Toy Auction Rings Up Record Prices

An early Märklin hand-painted musical carousel knocked down for $120,000, and a circa-1912-1915 Marklin Series II clockwork-driven model of the “Battleship Brooklyn” achieved $90,000, at 
Bertoia’s recent auction of the Martin and 
Deborah Maloy Collection.

The Maloy collection was gathered over a period of 60 years and grew into a world-class assemblage of European tin toys, autos and boats, biscuit tins, Märklin and other rare 
European trains, early Ives trains and 
accessories, airplanes, wind-up toys, and more. The collection was the entire focus of the 
400-lot auction, which totaled more than $1.6 million.

The early Märklin musical carousel was the overall top lot of the auction, selling near the high end of its estimate. It was finely crafted and hand-painted with ornate railings, a decorative lamp globe, and the original striped canopy. The carousel revolved, and a music box played from the base. It was a museum-quality item and a masterpiece of toymaking.

The Märklin Series II “Battleship Brooklyn” more than doubled its $45,000 estimate to earn runner-up honors. The prize of Marty’s fleet, the large and impressive ship measured 35 in. in length and included the original cradle stand. It truly showcased the master craftsmanship for which Märklin is renowned. It was fabulously preserved and in pristine condition.

In a class of its own, a circa-1840 early American tin locomotive engine by Francis, Field & Francis chugged off to its new home for $27,600, besting the $7,000-high estimate by nearly fourfold. It is said to be the only known example of an important engine that, at 18½ in. long, was one of the largest and earliest American tin toy locomotives ever 
produced.