Museum-quality collectibles star in Sept. 29 auction

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – For Josh Levine, auctioneer and owner of J. Levine Auction & Appraisal, oddities are his favorite part of the business. So, when he learned of more than 10,000 vintage toys and an impressive collection of 18 classic and antique cars from one consignor housed near a small, rural Arizona desert town, he jumped at the opportunity to have his Scottsdale auction house represent the estate. As a result of his efforts, J. Levine Auction will be selling a host of museum-quality collectibles September 29.

The museum-quality collectibles, belonging to the late Fred Goulden and his wife, Elaine, will be sold during “The World’s Largest Car & Toy Auction.” The collection is so large, J. Levine will spread it out over a series of three-day auctions taking place at the end of September, October, November and December.

The first three-day auction takes place on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 29, 30 and October 1 at J. Levine, located at 10345 N. Scottsdale Rd., in Scottsdale, on the southeast corner of Shea Boulevard and Scottsdale Road. Doors open at 9 a.m. with the auctions starting at 11 a.m. Pacific Time each day.

“Many car collectors know that Fred and Elaine Goulden housed their massive collection of cars, along with their antique trains, model airplanes and other vintage toys in two large buildings in Coolidge and Miami, Arizona,” Josh Levine said.

Highlights from Goulden’s car collection include a 1914 Studebaker; 1927 Cadillac 7 Passenger Touring; 1931 Cadillac four-door sedan; 1934 Ford sedan; 1936 Ford Roadster; 1936 Ford Woody station wagon; 1939 Mercury two-door coupe; 1941 Cadillac four-door sedan; 1947 Lincoln Continental two-door convertible; 1949 Ford Woody two-door station wagon; 1956 Ford Fairlane Sunliner two-door convertible; and a 1956 Ford Fairlane Victoria two-door coupe, among others.

The September auction also will include fine estate collectibles from other consignors, including an original Charles M. Russell oil painting, “Montana’s Majesty,” that belonged to Steve Rose, former owner of Biltmore Gallery in Scottsdale. Another highlight includes a Clark Mills plaster cast from the original plaster life-mask of President Abraham Lincoln, taken in the White House on February 11, 1865. Lincoln sat for two life-masks, one by sculptor Leonard Volk in April 1860 and the other by sculptor Clark Mills, taken two months before Lincoln's assassination. Mills’ mask is the only presidential life mask that portrays Lincoln's entire head, as Volk had left the back open

The auction will also include petroliana such as antique gas pumps, original porcelain signage, and full oil cans.

The Arizona couple also collected hundreds of toy trains from every era, cruiser bikes, Coca-Cola memorabilia, remote control planes, speedy scooters, soldier figurines, hundreds of Matchbox cars, Star Wars collectibles, and many other vintage toys that will be sold in the auction.

For more information, visit www.worldslargestauction.com or www.jlevines.com, or call 480-496-2212.