COMPLIMENTARY COPY
“What’s It Worth? Ask Mike The Appraiser” Is Coming To Chester County Library FRIDAY JANUARY 3, 2020 • VOL. 51, NO. 1
Marklin Brand Was King At Bertoia’s $2.28 Million Toys And Trains Auction Fleet Of 35 Top-Class European Boats Was Led By Marklin La Plata Battleship Made For Argentine Market The second and final installation of the late Sam Downey Jr.’s prized toy and train collection crowned three days of heated competition at Bertoia’s Nov. 14, 15, and 16 annual Fall Auction, which totaled $2.28 million. The revered m u l t i g e n e r a - This Marklin clockwork Battleship La Plata, 28 inches long, Germantional collection made for the Argentine market, ex. Bill Bertoia collection, ex. Sam was established Downey Jr. collection, was the top lot of the sale, selling for $204,000. by pioneer toy collector Samuel Downey Sr. and eventually was bequeathed to Sam Jr., who expanded the holding considerably with carefully chosen, premiumquality pieces acquired over several decades. Auction days one and two were filled with rare toys and banks from other prestigious collections, while day three was allocated exclusively to the Downey consignment, which dazzled collectors with its abundance of German-made Marklin rarities. The top lot of the sale, a Marklin Battleship La Plata, was reportedly one of Sam Downey’s most treasured nautical toys. Made in Germany for the Argentine market, it was previously held in the private collection of Bertoia The Santa on polar bear growler toy, 22 inchAuctions co-founder and Argentina es long, with bear wearing leather harness native Bill Bertoia (1950-2003). A and brown glass eyes, realized $43,200, museum-grade example, the 28- over 10 times the high estimate. inch multilevel clockwork battleship sold for a roof-raising clockwork ships continued with a $204,000 against a pre-sale esti- 40-inch-long 1st Series Battleship Maine, $38,400; a near-mint, 16mate of $50,000-$75,000. The fleet of fine Marklin inch-long Battleship Indiana, $22,800; and a ca. 1904, 16.5-inchlong Gunboat Olympia, $16,800. The latter craft boasted blue-chip provenance that included the collections of Malcolm Forbes and Dick Claus in addition to the Downey collection. As the old saying goes, “A rising tide lifts all boats,” and the surge of interest from Marklin enthusiasts worldwide also upped the ante on train lots entered in the sale. A boxed, ca. 1904 Marklin Electric Tramway trolley set with track, keys A Martin (French) Don Quichotte (Quixote) and instructions had been acquired flywheel toy, ca. 1890, one of few known, from the granddaughter of an sold for $9,600. Continued on page 2
Appraisal Event Will Be In Exton, Pa., On Jan. 9 Mike Ivankovich, appraiser, auctioneer, home downsizing expert, author, speaker and radio host of WBCB1490’s “What’s It worth? Ask Mike the Appraiser,” will discuss factors in determining “value” and then reveal what certain antiques, collectibles and personal treasures are really worth today. Each attendee is invited to bring one item for Ivankovich to appraise, if they wish. This program will be held on Thursday, Jan. 9, at 6 p.m. in the Struble Room of the Chester County Library. The Chester County Library and District Center is located at 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton, Pa. This program supports the PA Forward Civic and Social Literacy Initiative. Registration is requested. To register, readers may visit
www.chescolibraries.org and click “Events.” The mission of the Chester County and Henrietta Hankin Branch
AAN Current News
Incredibly Rare Gatling Gun Sells For $222,000 In Cowan’s Arms And Armor Auction on page 2
libraries is to provide informational, educational and cultural services to the residents of Chester County so that they may be lifelong learners. For hours or other information, visit www.chescolibraries.org.
Papermania Plus Antique Paper Show Set To Return To Hartford’s XL Center
New Year, New Decade, New Sale At The Emporium— A Perfect Cure For Early Cabin Fever on page 4
Hillcrest Promotions To Hold Popular Show On Jan. 11 And 12
Exhibition Pairs Winslow Homer And Frederic Remington on page 6
Advertising, photography and antique paper lovers will convene onto the XL Center in Hartford, Conn., on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 11 and 12, for the 77th Papermania Plus Show. Hillcrest Promotions LLC runs the popular show. Papermania Plus has been taking place continuously since 1975 and is among the top shows in the country for antique paper and ephemera. This show is for both serious collectors and the merely curious. Show hours will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $9 per person, or $8 with an ad or
show card. Seniors and students with a valid ID card can get halfprice admission. The XL Center is in downtown Hartford at 1 Civic Center Plaza off the XL Center exit of I-84 or 32-B off I-91. A ton of variety can be found, even items such as old stocks, sheet music, historical documents, post cards, movie posters, photographs, rare books, fine art prints, baseball cards, antique maps, and more. Then there’s the “Plus” part, which will include pins, tin-types, vintage bottles, metal and wooden signs, and advertising samples of all kinds. Continued on page 4
Miller & Miller’s Holds Excellent Advertising And Historic Objects Auction In Ontario on page 7
In This Issue SHOPS, SHOWS & MARKETS . . . . . . . . . . starting on page 3 SHOPS DIRECTORY . . . . . . . . . on page 5 EVENT & AUCTION CALENDAR . on page 6 AUCTION SALE BILLS . . . starting on page 6
FEATURED AUCTION RESULTS: Miller & Miller Auctions - December 7 in New Hamburg, Ontario, Canada - Page 7
AUCTIONEER DIRECTORY . . . . . on page 8 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . on page 11