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James Julia Announces Toy & Doll Auction, June 19th

Fairfield, ME ~ June 19, 2015.  On a seemingly steady stellar trajectory, the auction firm of James D. Julia, Inc. have been building on a stream of successes for many years running.  In 2015 alone, Julia’s has already seen a $16 Million firearms auction, and two multimillion dollar Asian art auctions including a special single owner sale showcasing the Dr. Helga Wall-Apelt collection.  In addition to blockbuster auctions, February saw Julia’s Toy, Doll & Advertising department head, Andrew Truman, make his debut on the long running PBS series Antique Roadshow.  The company is looking forward to another banner year in the months to come.
At this writing, the Toy & Doll department is preparing for their June auction that pulls select items from estates and collections from across the United States in an array that also includes rare antique advertising, desirable coin-op, music machines, and other miscellaneous and desirable antique items.  The diverse array of antique toys is highlighted in part by an exceedingly rare and desirable Marklin clockwork ocean liner depicting the “Olympia”.  This massive example comes fresh to the market from a Massachusetts collection.  Spanning an impressive 40” long, its highly detailed hull, decking, and rigging are what make this boat so appealing.  It comes estimated for $30,000-35,000.  From the same collection comes a variety of tin clockwork carousels, such as an M&K example with suspended gondolas that hit a trip wire in their rotation that causes them to list and sway.  It carries a presale estimate of $2,000-2,500.  Another example, a German hand crank carousel with three-wheeled vehicles suspended from the canopy comes estimated for $4,000-5,000.
Transportation themed toys take on a wide variety of forms, and this auction features selections from many of them from a variety of eras.  A rare Francis, Field & Francis Philadelphia Express wagon is a marvelous example of early American tin.  The large scale wagon with pierced and stenciled sides in nice original condition comes estimated for $15,000-20,000.  From the same collection will be two examples of a Fallows horse drawn grocery wagon.  A standard version with stenciled red side panels is joined by a variation with cutout sides that perhaps held cloth drapes that have long been lost to time.  These delightful toys come estimated for $1,750-2,250 apiece.  Other early American tin includes an unusual 3-wheeled Hull & Stafford clockwork locomotive with polychrome decoration and fine hand painted details.  It carries an estimate of $1,750-2,250.
If cast iron toys are more to your liking, then selections from the late Laurence Hapgood collection include a Dent Public Service bus in outstanding all-original condition that comes estimated for $3,000-4,000.  A nicely detailed Pratt & Letchworth landau with lady passenger formerly of the late Bob & Jackie Stewart collection comes estimated for $600-900.  Other cast iron includes a generous selection of mechanical and still banks, most notably a Mason bank by Shepard Hardware that depicts a bricklayer working on a wall with the aid of his assistant.  It is estimated for $2,500-3,500 while a Stump Speaker, also by Shepard, in nice all original condition is expected to bring $800-1,200.  These are joined by several comical creations such as Bad Accident, Darktown Battery, Reclining Chinaman, and more.  Also included will be an assortment of cast iron still banks offered in various group lots covering characters, animals, buildings, and so forth.
Skipping ahead several decades, one will find an offering of pressed steel trucks including a Buddy L opening door ice delivery truck with its original canvas top and dual rubber tires.  It is joined by a nice example of a Buddy L bus.  This perennial favorite with detailed interior always seems to perform well.  They carry estimates of $2,500-3,500 apiece.
Other automotive toys include a classic Japanese friction Nash Rambler hauling a teardrop camping trailer.  The early 60s design of both pieces oozes nostalgia and style that take you back.  The duo comes estimated for $600-1,200.  A duo of Japanese autos faithful to their American origins includes a Ford Thunderbird and a Cadillac.  Each is in exceptional condition and is complete with their original boxes, carrying estimates in the low hundreds apiece.
This auction also contains a diverse selection of quality dolls showcasing fine European artistry and craftsmanship.  Running the gamut of genres and materials, bidders will be pleased by the selection.  From one of the earliest periods comes a rare 12” English wooden Queen Ann style doll from the 1700s.  Sure to have been a treasure to little girls through the ages, she now comes estimated for $5,000-6,000.
Exquisite French dolls include a lovely 26″ EJA Jumeau from an advanced east coast collector.  The doll’s sublime expression highlighted by piercing blue eyes and realistic facial features and coloring, this beauty carries an estimate of $8,000-12,000.  On the other side of the size spectrum is a 10″ cabinet size Bru Brevete.  With pale bisque, blond mohair wig, and deep blue eyes, she comes with a $10,000-12,000 estimate.  A grand 28″ Steiner lever eye doll with advanced eye mechanism and cheerful countenance comes with an estimate of $7,500-9,500.  Other highlights include a stately 18″ French fashion who comes with a wide selection of accessories including an etui with miniature toiletry items as well as diminutive corsets, gloves, clothing, etc.  The lot is expected to sell for $3,500-5,500.
