The toy section of Moore Allen & Innocent’s December 15 sale in Cirencester will feature vintage teddy bears, dolls, model railway locomotives and carriages, alongside a selection of Dinky toys.
This Dinky 511 Guy 4-ton lorry, shown above (left) on its original box, is guided at £80-120. While often seen in blue, this earlier grey cab and chassis example with red wings and wheels dates from c.1947.
The boxed Dinky 562 Muir-Hill dumper truck on the right comes complete with the driver (often missing from this 1940s-’50s toy), and carries an estimate of £40-60, while the Dinky 571 Coles mobile crane, centre, is guided at £30-50.
The stationary engines by German toy maker Doll & Co were doubtless on the wish-lists of many boys during the early 20th century. Although marketed as a children’s toy, they were expensive, ornate and complex to operate, with a specific role to educate about the current operating mechanisms of full-size steam machinery.
Going under the hammer at Bigwoods Auctioneers in Stratford-upon-Avon on December 15 will be this Doll & Co German live steam stationary plant engine dating from c.1925.
Measuring 11in (28cm) high, it is fitted with a spirit-fired horizontal boiler and pressure gauge, which has been linked to an engine with a single cylinder flywheel (although missing a chimney). It carries an estimate of £100-150.
On the hunt for something a little different to decorate the table on Christmas Day?
William George & Co is selling this set of 19th century Chinese silver mounted menu or place card holders. Moulded as seated Immortals, each of the nine figures is mounted on a wooden block with a card slot cut to the back.
The group has an opening bid of £120 and the sale will end on December 17.
wgandco.com or see this item on thesaleroom.com
David Duggleby’s sale on December 16 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, includes one of Globe Wernicke’s so-called ‘elastic’ bookcases.
Made by the American furniture company from oak, walnut and mahogany in the 20th century, these stacking bookshelves were designed so they could fit together to form a bookcase, which could either be all of the same measurements or re-arranged by the insertion of units of different depths and heights.
This 3ft x 5ft (91cm x 1.52m) oak example has five sectional stacking shelves, and comes with panelled sides.
Estimate £200-300.
