Press Release: SERIOUSTOYZ’ AUCTION #55, TWICE DELAYED, IS ONLINE NOW AND WILL END MAY 30-31; NEARLY 1,300 LOTS ARE BEING OFFERED

(CROTON-ON-HUDSON, N.Y.) – Serious Toyz’ Auction #55, twice delayed, is online now (at SeriousToyz.com) and will end May 30 (for Character and Classic Collectibles) and May 31 (for Toy Vehicles). Auction #55 is a nearly 1,300-lot colossus that features antique and vintage items in many collecting categories, not just toys.

“We are not a large organization, and while our small size offers many advantages, anything from illness to personal issues to weather to systems problems can have a huge impact on how our auction prep work proceeds,” said Tom Miano, owner of Serious Toyz. “For a number of reasons, Auction #55 has proved to be difficult for us. But we’re back on track, and this auction will be, without a doubt, our best one ever.”

Offered by Serious Toyz are outstanding groups of vintage robots and space toys, Barbies, 1960s rock posters and dozens of pressed steel vehicles, cast-iron toys, slot cars, character toys and collectibles, advertising and retail displays and more.

“This sale is certain to appeal to all kinds of collectors,” Miano said. “We have real in-depth offerings in many categories, with items that will speak to beginners through advanced collectors. And even with the wide variety of collecting categories, the common denominators are condition and rarity.”

Miano added, “This auction represents the long-term efforts of more than 40 serious collectors and will offer legitimately rare pieces, a term we do not use lightly.” The sale can be boiled down to three primary categories – Classic Toys and Collectibles, Character Toys and Collectibles, and Toy Vehicles. Within those broad categories are various sub-categories, all adding up to one huge auction packed with quality offerings.

The Classic Toys and Collectibles category is led by a nice group of vintage space toys, including almost 40 robots, many in the original boxes. Toy guns will feature Western, spy and a dozen early space and ray guns. The vintage Barbies are from a single longtime collection and include a mint-in-the-box Ponytail #3 and more than 30 early outfits, all complete on vintage dolls.

Figure and soldier collectors will pay attention to the plastic, composition and lead figures offered, featuring a beautiful, complete set of Manoil’s rare “Happy Farm,” along with dozens of Beton figures and sets.

The majority of the classic tin wind-up and battery-op toys offered are mint or MIB (mint-in-the box), and almost everything works perfectly (as does most every item in the auction). Vintage holiday collectibles will feature a late 1800s German “feather tree” with original ornaments, German ‘Putz’ Houses and classic Jack-O-Lanterns.

Advertising collectibles will be led by a huge and rare 1950 Greyhound bus painted plaster display; a 1960s Tri-Ang “Spot-On” die-cast cars retail display and a 1950s Coca-Cola battery-operated penny bank, mint-in-the-box. The advertising collectibles will also include store-stock metal and cardboard signs, and manufacturers and travel agency plane models.

Moving on to character toys and collectibles, the auction will be packed with ’50s, ’60s and ’70s TV and movie characters, to include long-time collections of James Bond (including early movie posters) and The Munsters, plus The Flying Nun, Planet of the Apes and more. There will also be over 50 lunch boxes of all types, including dozens of store stock samples.

Cartoon characters and super heroes will feature early Disney, Betty Boop, Little Orphan Annie, Popeye, The Green Hornet and Batman. Western characters will include Hopalong Cassidy, The Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers and a Hartland figure collection of almost 30 pieces (mostly boxed), including gunfighters and a rare case of boxed ‘Mini’ figures. Space and sci-fi will include Universal monster toys, Lost in Space, Star Trek, Buck Rogers, Tom Corbett and early Star Wars. A last-minute addition to the auction is Remco’s incredibly rare “Hamilton Invaders” Playset, complete and near-mint, in the original box.

