SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. – Many of America’s great railroads were founded or operated in the Keystone State during the glory days of trains – the Reading, Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania Railroad lines, to name but a few. A lesser-known and much smaller-scale Pennsylvania “railroad” is the toy train assemblage that was displayed in the Montgomery County (suburban Philadelphia) home of collector John Dieterly. On May 27, Dieterly’s collection will ride the rails to Stephenson’s auction house, where it will be featured in the company’s Spring Doll, Toy & Train Auction. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.com.
The Dieterly collection casts a wide net across American toy production, with many coveted brands represented. His Leland-Detroit O gauge monorail set, patented in 1931, is complete with the bonus of an extra car. All cars are marked “2000 Mono Elevated” and retain their original boxes. The set includes all track and stands, and its presale estimate is $1,500-$2,500.
Coveted Ives trains are led by a prewar O-gauge set No. 3255 with locomotive, two Pullman cars, a No. 135 parlor car and a No. 136 observation car. Also, the collection features a prewar O gauge No. 257 engine and Limited Vestibule Express cars.
A Lionel 408E locomotive (shown at top) is expected to make $500-$1,000, while a Lionel 400E standard gauge Bild-A-Loco engine and tender set – one of several offered – carries a similar estimate. The vast community of Lionel train aficionados will no doubt enjoy browsing through and bidding on the selection of bridges, tunnels, stations and other Lionel platform and specialty pieces in the sale.
Also noteworthy entry is an MTH New York Central Blue Comet set in like-new condition. Made in the last quarter of the 20th century, it could fetch $800-$1,200. Additionally, an MTH Blue Comet engine and tender No. 392 will cross the auction block with a $400-$800 estimate. Among the other brands seen in the collection are two collector favorites: American Flyer and Marx.
A comprehensive array of dolls will be presented, from bisque-head to hard plastic and composition productions through personality dolls, Vogue Ginny dolls and Barbies.
Many of the top dolls were part of an estate that Stephenson’s sold a few months ago. They include a 1960s GI Nurse Action Girl in the original box.
“The GI Nurse is important because she was largely overshadowed by GI Joe, and as a result, there are far fewer nurse dolls in existence than there are ‘Joes,’” said Cindy Stephenson, owner of Stephenson’s Auctioneers. “When Hasbro made the nurse doll, it was not a big seller. Boys didn’t want her, so the production run was very short.” Although the doll, itself, is not in perfect condition – the nylon stockings showing some deterioration – it is complete and boxed, and Stephenson says it has already attracted considerable attention because of its scarcity.
Another doll-category highlight is a circa-1920s Kestner 4-headed character doll with original box. When manufactured, the doll came with a standard, glass-eyed head plus three others that could be switched onto the doll to create a baby, child or teenager. The doll in the auction has the three correct additional heads, one of which is affixed to its neck, but not the original standard head.
An appealing 1920s Steiff mohair Cavalier King Charles spaniel has glass eyes, stitched-on features and poseable limbs. Its line of provenance includes the late Richard Wright Jr (d. 2009), who was an internationally renowned antique doll and toy dealer.
When it comes to toy cars and ships, the rule is, the bigger the better. The May 27 auction fills the bill nicely from ship to shore with a 22-inch-long SS Michelangelo and Raffaello Italian Line ship model and a 19-inch Pocher Alfa-Romeo Spider Touring Gran Sport model. Both are presented in attractive display cases.
Many other types of toys and novelties have been entered in the 400+ lot sale, including toy soldiers and collectible candy containers.
Stephenson’s Friday, May 27, 2016 Spring Doll, Toy & Train Auction will begin at 11 a.m. Eastern Time. Bid absentee or live via the Internet through LiveAuctioneers.com.
For additional information on any item in the sale, call Cindy Stephenson at 215-322-6182 or e-mail info@stephensonsauction.com.
