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The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 44, NO. 35 FRIDAY AUGUST 30, 2013
Enzo Pertoldi Robot And Space Toy Collection Lead The Way At Morphy’s On Sept. 6 And 7 M
ore than 1,100 lots of fantastic antique and vintage toys, banks, sports collectibles and Americana lots are waiting to take the spotlight on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6 to 7, at Morphy Auctions’ sale at their Denver, Pa., facility. It’s one of the most comprehensive toy lineups to appear at Morphy’s in some time and is topped by a premier array of robots and space toys: the 35-year Enzo Pertoldi collection. Many pieces in the auction were sourced from important, long-held collections, including the Ray and Theresa Jones collection of antique occupational shaving mugs, which will open the sale. “The September sale contains Part II of the Jones collection,” said Morphy Auctions CEO Dan Morphy, “and like Part I, which we sold earlier this year, it contains many rare, fine examples.” Highlights among the 130 lots of mugs include Lot 41, depicting a lighthouse, est. $1,000-$1,500; Lot 43, a greenhouse; and Lot 90, which has an actual photographic image of an electric trolley car, est. $1,500$2,000. Reflecting the late Ray Jones’ career in the U.S. Navy, the grouping features several mugs with a nautical theme, including Lot 98, which depicts shipbuilders working on the hull of a boat, est. $1,000-$1,500.
Yonezawa X-27 Explorer robot, tin litho and painted, crank-wind, Japanese, 9 1/4 inches tall, offered with original box (not shown). Estimate $5,000-$7,000. Morphy Auctions image.
Masudaya battery-operated Radicon Robot from ‘Gang of Five’ series, Japanese, 14 3/4 inches tall, offered with original box (not shown). Estimate $10,000-$15,000. Morphy Auctions image.
Robot, Radicon Robot, Missile Robot, Hook Robot and Tremendous Mike. Boxed space toys include Gold Star, Space Mobile and Pilot, Robbie Construction Roller Vehicle, Space Refuel Station, Space Fighter, Space Racecar, Space Patrol with missiles, TV Space Control Car, Flying Saucer X3, Moon Patrol Vehicle, X9 Space Robot Car. Other important space toys are X12 Moon Rocket and white Space Control Car with two astronauts. Tin toys include a single-owner collection of early Popeye toys, dolls and figures, including boxed Linemar favorites: Lot 859, Popeye Spinning Olive Oyl in a Chair; and Lot 860, Popeye Cyclist. Other Popeye standouts include Lot 850, a rare Jaymar jointed wood Popeye in box; Lot 851, an Effanbee Popeye soft doll with original spinach-can tag; and Lot 852, the best known example of a Chein Ideal jointed wood Popeye. Mickey Mouse toys add color and fun to the lineup. Top lots include Lot 865, a Linemar train set in scarce original box with cardboard background; Lot 863, a boxed Mickey prewar celluloid cyclist; and Lot 869, a Lars (Italy) 4-foottall Mickey doll. Many of the most popular brands are represented in a fleet of pressed-steel vehicles in the auction, e.g.,
Pinocchio Spaziale (Spaceman), plastic and vinyl, Italian, 13 1/2 inches tall, offered with original box (not shown). Estimate $6,000-$9,000. Morphy Auctions image.
Buddy ‘L’ and SmithMiller. Highlights include Lot 889, a mint/boxed Buddy ‘L’ red Scarab car, as well as an exceptional Banner emergency truck. An assortment of cast-iron cars, trucks, cabs, tractors and horse-drawn vehicles will also be offered. Within the grouping are Lot 893, a SmithMiller fire truck in original box with inserts and tags; Lot 150, an elusive Ives Phoenix fire pumper toy with all seven firemen and driver; and a complete Bell Telephone truck. Beautiful games and puzzles that showcase the superior artistry and lithographic prowess of
More than 140 lots of mechanical and still banks will be offered on day one. Top mechanical banks include Lot 300, a Reclining Chinaman, est. $3,000-$5,000; and Lot 301, a Boy Scout bank in excellent to near-mint condition, est. $4,000-$6,000. (Continued on page 2) Lot 256, a scarce and highly desirable Darktown Battery mechanical bank trade card, is expected to make $3,000-$4,000. Notable among the still banks is Lot 227, an A.C. Williams Statue of Liberty in nearmint-plus condition, est. $700-$1,000. The chatter level has been high in the robot-collecting community since Morphy’s first announced it would be auctioning the Enzo Pertoldi robot and space toy collection. Built over a 35-year period, the collection is one that has “captured the curiosity of robot fans for decades, even though few collectors ever had the chance to view it in Enzo’s home in Italy,” said Morphy. “We think curiosity about its contents will attract potential bidders from all over the world. It contains many examples with provenance from the Davidson, Griffith, Lesser and Paul Lips collections. Everyone knows Enzo’s collection is one of the all-time greats.” Some of the top entries in the Pertoldi collection are, boxed robots: Domed Lineol tinplate clockwork-motor ambulance, 12 inches long, estimate $2,000-$2,200. Morphy Easelback, Pinocchio Robot, rare Piston- Auctions image. Action Robbie variation, blue Smoking Spaceman, Space Scout, Radar Robot (aka Topolino), and Interplanetary Explorer. Other important robots include Lavender
Ives cast-iron Phoenix horse-drawn fire patrol, 20 1/2 inches long, original driver and six J. & E. Stevens Reclining Chinaman cast-iron mechanical bank, yellow-pants variation, estimate $3,000-$5,000. Morphy Auctions image. original firemen figures. Estimate $2,000-$4,000. Morphy Auctions image.