Vintage rock ‘n’ roll posters from the ’60s and ’70s have never before been featured in a Serious Toyz auction, but they have broken into the category in a big way. Leading the group of more than a dozen pieces is a rare Jimi Hendrix poster from a Jan. 15, 1969 concert with dazzling graphics; plus tour and record store posters for The Rolling Stones, The Who and The Supremes, plus others. Other music-related lots will feature dozens of lots from Elvis Presley and The Beatles (including a second state stereo “Butcher” cover); plus The Monkees, the Mamas and the Papas and others.

Roughly half of the auction is devoted to toy vehicles of all descriptions, including many desirable pieces in tin, pressed steel, cast iron and more.

Pressed steel will be spearheaded by a spectacular selection of examples, including rare early toys from Keystone, Steelcraft, Turner, Sturdi-Toy and many others (including a rare 1929 Buddy L traveling overhead crane). Most everything is in beautiful, all-original condition, with a number in their original boxes. Many of these pieces, along with dozens of others in various categories, were consigned from the personal collection of the noted author and expert, Dr. Douglas Sadecky.

Dozens of tin vehicles will come up for bid, to include cars, trucks and motorcycles from makers like Strauss, Bandai, Marx, Jibby, Courtland and Schuco.

Cast-iron vehicles will feature a gorgeous 1895 Wilkins floor train, the largest one they made, and a large 1920 Arcade “Fageol” bus.

Slot cars will also be represented in a big way, with more than 70 Aurora “Vibrator” and “Thunder Jet” vehicles. Everything is near-mint or better, with more than a dozen store-stock pieces. There are even a number of beautiful promo cars, including a scarce 1971 Dodge Charger slot car set in the box.

Toy ships are led by a rare 1886 litho paper-over-wood battleship, “Columbia”, made by Reed. There is also a long-time collection of toy outboard motors, most in original boxes.

Serious Toyz™ auctions always offer a wealth of vintage die-cast vehicles. This sale has literally hundreds of mint-in-the-box and factory-sealed pieces from Corgi, Matchbox, Dinky, Tootsietoy, Hubley, Hot Wheels, Johnny Lightning, Cigar Box and more.

Toy airplane collectors’ hearts will soar when they see the full offering of vintage planes, most in beautiful condition. There are a number of rare and desirable pieces, including travel agency and manufacturer’s models, plus tin, pressed steel, cast iron and more.

One of the most exciting aspects of a Serious Toyz auction is that most everything has low opening bids and there are never any reserve prices. Plus (as usual), hundreds of lots open at only $10, making this an auction that most everyone can participate in. There are always bargains to be had.

Mr. Miano said, “As anyone who participates in out auctions knows, we don’t cut corners when putting together a sale. Every item is thoroughly researched, photographed and graded. All are treated equally, no matter what the value, because it’s not how much you spend, but what you’re getting. We won’t allow bidding to begin until everything is correct and ready. We believe our clients’ patience will be rewarded with a great sale.”

Online bidders may preview, register and bid live exclusively at serioustoyz.com. The Serious Toyz website is sophisticated yet easy to navigate, with spectacular photography of every item in the auction and most having multiple, oversize views. Full and detailed descriptions and accurate grades are also given, with live countdown clocks on every lot page. And, as always, Serious Toyz guarantees satisfaction on all purchases.

Bidders without computers can participate either by using their printed color catalog, or viewing the auction online at the public library or a friend’s home, then placing bids by phone. Serious Toyz auction rules are specifically designed to give both online and phone bidders an equal opportunity to get what they are after.

Every item is available for inspection at the Serious Toyz retail facility in Westchester County, N.Y., about an hour north of New York City. The address is 1 Baltic Place, Croton on Hudson, NY 10520 (call before traveling). A 15% buyer’s premium will be applied to all winning bids, with a 3% discount given to those paying by cash, money order or personal check.

To learn more about Serious Toyz and Auction #55, please log on to serioustoyz.com, or call Tom Miano directly with questions (toll-free) at 866-OLD-TOYZ (653-8699)