Pook & Pook Antique Toys Auction December 3

DOWNINGTON, PA - Collectors of antique toys and games will get the chance to take home items from yet another signature assemblage of playthings, thanks to Pook & Pook's December 3 sale.

The auction house is again teaming up with antiques toy expert Noel Barrett to offer quality toys, board games and dolls from the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, as well as vintage arcade games and all manner of unusual objects including advertising signs, salesmen samples, unique models, coin operated devices, early store fixtures and ice cream scoops, including the elusive heart-shaped version, estimated between $3,000-$5,000.

More than 400 lots from several key collections are set to cross the auction block starting at 9 a.m. Eastern.

A scarce Ives lithographed paper on wood baseball player ball toss target, with fabric target pouches in backs, 22-1/4" h, 14" w. This is the first example the auction house has seen. Estimate: $3,000-$5,000. Courtesy of Pook & Pook

Highlights include part two of the Bud and Judy Newman board game collection featuring more than 250 lots, many with multiple games in a lot. This second offering, just as the first sale did in April, offers up an amazing variety of colorful lithographed games and puzzles. Buddy was an omnivorous collector - if it was a great game, he often couldn’t resist buying a second. There are a number of duplicates in this offering including some of the real stars of the last sale, among them McLoughlin's The World’s Game of Baseball, which hammered down for $15,000 in April.

Reed lithographed paper on wood "The Royal Guards" soldier set pull toy, mounted and marching form soldiers, and two cannons which fit into a wood wheeled scissor platform base, 13" x 11", from the collection of Diane and Steve Olin. Estimate: $800-$1,200. Courtesy of Pook & Pook

Adding to the Newmans' pieces will be a select group of games from the late Steve Olin’s collection. His games went to auction in 2008 but his wife Dianne kept some of their favorites. Included from are some scare lithographed paper-on-wood toys and a significant group of the colorful and rare English folding paper-on-linen games from the early 1800s.

Another grouping of toys from the Bill and Stevie Weart collection will also be on offer. Known primarily for cast iron toys, Stevie’s consignments include an Orkin Cabin Cruiser in amazing condition as well as and an all original example of the much sought after Lionel standard gauge Blue Comet.

Orkin painted tin clockwork cabin cruiser boat, retaining compass over steering wheel, original key and mast, 32" l from the collection of Bill and Stevie Weart. Estimate: $1,000-$1,200. Courtesy of Pook & Pook

The sale includes a variety of items from collectors throughout the United States, as well as long-held family treasures and recently found pieces. A highlight in this category, found in an attic in Denver, Colorado, is an amazing baseball toy, "The Champion Base Ball Catcher," in the 1893 Ives, Blakeslee & Williams catalog. This could be the only known example and should certainly be an “all-star” in the world of baseball games.

Live saleroom, in-house absentee, and phone bidding are available for this auction, with online bidding on Bidsquare.com and Invaluable.com. Exhibition times at 463 E. Lancaster Ave, Downingtown, PA 19335, are Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST and Friday from 8-9 a.. EST. If you have questions about the lots in this auction, email conditions@pookandpook.com or call (610) 269-4040 to speak with an appraiser. For more information and to see lots, visit pookandpook.com.