Bertoia Auctions – The Curtis and Linda Smith Collection
Part I March 16 2024 11am
One of the worlds finest pre-1900 toy collections ever assembled
2141 Demarco Drive Vineland NJ 08360
856-692-1881 www.BertoiaAuctions.com

VINELAND, N.J. — Antique toy collectors dream of being able to board a time machine to travel back to the 1970s-80s when toy shows and auctions took place. Some of the finest toys from those landmark events of 50 years ago are held in one collection that was loved and displayed for decades by Linda Smith and her late husband Curtis Smith, and will be offered in a single-owner auction on March 16 at Bertoia’s.

“Curt and Linda Smith were prominent in the toy-collecting fraternity for decades,” said Michael Bertoia, president of Bertoia Auctions. “Both were active members of the Antique Toy Collectors of America and served on numerous committees over the years. Curt even served as the club’s president.”

By profession, Curt was a nuclear engineer, while Linda worked in the legal field as a writer of sentencing investigation reports for superior court cases. Like most California-based collectors of the 1970s, the Smiths began their toy odyssey. Their decades-long collecting adventure would take them to now-historic East Coast and European auctions, shows and markets where they acquired pieces with provenance from such fabled pioneers of the antique toy hobby as Louis Hertz, Bernard Barenholtz, Athel Spilhaus, Covert Hegarty, Leon Perelman and many more. Those prized acquisitions will change hands in two single-consignor sales at Bertoia’s, the first taking place on March 16.

Top billing in this month’s auction goes to a large Carpenter (American) cast iron Tally Ho horse-drawn coach. All original, including its removable, often-missing figures, the 26-inch-long vehicle is described by Michael Bertoia as being “the finest of all known examples” ($50/75,000).

Curtis Smith especially loved firefighting pieces because of their wonderful detailing. The Smiths’ collection includes a large-scale German horse-drawn fire pumper of hand-painted tin with painted wood horses and composition fireman figure at the reins. Remarkably, it retains its original rubber fire hose and hand lever for pumping water ($15/25,000).

Linda Smith has always favored the hand-lever velocipedes in their collection, in particular a circa-1880 Uncle Sam clockwork perambulator that is believed to be one of only two surviving examples. The Uncle Sam figure is dressed in its original cloth jacket “American Flag” striped pants. This famous toy is pictured in two reference books: American Clockwork Toys by Blair Whitton and American Tin Toys by Bernard Barenholtz. It was owned by both authors, consecutively, before joining the Smith collection ($40/60,000).

A grand Althof Bergmann Circus Roundabout, measuring 17 inches in diameter, is one of the finest early American clockwork toys ever to reach the marketplace. It has a storied background, having been discovered in a Pennsylvania attic by a picker. According to Linda Smith, the picker had been given permission to “clear out the attic and keep anything he wanted.” He was not a toy expert, so he listed it on eBay, where it was purchased by Steven Weiss of Gemini Antiques, then resold to the Smiths on the basis of photos the picker had taken. In working order, it is the only known example of its type. It will enter its next chapter in American toy history when it is offered at Bertoia’s with an estimate of $30/50,000.

Another Althof Bergmann toy is the couple’s Sheep Herder platform toy whose figures include the herder with staff, four sheep, a dog and a goat. Made of hand-painted tin and measuring 14 inches long ($8/12,000).

Politically significant, a circa 1890s George Brown (American) clockwork hoop toy depicts a William Goodwin-made girl with a hand-painted head pushing a wheeled vehicle with a suffragette balance-figure at its center. The 11½-inch toy is pictured in Whitton’s American Clockwork Toys ($10/15,000).

Michael Bertoia observed: “The Curtis and Linda collection is a classic, and the March auction — part one of a two-part series — is an event the world will want to watch. The high condition that distinguishes the entire collection is unrivaled. Many of the best of all known examples, whether tin or cast iron, are included in the Smith collection. Some of the primitive American tin pieces, which are so desired by collectors, have thick, bright, original paint. These are the types of toys you just never see. They were acquired by collectors 40 to 50 years ago, and unless a collection is auctioned as a whole, there aren’t many opportunities to buy toys of this caliber.”

Bertoia is at 2141 DeMarco Drive. Live attendance is by reservation only. Preview the week before is by appointment only. Remote-bidding options include absentee, by phone or live online through Bertoia Live or LiveAuctioneers. For additional information, 856-692-1881 or www.bertoiaauctions.com.

Contact us for gallery preview details Lodging info available upon request
Location: Bertoia Auctions Gallery 2141 DeMarco Dr. Vineland, NJ 08360 Phone: 856-692-1881
One of the worlds finest pre-1900 toy collections ever assembled
Bertoia Auctions is pleased to present the world class Early American Toy Collection of Linda & the late Curtis Smith. Recognized as one of the finest in quality and condition of pre-1900 American toys, this collection is unrivaled with rarity and legendary provenance from all the great early collectors and includes many actual examples from the Bernard Barenholtz, Blair Whitton and Louis Hertz books.
Auction details at BertoiaAuctions.com
Hosting the finest specialized auctions since 1986. Accepting quality consignments