Morphy Auctions will present a colorful array of fresh to the market antique toys, banks, advertising and figural cast-iron novelties in a 1,645-lot auction titled A Spring Selection, on April 29-30, 2011. Both the Friday and Saturday sessions include extremely rare items from long-held collections, with highlights including early Dr Pepper advertising items, 19th-century occupational shaving mugs, and a historically important circa-1928 Hubley cast-iron bulldog lawn ornament believed to be a lone survivor.
As is the tradition at Morphy’s toy sales, banks will be first to cross the auction block, starting with a nice variety of “stills.” The grouping of 100+ still banks includes a Moody and Sankey (patented 1870), which features images of the two 19th-century gospel luminaries, estimate $2,500-$3,500; as well as a House with Dormer Windows, $1,500-$2,000; House with Basement, $1,500-$2,500; Hippo, $1,000-$1,500; and Park bank, $2,000-$3,000.
An equal serving of mechanical banks will follow, with top lots including a Lion Hunter and Boy Robbing Bird’s Nest, each estimated at $6,000-$9,000; and a Cat & Mouse bank, $6,000-$8,000. All three banks were made by J. & E. Stevens and are in near-mint condition.
The star of the figural cast iron section is an imposing, life-size English bulldog garden ornament made by Hubley around 1928. Patterned after a bulldog that belonged to Hubley’s corporate treasurer, two sample dogs were produced from a plaster-of-Paris prototype, Morphy’s example being one of them. When Wall Street crashed in 1929, Hubley scrapped plans to manufacture the expensive design. One of the sample dogs was broken down and melted for the war effort in the 1930s; the other remained in Pennsylvania and passed through several collectors’ hands before arriving at Morphy’s. It will be auctioned with a $20,000-$25,000 estimate.
A fine representation of cast-iron bottle openers, doorstops and other figural novelties will be offered. Top doorstop entries include a Salem Witch, $1,200-$1,500; and the only known Yellow Duck, as depicted in John C. and Nancy M. Smith’s The Doorstop Book, $3,500-$4,500. The only extant example of a cast-iron Monkey lawn sprinkler, estimate $2,000-$2,500, was found in New England and is in near-mint condition. Other prized pieces in the category include two bottle openers – a cast-iron wall-mount Skull, and a Golf Caddy, each estimated at $400-$500.
The cast iron roster continues with 200+ early American toys. An original Burning Building by Carpenter could fetch $10,000-$15,000; while an Ives 4-horse Flying Artillery is estimated at $2,000-$4,000. Others include a Harris Chemical Wagon, $2,000-$3,000; and a Dent Ladder Truck, $1,500-$2,500. Two classic Hubley toys – a Royal Circus Giraffe Cage and 3-Seat Brake – carry estimates of $3,000-$5,000.
Among the European tin toys are an early French clockwork 3-wheel cycling toy with dressed driver, $2,000-$4,000; and a hand-painted windup hot air balloon, $1,500-$2,000. Many trains will follow, some by Marklin and Bing.
The Friday session takes on a whimsical feel with a collection of glass and papier-mache candy containers. Highlights include a Toonerville Trolley, $600-$900; Baseball Player with Bat, 600-$900; and Barney Google, $500-$700.
The toy parade concludes with approximately 100 robots and space toys. Leaders include boxed Masudaya “Gang of Five” members Radicon Robot, $6,000-$12,000; and Target Robot, $8,000-$12,000; and a boxed Yonezawa X-27 Explorer, $6,000-$9,000.
Saturday’s fun will commence with 125+ occupational shaving mugs from an outstanding 50-year collection. “This is the best selection we’ve had yet,” said Morphy’s CEO Dan Morphy. “Because we’ve auctioned a couple of other major collections and achieved incredible prices, I was concerned that the market might be getting saturated, but that has not been the case at all. New collectors are coming in, and existing collectors are stepping up their buying.” Among the mugs to be auctioned at Morphy’s are examples with images of a boxer, man in kayak, and man driving a metal delivery truck, each $2,000-$3,000; and baseball player and bowler, each $2,000-$4,000.
More than 50 lots of tobacco-related items will be offered, including tins, signs and tip trays. A Taxi pocket tin is estimated at $1,000-$2,000; while a Nic Nac tobacco canister with the image of a bright-eyed dog, could make $1,000-$1,500.
A single-owner collection of pin-up calendars spans the decades of the 1930s through 1950s. Morphy described the contents as being “in beautiful, untouched condition.”
Known for presenting Coca-Cola advertising of the highest caliber, Morphy’s has a few surprises in store for collectors on April 30. A seldom seen 1908 Coke trolley sign will be offered with a $12,000-$15,000 estimate. A 1936 Coke “Sailor Girl” poster could attract $4,500-$7,000; while an $8,000-$15,000 estimate has been assigned to a salesman’s sample double Glasscock cooler. Other Coke highlights include a 1906 serving tray in near-mint condition, $3,000-$5,000; and an 1896 “pretty lady” calendar, $2,500-$5,000.
Dr Pepper is America’s oldest major manufacturer of soft drink concentrates and syrups, and early memorabilia associated with the Texas company is highly sought after. A single-owner collection of early Dr Pepper advertising will be offered in 100 lots. Brimming with eye appeal, an extremely rare oval serving tray with a classic lion image is estimated at $6,000-$9,000. Another beautiful design is the rare Dr Pepper leaded-glass desk lamp, $4,000-$8,000. A 1920s cardboard poster carries a $5,000-$7,000 estimate, and a very scarce 1929 calendar is expected to finish in the $2,000-$4,000 range.
Perhaps the most unusual entry in the sale is the 1920s folk art carnival target made of leather and shaped as a donkey. “It came from Lebanon, Pennsylvania,” said Morphy. “We have period photos of it at a fair, with Model Ts parked in the background. Amazingly, it still works. It hee-haws and kicks its leg around, and its eyes light up when the target is hit.” Estimate $4,000-$6,000.
All forms of bidding will be available for Morphy’s April 29-30 auction, including live at the gallery, by phone or absentee, and live via the Internet through Morphy Live or LiveAuctioneers.com. For information on any lot in the sale, call 717-335-3435 or email [email protected]. View the fully illustrated catalog and all other auction information online www.morphyauctions.com
