Auction Details

Morphy Auctions’ December Premier Toy Sales Event To Feature A Comprehensive, World-Class Selection Of Outstanding And Highly Collectible Vintage Playthings.

This three-day auction includes a full range of fine cars and vehicles, space toys, clockwork items, trains, dolls, holiday ephemera, marbles, advertising, as well as treasures from many other popular collecting categories.

Morphy Auctions, the finest auction destination for fresh to the market collections, is pleased to announce this highly anticipated toy sales event to be held on December 18th-20th, 2015 – perfectly timed for holiday shopping!    All lots from this sale are on display in Morphy’s auction gallery and available for preview now.

Day one launches with a playful selection of over 275 lots of dolls, related accessories, and fine vintage plush toys.  Two French examples, a “Bebe Modele”, estimated at $15,000-25,000, and a spectacular Jumeau Triste, estimated at $10,000-15,000, will capture the hearts of doll enthusiasts worldwide. Collectors will also get the warm and fuzzies over the great selection of vintage “button-in-ear” brand bears and animals on offer.  There’s no way to avoid a plush-crush when it comes to this sale’s 20″ tall, early 1900’s white center-seamed Steiff Teddy bear, estimated at $3,500-5,000.

This auction’s selection of holiday ephemera, including candy containers, nodders, decorations, figures, and toys, is certainly cause for celebration.  It’s all treats and no tricks when it comes to a 20-1/2″ tall extremely rare Halloween Felt Pumpkin Man, estimated at $4,000-6,000.  This extraordinary example, in all original condition with no damages or repairs, is one of only a handful known in existence.

Cast iron toys and doorstops have a solid showing in day one of this sales event. Leading the parade of toy heavy hitters is a 24-1/2″ long Hubley 4-Horse Royal Circus Calliope Wagon, estimated at $3,500-5,000.  This festive and extremely rare piece, in excellent condition, consists of a blue and gold calliope, four black horses, a driver, and a calliope player.  The wagon is finely painted and further detailed with ornate wheels.  And a 12″ tall Hubley Bugler Boy doorstop (estimated at $2,500-3,000,) and a 19″ tall Bradley and Hubbard Deco Lady Doorstop with rubber bumpers, estimated at $2,000-5,000 will freeze enthusiasts in their tracks.  Both are extremely collectible and in excellent condition.

Clockwork toys are also a key category in this auction.  Collectors will no doubt get wound up over an important 1920’s era orange and black Marklin Torpedo clockwork automobile, estimated at $12,000-16,000.  Its remarkable detailing includes an original windshield, three opening doors, a front license plate marked “IA 5208,” and tin litho wheels. This hand painted beauty, pictured on page 116 of Peter Ottenheimer’s Automobile book, is believed to be the only completely original example in existence today.

Change is in the air with this sale’s offering of about a dozen nice German penny toys.  Lucky highlights here include a dapperly dressed rider on a motorcycle and two soldiers fighting on a grass-green base.  Both are estimated at $600-900 each.

The games begin again on day two of this auction with almost 70 lots of fine marbles.  A selection of sulfide, Lutz, swirl, onionskin, Joseph’s Coat, boxed sets, and other well-rounded categories make this sale fair game for every collector.  An early period, 1-3/4″ diameter example truly has “flower power,” and shoots to a top spot with its $800-1,200 estimate.  This rare, unglazed china example features five red bands, with two opposing blue and yellow dot flowers surrounded by green foliage.

Space toys and robots remain extremely popular categories, and this auction’s amazing selections should send collectors into orbit.  Three exceptional robots include a near-mint mechanical Deep Sea diver robot (estimated at $6,000-9,000); a battery operated Japanese Tin Litho Robby Space Patrol (estimated at $6,000-9,000); and a friction powered Space Adventure robot, which is estimated at $2,000-4,000.  All come complete with their original boxes; the Space Adventure robot is most likely one of two known.  And there just might be star wars over an outstanding Gang of 5 red machine man (estimated at $15,000-25,000), and a very rare Japanese Tin Litho Jupiter Robot, estimated at $4,000-8,000.  This sale will feature the robot and space collection of Pat Karris.

The second day of this sales event features fine pressed steel toys and tether cars.  Buyers will have a hard time choosing among this event’s solid selection of steel trucks, cars, planes, vehicles, and other models.  A red Buddy L tugboat with gold trim and perfectly scaled details has enormous pull and is estimated at $5,000-7,000.  And, it’s off to the races with this auction’s fantastic selection of tether cars, with over 50 quality examples on offer.  A highlight in the headlights would be a silver and red Peerless car.  Its handsome presentation and $800-1,200 estimate should get a few collector’s engines revving.

Rolling right along, this sale offers a number of wheeled and rolling toys featuring some of childhood’s most beloved and nostalgic characters.  Early Fisher Price selections include Walt Disney’s four piece Carnival set in its original box (estimated at $1,200-1,600); Doctor Doodle in his original box (estimated at $1,200-1,600); and Granny Doodle in her original box, also estimated at $1,200-1,600. These three lots are in outstanding condition and perhaps the finest examples known.

Day three of this much-anticipated sales event will whet collector’s appetites for the finest antique advertising – with many examples featuring beverage brands.  It’s certainly happy hour in regards to a 13-1/2″ long pre-prohibition National Brewing Co. tray, illustrated with a booming factory scene (estimated at $500-800) and a North Western Brewery tray, featuring a topless Native American woman riding a wild bull, estimated at $2,000-4,000.  For those who prefer things on the softer side, a 1918 Coca Cola Festoon featuring 3 smiling women holding their umbrellas and Coca Cola glasses in their hands, will be the real thing.  This charming rarity measures 36″ x 19 -1/2″ and is estimated at $3,000-4,000.  And tobacciana collectors will light up over a framed and very striking Horse Shoe Tobacco Tin Litho Advertising Sign (estimated at $1,500-2,500) and an extremely rare, die cut Bull Durham Tobacco Tin Flange Sign, estimated at $2,500- 5,000.

Sports memorabilia, trains, banks, figures, characters, and many other toy categories – including well over 100 Corgi toys and vehicles in their original boxes – round out this most entertaining three day auction event.

According to Tommy Sage, Jr., Head of Morphy’s Toy and Train Division, ” I am particular pleased about this sale’s outstanding selection of space toys and robots.  These items are of growing interest among collectors from all over the world, and it is great to see Morphy’s again taking a leadership position in this category – among many others!  Jay Lowe, Head of Morphy’s Doll Division adds, “My team and I are thrilled to offer our customers such a robust and exciting assortment of quality dolls, plush, and candy containers, among other category and seasonal favorites.  The timing of this sale is just perfect to make every collector’s holiday wishes come true!”