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VOL. 44, NO. 3 FRIDAY JANUARY 18, 2013
Recent Auction Celebrated The Other Important ‘Claus’ In The World Of Toys attleships and oceanliners lined up alongside paddle wheelers and submarines to form a mighty flotilla at Bertoia Auctions’ November sale of the Dick Claus Collection, Part II in Vineland, New Jersey. The second and final offering of spectacular antique toy boats, naval figures and trolleys drew keen international interest and above-estimate prices, with the day’s total
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formidable 35-inch clockwork Claus collection, doubled and social event enjoyed by all. In warrior was a crowd favorite and even tripled expectations. A keeping with what is now a tradisailed off to an East Coast US group lot replicating a blue-uni- tion at their higher-profile sales, buyer for $155,250 - more than formed work party had been Bertoia’s hosted a catered estimated at $600 to $800, but gourmet luncheon to thank those twice the high estimate. A second-series Marklin didn’t have to put in any over- who had come to the gallery for a “live auction” experience. time to reach $3,450. Battleship “Mexico” boasted a Guests sipped wine and Approximately $600,000 of busy superstructure dined on freshly carved the sale total was attributable turkey, stuffed pork and to floor bidders, other delicious some of whom Marklin Rhein offerings. had flown in ocean liner, 38 inches, circa “After the from Europe 1919-1931, sale expressly to $40,250. Bertoia attend
notes and even gifts from people who said they appreciated our hospitality,” said Bertoia. “We do make an effort to create an atmosphere that will encourage our friends in the hobby and friends we have not yet met - to attend our auctions in person. We’ve f o u n d that
Auctions image.
The auction’s top lot: Marklin Paddle Wheeler Chicago, 31 inches, circa 1900-1902, accompanied by original box (not shown), $264,500. Bertoia Auctions image.
registering $1.6 million (inclusive of 15 percent buyer’s premium). “Many pieces in the sale surpassed their high estimates, including the top five lots. The Marklin Paddle Wheeler ‘Chicago’ sold for $264,500 against an estimate of $200,000 to $250,000,” said Bertoia Auctions’ owner Jeanne Bertoia. The German-made circa 1900-1902 “Chicago” was the very example depicted on the dust jacket cover of “The Allure of Toy Ships,” the respected reference Claus authored in 2006. From stem to stern, the 31-inch-long clockwork vessel with tiered decks, sidepositioned lifeboats, finely hand-painted details and six original crew figures was described by Bertoia as “a marvel of artistic perfection.” No small detail was overlooked in the creation of the “Chicago.” It featured ornately turned handrails rather than flat ones, a complex double-tier bridge at the front and even fancy curtains inside the windows. Competitors vying for the pricey “Chicago” included three phone bidders, online bidders and several bidders in the gallery. An East Coast US collector who had sent a representative to assess the toy prior to the auction claimed the day’s top prize with a phone bid of $264,500. The buyer of the “Chicago” had been the underbidder on the record-setting Marklin “Providence” boat, which sold at Bertoia’s for $247,250 on May 12, 2012, (Dick Claus collection, Part I). “He wasn’t going to miss out this time,” Bertoia said. Of the top 10 lots, six were battleships. An imposing circa1902 Marklin first-series Battleship “New York” was ready for engagement with its array of guns, an armored canon, crane at stern side, and railed observation decks. The
with guns positioned in a row at its the auction. sides and at upper and deck levApproximately one-third of the els. Beautifully hand painted in tobacco and cream with corn- 374 lots went to the Internet; flower blue accents, the 30-inch phone and absentee bidders prevailed on the remainder. vessel achieved $126,500 against Interest in the renowned a presale estiClaus collection didn’t end mate of $60,000 Marklin with the final drop of the to $70,000. The Battleship New auctioneer’s hammer, toy was shipped York, Series I, 35 however. back to its inches, circa 1902, $155,250. Bertoia G e r m a n “People who had Auctions image. attended the auction homeland. called afterwards to say Sold to they didn’t know why Germany via they hadn’t raised their the Internet, a hand to bid on this parM a r k l i n ticular lot or that Deutschland one, and electric-powered ocean liner comwanted t o manded
$149,500 nearly triple the low estimate. It was one of nine boats that broke the six-figure barrier in Bertoia’s sale, prompting Jeanne Bertoia to observe that, “when compared to auctions of even a few years ago, prices on fine European toy boats have escalated quite dramatically.” The Claus collection also included rare, early toy trolleys. Several floor bidders and three other bidders on the phones chased the premier entry of the group, an 18-inch electric-powered Voltamp #2115 Interurban Trolley with tin-on-wood frame with cast wheels and fittings.
know if any toys were available to purchase postsale. But the collection was 100 percent sold,” Jeanne Bertoia confirmed. “ I ’ v e always said that if you pay a h i g h price
Marklin Deutschland ocean liner, 28 inches, circa 1909-1915, $149,500. Bertoia Auctions image.
Estimated at $14,000 to $15,000, it collected a much heftier than expected “fare” of $24,250 from a bidder in the audience. Many of the Heyde sailor figures, which had served as accessories to the period boats in the
for an item, you forget about it in a month. But it’s the one that got away that you never forget.” In retrospect, it was evident that the November 10 sale was a
our auction environment has motivated like our other more couples to attend, which sales in the past - we is very nice to see.” received nice thank-you (Continued On Page 2)
Two-Part Auction Of Claus Collection Was A $3.4 Million Luxury Cruise The prestigious Marklin brand dominated Part I, claiming seven out of the top 10 slots with highlights including a “Kaiserin Augusta Victoria” steam-powered ocean liner, $138,000; a boxed firstseries “Battleship New York,” $109,250; and a circa 1915 second-series “Battleship Brooklyn,” $103,500. As described in the accompanying main feature, Part II followed a very similar pattern, with Marklin productions ruling the high seas and a Paddle Wheeler “Chicago” realizing the highest individual price of any toy in the Claus collection: $264,500. “What Dick Claus accomplished in building this magnificent collection was quite a feat,” said Bertoia Auctions’ owner, Jeanne Bertoia. “When the collection was initially consigned to us, I knew it was the best antique boat collection in the United States, but I wasn’t sure if it was the best antique toy boat collection in the world. Now that I’ve been in touch with so many of the top boat collectors in Europe, there is no doubt whatsoever that the Claus collection was the world’s best. To collectors of nautical toys, it was the equivalent of the Donald Kaufman collection.” The Kaufman collection, composed primarily of antique automotive toys, was Marklin’s majestic 26-inch auctioned for $12.1 million in a clockwork “Providence” boat, five-part series (2009-2011) at took the blue ribbon at $247,250. Bertoia’s. A high-energy adventure from start to finish, the two-part auction of the Dick Claus antique toy boat collection left little room for doubt regarding the current strength of the antique toy market. The combined total from Bertoia’s auction sessions held May 12 ($1.8 million) and November 10 ($1.6 million) both featuring the Claus collection exclusively - confirmed what the rest of the antiques and fine art market has known for several years, now - that the rarest and best items of any category are like money in the bank. The average lot price during the 210-lot May session was a remarkable $8,500, a figure that would delight nearly any auctioneer. The top lot,