Noel Barrett's Nov. 15-16 auction led by Stan & Priscilla Cypher ...

Tag : folk toys
Written by Auction Central News Staff Sunday, 02 November 2008 13:33
NEW HOPE, Pa. - On Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 15-16, Noel Barrettopens a treasure chest of rare and unusual childhood antiques inhis Fall 2008 auction of 'Toys & Other Things.'
Collectors have become accustomed to the Houdini-like ways withwhich Barrett is able to unearth exquisitely rare antique toys,even within a collecting landscape that has been well trodden. Justwhen collectors think "all the good stuff" is accounted for, alongcomes a great surprise, together with a hefty price realized. Arecent example of the unexpected consignments that can turn up in aBarrett sale is the original Monopoly "tie set" with hand-coloredoilcloth roll-up board that was auctioned on April 12, 2008 for$46,750. Now in its new home - the Strong National Museum of Playin Rochester, N.Y. - it is typical of the rarity and desirabilityconsistently seen in Barrett's sales.
At his Nov. 15-16 auction event, Barrett will present toys fromseveral consignment sources, including the lifetime collections ofa revered New England couple, the late Stan and Priscilla Cypher."Stan was the grand old man of the toy hobby," said Barrett. "Hewas historian of the ATCA, and he and Priscilla were veryknowledgeable and well-liked dealers. The fabulous cast-ironairplanes in this sale, as well as the best of the Marklin 1 and 0gauge trains, are from Stan's collection."
Several other highly refined collections will contribute to thewell-rounded auction offering. Boats, tinplate toys and beautifullylithographed paper-on-wood toys, games and puzzles have come fromthe Andy Lukach collection and one other private collection, whileTucson-based Bernie Resnick's collection filled out manycategories, from Metalcraft pressed-steel trucks and cast-iron toysto Japanese celluloid and comic character toys.
"The variety and quality of Bernie's collection is very impressive,especially considering he bought most of the toys right there inthe Tucson area. Bernie has gone to a few shows over the years, butfor the most part he has flown under the radar." A nice bonus,Barrett noted, is that Tucson enjoys a year-round dry climate,which has been conducive to the "great condition" seen in theResnick toys.
Adding compatible variety to the auction lineup is the fineselection of advertising and folk art from the estate of the lateErnie and Ida Long. "Within it is an amazing grouping of Long'sCovered Wagon Syrup tins and a three-dimensional cardboardadvertising display of two horses pulling the covered wagon withLong's advertising on it," said Barrett. As far as we know, thesmallest of the Long's Syrup Tins in this collection is the onlyone that has ever surfaced at auction."
In terms of individual sale highlights, a top entry is the tinplatedouble Slate Dancer by Wilhelm Krauss. Marked W.K., the toyfeatures two separate, identical figures of the dancing MickeyMouse figure. "It's an unbelievable toy that turned up in Canada,"said Barrett. "I had never seen one before that had the doubledancers."
Another star lot is an Ives Mechanical Boxers toy, with itsoriginal box and paper label. "Again, it's a toy in unbelievablecondition, and one that turned up in an unexpected place for anearly American toy - Australia," said Barrett. "We think it willsell for $8,000 to $10,000." Other Ives toys of note in this saleinclude a scarce see-saw with boy and girl figures, and a livesteam launch with box.
Skittles have always enjoyed a strong following in Noel Barrettsales, and collectors may recall the rare and very charming setcomprised of a camel with Arab-figure skittles that Barrettauctioned in one of the Mary Merritt Toy & Doll Museumsessions. In the November sale, Barrett will offer another camelskittles set, but with a difference: the camel's head nods. The setwas made in Germany and has retains its original paper labeldenoting the country of origin.
The spare but graceful lines of early American tin appeal to manycollectors. The November sale will feature a grouping of thesedesirable toys, highlighted by a Merriam