Julia’s toy, doll, and advertising division is pleased to offer another outstanding array of goods gathered from across North America and around the world. The auction contains a plethora of antique American and European tin, cast-iron, and pressed steel toys as well as rare and desirable dolls, trains, scarcely seen advertising, salesman samples, and perhaps one of the finest offerings of coin-operated machinery and slots the company has handled in some time. At this writing, with collections being finalized and more quality goods coming in daily, the Fairfield, Maine, sale is showing signs of being another blockbuster.
Receiving much attention recently from passers-by at the renowned Atlantique City show in New Jersey where Julia’s previewed a selection of items to be offered in this auction was a selection of European toys such as a scarce German Moko motorcycle with its original box. With nice lithography, great action, dapper gent rider, and in near mint condition, it carries an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000. A 10-inch Bing limousine in polychrome reds and with rubber slip tires is a recent addition to the fray. One would be hard pressed to find an example in better condition and it carries an estimate of $7,000 to $9,000. A fine quality Marklin 1 gauge locomotive and tender with its original wooden box and accessories is sure to please. It comes to the block with a $15,000 to $25,000 estimate. And a large English scale 3-1/2-inch gauge model of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad 2-6-0 locomotive and tender #9 from the late 1800s has outstanding detail with riveted copper boiler and all the bells and whistles, literally. It is expected to bring $5,000 to $6,000.
The diversity of the sale continues with an elusive Boucher Polly-Wog steam driven speedboat with polished aluminum bow and wood hull, it is expected to sell for $2,000 to $3,000. A scarce tin windup motorcycle and sidecar by Paya features a black rider blowing a horn, looking remarkably similar to the gent in Lehmann’s Tut Tut. It carries an estimate of $2,500 to $3,000. A very scarce Mickey Mouse circus toy by Borgfeld featuring the early icon atop a lithographed tin flat railroad car rolls in with a $2,000 to $5,000 estimate.
Other European delights include various teddy bears by Steiff including an exceptional 13-inch white example with shoebutton eyes, original plain ear button, and charm to spare. It is expected to sell for $3,000 to $4,000. A 16-inch cinnamon example in good condition likewise carries a $3,000 to $4,000 estimate.
Too detailed to be considered a toy, but approximately the size of one (and perhaps mistaken by certain individuals to be one) salesman samples were created by companies throughout the 19th and 20th centuries wishing to show prospective clients their product line without the hassle of carting around a full-sized example. Imagine carting an actual piece of furniture, a furnace, or piece of farm equipment door to door in the hopes of making a sale. The creation of these samples allowed the individuals to show the features of their merchandise in every detail (only in miniature) sparing his back in the process. These samples have become tremendously popular and collectible, seeing much activity in the marketplace. Julia’s will offer a varied selection of these pieces including three horse-drawn road graders. Two examples by Adams, featuring intricate gear mechanisms that smoothly adjust the height, angle, and pitch of the blade on the fly, are constructed of cast iron and are truly amazing pieces of early machinery. One example even retains its original carrying case. They are expected to sell for $15,000 to $20,000 and $14,000 to $16,000. Other heavy equipment includes two different sickle bar mowers. An example by the famed Adriance company, predominantly constructed of brass and steel retains its original wood crate and carries an estimate of $5,000 to $10,000 while Walter Woods’ version in brass and wood brings with it an estimate $4,000 to $6,000. A favorite among collectors are salesman sample barber chairs. A fresh-from-the-attic porcelain chair by Koch’s with nickel filigree and leather trim comes with a $12,000 to $18,000 estimate. The selection also includes various washing machines, furniture, and a single owner collection of 30 furnaces & stoves including some rather rare and desirable examples including Red Cross, Round Oak, National, and others, with estimates ranging from the mid-hundreds to the several thousands.
In this day of mass Internet marketing, we are given the belief that one is judged by the size of their toys, and Julia’s has some big ones! Of course we’re talking about coin-operated machinery, floor model arcade items, and slot machines aplenty. A fabulous Caille New Century upright slot machine with music would be a centerpiece for any game room or parlor. Featuring a center roulette dial with pierced brass dial in a gorgeously carved walnut case, it carries an estimate of $35,000 to $50,000. A very popular Mills Chicago with a similarly styled wood case likewise features a multicolored central dial, attractive nickel castings, and cylinder music box is expected to sell for $22,500 to $27,500. A rare Mills Judge upright slot machine features an elaborate central dial with images of old world judges and brass castings including a central medallion of an ancient arbitrator, carrying a pre-auction estimate of $14,000 to $16,000.
Other items for the game room include a fabulous Uncle Sam strength tester. Depicting the patriotic icon with arm outstretched, he challenges passersby to test their grip by shaking hands. For a mere nickel, one’s potency is registered in the dial on his chest. This original casting comes with a $28,000 to $32,000 estimate. Also up for bid is a rare opportunity to own a fabulous World Series baseball game that features the 1937 All Stars. Cast-iron figures including Gehrig, DiMaggio, Dizzy Dean, and others fill the field while the player tries to knock one out of the park. This very intricate game with great action that rivals modern technology is one of the finest in existence. Professionally restored, it comes to the block with a $35,000 to $40,000 estimate. Also included will be mutoscopes, a palm reader fortune telling game, and various tabletop slot machines to amaze and delight.
