NEW MARKET, TN – John W. Coker is a Tennessee auctioneer better known for his sales of fine and decorative art, but when the opportunity arose to handle two outstanding toy and lunchbox collections – each from a collector of 40+ years – he jumped at the chance. More than 100 cardboard boxes later, Coker knew he had the makings [...]
BY STEVE BUTLER CONDITION, APPEAL AND SCARCITY are the three primary criteria for new additions to my toy collection. Featured herein are two new recruits which scored highly at least on the first and third criteria. One is mint/boxed and the other rated about excellent with at least the remains of the original box – so much for condition. As [...]
THE SUMMER HEAT MAY VERY WELL carry into November with equally heated bidding at the Rich Penn Auction Event. Held at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, IA on November 4, 5 & 6, the three day auction event will include 1,500 lots, all without reserve. According to Penn, “This is one of the strongest and most diverse auctions [...]
BY JACK HERBERT INTRODUCED IN England in 1935 by Tri-Ang, a frabjous (yes, that’s a real word!) line of small, tinplate vehicles called Minics filled an obvious need in the toy world. The cars, lorries, and commercial vehicles were just a tad larger than the prevalent diecast vehicles of that time. They were from 4″ to 7″, but had the [...]
BY STEVE BUTLER THE 1950S seems to have been the golden era of dream cars. At least that was my impression at the time. Exquisite examples were produced by all of the major U.S. manufacturers with the most notable issues from General Motors. Theirs at least seemed to have been reduced in toy form more than others. Included were the [...]
