Long-held collections, including Gary Selmonsky’s comic character toys, step forward for Morphy’s 2,100-lot, no-reserve Sept. 1-3 sale
August 16, 2005
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DENVER, Pa. - After a sizzling Summer Americana and General Antiques Sale led by Pairpoint and Tiffany lamps, duck decoys and art pottery, Morphy Auctions changes course for the fall season with a 2,100-lot, no-reserve auction of toys, antique advertising, coin-ops and amusements of many other kinds. The Sept. 1-3 Fall Sale is chock full of fresh to the market merchandise from several mature collections. “It’s always a thrill when the true collectors come to us with things that have been off the market for 30 or 40 years,” said Morphy’s co-founder Dan Morphy. “There’s already a dynamite array of items cataloged. Most of the pieces are from advanced and long-held private collections. They’re definitely not run of the mill – they’re the sorts of things collectors get excited about when they see them coming up at auction.”
The Fall Sale’s opening session, on Thursday, Sept. 1, starts with more than 450 examples of antique advertising, with an abundance of material from the popular subcategories of tobacciana, automobiliana, breweriana. Within the grouping are many coveted self-framed tin signs such as an extremely rare 18 by 24in Kabo Corsets sign. “The detail and subject matter are incredible,” Morphy said. “The sign is embossed and pictures a lady in a corset. Everyone I’ve talked to who’s knowledgeable in the field says they’ve never seen an example of this sign before.” The lot is estimated at $5,000-7,000.
A single-owner collection of soda pop items runs the gamut from signs, trays and self-framed ads to festoons, thermometers, calendars and stringholders. Among the companies represented are Coca-Cola, Pepsi-Cola, Moxie, Dr. Pepper, 7Up, Royal Crown, Hires and NuGrape.
General store collectors will have ample opportunity to add period pieces to their home displays, beginning with a fine selection of apothecary jars and drug store “show globes,” which were used to hold liquid remedies. A special entry in the category is a very rare 4in salesman’s sample of a Dakota globe, used for the display of candies. Also, two groups of desirable Greek key-design candy jars, syrup dispensers and early NCR cash registers will be offered.
Several slot machines – by Mills and Jennings – are included in the coin-op and penny arcade section, as are three different variations of Yellow Kid gumball machines. Of the two “digger” machines, one is a claw type that comes with its original grouping of TootsieToy prizes.
In a league of its own is a wonderful circa 1906 Mickey Finn strength tester made by Caille, sometimes known to collectors as the Caille Tug o’ War. Only a few examples are known to exist. Standing 72in tall and depicting a boy figure (Mickey Finn) made entirely of cast iron, it poses the question: “Can you raise the devil?” The object of the challenge is to pull the rope affixed to the boy’s chest and make the dial reach the 750lb mark. If that level of strength is achieved, a devil pops up above Mickey’s face. The machine is all original, even down to its reinforced wood base, and it functions when a nickel is dropped into its slot to activate it. “It has an appealing, unique appearance,” said Morphy, “and is very desirable to coin-op and folk art collectors alike.” The presale estimate is $20,000-30,000.
Also to be sold on Thursday is a selection of automobiliana, featuring several original gas globes and a couple of gasoline pumps, including a 1915 Red Crown pump with original globe. Rounding out the session is a large collection of antique shaving-related pieces consigned by a barber from State College, Pa. Within the grouping are early shaving mugs, tonic bottles, razors and other barber shop-related items.
The second session, on Friday, Sept. 2, centers around toys, marbles and Halloween goodies. The fun begins with more than 30 boxed sets of Britains figures, followed by a Florida collector’s contribution to the sale: 20+ Chein toys, 40+ Marx toys and more than 30 colorful tin wind-ups made by the Japanese arm of Marx, Linemar. Most of the toys are accompanied by their original boxes. Pressed steel automotive is next on the agenda, with some very nice examples by Buddy ‘L’ and Smith-Miller.
Moving along, the next category to take the spotlight will be marbles. Approximately 100 lots will be offered, including some very desirable sulphides: a four-color painted rooster (estimate $1,500-2,000) and a rare four-color painted rearing horse (estimate $3,000-4,000). Another standout lot is a 1-1/16in clambroth marble with white base and blue and yellow bands (estimate $3,000-4,000). And there’s more: machine-made marbles including Christensen flames and Akro Agate corkscrews; and an extremely rare box of 50 Peltier marbles including rare tigers, zebras and bumblebees. “Most of the Peltier marbles are loaded with aventurine (shaved metal sparkles),” said Morphy, himself a marble fancier.
An assortment of Western collectibles featuring Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers items is next, followed by 30 cap pistols and 20 space guns. Then it’s time to shout out “Trick or treat!” A single-owner collection from the Midwest consigned the more than 200 pieces of vintage Halloween items in the sale, including some extremely rare 1940s Kokomold hard plastic toys. “There are 10 witches in rockets in that collection that I had never seen before,” said Morphy, “like an ultra-rare cream-colored witch in a rocket that says St. Ann’s Church on its side. Another rare one is clear with black wheels on the rocket.”
