Auction Details

Toys/Adv – 10AM

Friday we begin the March auction with a nice selection of trains with the majority of the lots from the collection of Mr. Merle Levitt (read more about The Merle Levitt Collection of American Trains and Toys) . Merle’s collection represents some key examples from such makers as Lionel, Ives and American Flyer which he collected for close to 40 years. Along with his collection is an extremely rare Lionel #10 Store Counter Top Display (lot 197) with a presale estimate of $10,000-$20,000 and an American Flyer #1486 “The Flying Colonel” with a $20,000-$30,000 estimate in like new boxed condition (lot 49).
Following the Levitt collection is a great grouping of European train sets and tin toys. The train lots include big name makers such as Marklin and Bing. After the European tin toys is a wonderful selection of tin wind-up toys. Some key wind-up toy lots are a Marx Amos & Andy Wind-up (lot 325), a Nifty Felix the Cat toy (lot 336), and a Marx Smitty Scooter Toy (lot 353) estimated at $1,000 – $1,500.
The auction then continues with a beautiful section of Disney-related toys and ephemera. The key Disney pieces include a Tipp & Company Mickey and Minnie Motorcycle Toy (lot 713) with a presale estimate of $20,000 – $30,000, a celluloid Mickey Whirl-I-Gig in original box (lot 453) with an estimate of $1,500 – $3,000, a celluloid Mickey Boxing Wind-up Toy (lot 461) worth $2,000 – $4,000, an Ingersoll Walt Disney Watch Display (lot 627) worth $1,000 – $1,500, a Lionel Disney Circus Train Set in near mint condition (lot 714) with an estimate of $5,000 – $9,000 and many other unique tin, celluloid, bisque and Disney-related ephemera.
The pressed steel collectors will be pleased with the next section which includes over 100 pieces of pressed steel. Some of the highlights include an American National Blue Streak Truck (lot 829) with an estimate of $3,000 – $4,000, a Turner Lincoln Auto (lot 917) $2,000 – $4,000 and an American National Packard Mascot Car (lot 918) with an estimate of $4,000 – $6,000.
Saturday’s auction begins with a wonderful array of figural cast iron. Some of the stellar pieces are a Bradley & Hubbard Rabbit Door Stop (lot 1010) valued at $1,500 – $1,750, a Hubley Pekingese Door Stop (lot 1015) worth $1,500 – $2,000 and a stunning Figural Rooster Shooting Target (lot 1044) in beautiful original condition with a presale estimate of $4,000 – $6,000.
The cast Iron toy section then leads off with a fresh selection of bell toys, motorcycles and cast iron automotive. Collector’s will go crazy over the following, a Captain & the Kids Bell Toy made by Gong Bell Co. (lot 1053) with a $7,000 – $10,000 estimate, a cast iron Hubley Air Mail Motorcycle Sidecar Toy (lot 1078) worth $3,000 – $4,000 and a Cast Iron Dent Factory Sample Twin Motor Coach (lot 1135) with an estimate of $3,000 – $4.000.
Bank collectors get ready for the still and mechanical banks which start off with a beautiful lead Dressed Fox Bank (lot 1178) with a $3,000 – $4,000 presale estimate, a Darktown Battery Mechanical Bank Pattern (lot 1183) worth $11,000 – $12,000, a Home Mechanical Bank with Dormers (lot 1184) with a $8,000 – $10,000 estimate and a near mint example of a Horse Race Mechanical Bank (lot 1189) valued at $40,000- $60,000.
Following the mechanical banks are over 100 occupational shaving mugs from the Richard Snow collection. Morphy’s is pleased to offer some fine rare mug examples including a Rowboat Renters Mug (lot 1208) for $2,000 – $3,000, a Rope Puller Mug (lot 1210) estimated at $2,000 – $4,000, and a Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Mug (lot 1240) with an estimate of $3,000 – $5,000.
Finally the advertising section finishes off the sale with a 31” tall Michelin Man Display piece (lot 1357) with a $3,000 – $5,000 estimate. After a great start to the advertising section we lead into Coca-Cola with an emphasis on the Kevin Roche Festoon Collection (read more about the Kevin Roche Festoon Collection). Also included with the Coca-Cola section is one of only two known, Coca-Cola Leaded Glass Lamp Shades (lot 1406) with a $15,000 – $25,000 presale estimate.
Check out the online catalog for more details and the full auction listing.