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1930s Kenton Morgan cast-iron toy crane, top Internet lot sold through LiveAuctioneers.com, $21,690. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Bertoia Auctions.

Part IV of Kaufman sale boosts series total to $10.9M at Bertoia’s

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson
1930s Kenton Morgan cast-iron toy crane, top Internet lot sold through LiveAuctioneers.com, $21,690. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Bertoia Auctions.
1930s Kenton Morgan cast-iron toy crane, top Internet lot sold through LiveAuctioneers.com, $21,690. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Bertoia Auctions.

VINELAND, N.J. (ACNI) – Constantly active phone lines and heavy Internet bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com pushed the series total to well over $10 million dollars at Bertoia Auctions’ fourth offering of toys from the collection of the late Donald Kaufman.

The Sept. 24-25 auction, which grossed $10.9 million (all prices quoted inclusive of 15% buyer’s premium) featured automotive and comic character toys from a storied collection built over 60 years by the co-founder of KB Toys. The top lot of the sale was was a circa-1925 American National deluxe coupe pedal car with nickel-plated grille, electric headlights and an opening rear trunk. Against an estimate of $30,000-$35,000, it realized $46,000.

“Bidders flew in from everywhere to attend the sale,” said company owner Jeanne Bertoia. “We had such a nice group of people at the gallery. On Thursday evening we hosted a small wine and cheese gathering. Many of the Europeans had come in on afternoon flights the day before the opening session. We wanted to make sure they knew how much we appreciated their presence.”

Bertoia described the online bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com as “very strong – as busy as we have ever seen it.”

Internet bidders claimed an average 26.1% of the lots during the first session and 23% from the second session. Of the 284 items purchased online, the most expensive piece was a 1930s Kenton Morgan cast-iron toy crane. It attracted 39 bids before settling at $21,690. The well-detailed construction toy had been estimated at $2,500-$3,500. A full postsale report will appear soon on AuctionCentralNews.com.

Bertoia’s will auction the last of the Kaufman toys sometime during the second weekend of April 2011. LiveAuctioneers will provide the Internet live bidding during the sale.

View the fully illustrated catalog from Bertoia’s Sept. 24-25, 2010 auction, complete with prices realized, at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

Copyright 2010 Auction Central News International. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Circa-1925 American National deluxe coupe pedal car, top lot in Bertoia's Sept. 24-25 auction of the Donald Kaufman collection part IV, $46,000. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Bertoia Auctions.
Circa-1925 American National deluxe coupe pedal car, top lot in Bertoia’s Sept. 24-25 auction of the Donald Kaufman collection part IV, $46,000. Image courtesy LiveAuctioneers.com and Bertoia Auctions.