VINELAND, N.J. – There was no shortage of trains, planes or automobiles in Bertoia’s March 25 Spring Signature Auction, but the ultimate in luxury travel turned out to be an early 20th-century Marklin battleship. An amazingly well-detailed representation of the HMS Edward VII, the 20½-inch craft was complete with original masts, multiple cannons, turrets, lifeboats and guns. Its rarity and impeccable appearance made it the object of fierce competition, with the winning bidder paying $150,000 (estimate $75,000-$100,000) to own the nautical prize. It was the top achiever in the 530-lot sale, which totaled $1.9 million inclusive of buyer’s premium. Absentee and Internet bidding was available through LiveAuctioneers.
On land, the bidding race was won by an unlikely competitor: a beautiful 39-inch-long German loofah sleigh with Santa driver and two nodding reindeer. “This was one of the great surprises of the sale,” said Jeanne Bertoia, owner and co-founder of Bertoia Auctions. “Christmas is traditionally one of our most popular categories with collectors, and there are many sophisticated buyers among those who attend our sales. Most knew how rare and special this piece was, but the $60,000 winning bid was still remarkable – it was more than triple the high estimate. It just goes to show how strong the market is for fine Christmas antiques.”
Keeping pace behind the sleigh was a true comic character classic, a circa-1932 Tippco motorcycle with Mickey Mouse driver and Minnie Mouse passenger. Arguably the most desirable of all German automotive toys of its period, it holds crossover appeal with collectors of tin toys, motorcycles and Disney fans. “Whenever one of the few known Mickey and Minnie motorcycles comes to auction, bidders take part from all over the world,” said Bertoia. The colorful clockwork bike with rodent riders measures 9.5 inches long and has lithographed “spoked” balloon tires. Bertoia’s example swept past its estimate to settle at $51,000.
Another popular entry was an example of the largest-size (11½-inch) Gordon Bennett boat-tail racer produced by revered German toy manufacturer Gunthermann (below). The sleek early styling with white rubber tires, red and green headlamps, and two drivers crouched forward, makes it a favorite with collectors of early automotive toys. It sold near the top of its estimate range at $21,600. Also of German manufacture, a boxed Ubelacker Dirigible Airship with pontoons attracted intense interest due to its unusual design and action. It landed within estimate at $24,000.
A collection of more than a dozen amusing, French-made Fernand Martin windup toys, many of them boxed, came from the 60-year Julian “Tony” Daval collection. The prestigious grouping included a “Perfect Fisherman” and boxed “Valiant Boer,” each selling for $14,400; and a nicely boxed L’Intrepide Jockey, depicting a cloth-dressed rider on a clockwork horse, which crossed the finish line at $9,600.
Train collectors double-dipped into two highly regarded collections, those of longtime railway enthusiasts Jerry Greene and Jerry Loman. The selection of rare trains included locomotives and cars by Marklin, Ives, Boucher, Lionel and Voltamp, as well as other European and American manufacturers. Additionally, there were several early cast-iron trains and a wealth of desirable accessories.
A set of four very seldom-seen Boucher standard gauge train cars (below), including an observation car with tin seats, two coaches with wooden seats, and a baggage car lettered “New York and Washington,” was destined to leave its $10,000-$12,000 estimate behind. After heated bidding, it concluded its auction journey at $39,000.
Another lot that defied predictions was an early Marklin 1 gauge boxed passenger set made for the American market. The train was led by a clockwork American outline 0-4-0 locomotive with a long open-style cab, bell and chain on the boiler and a red cow catcher. Following behind were a tender and three rare cards, including a baggage car, and both a first class and second class coach, each with opening doors. Very hard to find with its original box with profusely illustrated label, the set was bid to $24,000 against an estimate of $8,000-$10,000.
It’s always antique teddy bear season at Bertoia’s, and for their spring auction, the company offered some choice examples of Steiff designs from the Catherine “Sue” McKinney collection, Part I. Many of the bears were book examples that illustrated Ken Yenke’s 1990s Teddy Bear Treasury, Volumes I and II. With charm to spare, a Steiff 19-inch-tall brown-tipped mohair Clown Teddy Bear sported its original hat and ruff, glass eyes and appropriate ear button. Against an estimate of $5,500-$7,500, it captured hearts as well as a $39,000 winning bid.
Bertoia Auctions’ Annual Spring Auction featuring antique tin and cast-iron toys, mechanical and still banks, doorstops, dolls, teddy bears and much more will be held on June 2-3, 2017. For additional information, contact Bertoia Auctions at 856-692-1881 or toys@bertoiaauctions.com.
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