Sotheby's is delighted to announce a sale of the celebrated collection of toy boats, soldiers, motorcycles and classic board games lovingly gathered over nearly four decades by legendary collector Malcolm Forbes and his sons. Each area of the collection is amongst the finest of its kind, boasting rare and important examples by the leading toy makers in the field - from a M ¤rklin recreation of the Cunard Line's "Lusitania" ocean liner, circa 1912, to a rare group of Medieval Mounted Knights crafted by Richard Courtenay, to the earliest surviving handmade Monopoly game-set, circa 1933. The auction will also include 19th century and American paintings depicting the joys of childhood and, together, the collection is estimated to bring $3/5 million. For the next several months, most of the Collection will remain on view at The Forbes Galleries on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan where it has been installed for the past 25 years, before moving to Sotheby's York Avenue headquarters for exhibition and sale on 17 December 2010.
Here you can see some other outstanding pieces of the sale.
Medieval Mounted Kngiht
British-born Richard Courtenay, renowned for his medieval heraldic model figures, crafted this 3" knight. Note the "plug shoulder" which enables the knight to brandish his javelin.
One of a group lot estimated to sell for $40/60,000
Medieval Mounted Kngiht
Medieval Mounted Knight
British-born Richard Courtenay, renowned for his medieval heraldic model figures, crafted this 3" knight. The horse wears a long flowing coat, emblazoned with a coat of arms, for protection against arrows.
One of a group lot estimated to sell for $40/60,000
Courtenay Medieval Mounted Knight
The earliest Monopoly game-set
hand-made by Charles Darrow known to survive, in a circular shape (said to be in deference to Darrow's dining room table)
With the original set of rules
Est. $60/80,000
the earliest Monopoly game-set
The Pyramid of Sun
Arrayed around the Pyramid of the Sun in Tenochtitlan, today's Mexico City, Aztec warriors in feather regalia and jaguar skins battle in vain again the troops and Indian allies of Hern ¡n Cort©s in 1521. This large intricate set was produced by Aloys Ochel of Germany, the world's largest maker of tin flat figures.
Est. $2,500/$3,500
The pyramid of Sun
Toy Soldiers from around the World
This sweeping narrative of toy soldiers from around the world features the work of renowned makers such as Mignot, Heyde, Pestana and Brtiains. From the quaint gazebo scene to the dragoon de la garde, this panorama illustrates the breadth of The Forbes Collection of toy soldiers.
Est. $10/15,000
Toy Soldiers from around the World
Trinchera Ranch in Colorado
Seen against the backdrop of Forbes' Trinchera Ranch in Colorado, famed frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody watches as the Deadwood stage runs into bandits. From town a posse is on its way to the rescue.
Trinchera Ranch in Colorado
Tags: Props Costumes and Weapons, Other Stuff, Medieval Times, Games and Puzzles, Figures and Toy Soldiers
