VINELAND, N.J. - If there were a World Cup for antique toys, the name engraved on the trophy quite likely would be that of K-B Toys co-founder and toy collector extraordinaire Donald Kaufman. The late Mr. Kaufman's incomparable array of antique and vintage toys - a blue-ribbon panoply of pre- and postwar production - has fascinated and seduced hobbyists the world over since Bertoia Auctions' 2008 announcement that the collection was to be sold.

 With three Kaufman auctions from the ongoing series now completed and the $9.3 million subtotal confirmed as the highest amount ever achieved at auction by a single-owner antique toy collection, it's time for collectors to assume a "now or never" mindset, said Bertoia Auctions' owner Jeanne Bertoia.

"It's hard to believe that so much of the collection has been sold, but we're now in the midst of planning part four of the collection, which will be auctioned on September 24th and 25th," Jeanne said. "The two-day session will represent the last of the European autos from Don's collection - this is it - but I think everyone is going to be very pleased to see that the quality of the European autos in part four is just as strong as in the previous sessions. We planned it that way." Jeanne noted that in spring of 2011 there will be a final, one-day sale to conclude the auction of the Kaufman toys, but that particular session will not include European toy vehicles.

DENVER, Pa. - Worldwide competition for a high-end collection of antique toys resulted in a million-dollar gross at Morphy's on July 16-17 as the central Pennsylvania auction house presented the 28-year collection of retired California architect Michael O'Hearn. Internet live bidding was provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.

"Interest in the O'Hearn collection, and in all of the toy consignments for that matter, was fierce," said auction house owner Dan Morphy. "The gallery was busy all day with in-house bidders, and we had the largest number of Internet bidders in Morphy's history." The final tally for the 1,354-lot sale was $1,050,000. All prices quoted are inclusive of 15% buyer's premium.

A futuristic postwar Japanese friction racer known as the Atom Jet, measuring an impressive 25½ inches long, commanded a strong price due to its originality and excellent condition. Against an estimate of $4,000-$8,000 the bizarre, dorsal-finned vehicle finished in a mint green color sped across the finish line at $15,500.

DENVER, Pa. - In what will be one of the company's largest sales to date, Dan Morphy Auctions will offer 3,000 lots of antiques from fresh-to-market collections in a May 13-15, 2010 Spring sale, with Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com. Morphy's will enter exciting new territory with its offering of more than 300 lots of authentic African tribal art from a 40-year collection amassed by an Ohio private collector.

Among many other featured categories, the auction will also contain 300 lots of advertising and coin-operated machines, 250 examples of fine and decorative art, 70 lots of napkin rings, part III of the Pat and Lowell Wagner steam toy/steam engine collection, and an outstanding collection of rare occupational shaving mugs.  Additionally, the toy section will incorporate 70 dolls, 30 mechanical banks and 300 lots of early Mattel Hot Wheels vehicles - one of the largest groupings of its type to reach the auction marketplace.

Following tradition, the auction will open with a fine selection of marbles. The 60-lots to be sold include a boxed set of 25 Christensen agate "Guinea" marbles, estimated at $8,000-$12, 000, and many handmade onionskins, Lutzes and sulphides. Top sulphide lots include a painted number "3" and a tricolor painted rooster.

VINELAND, N.J. - The dreams of thousands of toy collectors worldwide have come true since last March when Bertoia's launched a semiannual series of auctions to disperse the renowned Donald Kaufman Collection. Last September when the hammer fell on the closing lot for part II of the series, the incomparable collection of American, European and Japanese toys had already taken in $7.2 million, with much more to come. But many wondered if the massive Kaufman toy box had finally been depleted of its premier examples. Rich Bertoia, who cataloged much of the Kaufman collection, chuckled at the thought of the ultimate wellspring of antique toys running dry. 

"If you liked parts I and II, you'll love part III," he said. "It's absolutely the same high level of quality plus there's the added attraction of part I of Don's wonderful comic character toys. The only difference collectors will note this time around is that, sadly, Don will not be with us." Donald Kaufman passed away on Oct. 12, 2009, knowing his toys were in the best of hands at Bertoia's, and delighted that so many had already gone to fellow collectors in dozens of countries. 

The third installment of the ongoing series, which will take place on Friday and Saturday, April 16 and 17, 2010, at Bertoia Auctions' gallery in Vineland, N.J., will feature Internet live bidding through LiveAuctioneers.com. Collectors can expect to see a diverse mix of classic cast-iron, pressed-steel, comic character and European toys in superior condition. "There was only one way that Don liked his toys - factory fresh, or very close to it," said Rich. 

SHELTON, Conn. - Lloyd Ralston Gallery will present part 2 of the diverse vehicle collection of Bob Blake on Feb. 13 at Ralston's facility at 549 Howe Ave. Live Auctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.

Blake, the Emmy-nominated TV and film editor, began collecting toys in the 1970s. Included in the sale will be cast iron, lithographed tin, die cast, hard plastic and rubber vehicles. Hubley, Arcade, Champion, Dent, A.C. Williams, Marx, Paya, Corgi, Dinky, Tekno, Birk, Sabra, Solido, Cherryca Phenix and Tootsietoy are some of the toy makers represented along with Japanese manufacturers.

The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern with the sale of a Corgi 262 Lincoln Continental Limousine in its original display box. Rated at C9, the car already has multiple bids.

Among the top items in the auction Saturday is a Tootsietoy Buck Rogers 25th Century Rocket Ships set complete in its original box. In C8 condition, it carries a $4,000-$6,000 estimate.

DENVER, Pa. – The most convincing proof that quality Americana finds its buyers in any market condition came on Oct. 8-10 at Dan Morphy Auctions’ Fall Sale, which featured the revered Joseph and Lilian Shapiro Americana and folk art collection.

“The sale did over $1.5 million (inclusive of 15 percent buyer's premium), and the usual factors came into play – rarity and condition,” said Morphy's owner and CEO, Dan Morphy. “We specialize in genuinely fresh to the market collections that have been held for many years. When the quality is there and the antiques legitimately have not been available to the public for several decades, the collectors don't hold back. They buy.”

Antique advertising signs, salesman's samples and an extraordinary collection of decorative 19th-century folk art “bride sticks” (implements once used to push down laundry into washing water) generated tremendous presale interest. A beautiful 1890s paper sign advertising Soapine Soap, which previously had been displayed in the president's office at Kendall Manufacturing in Providence, Rhode Island, hit the midpoint of its estimate at $17,250. “It was a rare and spectacular example,” Morphy noted.

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. - The Fall ’09 Online Vintage Toy & Collectible Auction is being touted as among the most impressive and diverse online auctions of its kind in years and a spectacular opportunity for collectors to bid on an expansive range of classic toys and memorabilia with no reserve prices.

Registration and bidding for the Fall ’09 Online Vintage Toy & Collectible Auction from Serious Toyz is already under way. The sale offers collectors an unparalleled selection of superior vintage toys and collectibles. The auction ends Friday, Oct. 9, at 10 p.m. Eastern for Part One (Character and Classic Toys, 504 lots), and Saturday, Oct. 10, at 10 p.m. Eastern for Part Two (Toy Vehicles, 576 lots). LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding. The online auction is also found at www.serioustoyz.com.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Schmidt's Antiques will wind up their Schmidt's Market Sunday auction June 21 with a single-owner collection of 24 tin litho toys. The antique auction will be held in conjunction with the Ann Arbor Antiques Market at the Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

WYKOFF, Minn. - Sometimes between April 28 and May 4, someone broke into Ed's Museum in downtown Wykoff, Minn., and made off with a number of antique toys.