A selection of considerably rare tabletop gambling items includes a wonderful Lukat the Lucky Cat. This charming full-bodied figure of a reclining feline in green with gold highlights was an early trade stimulator in which one would pull the cat’s tail and a ticket would pop out its mouth allowing the bearer to receive free cigars. Including the original tickets and its original plaque, it comes to the block with expectations of $15,000 to $17,000. An exceedingly rare J.J. Oaks & Son slender domed dice popper cigar cutter holds crossover appeal to gambling collectors as well as tobacco aficionados. One of only three known to exist, it carries a $6,000 to $8,000 estimate. Two similarly styled and equally desirable tabletop slot machines are the Buckley Bones and the Bally Reliance.
The former in red with 5-cent mechanism and the latter in yellow with 25-cent mechanism, each with quality restoration, they’re expected to bring $14,000 to $16,000 a piece. Various other quality machines are sure to delight. Collectibles relating to this selection include ephemeral items such as mutoscope marquees, literature, and other accessories.
If you’re serious about your game room, there’s a fabulous horse race gaming wheel by Evans. With nickel-plated frame and original odds counter with eagle finial, it is expected to bring $5,000 to $7,000. And a rare and elaborate Monarch pool table with four cast-iron lion’s head feet supporting a marvelous inlaid mahogany table commands attention and a $35,000 to $40,000 price tag.
A wide variety of choice antique advertising items will also be offered. Soda related items have long been a popular subject matter among collectors. Included will be some wonderful Coca-Cola signs, calendars, and trays. A rare 1903 13-inch serving tray with early opera star Hilda Clark surrounded by a swath of chrysanthemums carries a $6,000 to $10,000 estimate while a possibly unique round light-up motion sign with the silhouette girl carries an estimate of $4,000 to $6,000.
Other soda companies include two exceedingly rare posters for Dr. Pepper. The first features an attractive Victorian woman in a broad ribboned bonnet. The poster is in marvelous condition and retains strong vibrant colors. The poster was not widely distributed as it was discovered that the artist had misspelled “Waco, TX”; it is one of only a handful known to exist and carries a pre-auction estimate of $13,000 to $15,000. From the same collection, the company showed that their beverage can be enjoyed by anyone, anywhere, even a lion on the African savannah. Of course, the king of beasts is selling the “King of Beverages”. This example is expected to sell for $6,000 to $8,000. Other advertising includes an exceedingly rare early porcelain sign for Planter’s Peanuts. Distributed by the Highway Lighthouse company it features the monocled “spokesnut” and comes with a $15,000 to $20,000 estimate. A fabulous pair of papier-machÈ full bodied crouching tigers with their original cage crates makes for a great display. Possibly parade figures or store displays for Learbury Clothiers, the pair is expected to bring $6,000 to $8,000. A wonderful reverse on glass sign for Rock Island Railroad with gold leaf and mother-of-pearl highlights, and great detail rolls in with a $3,000 to $5,000 estimate. A rare 1896 calendar advertising Daisy BB guns featuring two children in a boat taking aim at unsuspecting birds comes with a $7,000 to $9,000 estimate.
A splendid selection of dolls will also be offered. Culled from prized collections and estates from across the United States, a variety of subcategories include fine French fashions, googlies, French and German bisques, and the increasingly popular Chinese Door of Hope dolls. Carved from pear wood with the most captivating expressions and individuality, Door of Hope dolls have gained a growing league of collectors in recent years. This auction includes a wonderful pair of a bride and groom in all their elaborate nuptial finery, expected to sell for $2,500 to $3,000. An example known as “Amah” depicts an elderly grandmother with a tot strapped to her back carries an estimate of $1,500 to $2,000.
Fine bisque dolls include a charming 11-inch Depose Jumeau E4J with deep blue paperweight eyes and a ball jointed composition body (estimate $4,000 to $6,000). One of the earliest of Jumeaus, a 22-inch 8 over EJ with stunning blue paperweight eyes on a marked 8 ball jointed body with oversized hands is expected to sell for $5,500 to $7,500 while a 22-inch 9 over EJ carries an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. Other fine French examples include a marvelous 18-inch Portrait Jumeau with superior modeling and haunting blue paperweight eyes comes with a $12,000 to $14,000 estimate.
Outstanding German characters include a rare 17-inch Armand Marseilles “Fany” with blue glass eyes and pouty expression. She comes to the block with a $7,000 to $9,000 estimate. A 14-inch BSW “Wendy” with a delightful expression and exceptional modeling is sure to captivate collectors and is expected to bring $15,000 to $20,000. Other offerings include a rare and desirable 29-inch Kestner 241 with a most realistic expression that carries an estimate of $7,000 to $8,000 and a 32-inch Simon and Halbig 949 with open mouth and huge brown eyes comes with a $3,500 to $4,000 estimate. A stunning 15-inch K*R 131 googly with side glancing eyes and an impish smile comes to the block with a $7,000 to $9,000 estimate. A rare pair of Heubach bicyclist figurines with exceptional detail rolls in with a $3,000 to $4,000 estimate.
A deluxe full-color catalog for the auction will be available for $39 including Priority shipping and prices realized list after the sale. Free full-color, detailed, illustrated brochures are available by contacting the Julia offices. The catalog will also be available on Julia’s Web site at www.juliaauctions.com. Previews: Friday, June 27, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, June 28, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Julia’s auction facility in Fairfield, Maine, on Route 201, Exit 133 off I-95. Auction commences at 10 a.m. on Saturday. For more information about this and other exciting sales, contact Andrew Truman at (207) 453-7125.