Troops rally in Old Toy Soldier Auctions’ May sale

June 13, 2009

Attired in Coronation dress, Britains’ “Territorials” can be
displayed correctly with the company’s Queen’s Procession
set. Estimated at $450 on the high end, the set made $2,242.

PITTSBURGH – Bidders called up the heavy artillery during Old Toy Soldier Auctions’ May 16 absentee and Internet auction, spending a total of $169,900 and claiming 99.9 percent of the lots offered. All prices quoted include an 18 percent buyer’s premium.

“Like a lot of auction houses, we were nervous in the current economic climate, but I thought the result was terrific,” said OTSA’s owner, Ray Haradin. “There were 677 lots, and I had expected it to gross $150,000 on the high end. It went almost $20,000 higher.”

Haradin attributed the auction’s success to the ongoing demand in the marketplace for toy soldiers and figures made by Britains. “They have the biggest collector base and still carry the day,” Haradin said.

Another factor that contributed significantly to the auction’s success was Internet participation. “We had 122 absentee bidders, an additional 15 bidders on the phones, and another 84 online through LiveAuctioneers,” Haradin said. “One thing we noticed was that the quality of Internet bidders has gone up. Back when our sales ran through eBay Live, we would have more people registering to bid, but we’d only sell 20 percent online. LiveAuctioneers no longer partners with eBay, so the number of bidders is not as high, but we’re selling 30 percent online. The ones who register all seem to bid.”

As anticipated, the top seller was the cover lot, a prized 25-piece Britains Bahamas Police Band with drum major, bandmaster, drummers, horn and woodwind players. The rare first-version set was probably issued for only one year, 1959, and achieved its high estimate at $6,490.

Another rare boxed set with a Caribbean flavor, Britains’ #103 Bahamas Policemen standing at attention, was created as a companion set to the Police Band. It sailed past its $1,200-$1,500 estimate to settle at $2,178.

Britains’ #48 Egyptian Camel Corps set with native soldiers on camel mounts enjoyed a long production run, 1919 to 1941. An early example of the set, in excellent condition with figures still tied into their proper positions within the original black-labeled box, closed above estimate at $826.

Earning five times its high estimate at $2,242, a Britains #1617 set known as “Types of the Territorial Army” proved appealing to bidders. Haradin said it’s a favorite because the figures are in 1937 Coronation attire. “This set could be put together with Britains’ Queens Procession and make a large and attractive display.”

Made by the German manufacturer Heyde, a #259 British Army Pontoon Building Section in its original wood box contained pontoon boats, sections of tin “grass” for the riversides, bridge sections and supports, plus 19 British engineers in khaki uniforms. The set was estimated at $600-$700 but soared to $1,652.

Yet another pre-World War II military set that surpassed expectations was Britains #140 United States Infantry in a “Soldiers of the World” box. Estimated at $400-$500, it marched off to a new owner for $1,298.

Haradin said that among “civilian” figures, those with a sporting theme are the most highly sought after. A circa-1930 Johillco set consisting of a greyhound race starter with six greyhounds in various-colored racing jackets had been estimated at $250-$280. Two phone bidders competed aggressively for the seven-piece set; one of them prevailed at $1,888.

An accessory piece that drew bidders was Britains #635 tinplate pond featuring a swan and two cygnets. A rare early-1930s production, it achieved $531, four times the high estimate.

A 1933-1935 Britains Huntsman in red jacket and top hat, riding a cantering horse, also exceeded its high estimate several times over, selling for $472.

Haradin said it is heartening to see the number of new collectors coming into the toy-soldier and figure hobby, and said much of it is due to the crossover factor. “The collectors fall into several groups – military buffs, the war gamers who like to re-enact history, model figure makers who make and paint figures, and people who might have a small collection behind their desk at the office. It’s a global hobby, and there’s a lot of overlap.”

Old Toy Soldier Auctions will hold its next sale on Nov. 21. For additional information, call Haradin at 800-349-8009 or 412-343-8733, or e-mail otsauctionsusa@yahoo.com. Visit OTSA online at www.oldtoysoldierauctions.com.

[This article originally published by our sister publication, "Antique Trader": www.antiquetrader.com]