There are 60 to 70 jack-o’-lanterns in the sale, depicting pumpkins, devils and cats with differing facial expressions and by different makers, some German and some Japanese. Also catalogued is a colorful lineup of German-made papier-mâché candy containers, and an unusual embossed cardboard firescreen with a witch-on-broomstick theme.
A piece within the collection that is worthy of special note is the 1930s German-made mechanical cat with molded paper mask. It has a cloth body, wooden feet and a squeak-toy papier-mâché head. When the knob on the cat is turned, the mask is lifted up to the feline’s face. “These types of toys never lasted,” said Morphy. “This one not only survived, it’s also in beautiful condition.”
Saturday, Sept. 3 will be a special day for the comic character crowd, since that session’s star attraction is the spectacular Gary Selmonsky collection of early Disney and other comic character toys, including Popeye, Betty Boop, Felix and many more. Even the very early characters such as Buster Brown, the Katzenjammers, Foxy Grandpa, Happy Hooligan and Maggie & Jiggs feature prominently within the Selmonsky grouping, as do several exceptionally hard-to-find early soft character dolls.
Commenting on the acclaimed collection, gallery co-founder Tom Sage Jr., who is particularly knowledgeable in the specialty, said: “It’s one of the very best comic character collections, both in terms of rarity and condition. Nine times out of 10 when I’ve visited a toy collection, I’ve been disappointed. This is one of the few times a collection has turned out to be nicer than I thought it would be. Gary always went for the best.”
Even Carl Lobel, a seasoned dealer/collector who cataloged the Selmonsky toys for Morphy’s, was hard pressed to narrow the list of top pieces down to a handful, but here are a few highlights:
Celluloid and Tin Quacking Donald Duck – Standing 8½in and made of celluloid with tin legs, this windup is the largest of the Donald waddlers and the rarest of all Donald Duck celluloid toys. It was made in Japan in the early 1930s and still has its original price tag. The colors are exceptionally bright, and the toy is in excellent-plus condition – it even quacks! Lobel says it is not possible to exaggerate the rarity and desirability of this toy. Only three, possibly four, examples are known to exist. Estimate: $5,000-7,000.
Hoge Popeye Rowboat In Original Box – This is the most sought-after of all Popeye toys, and the Selmonsky example comes with its near-apocryphal original box. Measuring 15 by 8in, its powerful windup mechanism is in working order. The oars and rudder are original, and the decal is 99 percent there, indicating a copyright date of 1935 and the words King Features Syndicate. The toy will be sold together with a reprint of a Hoge toy catalog in which it appears. Lobel commented: “This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to buy a boxed example of this toy, with all original parts and outstanding paint.” There is no known record of a previous sale of this toy at auction with its original box. Estimate: $7,000-10,000.
German Celluloid Mickey Mouse with Original Box and Key – This unusual depiction of Mickey by a German toymaker is from the early 1930s and features a metal spring tail and flat celluloid ears that wiggle back and forth when the 6in windup toy is operated. Not only does it come with a killer box that is seldom seen, it also retains its original key in a little envelope. The near-mint toy is estimated at $4,000-5,000.
Very Large Steiff Mickey Mouse with Tag – In excellent-plus condition and standing 17in tall (19in to top of ears), this appealing circa 1932 Steiff Mickey is a snappy dresser in his orange velvet shorts and shoes, and yellow velvet gloves. With its original Steiff tag, it is estimated at $2,000-3,000. (Note: Steiff Mickey dolls of this size are seldom seen; the 9in dolls are the most common.)
Mama Katzenjammer & the Kids Halloween Lanterns (set of 3) – Here’s another lot that may present a unique opportunity: to acquire a complete set of these Halloween lanterns in near-mint original condition. The trio is comprised of a 5 by 5in Mama Katzenjammer and 3 by 3¾in versions of the boys, Hans and Fritz. Each lantern is formed from molded and painted composition, with a cardboard bottom and cloth ruffle. Each of the lanterns retains its original paper insert mouth and eyes, as well as its interior tin candleholder. They are unmarked but probably German in origin, circa 1915. In beautiful condition, the set is estimated at $1,500-2,000. Who’ll win this one – a comic character or Halloween collector? All bets are off!
Betty Boop Whirligig with Original Box – This rare 10½in celluloid Betty Boop whirligig was made in Japan in the early 1930s. Its head may, at first glance, appear similar in design to the one seen on the Betty Boop nodder but it is, in fact, unique to this toy. Betty’s right leg is imprinted with the face of a watch, a detail repeated on the wonderful box art. I.D.s on both the toy’s labels and end panel of the box indicate this toy is known as “Jolly Betty.” It’s in near-mint condition, complete with two bells, and is estimated at $4,000-5,000.
Betty Boop Composition Doll with Cloth Dress, Original Box – Made by Cameo, this early 1930s Betty Boop doll issued by Cameo Doll Company under license to Fleischer Studios stands 12in tall and comes with its original box. Betty wears a cloth dress with an original heart decal on the chest and original dress tag that says Paramount Star. In outstanding condition, the doll is estimated at $2,000-3,000.
