European toys line up for Milestone’s Dec. 10 auction

Above: Beautiful 16in Carette (Germany) limousine, early transition version of lithographed tin with rubber tires. All original including the four original lamps and beveled glass. A stunning example. Estimate $8,000-$12,000

WILLOUGHBY, Ohio – Are you a European antique toy fan? If so, you won’t want to miss Milestone’s December 10 Winter Toy Extravaganze.

The 873-lot auction is brimming with rare European tin toys, and who better to lead the parade than Mickey Mouse, who never seems to age even though he just turned 94 years old. Milestone is proud to present in its December 10 auction a Disney classic: a rare, original and complete Distler Mickey Mouse Organ Grinder (Hurdy-Gurdy) with the unheard addition of its original pictorial box. In excellent condition with bright colors and wonderful graphics, the German-made toy qualifies for the description of “museum quality” and is offered with a $25,000-$35,000 estimate.

Also by Distler, the comical tin windup Directional Policeman car in all-original working condition is so rare, even Milestone’s toy specialists have never seen another one like it. With a rich palette of colors and graphics exhibiting all sort of vehicles, people, dogs and driving-related symbols, this incredibly rare toy could reach $10,000-$15,000 on auction day.

Other European tin highlights include an all-original, boxed Lehmann (Germany) windup “Snick Snack” depicting a well-dressed gentleman walking two dogs on “leashes,” $8,000-$10,000; and a Victor Bonnet (France, successor to Fernand Martin) “Madelon Casseuse D’Assiettes,” a tin windup maid in cloth attire who struggles to keep a stack of tin plates from toppling over. Like the Lehmann Snick Snack, Madelon is in excellent condition and retains its scarce original box. Estimate: $1,500-$2,000

The grand marshal of the European automotive lineup is a beautiful 16-inch Carette (Germany) limousine. It’s an early transition version made of lithographed tin with rubber tires, and it’s so amazingly original, it even has its four original lamps and beveled glass. This head-turning toy is estimated at $8,000-$12,000.

This is just a sampling of what you’ll find in the sale, which will be held at the company’s gallery located at 38198 Willoughby Parkway, Willoughby (suburban Cleveland), OH 44094. Start time: 10 a.m. ET. All forms of remote bidding will be available, including absentee and live online through Milestone’s bidding platform or LiveAuctioneers. For additional information on any item in the sale, call 440-527-8060 or email info@milestoneauctions.com. Online: www.milestoneauctions.com