Auction Details

Toys & General Collectibles

Morphy’s secures high-quality pieces from advanced collections for a finely-curated June 4-5 Toys & General Collectibles Auction

Featured: J&E Stevens mechanical banks ‘Race Course’ & ‘Girl Skipping Rope;’ Portrait Jumeau doll in Dior ensemble; Target Robot, Popeye & OliveOyl Tank; Jordan rookie card, Star Wars figures; marbles

DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions is known throughout the collecting hobby for its consistent ability to secure premier examples of antique and vintage toys, banks and quality collectibles for its sales. While some of their auctions focus on a single, high-profile collection, others present a varied selection of expertly-curated pieces from many different sources. Their next multi-consignor Toys & General Collectibles auction, numbering 1,253 lots, will be held on June 4-5 at Morphy’s flagship Pennsylvania gallery, with all remote forms of bidding welcome, including live online via Morphy Live.

Antique cast-iron mechanical banks are among the top-estimated items and are led by two outstanding designs by J & E Stevens, a legendary Cromwell, Connecticut company founded in 1843 by brothers John and Elisha Stevens. The first of the two highlight banks is known as “Race Course” and presents in bright original paint. This bank, which has a sophisticated action and horseracing theme, is accompanied by its original box with a replacement label bearing a realistic image of the bank. In Near Mint condition, it is estimated at $25,000-$30,000.

Following closely behind the Race Course bank is an Excellent Plus example of Stevens’ “Girl Skipping Rope” bank assessed as being in 100% original condition. When activated, the girl jumps “rope” more than 15 times. The bank is accompanied by a period key that is well suited for winding although not exactly like the key originally issued by the manufacturer. Representing one of the all-time favorites from Stevens’ broad money-box production range, this bank could command $15,000 to $30,000.

A spectacular all-original Jumeau French fashion (or “Portrait Jumeau”) bisque doll comes to auction with prestigious museum provenance. Near-life-sized at 36 inches, the elegant doll wears a dress said to have been specifically designed for it by French couturier Christian Dior. Its neck is incised 12 and bears red artist’s check marks. Additionally, the face features well-painted eyebrows and lashes, and the ears are adorned with pierced earrings. The well-accessorized doll wears an antique mohair wig, holds an exquisite feather fan and has a pair of opera glasses suspended from a chain around her neck. It also comes with a parasol, presumably for use on sunny days. This stunning antique doll has remained in a private collection for nearly 40 years following its acquisition at the 1986/’87 auction series of contents of The Toy Museum of Atlanta. In Excellent condition, it will step into the auction spotlight with a $15,000-$25,000 estimate.

From Masudaya’s mighty Gang of Five battery-operated robot lineup, a purple tin-litho Target Robot stands an impressive16 inches high. Distinctive for its boxy, skirted body, this big boy comes with its original factory gun and darts, as well as its original pictorial box with cardboard insert. Graded Excellent with a VG box, this super-desirable midcentury Japanese ‘bot is estimated at $10,000-$20,000.

Another Japanese toy that is both rare and well known to collectors is Linemar’s 8½-inch tin-litho Popeye & OliveOyl Tank. Morphy’s will offer a very nice example of this amusing battery-op, together with a high-quality reproduction box. When activated, OliveOyl pokes her head out of the tank turret as Popeye shows off his spinach-powered strength by lifting the vehicle’s front end. Assessed in Excellent condition with a clean battery box and a (smoking) pipe that appears to be original, the tank will roll across the auction block with a $6,000-$9,000 estimate.

An absolutely unique handmade Southern Pacific steam engine, tender and caboose set is large scale – bigger than Buddy ‘L’ or 5-gauge – and appears to be scratch-built folk art constructed to a very high standard with machined parts of metal and wood. It is marked 3001 on the engine and matching caboose, and the tender is marked Southern Pacific on both sides. An intricate steam engine is housed inside the engine’s cab, and the caboose doors open, showing the detail and care with which the set was made. Accompanied by several pieces of large-gauge track, this museum-quality one-off item was made in the 1920s-’30s as a gift to the president of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In VG condition, it has an $8,000-$12,000 estimate.

Sports memorabilia is a fast-growing category in Morphy’s Toys & Collectibles auctions, and interest in that category is expected to be strong once again on June 4-5, in particular for an original single-signed Spalding National League baseball autographed by Pittsburgh Pirates legend Roberto Clemente (1934-1972). The beloved outfielder signed the ball during a warmup session prior to a game at Forbes Field and was initially obtained by the consignor’s father. It is a game ball, although it was not actually used in the game, and comes with a JSA LOA authenticating the signature and indicating the ball to be from the 1958-’62 era. Estimate: $4,000-$10,000. Another sports highlight is an encased 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card, PSA-graded 7 NM. Estimate: $3,000-$6,000

Antique marbles are viewed by collectors as miniature works of art, each one a special and unique production. Sulphides are among the most sought-after of all marbles, with the name referring to the chalk-like material used to create tiny figures for suspension within clear or colored glass orbs. A whole menagerie of animals can be seen in sulphides. Morphy’s June 4-5 auction includes a canine charmer – a multicolored pup with brown spots on a white body, a black mouth, and green “grass” underfoot. Measuring 1¾ inches in diameter, it has a pre-sale estimate of $500-$1,500.

