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Auction of the Century Continues...
Philadelphia, PA, August 27, 2009
Click here to read Part I of this story.
One-of-a-kind antique toys up for auction in Part II of the Donald Kaufman Collection
Auctioned by Bertoia Auctions
(Features a rare Mickey and Minnie on a motorcycle, Buck Rogers, Flash Gordon, and a James Bond Toy Car)Beverly Hills, CA August 20, 2009– The Donald Kaufman Collection is an achievement that may never again be duplicated and allows everyone a once in a lifetime buying opportunity. The collection has, in a word, “museum-quality” toys and will be sold in its entirety over the next few years. Part II of the auction is September 25-26th in Vineland, NJ at Bertoia Auctions. More than 1,100 lots out of over 6000 remaining toys will be offered this fall.
As a testament to the collection’s diversity, this second event will auction off items of childhood nostalgia ranging from a rare Mickey and Minnie Mouse on a Motorcycle, to flashy Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon Collectibles, to James Bond, airplanes, Model T’s and A’s, Fire Trucks, Motorcycles including Harley Davidson, Coca Cola Trucks, pedal cars, game boards, racing cars, futuristic cars and many more. For more information, please visit BertoiaAuctions.com.
The only known boxed example of Tippco’s Mickey and Minnie Mouse on a motorcycle will be one of the toys in the auction. This item, dating from the early 1930s is sure to be a must for both collectors and Disney fans alike, as its appearance marks a now-or-never opportunity for the young at heart to take home a piece of the Disney toy legacy.
For those with more opulent tastes, Part II will feature many beautiful early-20th-century luxury vehicles including the stylish Crawford Biscuit Co. Rolls- Royce Limo. Several of the European cars retain their original boxes, which “adds the exclamation point to the rarity factor,” said Jeanne Bertoia head of Bertoia Auctions. European cars take a prominent place in the auction spotlight as other key pieces include a Bignan Rolls-Royce roadster, and 1905-1910 French and German cars by Distler and Fischer.
Toy types for the dare devils at heart include a wide array of race cars, speedboats, airplanes and motorcycles. During Part II, race cars offered by designers such as Gordon Bennet and Kingsbury promise to be “as good as, or better than, the selection in the first sale,” says Michael Bertoia. The auction also boasts unique categories of cars such as the futuristic Atom Jet Car with a colorful box that may be the only one of its type in existence, and a selection of 17 Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon toys including police guns and helmets.
Donald Kaufman, a co-founder of KB Toys who sold his interest in the company in 1981, is considered a pioneer in the toy hobby, having started his collection nearly 60 years ago. His collection of approximately 7500 toys is being auctioned exclusively in a series of semi-annual sales over the next few years.
Auction Details:
Bertoia’s auction of the Donald Kaufman Collection – Part II will start at 1 p.m. on September 25th, and at 10 a.m. on September 26th. All items will be offered with no reserve. The toys are available for preview the month before the sale, during the week of the actual sale 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 1pm on Friday, and 8am-10am on Saturday. Toys can also be previewed during the sale itself.
Internet bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.com. The full-color hardcover catalog costs $55 postpaid to U.S. addresses and $65 overseas. The catalog may also be viewed online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com or on Bertoia Auctions’ Web site: BertoiaAuctions.com.
Bertoia Auctions is located at 2141 DeMarco Dr., Vineland, NJ 08360 USA. For information or to order catalogs, call 856-692-1881 or e-mail
About Gwynne Gorr
Ms. Gorr joined Franklin in 1986. She has worked in various capacities in operations, business development, and marketing including Director Materials Management, Director International Sourcing, Director Product Development, Vice President Design, Marketing, and Concept, and Director Business Plan Development.
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