Bertoia Auctions – Spring Hybrid Sale
May 11 & 12
2141 Demarco Drive, Vineland NJ 08360
www.bertoiaauctions.com
toys@bertoiaauctions.com
856-692-1881

VINELAND, N.J. — Bertoia’s has a springtime treat in store for toy, bank and antique advertising collectors on Thursday and Friday, May 11-12. The Bertoia family will host a 1,000-lot hybrid event that opens with a day-long cataloged gallery auction, followed the next day by a full slate of new discoveries presented in the Bertoia Basics online-only format. Bertoia’s president and principal auctioneer Michael Bertoia will open the first lot to bidding at 10 am Eastern time on both days. Bidders may also participate in the Thursday sale by phone, absentee or live online.

The May 11 session includes Part II of a private collection of cast iron automotive and motorcycle toys Bertoia’s introduced in March. “The collection contains one superior example after another, with rarity and impeccable provenance backing the great majority,” said Michael Bertoia.

The cast iron automotive grouping is anchored by a Hubley Packard Straight Eight sedan ($7/10,000); an Arcade White Bekins moving van ($5/7,500); an Arcade White shovel-nose gasoline truck ($3/5,000); and a Dent wrecker truck ($3/5,000). An International panel van ($2/3,000); and a Parmelee Yellow Cab ($1,5/2,500) round out the Arcade motor pool.

The sale also features the second installment of figural cast iron doorstops from a lifelong collection. There are around 70 doorstops in total, each a testament to its selective owner, who focused on rarity and condition as the non-negotiables before making each acquisition. Doorstops include a 1933 Popeye ($800-$1,200); Parrot on Stump ($600/900); George Washington ($500/750); and a Grandpa Rabbit ($400/700), to name but a few.

The cast iron section is further enhanced by a small sampling of mechanical banks from the Phil and Joan Steel collection. They include several by J&E Stevens, including Chief Big Moon ($1,2/1,800); and a Boy Scout bank ($5/7,500); plus a Shepard Hardware Picture Gallery bank ($4/7,000). A Lighthouse bank, of unknown manufacture, is estimated at $2/4,000.

Arcade cast iron banks are led by an always popular flat-top Yellow Cab ($2,5/3,500). A brown and white taxi cab, Lincoln 333 Yellow cab and flat-top green taxi cab are all Arcade productions and are individually estimated at $800-$1,200.

The Thursday gallery session also includes approximately 80 pressed steel toys, highlighted by the Michael Yolles Kingsbury automotive collection and a small but very choice Sturditoy collection from New England. Kingsbury highlights include a Huckster delivery truck from the 300 Series ($1/1,500); a 400 Series coupe with rumble seat ($800-$1,200); and a 300 Series Fire Chief auto ($800-$1,200). Sturditoy productions include a 31-inch-long wrecker truck ($3/5,000); and an ambulance truck ($2,5/4,500). A 29-inch-long Buddy L passenger bus could attract a similar winning bid of $2,5/4,500.

Day 2 presents bidders worldwide with the opportunity to dip into a variety of cast iron, automotive and horse-drawn toys, still and mechanical banks and toy soldiers. Collectors of antique and vintage toy soldiers and accessories will be able to choose from productions by their favorite manufacturers, including Britains, Hocker, Heyde, Hocker, Elastolin and Mignot. In addition to both boxed sets of soldiers and loose groupings, the selection includes a fleet of military vehicles by Lineol, Hausser and other German brands. Just a few of the highlights include a CBG Mignot Set #24 ($1/2,000); two Lineol large field cars ($800-$1,200 and $800-$1,000); an early 12-inch Lineol armored car ($700/900); a Hausser medium field car ($600/800); and a Mignot large airport diorama set ($600/800).

Other noteworthy entries include a lot of six rare Elastolin German SS soldiers ($600/700); a large and rare Naval Brigade 4.7 Gun & Team Set #14 ($400/800); Hocker toy soldiers Set #34 ($400/800); a Hausser Communications sidecar motorcycle ($300/400); a complete set of Britains Royal Scots Greys #1 mounted in their original box ($300/400); and a group lot of rare Elastolin bass drums ($300/400).

Bertoia’s gallery is at 2141 DeMarco Drive. Live attendance is by reservation only. Preview the week before the auction by appointment only. Remote bidding options include absentee, by phone or live online through Bertoia Live or LiveAuctioneers. Day 2 bidding is through Bertoia Live or LiveAuctioneers. Start time on both days is 10 am ET. For information, 856-692-1881 or www.bertoiaauctions.com.