Going to a JP Auction is like spending the day with a large extended family.

There are familiar faces, chitchat during the preview about items on display, good food and the common interest of bringing home some treasures.

The estate of the well-known Bos sisters was extensive and diverse. These gals traveled and collected for years and took impeccable care of everything they possessed.

The Auction Exchange and Collectors News did not attend the Friday night book auction, but during Saturday’s auction, many buyers confessed to witnessing 3,500-4,000 books auctioned in a mere three hours.

A wide assortment of items that sold on the block Friday included art, architecture, children’s, religious, historical, classics, sets and more. There were Calvin College yearbooks and Dickens Series that sold in the range of $100-130.

Books were auctioned individually, as choice and in lots.

Saturday’s morning auction still hosted several bookcases that were full; they were sold in the afternoon section of the sale.

Saturday’s auction was the same day as the big University of Michigan and University of Ohio football game, but the crowd at the auction didn’t seem deterred by this. JP began the auction promptly at 10 a.m., and everything was made accessible throughout the sale for preview.

An old metal office calendar from the Vernon Company of Newton, Iowa started the auction of at $25.

Several lots of local Holland advertising items from Holland Lumber Supply and Holland Furnace satisfied many bidders with items ranging from $10 to $30. These included unused nail aprons, egg separators, calendars, blotters, pencils and more.

Two Jiffy ware red and white ceramic pitchers designed by Viktor Schreckengost sold as a lot for $45.

The collection of Bos sister’s hats were magnificent and there were more than 50 of them. Most every hat and hatbox were in near mint condition. The hats were not your everyday hats - these gals were the fashionistas of their time. Several sold up to $50 each. That’s how unusual and great looking they were. Many went in the $20-25 range and a few as low as $5. Several bidders had hatboxes stacked five and six high. Lucky for John Petroelje the photo of him in a beautiful flowered hat was too fuzzy to print.

An interesting primitive oval black wood sewing box crossed the block at $115.

A table top show case full of nice costume jewelry was broken down to five item lots that sold by choice for $5 to $50 each

Seven mini perfume bottles including a Richard Hudnut, along with the pins sold for $17.50.

Several wool blankets with great colors and patterns looked to be in perfect condition and went lower than perhaps estimated they would. Each saw a price from $20-50 each. Some had labels from the Netherlands. Most who had winning bids knew that they were walking away with treasures.

Four County Plat books garnered much interest with bidders. Two smaller books for Allegan and Ottawa County sold for $50 and $60 respectively.

The larger books soared with the 1930 Ottawa County book selling for $250 and the 1912 Ottawa County Standard Atlas crossed the block at $425.

A nice “Dependable Carey Products since 1873” electric advertising wall clock sold for $230.

A Howard Miller grandfather clock sold for $260.

There was healthy bidding on several Native American items the sisters had acquired from trips to the southwest in the 1930s. Three little clay pots were auctioned as choice and one bidder snapped them up for $110 each; two woven tapestry rugs went for $70 and $125. Two woven purses, one red and one gray, sold for $45 each. A brightly hand beaded doll went for $250.

It was fun watching the bidding on the Spode Indian Tree china service for eight with several serving pieces including platters, cream and sugar, covered butter, gravy, salt and pepper climb to $950 with the auctioneer doing his best to hit $1,000. Applause ensued.

The teacups were divided into lots of six with prices ending $45-50 per lot.

An outstanding German Tea Caddy thought to date back to the 1800s sold for $700.

Most in the crowd agreed that this set was beautiful.

As kick-off time for the football game approached the crowds quickly thinned.

The auction had moved quickly but there were still a few tables to sell off before it was over. That just meant those who stayed ended up with a few more bargains.

JP Auction Service runs like a fine tuned machine due to the experienced staff that includes several family members.

They will celebrate 20 years in business in February.

Find out more information on the web at www.jpauctionservice.

com.