Chein Popeye Overhead Puncher with Original Box – Popeye fans the world over love this toy. The 9in tin litho depiction of the spinach-quaffing sailor with his celluloid punching bag is a classic, made by Chein under license to King Features Syndicate in 1932. The mechanism works, and what a great box! Estimate: $5,000-7,000.
Knickerbocker Katzenjammer Family of Dolls – Made sometime between 1925 and 1930, the set includes the irrepressible brothers Hans and Fritz, that champion of corporal punishment, Mama; and The Captain. All four dolls have cloth heads with printed features, glass eyes and yarn hair. They range in size from 16-20in, and all have their original manufacturer’s hanging tags. This is the first time all four dolls have been seen together at auction. Estimate for the set: $3,000-4,000.
Original Store Box of 12 Schoenhut Early Composition Felix Junior Figures – This entirely original set contains a dozen 4in Felix figures in excellent condition, tightly strung, with the rare original box. A label is on the underside of each figure’s foot, and the set carries a Pat Sullivan copyright dated 1922 and 1924. Estimate: $2,000-3,000.
Schoenhut 10in Ko-Ko the Clown Doll – Ko-Ko is the rarest Schoenhut comic character figure of all. This 10in example, in excellent-plus condition with correct original manufacturer’s ribbon tag is copyright dated 1920, 1925 Max Fleischer Out-of-the-Inkwell Films Inc. Estimate: $2,000-3,000.
Morphy commented that most of the Selmonsky toys are in 9.5 condition or better and that the original boxes accompanying many of them are one of a kind or one of only a few known. He also predicts there will be many suitors after the soft character dolls, such as the 18in Charlotte Clark Mickey Mouse, Knickerbocker Mickey Cowboy (with tags) and matched pairs of Mickey and Minnie Mouse dolls. Another category Morphy believes will make a strong showing is the candy containers. “There’s a Mama Katzenjammer candy container in the sale that I’ve never seen before.”
As though all this were not enough, how about the 100+ lots of cast-iron toys by Hubley, Arcade and Kenton; and more than 150 mechanical banks, most from a collection built over 30+ years? Just a few of the beautiful original examples to be sold are: Girl Skipping Roper, Professor Pug Frog, Calamity, Artillery (red and blue Union Army example), Uncle Sam, Harlequin and a Teddy and Bear with its original box, among many others.
The sale concludes with a great selection of figural cast iron bottle openers, doorknockers, bookends and doorstops. More than 75 bottle openers were consigned by a single owner, with two of the highlights being a black golfing caddy and All-American football player mounted on an ashtray, dated 1962. The latter is one of very few known.
Standouts among the doorknockers include a CJO dachshund estimated at $1,000-1,500 and a Sarah W. Symonds cottage signed on its clapper Nichols House 1780 Salem, Mass. With crossover appeal to those who collect Salem, Mass., material, it is estimated at $500-700.
The majority of the bookends to be offered come from the Bob and Barbara Lauver collection, such as full-bodied white fantailed pigeons; flamingos, football players and a Hubley hunter with dog and rifle, estimated at $500-700.
Likewise, most of the figural doorstops in the sale – many of them pictured in John and Nancy Smith’s reference book on doorstops due out this fall – are from a single prestigious collection, that of Jan and Watt White. Some of the more desirable lots include a Bird of Paradise, $1,500-2,000; Saltbox House with Stone Fence, $1,000-1,500; Hubley’s Wirehaired Terrier, $1,000-1,500; Snowcapped Cottage, $1,000-1,500; West Wind (featuring a girl in a field of flowers), $3,000-5,000; Golf Caddy, Little Red Riding Hood and Highland Lighthouse.
The highest-estimated doorstop lot is Littco’s Halloween Girl depicting a little girl in her Halloween costume, holding a jack-o’-lantern. The extremely rare “book” example carries a $7,000-10,000 estimate. “This is one of the most desired of all doorstops, and I would not be surprised if a new record is set on auction day,” Morphy said.
Morphy Auctions, now in its second year, has gone from strength to strength since its acquisition last spring by Baltimore-based Diamond International Galleries (who also own Hake’s and Geppi’s Memorabilia Road Show). “Diamond’s management has such a great understanding of the business, and they’re been tremendously supportive in enabling many positive things to happen,” Dan Morphy remarked. “We’ve been able to expand our staff dramatically, but we’ve kept everything the same in terms of customer service and the special attention we give each consignment. Diamond is also a big believer in promotion, so that area has really been stepped up. For this sale, we’ve printed 10,000 copies of the hardbound catalog and thousands of brochures, and we’re doing an extensive international publicity and advertising campaign. It’s really great for Tommy and I to have that kind of support from Diamond, because it’s helping us diversify the range of merchandise we auction. We’re reaching not only veteran collectors but also a younger and relatively active group of collectors, which is great for the hobby.”
Auction details:
Morphy Auctions’ Fall 2005 sale will be held over three days: Sept. 1-3. Auction sessions will commence at 2 p.m. (Eastern time) on Thursday, Sept. 1 and Friday, Sept. 2, and 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 3. The entire inventory may be viewed online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com. Bid absentee before the sale or live as the sale is taking place through LiveAuctioneers
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