Hake’s sets new world auction record with $151,534 sale of 1930s Mickey & Minnie Mouse dolls A pair of rare, giant display-model dolls of Charlotte Clark Mickey and Minnie Mouse have shattered existing records for a Disney toy at auction, bringing $151,534 at Hake's Americana & Collectibles.
News-Antique.com - Sep 28,2007 - TIMONIUM, Md. – A pair of rare, giant display-model dolls of Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse have shattered existing auction records for a Disney toy, selling for $151,534.35 (inclusive of 15 percent buyer’s premium) in the Hake’s Americana & Collectibles auction that concluded Thursday, Sept. 27. The 44” tall Mickey and 48” tall Minnie were promotional items for the highly acclaimed Charlotte Clark line of dolls produced in the early 1930s. The duo was purchased by a private collector and longtime Hake’s customer.
Following Mickey’s successful introduction as a Clark doll in 1930, Minnie arrived in toy shops the following year. Together, the popular toys were produced in three sizes: 8.5”, 13.5” and 18” – and only a very small number of the largest ones were made for display at prominent movie theaters, retail stores and the occasional photo shoot with Walt Disney himself.
Made of stuffed velveteen, Clark’s trademark material, Mickey is detailed with four 2” diameter natural pearl buttons, and Minnie wears a silk-like skirt with lace-trimmed pantaloons. Each doll has a long, 32” tail.
“I’m really pleased to see the maturing of our auctions for high-end items through Hake’s Americana & Collectibles,” said Steve Geppi, owner and chief executive officer of Hake’s parent firm Diamond International Galleries. “I think this event highlights our belief that, with our mailing list, we can compete with anyone.”
“The overall strength of the character collectibles market is typified by the $151,534 price realized for these dolls,” said Ted Hake, the company’s founder and chief operating officer. “They are so rare I never thought I'd ever lay eyes on a set, let alone get a chance to auction this remarkable near-mint pair as the capstone to Hake's 40th anniversary year. These dolls stand at the pinnacle of iconic objects symbolizing the breadth and depth of American popular culture.” Hake said the consignment was arranged by production manager Deak Stagemyer, himself a longtime Disneyana enthusiast.
“While the strong market for vintage Disney collectibles led us to have high expectations for these extremely rare dolls, we’re happy to say that our goals were definitely surpassed,” said John K. Snyder, Jr., president of Diamond International Galleries. “We also saw top prices for a significant number of other items in a wide variety of categories. It really is a terrific time for historic collectibles.”
“I hope this sends a strong signal to potential consignors of Disneyana that Hake’s is one place collectors really ought to consider for their high-end items,” said Alex Winter, general manager of Hake’s.
For additional details on this auction, log on to www.hakes.com. To contact Alex Winter, e-mail walex@hakes.com or call tollfree 1-866-404-9800.
