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The Most Widely Read Collector's Newspaper In The East Published Weekly By Joel Sater Publications www.antiquesandauctionnews.net
VOL. 46, NO. 31 FRIDAY JULY 31, 2015
James D. Julia Auctioneers Conducts Its Final Antique Advertising, Toy And Doll Auction or over 30 years, Julia’s has been a major force in the antique advertising, toy and doll world, but their June 19 sale represented the last such auction to be conducted by the firm. “Andrew Truman, the department head, has done a great job. He has been a hard worker throughout his 15-year tenure and during that time continually received accolades from the clients that he worked with. However, there is tremendous competition in this field, and everyone is struggling for market share. The profits for some time now have been marginal in this department, despite Andrew’s tremendous efforts. On the other hand, there are wonderful opportunities in other areas of the antique world for our company which we have considered for some time now,” said Jim Julia, owner and president of James D. Julia Auctioneers. “Just prior to my June 19 auction, I received an offer to sell this division, which was, as the Godfather said, ‘an offer I could not refuse,’” continued Julia. Julia further explained that
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This dentist trade sign in the form of a gold capped molar read “Artificial Teeth” and “Teeth Extracted” on the sides. The sign chewed through its $8,000-$10,000 estimate to sell for $10,935.
A rare Caille Busy Bee trade stimulator was estimated for $8,000$12,000 and sold for $27,337.
they have sold the division to Dan Morphy of Dan Morphy Auctions LLC of Denver, Pa. The Julia Company will take care of all details associated with this recent auction and any prior auctions, but going forward it will not be taking consignments for future auctions of this type. “The move is a tremendous opportunity for our company to expand in other areas, and we are immediately doing so in our Firearms Division by starting a new Sporting and Collectibles Auction. While this deal creates a great opportunity, it is also a sad time for me. One of my first loves when I entered the antiques business in the late 1960s was antique advertising. In the 1970s, my wife and I decided to sell our collection and at the time produced a catalog; a first for us and a rarity within that auction world at the time. The sale was an extraordinary success, and the result of this eventually precipitated Julia’s to hold catalog auctions for antique advertising, toys and dolls. Over the years I have met terrific people in this field,
made a lot of good friends, and it has been a great ride, but this change was necessitated and makes all the sense in the world,” said Julia. The gross of the June 19 auction was well beyond the low estimate, and as usual there were a number of pleasant surprises. Department Head Andrew Truman, along with Chief Doll and Toy consultant Jay Lowe, assembled an exciting array of goods from collections from across the United States and beyond. Julia’s renowned catalogs, with their brilliant photography and honest descriptions, allow for the greatest level of confidence by bidders, many of whom never see the items beforehand. With most auction business around the world being conducted via the Internet and over the phone, the live attendee is becoming an endangered species, hence, making a professional catalog is all the more important. And this bidder confidence resulted in some serious prices achieved. The sale was chock full of fun from start to finish, starting off with selections from the collection of the late Laurence Hapgood. Hapgood was an avid traveler and collector whose penchant for topshelf cast-iron and tin plate toys was well known in the field. Highlights included an extraordinary all-original 1930s Arcade Buick sedan in extremely fine condition right down to its white rubber tires. Estimated at $2,000$4,000, it sold for $6,682. In equally strong original condition was his Dent Public Service bus enameled in brilliant orange with raised black louvered roof that boasted like new paint with hardly a scratch on it. Considered one of the greatest cast-iron toy buses ever manufactured, it sold for $5,771 against a $3,000-$6,000 estimate. An Arcade Mack gas truck in red with gilt highlighting exceeded its $800$1,200 estimate to bring $2,065.
The massive and rare Mills double Dewey slot machine allowed the player to play both nickels and quarters on the same unit. This machine with elaborate castings, carvings and colorful roulette wheels realized $41,310, selling within estimate.
From other collections, castiron toys included a lot of five near mint miniature cars by Arcade along with a small Kilgore truck finishing up at $2,673, surpassing expectations of $750-$1,250. A rare Ives japanned penny candy scale depicting a young lady holding a basket at one end of a seesaw with a man at the center and a simulated woven basket at the other end doubled as a toy and a functional scale. Found in candy shops of the period, this rarity seldom comes to market, and even less frequently complete and in good condition. This example, formerly of the Bob and Jackie Stewart collection, sold for $3,037 against an estimate of $1,000-$1,500.
The selection of toys continued with a variety of German toys, and once again condition was king. From the Hapgood collection, a classic early German tin windup plane with flapping wings and spinning propeller modeled after Bleriot’s craft that made a historic flight from France to England (complete with its original box) sold for $6,075 against a $2,000-$3,000 estimate. From a separate collection, a Gunthermann Tango dancing couple with paint that almost looked wet and complete with its original box sold above its $1,500-$2,500 estimate to bring $3,948. German tin continued (Continued on page 2)
Toy highlights included an all-original 1930s Arcade Buick sedan in fine condition right down to its white rubber tires. Estimated for $2,000-$4,000, it sold for $6,682.
This large marble counter dispenser for Hires root beer known as the Munimaker was a play on words, but it ended up being a true statement at the auction. It sold for Store advertising items included a John Hancock & Sons seven-bay spice A Gunthermann Tango dancing couple with paint that almost looked wet $6,682 against a $2,500-$4,500 bin. Tole painted and stenciled, the countertop bin was in very good original and complete with its original box sold above its $1,500-$2,500 to bring condition. It sold for $5,771, surpassing expectations of $3,000-$5,000. $3,948. estimate.