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. - At the heart of Dan Morphy Auctions' 1,300-lot July 16-17 Premier Auction is a collection of mostly mint/boxed toys that has flown under the radar for nearly three decades. Running the gamut from European, early American and Japanese toys to pressed steel, pedal cars and even two actual hot rods, the collection was amassed by retired California architect and Victorian home restorer Michael O'Hearn. It will be offered at auction "unpicked and in its entirety," said auction company CEO Dan Morphy.

Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.

"Very few people have even heard of this truly exceptional collection," said Morphy. "Mr. O'Hearn never sold a toy; he only bought, and in each of the 46 categories of his collection, he kept the emphasis on condition. All of the O'Hearn toys are a strong 9 out of 10 or better."

SHELTON, Conn. - Lloyd Ralston Gallery Inc. will deliver a fun-filled toy auction of nearly 500 lots on Saturday, June 12, beginning at 10 a.m. Eastern. Up for bids is a diverse selection of vintage toys and trains. LiveAuctioneers will provide Internet live bidding.

There are many tin toys and cap guns along with die-cast, slush, rubber, cast-iron and pressed steel vehicles. Trains include Lionel in prewar and postwar and Marklin in HO & O gauge and modern 1 gauge.

Three 1 gauge Rheingold cars make up one of the most coveted lots in the auction. The original cars have been independently verified as originals. Each is 22 inches long and in excellent condition. The estimate for the set is $10,000-$15,000.

NEW HOPE, Pa. - Whether the object of their fascination is Old Master paintings or baseball cards, collectors agree on one point: knowledge is king. And it was knowledge that led to a very sweet return for the consignor of a Marklin gauge 1 train set in Noel Barrett's $955,000 Spring Auction held on May 1-2 in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

The top-selling lot - comprised of a Marklin American steam profile 0-4-0 clockwork locomotive with tender, boxcar and two passenger cars with hinged lids - was hand painted in a scarce maroon and red color scheme. "The consignor bought it cheaply on eBay, where it sat for two or three days before the seller accepted a ‘buy it now' price - the seller wasn't sure the paint was original, but the buyer suspected it was both correct and unusual. He was right," said auction house owner and Antiques Roadshow appraiser Noel Barrett.

Barrett is an antique train expert who is known for having auctioned one of the most famous train collections of all time, that of the late Disney animator Ward Kimball. There are few examples of trains he has not either brokered through his auctions or viewed in private collections. Barrett said that even from looking at photographs of the potential consignment, he immediately knew the Marklin train was not a repaint. Once the consignment was actually in his hands, Barrett was able to positively confirm its authenticity.

 VINELAND, N.J. - Auctioneers have learned to cope with a myriad of meteorological challenges year round, from bone-chilling blizzards to terrifying tornados, but the last thing Jeanne Bertoia and her team expected to deal with over the weekend of April 16-17 was a volcanic eruption.

A cloud of ash drifting from the Eyjafjallajökull volcano in Iceland, which had erupted twice in less than amonth, enshrouded much of Europe in the 48 hours prior to Bertoia’s sale of the Donald Kaufman collection, part III. The volcanic ash forced the cancellation of many flights and disrupted air traffic across northern Europe, stranding thousands of passengers. Among them were toy collectors with plans to attend the 3,700-lot sale at Bertoia’s Vineland, N.J., gallery.

“Most of the Euros made it outjust before the cancellations, although [noted author and toy historian] David Pressland was one of the travelers stranded in London,” said Jeanne Bertoia. “Fortunately, we were able to move quickly to accommodate anyone who requested a last-minute phone line.Many others bid live via the Internet [through LiveAuctioneers.com], so no one was left out.” The auction went on to gross $2.38 million; all prices quoted in this report include 15% buyer’s premium.

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. 

DENVER, Pa. – A show of force from European steam toy buyers, several of whom flew in to bid in person, drove Morphy Auctions’ Wintersale beyond the $2 million mark (inclusive of 15% buyer’s premium) over theweekend of Dec. 10-12, 2009. Part I of the extensive Pat and Lowell Wagner lifetime collection of antique steam engines and toys – abundantly stocked with examples by Marklin, Weeden, Doll et Cie., and Bing – proved an alluring drawcard, especially to German enthusiasts. 

“There were at least 100 people specifically pursuing the steam toys, including three or four Germans who were very active bidders,” said Dan Morphy, owner and chief operating officer of Dan Morphy Auctions. “One thing I found surprising was that Europeans who collect steam toys also buy the full-size steam engines – they appreciate both categories. That’s not typically the case with American steam toy collectors.” 

SHELTON, Conn. – Veteran film editor Bob Blake, nominated for Emmys for his work on the sprawling TV series Dynasty and Bonanza, built an immense collection of toy cars and trucks to the point he has run out of room. Lloyd Ralston Gallery will sell part one of the Bob Blake Toy Vehicle Collection on Nov. 21. The auction will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding.

Starting in the 1970s, Blake rounded up American cars and trucks by all manufacturers and all materials – cast iron, pressed steel, lithographed tin, die cast, rubber hard plastic and more.

Among the most impressive toys in his collection are the showy lithographed tin automobiles of the 1950s. A 1950 Cadillac convertible by Gama of West Germany is 12 inches long and carries two composition figures. Like new in the original box, which has minor wear, this friction-powered classic car has a $2,000-$2,500 estimate.