Bertoia – The Curtis and Linda Smith Collection
The second & final session March 15, 2025
2141 Demarco Drive Vineland NJ 08360
BertoiaAuctions.com

VINELAND, N.J. – On Saturday, March 15, Bertoia Auctions will conduct its first Signature sale of 2025, with 500 lots representing four collections, each steeped in provenance going back many decades. They are part two of the Curtis and Linda Smith collection of American tin, squeak toys, mechanical banks and primitives; the Tony Cuff collection of German and other European toys, including Radiguet boats and English-outline trains; the Ira Bernstein collection, featuring early Japanese autos; and the Brad Kaplan collection of Lionel trains, trolleys and other rarities from the American brand.

The auction’s banner collection was amassed over five decades by Linda Smith and her late husband, Curtis. The Smiths were prominent figures in the toy-collecting fraternity and active members of the Antique Toy Collectors of America. Their travels took them to now-historic East Coast and European auctions, shows and markets, where they acquired rare pieces with gilt-edged provenance from collectors who were pioneers of the hobby.

The centerpiece of the Smith collection Part II is a late-Nineteenth Century Althof Bergmann Santa in a Goat Sleigh. This rarity is considered one of the finest pieces of American clockwork tin ever produced because of its impressive 20-inch size, bright colors and whimsical, relatable Christmas theme. The toy is prominently showcased in the Barenholtz/McClintock book American Tin Toys as well as in The Toy Collector by Louis Hertz. Its estimate is $70/140,000.

Also by Althof Bergmann, a horse-drawn tin hook and ladder wagon includes its original firemen figures and, to Bertoia’s knowledge, is the only such example that has ever been offered for public sale. Measuring more than 2 feet in length, this classic firefighting toy carries an estimate of $12/25,000.

No collection of early American tin toys would be complete without the inclusion of at least one hand-painted George Brown production, and the Smith collection brings forth one of the best: a clockwork toy version of the Civil War boat the USS Monitor. Made around 1870 — eight years after the original ironclad Monitor was launched — the toy offered in this auction is expected to sell in the $15/30,000 range.

The Bridgeport, Conn., toymaking firm Ives was responsible for some of the most imaginative toys of its time. Several rare Ives creations will be auctioned. Leading the group is one of few known examples of a Hippodrome Chariot, patented in 1875. It may be the most imaginatively designed of all Ives horse-drawn toys, ($10/16,000).

A toy with a music theme is a 46-inch-long horse-drawn Schoenhut Circus Parade Wagon. This showpiece with six seated bandsmen figures, a driver and four horses could hit a high note in the $8/14,000 range.

The Continental toy selection features an early Twentieth Century Marklin (Germany) clockwork Oceanliner Lusitania made in the early 1900s. Liners from this particular Marklin series are admired for their character and artful detail. The 38-inch-long four-funnel Lusitania could glide off to a new owner for $20/40,000.

Among the top highlights from the Tony Cuff collection are a Marklin hand-painted Gauge 1 Churchbury train station, dating to 1913-23 ($8/16,000); and a rare 14-inch-long Marklin hand-painted Gauge 1 clockwork locomotive ($3/6,000). The European lineup also includes a Carette clockwork luxury limousine complete with its original hand-painted driver and three seated passenger figures, one of them a child ($7/11,000).

A small assortment of choice mechanical banks will be offered, including a Shepard Hardware Mason bank with its original wood box ($20/35,000); and an elusive 1880s Sewing Machine bank that may have been produced as a giveaway ($10/18,000). Additionally, more than 40 still and “safe” banks will be auctioned.

Post-World War II Japanese toys are led by two large cars: an ATC 1962 Chrysler ($8/16,000) and an Alps 1953 Packard Convertible Cabriolet ($3/6,000). For Japanese superhero fans, there’s an ASC Aoshin friction-powered Batmobile with a swivel-headed Batman at the wheel. This scarce toy is estimated at $1,5/2,500, but it might deliver an auction-day surprise if the right collectors spot it zooming out of the Batcave.

Bertoia’s gallery is at 2141 DeMarco Drive. The auction starts at 10 am. Toys may be previewed the week before the auction by appointment only. Other bidding options include absentee, by phone or live online through Bertoia Live or LiveAuctioneers. For information, 856-692-1881 or www.bertoiaauctions.com.

One of the worlds finest pre-1900 toy collections ever assembled
With choice selections of quality toys from the Tony Cuff UK Collection, the Bradley Kaplan Lionel Collection, and a few additional surprises.
Auction details at BertoiaAuctions.com
Hosting the finest specialized auctions since 1986. accepting quality consignments 2141 Demarco Drive Vineland NJ 08360 Toys@BertoiaAuctions.com 856-692-1881