VINELAND, NJ.- With winter in the rear-view mirror and the prospect of spring just around the corner, the Bertoia family is pleased to announce the next in a slate of outstanding sales planned for 2022: their May 19-20 Annual Spring Auction. All forms of bidding will be available, including live at Bertoia’s gallery (by reservation only), by phone, absentee, or live via the Internet through Bertoia Live or LiveAuctioneers.

Variety is the spice of this exciting sale. The lineup incorporates a myriad of cross-collectible categories ranging from ultra-desirable toys, banks and trains to colorful antique and vintage advertising and ephemera. In addition to a huge array of tin wind-ups and pressed steel, there are substantial groupings of high-quality penny toys, select toy soldiers, and an extensive collection of coveted Coca-Cola and other soda fountain advertising items.

Both American and European tin wind-ups are featured, including whimsical character toys and early hand-painted productions by noted Continental manufacturers. The comic character section is led by several Nifty Toys and also includes a rare Spanish-made Harold Lloyd pony cart. In addition, there are European motorcycles and airplanes, and an impressive fleet of German and Japanese automotive toys.

German hand-painted tin toys include plink-plank toys by Gunthermann, Issmayer and other revered brands. Also joining in the fun are several boxed Lehmann toys, an all-original Gunthermann Clown Musicians toy, and a beautiful Hans Eberl Ta-Ra-Ra-Bumm clown car.

European tin cars will be revved up and ready to motor across the auction block. Many of them were purchased from Bertoia’s series of sales devoted to the legendary Donald Kaufman collection. There are several sizes of Bing limousines – both lithographed and hand-painted types – Karl Bub and Distler autos; and Marklin constructor sets, to name but a few of the enticing entries. Japanese autos, many with original boxes, are highlighted by a shiny Atom racer.

Nearly 100 diminutive penny toys, including articulated examples, are ready to show that good things come in small packages. Within the specialty grouping are shiny Meier articulated Boxers, a Meier Soldier Motorcycle, a rare Wilhelm Krauss “Happy Joe” dancer, and a collector favorite that holds cross-over appeal with holiday collectors: a Fischer Rabbits Sawing an Easter Egg.

A small section of cast iron banks is highlighted by classics from J&E Stevens, including Magician, Milking Cow, Calamity, and Professor Pug Frog, to name a few. A Queen Victoria bust and Kilgore Frog on Rock (provenance: Donal Markey collection) are sure to keep bidding paddles airborne.

The bounteous array of early American toys is highlighted by Part II of the Edward Lotz collection, which was introduced at Bertoia’s stellar $2.3 million Annual Fall Sale held on November 18-19, 2021. The Lotz selection includes both American cast-iron horse-drawn (Ives, Dent, Kenton) and tin productions. Hoop and platform toys, bell chimers, and large horse carts rank amongst the top treasures to be sold during the two-day auction.

More than 100 lots of Coca-Cola and soda fountain/soda pop advertising pieces will be offered from the Ray Burgess collection, which encompasses a litany of items touting the world’s most famous soft drink. Signage plays an important role in the Burgess collection, and there are some beautiful Coke signs from which to choose. Two of the most attractive Coca-Cola ads are a tin-litho “Gas To-Day” vertical sign estimated at $2,000-$3,000, and a double-sided porcelain Coke sign, $1,500-$3,000.

Soda fountain dispensers are ready to serve collectors, with standouts including a rare example advertising Vernors Ginger Ale, and a 1930 Coca-Cola 5-cent dispenser. Each is expected to reach a winning bid in the $2,000-$3,000 range. A delightful little cross-over is the 1939 salesman’s sample soft drink cooler estimated at $1,500-$3,000.