German examples include a charming 12″ Hertel & Schwab googly with impish grin and side-glancing eyes.  Cute as a button, she comes estimated for $2,500-3,500.  A German automaton platform toy features a bisque headed girl who carries flowers in her hand and sways to and fro when the toy is pulled along the floor.  It comes estimated for $1,000-1,500.  Also included will be nearly a dozen jointed posable Bucherer figures being sold in small lots.  These popular European lead and metal figures from the first third of the 20th century have an almost robotic look to them and appeal to both doll and toy collectors alike. The lots carry estimates of $500-1,000 each.
The auction continues with a varied grouping of quality antique advertising items.  Included will be numerous pieces that seldom hit the marketplace.  One of the earliest forms of advertising was the figural trade sign.  Before literacy was commonplace, it was typical for a business to have a three-dimensional representation of their trade hanging above their door so passersby would know where to go.  These signs surface rather infrequently and are highly sought after today.  This auction will feature a wonderful dentist trade sign in the form of a gold capped molar.  Hand painted and (for those able to read) mentioning particular services such as “Artificial Teeth” and “Teeth Extracted” on the sides, this example also shows traces of old red paint on the roots suggesting this was perhaps one of the more graphic examples created.  This outstanding piece comes estimated for $8,000-10,000.
One of the genres that was most prolific in advertising was the soft drink market.  In the decades from the late 1800s through the 1940s and 50s, companies created countless artistic and creative signs, calendars, and other advertising premiums to promote their product, which today are highly sought after for their decorative qualities as well as their artistry and collectability.  Companies like Coca-Cola understood the effectiveness of using celebrities and/or beautiful women in their promotion.  A serving tray from 1901 picturing model, actress and singing star Hilda Clark writing a letter among a bouquet of flowers is expected to bring $1,500-2,000.  A rare framed Coca-Cola festoon picturing a pair of lovely ladies beneath an umbrella comes estimated for $1,500-2,000.  An unusual die-cut cardboard shelf sitter shows a classic 1940s-50s young lady lying on her belly enjoying a bottle of Dr. Pepper.  A great piece in strong condition, it carries an estimate of $1,300-1,500.
In addition to the two-dimensional, functional store items like syrup dispensers make for marvelous display items.  Included in this auction will be two figural pump dispensers from Wards, their lemon and the scarcer lime, carrying estimates of $600-900 and $1,000-1,500, respectively.  A most unusual example for Wine Coca, the lesser known precursor to Coca-Cola is estimated for $3,000-5,000.  And a large wooden figural Moxie bottle cooler is estimated for $1,500-3,000.
Non-soda advertising includes early celluloid on tin signs for such products as Ingram’s salve, picturing a man who appears to have just had a painful shop accident.  A graphic yet appealing piece, it comes estimated for $1,500-2,500.  A scarce Victorian litho for Chichester Chemical Co. of an elegant well-dressed woman standing beside a stock ticker, getting the latest report on her investments is a terrific go-with for classic Wall St. related collectors.  It is joined by a fabulous, all-original Western Union ticker tape machine with aged brass components and more style than you can shake a stock at.  It comes complete with its original glass dome and a fluted wooden column pedestal for an estimate of $8,000-10,000 while the litho is estimated for $1,250-1,750.
An amusing chromolithograph on canvas for I.W. Harper whiskey depicting newlyweds heading off to their honeymoon in their roadster, being sent off by well-wishers with a bottle of cheer is expected to bring $1,000-1,500.  A great set of four tin mileage signs by Ithaca Sign Works telling how far to their favorite clothier’s shows dapper folks with exaggerated features and one with a couple in an open automobile enjoying a drive.  The set comes estimated for $3,000-4,000.
The diversity continues with a most unusual counter display for Sapolin paint.  The shadowbox utilizes a fancy frame painted with Sapolin paint in which is an interchangeable insert that is backlit by natural light.  Pictured are wild fantasy scenes of gnomes using the paint to color the natural world, humorously suggesting to the viewer that the reason rainbows and woodland creatures are so vibrant is because of their amazing product.  Truly a fun piece, it comes with an estimate of $1,500-2,000.  A rare die-cut tin rocking display picturing Buster Brown with his trusty dog Tige is estimated for $1,750-2,250.
Other unusual pieces include scarce shopping bag from 1962 screen printed with Andy Warhol’s iconic Campbell’s soup can.  Only a limited number of these were created, with even fewer surviving.  This example comes with an estimate of $800-1,200.  And an early papier mache Planters Mr. Peanut costume for openings and other mascot appearances is estimated for $300-500.
