CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - The creators of the original teddy bear, Steiff, announced today that there will a grand opening celebration of the first Steiff Gallery in America on Aug. 5 at Simon's Atrium Mall in Chestnut Hill (Boston), Massachusetts. 

"It is our goal to make this store a wonderful destination and introduce Steiff to a whole new generation," says Jim Pitocco, President of Steiff North America.

To celebrate the opening, nine priceless treasures from the Steiff Museum and Archives in Germany will be on display from Aug. 5-19 only. Included in the display will be the first modern teddy bear ever made - the famous "Richard Steiff" bear. This is the first time this teddy will have ever been shown in the United States.

NEW HOPE, Pa. – Noel Barrett has spent the last several months preparing a spring treat to boost the spirits of winter-weary collectors. His May 1-2 auction, comprised of 1,200 choice lots of early toys and other compatible categories of antiques, is led by the renowned Americana and advertising collection of the late Gordon Stark of Kansas City. Other important highlights include the Japanese boat and car collection of the late William F.“Bill” Weart, selected toys from the Kathy and Athel Spilhaus collection, and a diverse array of other select consignments from various individuals. LiveAuctioneers will provide the Internet live bidding.

“What I like so much about this sale is that it includes an extremely wide variety of material. There isn’t an overwhelming amount of anyone thing,” said auction house owner and Antiques Roadshow appraiser Noel Barrett. “Originally this was going to be a mixed toy sale till the Stark collection came along. Also, because I didn’t have a fall sale in 2009, I was able to be a little more selective about what to include in this sale. The result is a visually exciting mix that will appeal to a diverse cross-section of collectors.”

The keynote Gordon Stark collection encompasses many forms of early advertising – colorfully lithographed tin signs and trays,three-dimensional figures, fixtures and trade signs. “Gordon Stark was a revered, old-time collector of Americana and advertising, and it is his lifetime collection that we are selling,” Barrett noted. “It is quite obvious that he viewed each of the objects in his collection as art.”

 

DENVER, Pa. - Dan Morphy Auctions will pack 2,100 quality lots into a big two-day sale, Feb. 26 and 27, 2010, at the company's state of the art gallery on the Adamstown antique strip. The main categories in the auction are historical antiques, firearms and militaria, jewelry, toys and antique advertising. All forms of bidding will be available, including live via the Internet. 

The Friday session opens with more than 150 lots of fine jewelry and Bakelite from a single estate. All types of jewelry will be offered, including rings, necklaces, earrings, watches and brooches. Among the highlights are an 18K gold bracelet with turquoise stones, a 14K gold bracelet with diamonds, and many other gold Victorian-era fine jewelry designs. 

FAIRFIELD, Maine - James D. Julia ended the 2009 auction season with a bang. As part of a three-three-day auction event, Julia's combined the efforts of Julia's advertising, toy and doll division head Andrew Truman and glass and lamp department head Dudley Browne in an outstanding array of quality antiques. Rare heirlooms and treasures were offered from some of the finest collections and private homes in the country.

Bidder confidence seemed to be on the rise again, suggesting an upturn in the economy, said Julia. Collectors were treated to a marvelous selection of fine French dolls including some exquisite examples from a Midwest collector. Seldom seeing the market was an outstanding 20-inch 200-series Crying Jumeau. This lifelike character with mouth agape and eyes wrung with ill humor went to a bidder in attendance for $37,375. From the same collection came two considerable 35-inch Jumeau 16's with blue paperweight eyes. They sold for $3,737 and $3,450 against estimates of $2,000-$3,000 apiece. A slightly larger 41-inch Handwerck 79 brought $4,312 versus the same expectations of $2,000-3,000.

Other examples included a gorgeous 19-inch French Schmitt bebe with pale bisque, deep blue paperweight eyes, and sublime expression. Wearing an antique burgundy dress, she changed hands at the upper end of the estimate for $12,075. Also included were several lovely examples by Leon Casimir Bru such as a 14-inch fully articulated wood body fashion. Having been tucked away in a private collection for many years and including a number of original outfits, she sold within expectations for $6,612.

COLOGNE, Germany - Toy specialists Antico Mondo's auction no. 43 on Dec. 12 will contain more than 1,500 lots of mostly 20th-century toys of all kinds. LiveAuctioneers.com will provide Internet live bidding. The auction will begin Saturday at 9 a.m. Central European Time, 3 a.m. Eastern.

The auctioneers will warm up by starting with approximately 115 lots of boxed Matchbox vehicles. More than 50 of those lots will have multiple items. About 180 boxed Corgi toys will follow.

Car collectors will have their pick of several rare tin windups. One Tipp Co. model has become known as the Eva Braun Sedan Car. In its plain original box, the car is expected to sell for between $20,000 and $33,000. Antico Mondo claims that it is one of only two known examples.

Another prize is a Marklin's prewar Central Station with Side-Hall and Bell (2651) for 0 gauge. The beautifully detailed tin structure carries a $19,400-$31,800 estimate.