Star Wars figures seem to know no bounds at auction, and many savvy buyers have found genuine treasures in Morphy’s sales. A possible “sleeper” in the June event is a lot of five Kenner 1970s Star Wars figures sealed on their original cards. Characters include: Stormtrooper, Sand Person, Jawa, Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Vader. All are still sealed in their plastic bubbles on clean cards. The Sand Person and Kenobi cards show some waviness. All have been punched at the tops of their cards (for potential retail display on spindles) but do not have price tags affixed. Their overall condition is VG-Excellent, and the group-lot estimate is 400-$800.

Morphy’s Friday/Saturday June 4-5, 20254 Toys & General Collectibles Auction will be held live at the company’s flagship gallery, 2000 N. Reading Rd., Denver, PA 17517, starting at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. All forms of bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone, and live via the Internet through Morphy Live. Enquiries: call 877-968-8880, email info@morphyauctions.com. Visit Morphy’s online at www.morphyauctions.com.

CAPTIONS:

All images courtesy of Morphy Auctions

1003 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/COLORED_DOG_SULFIDE_MARBLE-LOT635433.aspx

Clear glass sulphide marble with encased figure of a beautiful multicolored dog with brown spots on a white body, a black mouth, and green ‘grass’ underfoot. Diameter: 1¾in. Estimate: $500-$1,500

1080 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/RACE_HORSE_MECHANICAL_BANK_W__ORIGINAL_BOX-LOT633913.aspx

1. & E. Stevens cast-iron mechanical ‘Race Course’ bank in bright original paint. Accompanied by its original box with a replacement label bearing a realistic image of the bank. Near Mint condition. Estimate: $25,000-$30,000

1113 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/GIRL_SKIPPING_ROPE_MECHANCIAL_BANK-LOT632701.aspx

1. & E. Stevens ‘Girl Skipping Rope’ mechanical bank in 100% original condition. When activated, the girl jumps more than 15 times. Accompanied by period key that is well suited for winding but not exactly like the key originally issued by the manufacturer. Excellent Plus condition. Estimate: $15,000-$30,000

1234 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/SPECTACULAR_ALL_ORIGINAL_JUMEAU_FRENCH_FASHION_DOL-LOT634234.aspx

Spectacular and all-original Jumeau French fashion or ‘Portrait Jumeau’ bisque doll, near-life-size (36in) and wearing a dress reportedly designed by couturier Christian Dior specifically for this doll. Incised ‘12’ at back of neck with red artist’s check marks. Antique mohair wig. Well-painted eyebrows and lashes. Pierced earrings. Holds exquisite feather fan and also has accessory parasol. Pair of opera glasses suspended from chain around neck. Provenance: With private collector for nearly 40 years; auction of The Toy Museum of Atlanta’s collection (1986-’87). Excellent condition. Estimate: $15,000-$25,000

2350 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/RARE_POPEYE___OLIVE_OYL_TIN_LITHO_BATTERY_OPERATED-LOT628584.aspx

Rare Linemar (Japan) tin-litho battery-operated Popeye & OliveOyl Tank with high-quality reproduction box. Length: 8½in. When operated, Olive pokes her head out of the tank turret and Popeye lifts the vehicle’s front end. Excellent condition with clean battery box. Popeye’s pipe appears to be original. Estimate: $6,000-$9,000

2524 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/LARGE_SCALE_SOUTHERN_PACIFIC_STEAM_ENGINE_TENDER__-LOT636073.aspx

Large-scale Southern Pacific steam engine, tender and caboose set. Marked ‘3001’ on engine and matching caboose. Appears to be scratch-built folk art, handmade to a very high standard with machined parts of metal and wood. Larger than Buddy ‘L’ or 5-gauge size. Tender marked ‘Southern Pacific’ on both sides. Intricate steam engine inside engine’s cab. Caboose doors open. Comes with several pieces of large-gauge track. Unique, museum-quality item made in the 1920s-’30s as a gift to the president of the Southern Pacific Railroad. VG condition. Estimate: $8,000-$12,000

2538 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/LOT_OF_5__VINTAGE_KENNER_1970S_STAR_WARS_FIGURES_S-LOT635473.aspx

Group lot of 5 Kenner 1970s Star Wars figures sealed on original cards. Characters include Stormtrooper, Sand Person, Jawa, Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi, Darth Vader. All are still sealed in their plastic bubbles on clean cards. Sand Person and Kenobi cards show some waviness. All have been punched at top but do not have price tags affixed. Condition: VG-Excellent. Lot estimate: $400-$800

2543 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/catalog.aspx?auctionid=672&sessionid=2

Masudaya (Japan) battery-operated tin-litho Target Robot from the famed Gang of Five skirted robot series. Height: 16in. Comes with its original gun and darts, as well as original pictorial box with cardboard insert. Robot is Excellent; box is VG. Estimate: $10,000-$20,000

2579 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/ROBERTO_CLEMENTE_SIGNED_BASEBALL-LOT638599.aspx

Original single-signed Spalding National League baseball autographed by Pittsburgh Pirates legend Roberto Clemente (1934-1972) during a warmup session prior to a game at Forbes Field. Ball was initially obtained by current owner’s father. It is a game ball but was not actually used in the game. Comes with JSA LOA authenticating the signature and indicating the ball to be from the 1958-‘62 era. Estimate: $4,000-$10,000

2590 –

https://auctions.morphyauctions.com/1986_FLEER_MICHAEL_JORDAN_CARD_PSA_NM_7-LOT639234.aspx

Encased 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card showing the Chicago Bulls phenom in his number 23 jersey, PSA 7 NM. Estimate: $3,000-$6,000