NEW YORK, NY.- Paddle8, the leading online auction house, announced a series of auctions in partnership with iconic tastemaker Bob Melet of Melet Mercantile. The fashion-insider’s go-to influencer who presents collections and assemblages of vintage fashion, ephemera, worldly goods and artifacts in his renowned New York showroom, Bob Melet is a bellwether for forecasting upcoming trends and styles. In his first collaboration with an auction house, Paddle8 will present 70 works collected by Bob Melet including photographs, ephemera, sculptures, art and objects with bidding live from February 16-March 2, 2017.

A fourth-generation vendor of fashion and founder of Ralph Lauren’s vintage buying department, Bob Melet’s life’s work is traveling the world and collecting vintage fashion, rarities and antiques. He established Melet Mercantile in 2003, which serves as a perpetually rotating installation of inspiration to the creative community. Artists, designers, directors, editors and stylists for musicians and actors frequent his Tribeca showroom (and Montauk Outpost during the summer) for inspiration, trend forecasting and to collect his unique brand of cool.

Melet Mercantile Collection: The Art of Objects Part I marks the first time Melet Mercantile has partnered with an online platform, bringing the eclectic style of the renowned showroom to bidders worldwide. “I am excited about partnering with Paddle8, even though I’m not an online shopper,” states Bob Melet. “Our brands just made sense together, it happened very organically and my instincts have driven everything I’ve done.”

“Melet Mercantile is a destination in the true sense of the word.” Says Brent Lewis, Paddle8’s Head of Single Owner Sales. “Bob has his unique vernacular with objects, he presents something familiar in a way never seen before. We are thrilled to be presenting a window into this diverse and dramatic world.”

The series of sales will kick off with a sale of approximately 70 lots, with a part 2 sale to be presented this summer coinciding with Mr. Melet’s Epic Yard Sale held in Montauk each July 4 weekend. Highlights of the first sale include:

• Louis Nevelson Signed Invitation, Pace Gallery, 1977, signed foil print on card, estimate: $900-$1,200.

• Peter Beard, Serenera Serengeti (Lion Polaroid)1964, signed gelatin silver print with hand coloring, estimate: $15,000-$20,000.

• After Jean-Michel Basquiat, The Offs Basquiat Poster, c.1984, offset lithograph on paper, estimate: $2,500-3,000.

• Various artists, Black Power Concept Board (Collection of objects and flags symbolizing Black Power), c. 1960s-1970s, textiles, flags, books, magazines, photographs, t-shirts, badges, newspapers, and maps, estimate: $10,000-$15,000.

• Unknown artist, Apollo Moon Flag needlepoint, c. 1960s, cotton/wool cross stitching, estimate: $3,000-$5,000.

• Hand Painted Protest Helmet from Vietnam War (Daisies), c. 1960s (Vietnam War), Hand-painted US Military issued steel helmet, estimate: $3,000-$4,000.

• Vintage Signed and Framed Christo Postcard, Valley Curtain (Project for Colorado), c. 1970-72, offset lithograph in colors on card, estimate: $800-$1,200.

• Unknown artist, Portrait of Jean Marais (partner of Jean Cocteau), c.1950s, Oil on canvas, estimate: $3,000-$5,000.