professionalism and integrity. With over 30 years of experience, World Auction Gallery conducts multiple sales a year, featuring fine collections of arts, antiques, jewelry, glass, porcelain, bronzes, silver, furniture and more. Consignment rates are among the lowest in the industry and can be as low as zero percent. Honesty and quality are the company hallmarks. World Auction Gallery is always accepting quality fine antiques and arts for future auctions. To inquire about consigning a single item, a collection or an estate, you may call them at 516-307-8180; or, email them at worldauctiongallery@gmail.com. To learn more about World Auction Gallery, visit www.worldauctiongallery.com.

Naples, FL, December 21, 2021 –DailyVoice– Clean Franchise Brands (CFB), the largest dry cleaning and laundry company on the planet, recently issued its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for Martinizing Dry Cleaning. CFB will now begin efforts to sell franchise locations to prospective buyers.

CFB purchased Martinizing Dry Cleaning in Spring 2021, along with 1-800-Dry Clean, Pressed4Time and Dry Cleaning Station. CFB is also the franchisor for Lapels Dry Cleaning. All totaled, CFB has more than 400 locations in seven countries including Canada, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan and Peru—making it the largest dry cleaning company on the planet!

“The pandemic has been a very difficult time for dry cleaners. Many local independents have not survived. Yet recent industry reports indicate a strong trend in growth for the dry cleaning and laundry industry,” said Kevin Dubois, CFB CEO. “We are very excited to have finalized the FDD for Martinizing Dry Cleaning and make that opportunity available to prospects literally across the globe.”

According to a report put out by Research and Markets, “The dry-cleaning and laundry services market is poised to grow by $13.62 billion during 2021-2025, progressing at a CAGR of almost five percent.”

“That report is one reason why we’re excited,” said Dubois. “Yet it is more about what we can offer prospective Martinizing owners. With the five other companies, we can provide a level of support that’s just unheard of in the dry cleaning industry.”

Added Dubois, “For example, a prospect could open up a Martinizing Dry Cleaning satellite location and utilize a Lapels Dry Cleaning plant to clean customers’ clothing—or vice versa. Or a Martinizing store could utilize the delivery services of a Pressed4Time location. There are any number of scenarios like this.”

For complete information on the Martinizing Dry Cleaning franchise opportunity, visit martinizingfranchise.com. To schedule an information call about the Martinizing opportunity, call 248-654-7009 or go to https://calendly.com/martinizing/introduction.

About Martinizing Dry Cleaning:
As part of Clean Franchise Brands, Martinizing is among the largest U.S. based dry-cleaning franchise systems with more than 400 locations in seven countries including Canada, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan and Peru. Martinizing was founded in 1949 and remains a trusted, iconic name in dry cleaning in the U.S. For more information, visit https://www.martinizing.com/

About Clean Franchise Brands, LLC:
Based in Naples, Florida, Clean Franchise Brands, LLC is now the owner of the following brands: Lapels Dry Cleaning; Martinizing Dry Cleaning; 1-800-DryClean, Pressed4Time, Dry Cleaning Station and Bizziebox. Collectively, the brands have 500 plus stores in 40 states and nine countries. Clean Franchise Brands corporate offices are located at 711 5th Avenue South, Naples, FL 34102.

For more information, go to https://calendly.com/martinizing/introduction or contact John Powers at jpowers@cleanfranchisebrands.com

Wilton, CT, USA, December 22, 2022 -/DailyVoice/- A manuscript handwritten in German by Albert Einstein, signed, with several lines of mathematical equations, a check made out to a charter airline by John F. Kennedy during his 1960 presidential campaign, and a handwritten document signed by the legendary lawman Bat Masterson when he was just 25 years old will all be part of University Archives’ next online-only auction scheduled for Thursday, January 6th, beginning promptly at 10:30 am Eastern time.

The Rare Autographs, Photographs, Books Plus PSA Slabbed auction features historical material from multiple collecting categories. A 201-lot subset will exclusively feature pieces that are PSA/DNA slabbed and graded. “As many in the industry well know, items in this format, once solely the territory of sports cards, have taken the collectibles field to the next level, with frequent realizations into the multi-million-dollar range,” said John Reznikoff, president and owner of University Archives.

Mr. Reznikoff added, “While old-school collectors tend to be more tactile, the new breeds favor a new way to secure their investments, that is, by having items third party-graded, authenticated, and permanently protected. Even Wall Street is on board, with Steve Cohen and others’ billion-dollar purchase of Collectors Universe, the parent company of PSA. This being our biggest sale yet, we’re confident there will be great opportunities for dealers and collectors of all categories.”