Salesman samples, always a popular advertising collectible that Julia’s specializes in include two outstanding wood and brass Adriance Buckeye sickle bar mowers, each with their original carrying cases.  Depicting slight variations of the company’s evolving line and they exhibit exceptional craftsmanship and detail.  It’s no surprise these works are so highly sought after.  Each is conservatively estimated for $4,000-6,000 apiece.  Also up for bid are two salesman sample Oliver chilled plows.  Both are fresh to the market and while both are desirable, one boasts perhaps the finest original condition one could hope to find with original red paint and stenciling that will knock your socks off.  They come estimated for $5,000-7,000 and $3,000-4,000, respectively.  Other salesman samples will include a miniature working model of a single row cultivator with large spoked wooden wheels and brass tipped plow blades.  It is expected to bring $2,000-3,000.
The sale is rounded out in part by a variety of coin-operated arcade, gambling, and vending machines for one’s gameroom.  Recently signed important west coast consignments include a phenomenal Mills Double Dewey floor model slot machine.  Having been in the same collection since the 1970s, it is a terrific example and is estimated for $40,000-60,000.  From the same collection come two versions of the Watling Rol-a-Top.  The cornucopia top casting had both fruit and cascading coins.  Depending on your tastes, you could be the proud owner of one or both machines with estimates of $4,000-6,000 apiece.  From other collections, an all-original Busy Bee cigar store trade stimulator comes fresh to the market from a New York State home.  The consignor remembers going to the cigar store with her grandfather and recalls seeing this machine.  When the store closed, her grandfather bought the machine.  It now comes estimated for $8,000-10,000.  A rare bicycle themed trade stimulator by Sun Manufacturing Co. was able to circumvent gambling laws by not rewarding cash prizes.  This desirable piece comes estimated for $8,000-10,000.  Vending includes a Baker Boy gumball machine with an animated character inside that dispenses the gum. It carries a $4,000-5,000 estimate.  A diminutive early Columbus L-shaped penny gum machine is a rare find.  Because of its size, it was easily stolen and destroyed by enterprising thieves, so few exist today.  With a great look, it comes estimated for $1,000-1,500.
Other coin-op includes a classic Wurlitzer 1015 jukebox.  This quintessential model known as the bubbler for its trademark lighted bubble tubes comes from the west coast collection with a $3,000-5,000 estimate.  It is joined by its seldom seen Wurlitzer roulette wheel remote wall mount speaker, coming in with an estimate of $1,500-2,500.  Music machines continue with a selection of disc and cylinder boxes including a tabletop Reginaphone.  These transitional pieces had the ability to play both 20-3/4” pierced metal discs and records with a quick attachment.  The added versatility was a popular option in the day.  This example with a cupola top comes with a $3,000-6,000 estimate.  A highly elaborate Symphonion Rococo disc playing music box carved with scenes of cherubs and courtly dancers carries expectations of $2,500-4,500.
Other auction highlights include a collection of nearly 200 Victorian figural napkin rings from a Michigan collector.  Running the gamut of Greenaway children, animals ranging from exotic to domestic, to mythological creatures and cherubs, and more these accessories for the affluent come fresh to the market and will be sold individually and in small lots ranging in the low to mid-hundreds and up.  Also included will be numerous combination sets if you want your napkin rings to do more than just hold napkins.  An unusual and early pre-spinning class Narragansett exercise bike with cast iron frame and original hardware is accompanied by its lollipop gauge that tracks ones progress as they pedal away the pounds.  The duo is expected to bring $2,000-3,000.  Stylish items of interest from the early and mid-20th century include a spectacular 1920s-30s era carbon microphone by General Sound Equipment.  Its nickel finish and golden age silver screen presence make for a stunning display item.  It comes estimated for $1,000-1,500.  And to complete your Mad Men décor, you will need a vintage 1950s Philco Predicta television.  Its futuristic bubble tube sits atop a stylish tower speaker base; it comes estimated for $500-1,000.
This auction will be preceded by Julia’s summer fine glass & lamp auction taking place June 17 & 18 that will feature Tiffany, Handel, Galle, and much more.  Additional information can be obtained by going to Julia’s website at www.jamesdjulia.com or calling 207-453-7125.  Free full-color brochures will be available, or their lavish, full-color, detailed and illustrated catalogs will be available for $39.  Previews for the auctions will be Tuesday, June 16 from 9am-5pm, Wednesday through Friday from 8-10 am before each auction session at Julia’s auction facilities on Rt. 201 in Fairfield, Maine.
0488-J Julia 06-15 Toys
James Julia Announces Toy & Doll Auction, June 19th