Morphy Auctions announces no-reserve 1,300-lot toy, coin-op and advertising sale, Sept. 3-4
Aug. 30, 2004
DENVER, Pa. – Following on the heels of a hugely successful $1.3 million debut in April, Morphy Auctions’ co-owners Dan Morphy and Tom Sage Jr., will host their second event over Labor Day weekend, with live Internet bidding provided by LiveAuctioneers.com. The Friday, Sept. 3 and Saturday Sept. 4 auction features 1,350 lots of toys, coin-ops and antique advertising items from select private collections and individual consignments. There is no reserve on any item in the sale.
The opening session, beginning at 3 p.m. (Eastern time), will contain 550 lots, and following the same successful agenda used at Morphy’s spring premiere, it will open with antique and vintage marbles. Within the 50 marbles catalogued is a fine selection of both hand- and machine-made types, including a 7/8in Golden Rebel (estimate $2,000-3,000) and a Superman agate in colorful blue, red and yellow color scheme, both made by Christiansen Agate Co. “The machine mades are all from one person’s collection,” said Morphy. “The collection came to us as a result of seeing the marbles that sold in our first sale.”
Approximately 50 sets of soldiers will be offered, primarily earlier examples made of lead. Both American and European brands are represented, including Britains. Pointed out by Morphy as an outstanding set within the grouping is a French ensemble by FV, estimated at $1,500-2,000.
Collectors of vintage hard plastic toys will want to check out the approximately 100 lots to be sold, including vehicles, characters and Hallowe’en, Western and space-related playthings. Most are accompanied by their original boxes and are products of the better-known names in plastic: Irwin, Ideal, Renwal and Marx.
A definite highlight of the first session is the single-owner collection of more than 100 boomer-era playsets in their original boxes. “It’s one of the largest collections of its type that I’ve seen in 20 to 25 years,” said Sage, who is acknowledged as a leading authority on postwar toys. “It was put together over a 15-20 year period. Many are by Marx, and there are some by Superior and Multiple. Among the best ones in the collection is a Johnny Ringo Western Frontier playset, which is estimated at $2,000-3,000. Playset collectors really go for it.”
Other playsets include The Untouchables, based on the popular TV crime series of the 1960s; Gunsmoke, Captain Gallant, a French Foreign Legion set based on a TV series starring Buster Crabbe; The Rifleman, Zorro and the African wildlife-themed Daktari.
In a different league but still considered a playset is the ever-popular Schoenhut Humpty Dumpty Circus. The one appearing in Morphy’s auction comes with its original box and is expected to sell for $1,500-2,000.
Moving into the antique advertising section, one of the focal points is a collection of approximately 20 early soda fountain syrup dispensers. The highest-estimated lot within the group, at $25,000-35,000, is an early 1900s Hires dispenser with original lid, emblazoned with the famous pointing-boy logo. “I personally know of only two such dispensers, both of them held in private collections,” said Morphy. “I would guess that there are probably less than a dozen in existence that are in all-original condition. It’s quite possible the one in our sale could sell for more than the estimate because of its rarity and complete condition.”
Other syrup dispensers include Almond Smash, two variations of Cherry Smash, Orange Julep, Cherry Julep and Grape Julep. Also, three different figural dispensers by Wards, all in near-mint-plus condition, have been catalogued. Their shapes replicate an oversized, brightly colored orange, lemon and lime, respectively.
Sweetening the soda fountain category is a collection of small apothecary candy jars, topped by an example trimmed with early Trojan key design. It carries a $2,000-3,000 estimate.
As was evidenced at Morphy Auctions’ premiere, the company’s partners are sticklers for condition and originality when it comes to any type of antique. Again, this can be noted quite obviously in the quality of the advertising signs being presented for sale over Labor Day weekend. The opening session will feature a dated 1905 De Laval sign with the trademark image of a lady with De Laval cream separator, estimate $4,000-5,000; a Fatima Cigarettes sign in rich colors and featuring an exotic Egyptian girl, $2,000-3,000; and an all-original 1920s Daisy Air Rifle three-dimensional fold-out window display, lithographed with a boy and his rifle and places to display three guns, $4,000-5,000.
Other standouts in the antique advertising section are a beautiful, original Stegmeyer Brewing Co., tin sign from the early 1900s, $2,000-3,000; and a marvelous Black Cat Nonesuch advertising clock, $10,000-15,000. The latter item, like most advertising pieces touting Nonesuch of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., is as desirable to collectors of antique Halloween items as it would be to advertising enthusiasts.
Collectors of coin-op machines will be able to try their luck on approximately 20 slot and vending machines, all in original condition. Leading the group is a Mills Jockey machine, described by Morphy as coming from a private collection and “100 percent original.” It carries a $5,000-7,000 estimate.
Among the selection of fine dolls to be offered are a bisque 40in Jumeau with open mouth, a 24in Kestner Hilda, K&H 20in boy doll and 18in Jumeau E.B. An amusing entry livening up the group is a late 19th century 40in black ventriloquist’s dummy, estimated at $3,000-4,000.
