Rare Toys Top Auction

An unassuming model locomotive sold for £9,000 (hammer price) in Tennants Auctioneers’ Toys, Models, Collectables and Sporting Sale on 24^th July, selling to a European buyer after a fierce bidding war. The very early Marklin O Gauge locomotive and tender, made before World War I, but it was its link to a British railway that made it all the more appealing. Tennants specialist Kegan Harrison said of the lot: ‘these locomotives were made in Germany and were usually sold painted in generic colours, but this was a very rare example as it carried the colours of a British railway line, the London North Western Railway. This rarity certainly spiked the interest of collectors.’

Another rarity came in the form of a charming mechanical toy in the form of an elephant topped by a grand figure seated on a cushion, which sold for £2,700. The early friction-wound model was made by Britains Toys, however, it is thought that it may be rather smaller than other known examples and increasing it’s appeal to serious collectors.

Amongst other high prices in a very buoyant sale were rare model Alfa Romeo P2 cars by Compagnie Industrielle Du Jouet (CIJ), the Holy Grail for toy car collectors. Evoking the spirit of inter-war Grand Prix racing, the models were also masterpieces of miniature toy engineering. A silver economy version of the P2 was sold for £5,000, and a green version of the famous model was sold for £1,200.

Vintage advertising smashed pre-sale estimates too, particularly a collection that had been discovered in the attic if a building on Commercial Street, Harrogate, during a recent building project. The premises had formerly been the home of J.B. Swallow, Grocery and Provision Store, and the signage related to household essentials such as soap, starch, cocoa, sweets and sauces. The collection, which was split into seven lots, sold for a combined hammer price of £9,650.

The earliest lot in the sale, and the top lot of the Sporting section, was a rare 18^th century pot-bellied fishing creel, which sold for £3,600. Made of leather and elaborately decorated tooled designs and brass fittings, the good condition and rich patina helped double the pre-sale estimate.

The sale resulted in a total Hammer Price of £88,830 with 86% of the 423 lots sold.

View Results

We are currently accepting lots for the next sale of Toys, Models, Collectables & Sporting on 27^th November