Baltimore businessman Steve Geppi announced his purchase of Hake's Americana & Collectibles, a leading "pop culture" collectible auction-house. Terms of the private company transaction were not disclosed.

In 1965, while still a college student, Ted Hake began to issue carbon copy sales lists consisting of political pinback buttons. Customer reaction was beyond all expectations, with many customers disappointed to learn that an item of interest had been sold a day or two before they could place an order. To address this problem, Mr. Hake decided to conduct his sales in auction format. "In many ways I think I was the first eBay," says Mr. Hake. In May of 2004, Hake's will publish Auction #179, its first catalogue with all 3,260 items in full color.

Over the years, Mr. Hake has authored 15 collectibles price guides on subjects ranging all the way from presidential campaign artifacts to television collectibles. Currently, he is preparing The Official Hake's Price Guide To Character Toys, 5th Edition.

Mr. Geppi is the owner of Diamond Comic Distributors, the largest distributor of English-language comics, toys, collectibles and related merchandise. Geppi also owns the Diamond International Galleries, the only facility of its kind that displays a collection of some of the finest examples of comic books, toys, original comic art and memorabilia presented in a museum quality setting. His Gemstone Publishing is licensed to publish Disney's standard character comic books. Gemstone also publishes the "bible" of comic book guides, The Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide.

Hake's publishing and office functions will remain at its headquarters in York, Pennsylvania.

http://www.hakes.com