Jumeau, Bru Brevete Dolls Perform At Philip Weiss Estate Sale

OCEANSIDE, N.Y.

:A turn-of-the-century Jumeau portrait doll hammered for $9,350, while a smiling Bru Brevete fashion doll from the same period garnered $5,225, at Philip Weiss Auctions' recent estate sale.

"We were very happy with the prices realized," said owner Philip Weiss. "The midlevel items did very well. It just proves that merchandise that's fresh to the market - as most of this was - will fetch nice prices, especially if it's quality. Everybody went home happy."

Nearly 1,300 lots of mostly toys, trains, dolls, comics, animation and collectibles were offered over the course of the two days and about 1,250 lots were sold. "We had more than 200 people in the room over the course of the sale," Weiss said, "plus there were over 2,000 online bidders through eBay Live."

The Jumeau doll, the sale's top lot, was a first series example and stood 15 inches tall. She featured blue spiral eyes, a closed mouth, original eight-ball body and new costume. The doll was marked on the lower neck, with a Jumeau stamp on the body. Chipped earlobes did not deter eager bidders, who pushed the price close to the $10,000 mark.

The Bru Brevete (circa 1895) stood 18 inches tall and had a bisque swivel head on bisque shoulder plate. She had blue fixed eyes, a smiling closed mouth, bisque arms, a kid body with gussets, and new silk dress. The head was marked "G" and the plate "H" (typical Bru size marks). The only blemishes were a broken finger and a repaired finger.

Another piece from the same era that captured the attention and imaginations of bidders was a 16-inch German Belsnickle composition Santa, circa 1890, which changed hands for $2,860 after spirited bidding. The hollow candy container had painted and molded features and mica for snow. "It got a lot of attention," Weiss said.

Vintage toy train highlights included a Lionel boxcar, circa 1960s, Model #6464-300, with Rutland split door that rolled away for $1,485. The piece was still in the box and had been graded in C7+ condition. A Lionel Jersey Central locomotive, in C10 condition, circa 1960s, Model #2341, brought $3,740.

A pair of Marx toys commanded nearly identical prices. The first was a Hootin' Hollow Haunted House, circa 1960s, that made $1,705. The battery-operated, tin litho toy was still in its original box. The other was a Flash Gordon pistol, circa 1930s, which hit the mark at $1,650. The red and green tin litho gun was boxed and in excellent shape.

An original animation cel depicting Porky Pig from the 1953 Warner Brothers cartoon, Duck Dodgers in the Twenty-Fourth1/2th Century reached $2,970. The cel was in fine condition, with hand-prepared background. The overall framed piece measured 11 by 7 inches and came with a certificate of authenticity.

A Wyandotte ice truck from the 1950s, in mint condition and in its original box, sped off for $440. The truck still had the cardboard insert holding the blocks of ice and thongs, although some signs of minor wear probably prevented the piece from attracting a higher final bid.

Rounding out the top lots were an offering of six Dinky airplanes, British made, circa 1940s, all in the box, that sold collectively for $1,017; an Auburn ten-piece fire engine set, circa 1950s, mint in box, that rose to $484; and a talking Herman Munster doll from the 1960s, still in the box and working, that commanded $777.

All prices quoted include the ten percent buyer's premium. The auction house is at 1 Neil Court. For more information, www.philipweissauctions.com or 516-594-0731.