Rounding out the first session are five Victor and Edison music boxes with original horns, $2,000-3,000 each, and a carved horse from a carousel in Cleveland, also estimated at $2,000-3,000.
Saturday’s 750-lot session starts at 10 a.m. with a lineup of Marx toys, boxed robots and space toys, and collection of 40 racecars – plastic, tin and gas powered. Waiting in the wings to flex their muscles on the auction block will be a gang of early Disney toys, led by a British-made Wells boxed Mickey Mouse Circus set with tent and three handcars. Following along will be three other handcars by Wells, each with its own box, operated by the characters Mickey and Donald, Mickey and Minnie, and Cinderella.
Other Disney toys include: a couple of prewar Japanese Donald Duck trikes, one with its original box; a Mickey and Donald in their boat, an all-original Nifty tin litho Mickey Mouse Drummer, and an Emerson Mickey Mouse radio.
It is very unusual to find as complete an array of Chein Popeye toys as will be offered in the second session. Literally every Chein Popeye design ever produced, with original boxes included, may be found in this sale, all consigned by a private collector. Look for depictions of the gnarly sailor as Popeye in the Barrel, as a Waddler, Sparkler, Drummer, Shadow Boxer, Floor Puncher, Overhead Puncher and Heavy Hitter. Also included is a Popeye Knockout bank in the original box.
Other tinplate subcategories incorporate Lehmann windups and other German toys, early American tin, and a very rare 7in prewar Japanese motorcycle with a male driver in front and a woman seated on the back, waving. “It’s the military version, and to my knowledge, only three are known,” said Morphy. “One is in the Kitahara Museum in Japan, and the other is in a private collection. It’s a very colorful toy and very desirable to collectors.”
An assortment of approximately 50 pressed steel trucks will be sold. Most are new-old store stock, boxed and unopened, from the 1950s.
A powerhouse grouping of cast iron has been amassed for the sale, incorporating cars, airplanes, buses and construction vehicles and 150 horse-drawn lots, highlighted by Hubley Royal Circus pieces, many in unusual color variations. According to Morphy, the Royal Circus toys come from a single-owner, 20-year collection. Among them are: farmer’s van with team of four horses, $5,000-7,000; small bandwagon with six horses, $3,000-4,000; large bandwagon with four white horses, $5,000-7,000; calliope with four horses, $2,000-3,000; rhino van, $3,000-4,000; giraffe van, $5,000-7,000; and clown trapeze van, $3,000-4,000.
Also worthy of special note are an Ives cast-iron bandwagon, estimated at $4,000-5,000; and a complete Ives Circus Train set, with all accessories intact, including its very rare original Coca-Cola advertising backdrop. “That backdrop is worth several thousand dollars on its own,” Morphy said. The complete set has been entered in the sale with a $40,000-50,000 estimate.
Who doesn’t love the challenge of games and the vibrant colors and lithography seen in early examples? Approximately 50 American and French turn of the 20th century games will be sold, including several with a carnival or circus theme. Among them are: Mikado Juggler, Jolly Darkie Target game, Happy Hooligan, many variations of Ring My Nose and some appealing ball toss games.
Save your money for the small but select offering of still banks, such as an A-B-C Children’s bank and John Harper circa 1885 Transvaal Money Box; and a superb inventory of antique mechanical banks. One of the top lots among the mechanicals is a rare pedestaled variation of the allegorical Jonah & the Whale bank. “Less than one dozen examples of this variation are known to exist,” said Morphy, a longtime specialist in mechanical banks. “This is one of only three that I know of that are in 100 percent original condition. The one we have in the sale is estimated at $50,000-75,000, but I think it’s possible it might break the $100,000 mark because the paint is so nice.”
Other highlights of the mechanical bank section are: Kyser & Rex Merry-Go-Round, Picture Gallery, Panorama, Calamity (“in fantastic condition”), Springing Cat (gold base variation), two different color variations of Mammy with Spoon, Kyser & Rex Roller Skaters, and an extremely rare turning-head Owl bank finished in copper flashing.
Close to 100 cast-iron figural doorstops have been consigned, among them: a Bradley & Hubbard Turkey, large-size Rabbit by the same maker, and Mexican with Guitar. Adding flourish to the group is a selection of approximately one dozen cast-iron door knockers, some boxed, and most of them made by Hubley.
It’ll be anchors aweigh for a fine assortment of approximately one dozen clockwork and steam-powered boats, mostly German made. Leading the fleet are an extremely rare, late 19th century 34in Carette live steam gunboat, estimated at $15,000-20,000; and a 20in clockwork Marklin Luzern riverboat, valued at $7,000-10,000.
Finally, from a single-owner collection, Morphy Auctions has obtained 50 vintage Fisher-Price toys, including a wind-up Performing Penguin with Little Penguin, Dopey & Doc, an early Pushy Piggy (with stick), multiple examples of Granny Doodles and black-themed Hot Diggety.z
View the fully illustrated catalog online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
