George Moyer

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Hitt's Stars & Stripes 16-pack of firecrackers, seen during an antique fireworks auction from the collection of George Moyer, at Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Home Run brand 20-pack of firecrackers, seen during an antique fireworks auction from the collection of George Moyer, at Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Oh Boy 24-pack of firecrackers, seen during an antique fireworks auction from the collection of George Moyer. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Auctioneer Curvin Horning works the mic to sell, during an antique fireworks auction from the collection of George Moyer. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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National Animal Firecrackers, seen during an antique fireworks auction from the collection of George Moyer. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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With auction collection owner George Moyer sitting at left, Mark Clark, of Clarksville, Tenn., keeps an eye on the bidding during an antique fireworks auction. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

Auctioneer Dave Conley works the mic to sell, during an antique fireworks auction from the collection of George Moyer, at Morphy Auctions. Mr. Moyer's 40-year collection consists of thousands of exotic firecracker labels and packs. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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George Moyer takes time for a portrait in front of a portion of his collection prior to it's auction at Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa., Friday, June 22, 2012. Mr. Moyer's 40-year collection consists of thousands of exotic firecracker labels and packs. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Home Run brand 20-pack of firecrackers, seen during an antique fireworks auction from the collection of George Moyer, at Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa., Friday, June 22, 2012. Mr. Moyer's 40-year collection consists of thousands of exotic firecracker labels and packs. The Moyer collection includes fireworks made in the United States, China, Macau, England, India and Canada. Some of the earliest items are Chinese black-powder firecrackers from the early 1800s. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Oh Boy 24-pack of firecrackers, seen during an antique fireworks auction from the collection of George Moyer, at Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa., Friday, June 22, 2012. Mr. Moyer's 40-year collection consists of thousands of exotic firecracker labels and packs. The Moyer collection includes fireworks made in the United States, China, Macau, England, India and Canada. Some of the earliest items are Chinese black-powder firecrackers from the early 1800s. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Flying Star 20-pack of firecrackers, seen during an antique fireworks auction from the collection of George Moyer, at Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa., Friday, June 22, 2012. Mr. Moyer's 40-year collection consists of thousands of exotic firecracker labels and packs. The Moyer collection includes fireworks made in the United States, China, Macau, England, India and Canada. Some of the earliest items are Chinese black-powder firecrackers from the early 1800s. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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George Moyer, whose interest in firecrackers started in boyhood, waits for an auction of his 50-year collection of rare, vintage and antique firework-related items to begin at Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa. The total for all 1,300 lots was $438,000. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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Hitt's Stars & Stripes 16-pack of firecrackers, seen during an antique fireworks auction from the collection of George Moyer, at Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa., Friday, June 22, 2012. Mr. Moyer's 40-year collection consists of thousands of exotic firecracker labels and packs. The Moyer collection includes fireworks made in the United States, China, Macau, England, India and Canada. Some of the earliest items are Chinese black-powder firecrackers from the early 1800s. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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George Moyer's 50-year collection of fireworks-related items, especially label art, is arrayed around him at Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pa., Mr. Moyer has written two books on the subject and had items made in the U.S., China, Macau, England, India and Canada. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)