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Mint in the box, this Wagon Train play set by Marx sold for a record $15,255. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.

Philip Weiss steers Wagon Train playset to record $15,255

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Mint in the box, this Wagon Train play set by Marx sold for a record $15,255. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.
Mint in the box, this Wagon Train play set by Marx sold for a record $15,255. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.

OCEANSIDE, N.Y. – A Wagon Train playset, made around 1960 by Marx Toy Co. and based on the popular television show of the era, sold for $15,255 – an auction record for a Marx playset – at an auction conducted by Philip Weiss Auctions Oct. 24-26. The play set, Series 5000, Stock No. 4888, was mint and unused in the box, the only blemish being a few tears to the accessory bags inside.

Ironically, the Wagon Train set was sold just a few minutes after another Marx play set crossed the block and held, albeit briefly, the world auction record, too. It was a Ben-Hur playset, Series 5000, Stock No. 4701, also made circa 1960 and in mint/boxed condition. The set sailed past its presale estimate of $2,000-$4,000 to bring $9,320. The Wagon Train set was expected to bring $1,000-$2,000.

“Obviously, the prices realized for the Marx playsets were a nice surprise,” said Philip Weiss. “Overall, the auction did about what we expected. The better items brought solid prices and the midlevel merchandise held its own. Given the current state of the financial markets and the economy as a whole, I’d say the sale was a success.” About 1,300 lots changed hands over the three days.

Weiss said the crowd was modest by his standards – only about 150 people total – but phone and absentee bidding were substantial and 1,500 people registered online, via LiveAuctioneers.com and eBayLiveAuctions. During the past year, Philip Weiss Auctions has seen numerous auction records fall, including unprecedented prices for a half-dozen stamps, a Punch cigar store figure, and now a Marx playset.

Other top lots from the auction follow. All prices quoted include a 13 percent buyer’s premium.

Original pen-and-ink Peanuts comic strips by Charles Schulz have become regular attractions at most Philip Weiss Auctions, but that doesn’t stop them from fetching dizzying prices. Four Peanuts strips sold for a combined $98,000. Included in the group was an original Sunday page with a cute bowling story line that went to a determined bidder for $33,000.

A rare cardboard poster from 1969, advertising concerts performed by Jimi Hendrix, the Monkees, Glen Campbell and Rod McKuen went for $5,750. The poster, from the collection of Concerts West promoter William Easley, advertised the spring and early summer lineup of shows at the Sam Houston Coliseum and Houston Music Hall in Houston, Texas. Another rock ’n’ roll poster advertising appearances by Jimi Hendrix at the Electric Factory on Feb. 21-22, 1968, extremely rare and in overall excellent condition, commanded $4,970.

Returning to toys, a lot comprising a pair of Heyde elephants, made by the renowned German toy maker Heyde in the teens or early 1920s, climbed to $2,600. The lot included riders and other accessories.

The Friday session included rare and vintage dolls. A top earner was a lot of 10 Nancy Ann Story Book dolls expected to bring about $150-$450, but the group found a new owner for $2,930. All the dolls featured jointed legs, painted black slippers and complete costumes with hats or bows. Four of the dolls had circular gold labels on their period dresses.

Philip Weiss Auctions’ next big sale will be the weekend of Nov. 21-23. For more information, log on to www.prwauctions.com.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Based on the epic movie Ben-Hur, which won 11 Oscars including Best Picture of 1959, this play set by Marx play set in mint condition sold for $9,320 at Philip Weiss Auctions.
Based on the epic movie Ben-Hur, which won 11 Oscars including Best Picture of 1959, this play set by Marx play set in mint condition sold for $9,320 at Philip Weiss Auctions.
Made in the teens or early 1920s, this pair of Heyde elephants with accessories rode to $2,600. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.
Made in the teens or early 1920s, this pair of Heyde elephants with accessories rode to $2,600. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.
Ten Nancy Ann Story Book dolls sold as one lot for $2,930. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.
Ten Nancy Ann Story Book dolls sold as one lot for $2,930. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.
Four original Peanuts comic strips, including this Sunday page, brought a combined $98,000. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.
Four original Peanuts comic strips, including this Sunday page, brought a combined $98,000. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.
This rare concert poster from 1969 brought good vibrations and $5,750. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.
This rare concert poster from 1969 brought good vibrations and $5,750. Image courtesy Philip Weiss Auctions.