COMPLIMENTARY COPY
Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 43, NO. 22 FRIDAY JUNE 1, 2012
Bidders Found A Real Cast Of Characters In The ‘Made To Be Played’ Sale ertoia’s March 23 to 24 “Made to Be Played” auction, a 1,400-lot offering highlighted by the Grover Van Dexter European tin toy collection, closed the books at an impressive $1.3 million (inclusive of 15 percent buyer’s premium). An extensive variety of early toys crossed the auction block. A Hubley cast-iron Popeye Patrol
B
dition, to collector B o b Brady.
rare Lehmanns and Martins. Van Dexter’s Lehmann Coco, a weighted-string pull toy that depicts an African native climbing a palm tree to retrieve a coconut, not only retained its paper tree leaves but also its rare pictorial box. Estimated at $1,500 to $1,800, it was bid to $8,625. A French Fernand Martin wind-up toy depicting an English soldier was made of tin and outfitted in a c l o t h
depicting the popular cartoon sailor In turn, Bob on a motorcycle had been estisold it at mated at $10,000 to Hubley Popeye Patrol cast-iron auction a few $12,000 and motorcycle toy, $19,550. Bertoia years ago. The per- u n i f o r m son who bought it with metal rode off as Auctions image. at that particular helmet and top lot after An auction, consigned it to our gun. hammering unquestionably rare March 23 to 24 sale.” $19,550. Before the auction, Rich toy, it soared to “It was a wellBertoia was asked how he $6,325 against an attended event, thought the toy would estimate of $1,000 to and the phones fare. “I said that cast iron $1,200. and Internet Collectors love has made a comeback, were very busy,” that there are a few more oddities, Bertoia said, said Bertoia collectors in the mix now, and that described the Auctions associand that you won’t find German-made tinplate ate Rich Bertoia. another one in that condi- Deep Sea Diver of “We’ve noticed tion,” Bertoia said. “It unknown manufacthat with each sucended up nearly dou- ture. Examples of this cessive sale bling its low estimate nicely detailed tinthere are more litho character in a at $19,550.” and more seriSteam toys from primitive diving suit ous bidders the collection of the and domed helmet seldom appear using alternalate Klaus Grutzka, at auction. Against an estimate of tive bidding who taught art at the $1,200 to $1,500, it claimed a winmethods. prestigious Hill ning bid of $5,750. W e ’ r e Depicting a character from the School in reached a P o t t s t o w n , early newspaper comic point with Pennsylvania, put in s t r i p the electrona strong perfor- “Toonerville ic crowd a mance. A fine Folks,” where they’re Marklin rolling P o w e r f u l 100 percent Katrinka trusting of the Deep Sea Diver wind-up toy c a t a l o g lithographed tin- by Nifty swept descriptions. past A bidder will plate wind-up toy, i t s call ahead of German, $5,750. time and ask, Bertoia Auctions ‘Is this toy realimage. ly excellent?’ steam engine with $900 Then after the o foldable stack, dou- t sale they’ll call ble flywheel and $1,100 me and say it other nice details e s t i was actually topped the steam- mate to better than toy group at r e a l i z e described.” $2,588. $8,050. The aforemen“This is There was interest from both tioned Popeye on Motorcycle had an association with Bertoia’s that sides of the Atlantic in Painted figural cast-iron went way back, Rich Bertoia said. European tin toys from “My brother Bill bought that toy the personal collection trade sign from glove facorigin York, years ago after visiting the Hubley of Grover Van Dexter, tory, showroom in New York. It was a who owned a leg- Pennsylvania, 32 inches tall, big deal for a small company like endary Greenwich vil- $6,325. Bertoia Auctions image. Hubley (of Lancaster, lage toy shop called Childhood. Pennsylvania) to make it to the big Second trade show. Bill resold the toy, Van Dexter’s shop - like his per- the type of toy keeps which was in unplayed-with con- sonal collection - was laden with that
comic character buyers interested. There were fewer Powerful Katrinkas made than other comic character toys. When one of them comes out of the woodwork, it gives the market a bump,” Bertoia said. “The Toonerville toys had more of a regional than national distribution. The comic strip had a rural theme, so the toys were only sent to certain pockets of the country. As a result, t h e toys are rare.” A selection of antique still and mechanical banks many in superior condition - was led by a hand-painted spelter b a n k
Bertoia’s is known for its record prices on figural castiron doorstops, a collecting category in which Bertoia’s owner, Jeanne Bertoia, is an acknowledged expert. “In this sale we included the complete range of Hubley Art Deco doorstops designed by Anne Fish, a popular English cartoonist and illustrator in the 1920s,” said Jeanne Bertoia. “Each was in beautiful condition. The Parlour Maid, which depicts a French maid serving cocktails, was in even better condition than the book example.” Estimated at $1,800 to $2,500, the Parlour Maid achieved a top bid of $5,463. Hubley Parlour Maid figural cast-iron doorstop, designed by Anne Fish, $5,463. Bertoia Auctions image.
Bertoia’s will present its annual Fall Sale on September 21 to 22. On November 10, the company will auction part II of the Dick Claus collection of nautical toys and boats. To Fernand Martin cloth-dressed contact Bertoia Auctions, call (856) 692-1881 or etin wind-up English soldier mail toys@bertoiaaucwith metal helmet and gun, tions.com. Visit Bertoia’s French, $6,325. Bertoia online at www.bertoiaaucAuctions image. tions.com. Their gallery is located at 2141 DeMarcoDrive in Vineland, New depicting Santa Claus with a staff in one hand Nifty Powerful Katrinka, and a bag slung over German, tinplate his shoulder. Prices for spelter banks windup, $2,588. have continued B e r t o i a to escalate, as Auctions the Santa bank image.
proved when it sold for $8,625 against an estimate of $1,000 to $1,500. Perhaps the most unusual entry in the auction was a castiron figural hand, painted red and weighing more than 100 lbs. The 32-inchtall trade sign was originally a display piece in a York, Pennsylvania, glove factory. Bertoia said he had seen only one Jersey. other like it, in an Architectural Check the website for Digest spread of several years detailed driving directions. ago. Bertoia’s sold the example in their sale for $6,325 - more (More photos on page 6) than six times its high estimate.