The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-06
HIGH PRICES FOR AsToR DR. =ssEs.
The Two Seized Gowns Disposed of
at Auction.
From the New York Times

From the NelC York Times.
The sale Of the gowns which have come
to be known as the "Astor dresses" yester-
day, to satisfy the demand for duties by the
United States government. resulted far
more favorably to the government than
such sales usually do A sale of
seized and forfeited dresses or clothing
of any kind is generally windfall for rec
midland dealers and second-class modistes
| But Yesterdays sale attracted the attention
of class of customers that had not been ex-
pected or counted upon by the usual at
| PENDANTS of such Sales 1t showed that there
| was something besides the intrinsic value
| and beauty of the gowns themselves to bid
upon at the sale. And SO there was. There
was an advertising value in the gowns.
The dresses wei made by Felix in Parts
for Mrs. William Aston, and were to be de-
| livered to Mrs. Astor at her residence for
an agreed price. The French dressmaker,
willing to increase his profit at the expense
of the United States government, invoiced
the gowns to Baldwin Bros. a. Co. OF 53
Broadway at 1000 francs, about $500, and
when they were examined by the customs
authorities they were seized for wilful un-
LIBERALIZATION. Instead of $500 they we're
found to be worth 8 800 francs. or 1854 80,
and the duty on them was computed at
S416 So. Mrs. Astor, refusing TO pay the
duties and penalties. the gowns were con-
tlscated and advertised to be sold for the
amount due the government.
Silo's auction rooms. in Liberty street,
were thronged with people who had set en-
yious ewes on the beautiful dresses and
imagined there was a chance to buy them
at usual auction prices. There were &C
tresses, drsSsmakers and others eli ready to
give something for them. There we're also
few prosperous appearing men III the
company. The dresses were mounted on
forms and stood on a small platform. One
was described as an embroidered green silk
and velvet robe 1t was in two shades, the
silk in apple green and the velvet in green
of q darker shade. 1t was richly hand
embroidered and trimmed with Persian
passementerie. The other was. a sky-blue
broche silk robe, with passementerie and
ostrich feather trimmings.
There was another sale in progress, but it
was suspended at the appointed hour. 2
o'clock, and the dresses were offered for
sale. The green silk and velvet robe was
first put up. The first bid came PROMPTLY
800. Col Sim of the Park Theater, Brook
lyn. and another man got in bids of $3.50
and $500, but dropped out surprised and
disappointed when two other men just in
front of the auctioneer ran the price up
rapidly TO 5000, and then, by $40 advances
to 1861, at which price the dress was knocked
down to Bloomingdale Brothers, the
Third avenue dry goods dealers. On the
second gown, also On evening gown, the
bdt.ng was confined to the two men who had
ruined the hopes OF so many women on the
first dress. Ii was apparently less valuable
dress than the first, but the Bloomingdales
wanted it also, and ran the price up to $500,
where they quit, and the other man got it
for S770 The other man was Roster of
Roster a. Bal.
AS a result of the sale the government
will get its whole dues and there will be a
small margin over.