Giulio Cesare (Julius Caeser) Märklin toy boat destined for export to Italy, c.1910 – estimate €25,000-30,000 at the Ivoire group’s Chartres saleroom.
They have been put together by an enthusiast between 1960-2000 and feature a mix of pleasure craft and battleships powered by steam and clockwork.
It includes boats from the firms of Bing, Carette, Schoener, Radiguet and Maltête et Parent and over 10 examples by the sought-after German firm of Märklin.
Märklin toy boats have names that indicate the country for which they were intended and the biggest boat in this collection is named the Giulio Cesare (Julius Caeser) and was destined for export to Italy. It measures no less than 2ft 7in (86cm) in length, dates from c.1910, is live steam powered and has an estimate of €25,000-30,000.
