YORK, Pa. - On Saturday, Feb. 7, Geppi’s Entertainment Auctions and Dan Morphy will host the 15th edition of the York Antique Toy, Doll, Holiday & Advertising Show at the Memorial Hall, York Fairgrounds, in York, Pa. The semiannual show has developed into a must-do event on collectors’ calendars. Approximately 75 to 100 top-notch dealers from North America and Europe are expected to participate in the upcoming show, which will feature more than 200 tables of select merchandise.

The popular specialty event, which is considered by many to be the East Coast's best antique and vintage toy show, features wide aisles, excellent food service and ample, close-in parking. Some exhibitors drive long distances to sell at Morphy’s show because it’s not a long, drawn-out affair – it’s a one-day event with a seven-hour early buying session the day before.

NEW HOPE, Pa. – Noel Barrett wrapped up a year of estimate-topping auction results with $2.3 million in combined sales from his spring and autumn auction events. Several distinguished private collections had contributed to the $1.54 million gross in Barrett’s April 11-13 Antique Toy & Americana sale, in which a superb carved-wood cigar store Indian earned $77,000 (all prices inclusive of 10 percent buyer’s premium). The company’s Nov. 15-16 auction titled Toys & Other Things included approximately 600 premium lots from the late Stan and Priscilla Cypher, and grossed $770,000 – a full $200,000 more than the total high estimate.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Forrest J Ackerman, the sometime actor, literary agent and magazine editor and full-time bon vivant who discovered author Ray Bradbury and was widely credited with coining the term "sci-fi,'' has died. He was 92.

Ackerman died Dec. 4 of heart failure at his Los Angeles home, said Kevin Burns, head of Prometheus Entertainment and a trustee of Ackerman's estate.

DENVER, Pa. – Morphy Auctions’ remedy for chilly weather is a Dec. 11-13 Winter Sale of 2,900 lots of antique toys, banks, trains and antique advertising, enhanced by the warmth of superior-quality Austrian art-glass lamps and the cheerful colors of vintage Bakelite.

“With each successive auction we’ve expanded into new categories of fine and decorative art,” said Morphy’s chief operating officer, Dan Morphy. “In this sale, we’re offering collections of rare Austrian bronze art-glass lamps and extremely fine Bakelite novelty jewelry. Both are from the same consignor, who has a remarkable eye for quality and artistic design.”

VINELAND, N.J. – Teddy Roosevelt’s aim was true in Bertoia Auctions’ $1.8 millon Toys for All Seasons sale, as an early Schoenhut boxed set titled Teddy’s Adventures in Africa swept top-lot honors in the $1.8 million event (all prices quoted inclusive of 15% buyer’s premium). The Nov. 7-9 auction featured 2,516 antique toys, banks, dolls, dollhouse furniture, automata and Christmas antiques, with several prestigious private collections anchoring the bountiful array.

The Roosevelt set, dating to the early 20th century and featuring painted-wood figures, a lithographed scenic backdrop and a multitude of safari-theme accessories, was numbered 20/84. The early playset from Schoenhut’s Humpty Dumpty Circus Toys range was in immaculate condition, an added enticement that carried the lot to a winning bid of $34,500.

Toy Collector Magazine regular contributor Chuck Miller recently appeared on Gary Sohmers' "Calling All Collectors" radio program that appears on New York's WCAP 980AM.

The wide-ranging discussion, which originally aired November 13, 2008, covered many of the subjects Chuck has written on for Toy Collector Magazine, including electric football (from the November 2008 issue) and Sid and Marty Krofft (slated for TCM's January 2009 issue).

Click the player below to listen to the entire interview (10 minutes duration).

Great interview, Chuck and Gary - thank you!

NAPLES, Fla. – The YMCA of the Palms is currently conducting ongoing eBay auctions of collectible teddy bears to benefit the new YMCA Gaynor Child Development center, the former site of the Naples Teddy Bear Museum. The Museum, founded by local resident and philanthropist Frances Pew Hayes, closed its doors in 2005 after Mrs. Hayes passed away. In 2007, the YMCA of the Palms purchased the property to build a much-needed day care center.

All proceeds from the auction will be donated to the YMCA. In addition, the Naples Children and Education Foundation will match all purchases dollar for dollar in a donation to the Gaynor Child Development Center. “This collection of teddy bears is special in two ways, as they are bears that were hand picked for the Naples Teddy Bear Museum and now they will help fund a new children’s center,” said Lisa Morse, VP of Development for the YMCA of the Palms. “Purchasing one or more of these bears for your collection will help bring a wonderful new center to needy children in Collier County.”

TELFORD, Pa. - A dazzling assortment of exceptional finds and well-known classics – including top-shelf Japanese cars, space toys, seldom seen Popeye pieces and other comic character figures – will highlight the fall sale of Smith House Toy & Auction Co. Quality and condition will be the key words when the phone and online auction opens Nov. 5 and ends Nov. 21.

Toy car collectors will have a crack at a boxed, 1960 Chrysler Imperial, the elegant “Queen of the Imperials” and one of the most desirable Japanese tin cars. The 15-inch beauty is expected to reach $15,000 to $18,000.

DENVER, Pa. – Private collections of impeccable quality prompted an avalanche of bids in Morphy Auctions’ Sept. 11-13 Fall Sale, which realized $1.7 million (inclusive of 15 percent buyer’s premium). The sale’s headliner, the Andy Huffer toy motorcycle collection, knocked down incredible prices, with a Hubley 8½-inch cast-iron Harley-Davidson bike with nickel wheels and near-perfect paint roaring to a $57,500 finish. The faithful representation of a 1930 Harley factory DAH Hill Climber, with driver in forward “uphill” pose, made well over three times the high estimate.

Consignor Andy Huffer was elated with the results his collection achieved. “The auction surpassed all my expectations,” he said. “It was a success because of the knowledge and dedication of Morphy’s staff, and the company’s good name with collectors. In fact, I’m so pleased, I’m taking the whole Morphy’s team out to dinner next week as a thank-you.”

An original-owner copy of the historic Superman #1, CGC-certified as grade 4.0, has come to light, according to Jamie Graham of Graham Crackers Comics and Harley Yee of Harley Yee Comics. The dealers were contacted by the grandson of the 93-year-old owner of the comic, who brought it when it was originally sold in 1939.

Trailing just behind Action Comics as the longest-running periodical featuring the world’s best known character, copies of Superman #1 in any grade attract attention. Since it hit the stands 69 years ago, though, it is odd to find one still in the possession of its original owner.