Mechanical money banks from the collection of Tom Sage Sr are offered on the first day, while mechanical, clockwork and early American tin toys and other novelties from the collection of Dr Gregory Zemenick will span both days. Sandwiched between the two halves of the Zemenick property on June 3 is a session that features early tinplate toys from two well-known German firms: Lehmann and Guntherman.
There are around 50 early hand-painted Guntherman toys on offer, including many rare and desirable examples, such as Maypole Dancers from c.1900 (estimate $7000-9000), and a Little Red Riding Hood taming the wolf (estimate $4500-5500).
A collection of 67 Lehmann toys assembled in the 1980s and ‘90s are mostly in their original boxes, including a version of the highly desirable Boxer Rebellion toy (estimate $18,000-25,000) and a period plaything, above, from c.1890-95. Known as Walking down Broadway, or the Lehmann Family, the firm’s Ernst Paul Lehmann immortalised himself and his wife Martha in this mechanical toy.
It only rarely survives complete with the figures’ original bag, cane and pet dog, while the box has been seen only once before at auction. The estimate is $7500-9500.