The catalog, with all 530+ lots, is up for viewing and bidding now, on the University Archives website (www.UniversityArchives.com) as well as LiveAuctioneers.com, Invaluable.com and Auctionzip.com. Phone and absentee bids will also be accepted. It’s the ninth auction that will be conducted from University Archives’ modern, new 6,000-square-foot facilities in Wilton, Conn.

The list of major categories is extensive, to include Science (Einstein, Richard Feynman, Nikola Tesla, Johannes Stark, others); Presidents (from Washington to Biden); Early American (Alexander Hamilton, John Hancock, Samuel Adams, Thomas Paine, John Peter Zenger, others); Space / Aviation (the Apollo and Skylab programs, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Chuck Yaeger, Soviet cosmonauts, others); and Civil Rights (Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, others).

Other categories include Business (Astor, Carnegie, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt, Jay Cooke, Jay Gould, others); Literature (Mark Twain, Robert Browning, Walt Whitman, J.D. Salinger, Eugene O’Neill, E.E. Cummings, others); Art (Picasso, Chagall, Warhol, Diego Rivera, others); Music (Beatles, Led Zeppelin, George Gershwin, others); Entertainment (Golden Age of Hollywood, Marx Brothers, Marilyn Monroe, others); and Sports (Mantle, Koufax, Jackie Robinson, others).

Taking center stage will be the Einstein autograph manuscript, handwritten in German circa 1938 and signed at its conclusion as “A. Einstein.” It carries a pre-sale estimate of $40,000-$50,000. The manuscript constitutes part of Einstein’s attempts at developing a unified theory of electromagnetism, gravitation and quantum mechanics; he later co-authored a paper exploring this topic titled On a Generalization of Kaluza’s Theory of Electricity (1938).

The check that JFK made out to a Massachusetts charter airline company for a trip to the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport, Mass., during his 1960 presidential campaign carries an estimate of $15,000-$16,000. The check is boldly signed and signature PSA/DNA slabbed and graded NM-MT 8. Also up for bid is a first edition copy of The President’s Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy, signed by all seven commission members and general counsel J. Lee Rankin.

An autograph document signed by Bartholomew “Bat” Masterson, with over 30 words, numbers and figures written in his hand, is PSA/DNA slabbed and graded Mint 9. When he signed this 6.375-inch by 4.5-inch receipt, the 25-year-old Masterson was then serving as Sheriff of Ford County, Kansas and was just months away from being defeated in the Royal Gorge War, fought between two rival Western railroad companies. The document should finish at $27,500-$30,000.

A letter handwritten by Abraham Lincoln, dated March 25, 1852, is boldly signed and addressed to Hon. William Thomas, regarding real estate business in Shawneetown, Ill. The 7.5-inch by 4 inch letter is PSA/DNA slabbed and graded Mint 9 (estimate: $12,000-$15,000). Also, a one-page document from around 1762 signed by George Washington, regarding a settlement of accounts with Sheriff William Payne of Fairfax County, Va., should hit $12,000-$14,000. The two had a contentious history: Payne had struck Washington with a stick during a disagreement seven years earlier.

Another Washington-related lot – this one a Rev War free frank addressed in his hand to Gen. Henry Knox (1750-1806), Commandant of West Point, signed as “Go: Washington”, PSA/DNA slabbed and graded NM 7 – has an estimate of $8,000-$9,000. Knox was a close friend of Washington, who appointed him the country’s first Secretary of War.

One page of a bifolium dated Dec. 12, 1792, boldly signed by Alexander Hamilton as Treasury Secretary and addressed to Sharp Delany, Esq., Collector of Customs in Philadelphia, instructing him ironically to order pistols, should finish at $9,000-$10,000. Also, a one-page note signed by Thomas Jefferson as President, dated Sept. 13, 1808, written from his home in Monticello, addressed to Edgar Patterson, a government contractor, regarding a letter from Patterson that was forwarded to James Madison, has a pre-sale estimate of $8,000-$9,000.

A two-page autograph manuscript by Richard Feynman, pertaining to the Challenger disaster of 1986, is expected to make $12,000-$14,000. Feynman was appointed to the Rogers Commission, tasked by then-Pres. Ronald Reagan with investigating the causes of the space shuttle’s mid-air explosion. Also, an archive of handwritten documents and printed journals relating to John Peter Zenger, the German printer accused of seditious libel in 1734, including material signed by key trial participants, including New York Gov. William Cosby, should command $10,000-$12,000.

A Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. signed record cover, containing an original recording of his “The American Dream” speech delivered at Syracuse University in July 1961, the precursor of King’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech, signed “Best Wishes / Martin Luther King, Jr.”, should rise to $6,000-$7,000. Also, a wire transfer from Argentina signed and dated Dec. 13, 1952 by Oskar Schindler, in Spanish for the sum of 2600 Argentinean pesos, to be sent to Gertrude Tutsuth, has an estimate of $10,000-$12,000. Schindler famously saved 1,200 Jews during World War II.

For more information about University Archives and the online-only Rare Autographs, Photographs, Books Plus PSA Slabbed auction scheduled for January 6th, visit www.universityarchives.com.

About University Archives:
University Archives has become world-renowned as a go-to source for rare items of this kind. It is actively seeking quality material for future auctions, presenting a rare opportunity for sellers. Anyone who has a single item or a collection that may be a fit for a future University Archives auction may call John Reznikoff at 203-454-0111, or email him at john@universityarchives.com. University Archives was founded in 1979, as a division of University Stamp Company, by John Reznikoff, who started collecting stamps and coins in 1968, while in the third grade. Industry-wide, Reznikoff is considered the leading authenticity expert for manuscripts and documents. He consults with law enforcement, dealers, auction houses and both major authentication companies. University Archives’ new offices are located at 88 Danbury Rd. (Suite 2A) in Wilton, Conn. For more information about University Archives, visit www.universityarchives.com. Updates are posted often.

Middleboro, MA and Sebago, ME, December 22, 2021 -/DailyVoice/- The federal government now requires that opioids be included in US Department of Transportation (DOT) mandated drug tests. In recognition of this requirement and the expanded drug use during Covid-19, Safer Places, Inc. has expanded customized drug testing services.

Previous tests (DOT. or other) already included heroin, but didn’t include semi-synthetic opioids such as hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxycodone and oxymorphone, more commonly known as Vicodin, OxyContin, Lortab, Norco, Percocet and Dilaudid.

Note, oddly enough, fentanyl is not included and DOT is not mandating it at this time. Although not required, semi-synthetic opioids and/or fentanyl can be added to employee drug testing.

The truck driving profession involves immense solitude, sleep deprivation and excessive fatigue. It can be annoyingly repetitive, monotonous, demanding and stressful, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health.

“Driving a truck is both physically demanding and mentally taxing. Many drivers work long hours and are away from their families for extended time,” commented David Sawyer, CEO of Safer Places. “Better drug testing can avert disaster and also help an individual get the help they need before trauma occurs.”

Gone are the days when employers can just order a “standard drug test.” In fact, Safer Places clients that do drug testing are now asked to complete a form and select the testing panel that best suits their needs.

Overall drug use is up significantly by most accounts, due at least in part to the pandemic (unemployment, depression, isolation, etc. contribute to drug abuse). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as of June 2020, 13 percent of Americans reported starting or increasing substance use as a way of coping with stress or emotions related to COVID-19.

Safer Places offers a wide range of background testing, in addition to customized drug testing, the company offers an innovative array of social media screening and monitoring services as an individual entity or as part of its packages of services.

About Safer Places, Inc:
Safer Places, Inc. is a full-service firm that provides pre-employment screening, security consulting, tenant screening, and additional verification services for schools, private and public companies, property managers, property owners and anyone seeking to research an individual’s background.

Since the events of September 11, 2001, the importance of background checks has taken on increased prominence, and Safer Places, Inc. has undertaken a number of educational initiatives for the public, including a monthly videocast called SAFERupdates. SAFERupdates provides ongoing information for those looking to learn more about background verifications, drug testing and other related topics in a series of short, live videocasts, recordings of which can be found on Safer Places, Inc.’s YouTube channel.

Elements of a background check can include Social Security trace, criminal history search, education verification, checking with sex offender registries, drug testing, driving record/license verification, employment verification/references, terrorist watch lists, and credentials verification/history. Increasingly, companies are using background checks as a condition of continued employment, particularly when an individual is being considered for a new position or promotion.

Safer Places, Inc. maintains offices at 25 Wareham Street, Suites 2-26, Middleborough, MA 02346 and Sebago, ME. Its principals are board certified in security management, holding the CPP (Certified Protection Professionals) designation from ASIS International and they maintain memberships in a number of organizations including the Professional Background Screeners Association (PBSA) and ASIS International. For additional information, please visit www.saferplacesinc.com or call (508) 947-0600.