A German-made Marklin live steam fire truck, circa 1912, brought $149,500, including buyer’s premium, at Bertoia’s September 25 and 26 auction of the Donald Kaufman collection of antique and vintage toys. The collection of the KB Toys Inc founder debuted in March of this year, setting a new house record for Bertoia’s at $4.2 million. Collectors and toy enthusiasts fueled by fantasies converged again for a second helping of the blue-chip offerings.

This sale, presenting more than 1,100 lots offered with no reserve, was packed with European tin, American cast iron, pressed steel and pedal cars; biscuit tins, postwar Japanese cars and prewar Japanese airplanes.

As in the March sale, when a rare Fidelitas clown car train from 1909 topped the action at $103,500, Marklin again was the magic name, claiming its dominance as the Rolls-Royce brand of antique toys. In this case, the rare and large (18 inches long) fire truck raced past its $40/50,000 presale estimate to land on the trophy shelf of an anonymous European collector. Exemplifying the legendary Marklin detail from its bright hand painted open frame with exposed boiler to its many appointments, the museum-quality piece of which there are fewer than five known to date, was, according to the catalog, “the finest in Marklin’s range of toy perfection.”

“Bridging the $3 million mark and topping expected catalog estimates proved once again that a great collection and a great presentation trump any economic forecasting. We’re thrilled with the results,” said Jeannie Bertoia. “The best part is that the legend continues with more sales from the collection set for next year,” she added. The next installment of the Kaufman collection auctions will be conducted April 9 and 10.

A complete review of the sale will appear in a future issue.

⁗D