Selling for $123,000, this rare circa-1904 Märklin hand-painted III-gauge live steam LNWR locomotive (Cat. Ref. E4023), tender and dining car (Cat. Ref. 1842/3) was one of the best toy trains in the Sage collection ($50/70,000).
DENVER, PENN. — On October 30, a significant chapter in antique toy history came to a close as Morphy Auctions conducted the second and final auction dedicated exclusively to the collection of the late Tom Sage, Sr (1939-2024). The gallery sale of 281 toys and trains achieved $1.35 million, bringing the series total to $3.95 million.
Consisting of premium-quality German, French and American toys of the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth Centuries, the Sage collection was carefully assembled over a period of more than 50 years. Sage was known far and wide for his encyclopedic knowledge of toys, which he developed organically by “handling the merchandise” he bought and sold. He was one of the very first to gamble on the idea of making a full-time living from “old toys,” an unheard-of concept in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Once he decided to take the leap into toy-trading as a profession, Sage quickly went from zero to 60, cultivating an enviable network of industry contacts with whom he transacted business for several decades. As he bought and resold toys and trains, he also astutely acquired special pieces for his own collection. It was that select grouping, which he kept and enjoyed throughout his life, that was auctioned at Morphy’s.
The October 30 session was dominated by the premier name in German antique toy manufacture: Märklin. The day’s top-selling lot was a rare circa-1904 Märklin hand-painted III-gauge live steam LNWR locomotive with tender and dining car with three original figures. Although 121 years old, it still presented in excellent condition and, as noted in Morphy’s auction catalog, it might possibly achieve a higher grade if professionally cleaned. One of the finest trains in the entire Sage collection, it sold for $123,000 against an estimate of $50/70,000.
Measuring 18 inches long, this Märklin functional live-steam-powered fire truck (Cat. Ref. 4070) with original hose reels and hoses, as well as four period firefighters and three contemporary firefighters, was one of the Sage collection’s premier pieces, and it sold for $98,400.
Made specifically for export to the US market, a hand-painted circa 1904 Märklin II-Gauge E2 live steam train set consisted of an E2 live steam locomotive and two coaches with NPRR markings, one in blue and the other in red. In excellent condition, this set well exceeded its $12/18,000, settling at $33,000.
An 18-inch-long Märklin functional live-steam-powered fire truck came with its original hose reels and hoses, as well as four period firefighters and three contemporary firefighters. Its brass boiler showed off all of its original fittings. Overall, the toy was in excellent to near mint condition. Regarded as one of the Sage collection’s premier pieces, it had originally become known to the toy hobby when it surfaced at a New England antique show in the early 1980s. Forty years have passed since that discovery, but its rarity factor has not changed, with very few of its type known to exist. The truck from the Sage collection sold at Morphy’s for $98,400.
Märklin excelled in replicating all modes of early Twentieth Century transportation, including the mighty ships at sea. An example of their hand-painted clockwork George Washington four-stack ocean liner took pride of place in the Sage collection. An impressive 3-foot-long craft, it was graded excellent with the potential of achieving a higher grade if professionally cleaned. It finished within estimate, for $66,000. A 25½-inch Märklin hand-painted clockwork-powered Brooklyn battleship was assessed to be in excellent to near mint condition and was accompanied by its original stand. It came with the ultimate provenance, having once been in the collection of publishing tycoon and eminent toy collector Malcolm Forbes (1919-1990). The Brooklyn ended its bidding run at $56,580 against an estimate of $30/50,000.
This Märklin hand-painted, clockwork-powered Brooklyn battleship (Cat. Ref. 5120), 25½ inches, sold for $56,580 against an estimate of $30/50,000. Its line of provenance included the collection of publishing magnate Malcolm Forbes.
Continuing Märklin’s auction dominance, a hand-painted 9-inch-long auto sported a wonderful early look, with its gilt-trimmed red body, white rubber wheels and original center headlight. In very good to excellent condition, it captured collectors’ attention, selling for $28,800, nearly five times its high estimate. An identical price was paid for a near mint Märklin hand-painted clockwork-powered aeroplane with primitive styling and, importantly, its two original figures.
It wasn’t a complete shut-out for Märklin, however. An outstanding circa 1909-12 hand-painted Carette (Germany) clockwork limousine in a scarce maroon color was offered with its original box. The toy had been very well preserved over the past century, retaining its original tires, headlamps and beveled glass windows. With a period driver and three female passengers, it was graded near mint-mint condition and sold for $46,740 against an estimate of $30/40,000.
Also, an American-made (Baltimore) Voltamp II-Gauge United Electric eight-wheel trolley, 16 inches long with closed ends and its original “people-catcher,” was an attractively-finished example in bright red with a forest-green roof and gold lettering. It sped to $31,200 against an estimate of $15/25,000.
After the hammer fell on the final lot, Dan Morphy, founder and president of Morphy Auctions, commented: “It was a huge honor for us to handle Tom Sage’s collection. He was a true visionary and a master of his profession but always remained a collector at heart. It’s not likely that we’ll ever see another toy and train collection quite like his.”
Prices quoted include the buyer’s premium as reported by the auction house. For information, www.morphyauctions.com or 877-968-8880.
