Bertoia Auctions Issues Final Call for European Toy Vehicles from Kaufman Collection, Sept. 24/25 On September 24 and 25, Bertoia’s will auction part IV of the fabled Donald Kaufman toy collection
nice condition,” said Rich. Another unusual offering is the selection of very rare 1920s manufacturers’ catalogs for Gendron, Steelcraft and other pedal cars and pressed-steel toys.
Cast-iron toys “run the gamut from A to Z,” Rich said, “from autos to fire pumpers and trucks, and even a few airplanes and motorcycles.” Rich counted nearly 20 different cast-iron fire trucks, noting, “That’s a large selection.” Additionally, there are around 10 boxed toy sets featuring smaller-scale 7-inch vehicles, and a mini-library of cast-iron toy manufacturers’ catalogs, with some of the better-known makers being Ives, Kenton, Arcade, Hubley and A.C. Williams.
The beautiful fleet of Japanese tin friction cars in the September auction exhibit what Rich calls “DK condition – you have excellent, near-mint, mint and then at the top, DK condition. We have an all new scale for grading, now.” Many of the colorful postwar vehicles are boxed.
Comic character toys proved very popular in the third Kaufman sessions held in April, and Rich believes collectors will be “surprised and delighted” by the second grouping to be rolled out in Part IV. “There are toys representing TV and early movie personalities, Popeye, Disney favorites and newspaper comic characters. Many are boxed, and a few of them have boxes that have only rarely been seen, like the Felix on a Scooter, Krazy Kat Scooter and Bonzo Peppy Pup Scooter. I think this might be the first time we’ve seen those three particular toys offered in the same sale with their original boxes.”
Jeanne Bertoia commented that, barring any volcanic activity – a reference to the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano, whose ash cloud challenged several travelers who flew in for Kaufman III – she expects the September auction to be “an event to remember. “We expect the same sizable crowd and international interest as before, especially now that collectors realize this will be the last offering of Don’s European toys. We’re very pleased that the excitement level has remained this strong.”
Bertoia’s auction of the Donald Kaufman Collection – Part IV will start at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 24, 2010 and 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2010. All items will be offered without reserve. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet through www.LiveAuctioneers.com. Full details are available online at www.BertoiaAuctions.com. To contact Bertoia’s, call 856-692-1881 or e-mail Toys@BertoiaAuctions.com.
