Models, Toys, Dolls & Games

Bumper collection of the 18th century creations sold at auction 42 years ago re-emerges in south London

It was on March 1, 1849 that Nathaniel Cook, the editor of the Illustrated London News, registered the design that would provide the ancient and cosmopolitan game of chess with its first standardised set.

The importance of an original box in good condition to the value of a toy is well known. But what about a display without any toy in sight, box or no box?

This rare 1880s Jean Roullet ‘Le Berger Watteau’ shepherdess with lamb automaton starred when the second part of one of the largest doll collections on offer in recent times went under the hammer.

Toy specialist Lankes (25% buyer’s premium) in Döhlau, Germany auctioned the extensive inventory of the private museum in Prague belonging to Ivan Steiger, who is equally well-known as a caricaturist and a collector of toys.

Thousands of items are available to buy from dealers online. Here we pick out one that caught our eye this week.

Snappy the Happy Bubble Blowing Dragon is a scarce battery-operated toy made by Marx in Japan in the 1960s.

Canadian saleroom offers 180 lots from group amassed by a big fan of the German toymaker

As with many 1980s toys, the Thundercats range was produced to accompany a TV or film series.

What Special Auction Services (20% buyer’s premium) in Newbury billed as “the largest and most valuable doll collection to been seen at auction for 25 years” went under the hammer on February 22 with a further slice to come in April.

New York auctioneer remembers Ann and Gordon Getty as the latest lots come to market

Bear in mind 'Hugglets Bear Festival: The World of Teddy Bears' which runs on Sunday February 25 at Kensington Town Hall in London W8.

Special Auction Services is selling what it bills as ‘the largest and most valuable doll collection to been seen at auction for 25 years’.