12/31

slug: Record Prices For Lionel Toy Trains

kicker: Stout Auction Reaches New Auction Record for Lionel Toy Train At $77,000

#614090

TG – 5 cuts

WILLIAMSPORT, IND. — An incomparable collection of rare and high grade Lionel toy trains was sold at the Stout Auctions Toy Train sale December 10 and 11. The auction was from two main collections: the first, assembled over a 15-year period by a single, focused collector, was thought by many to be one of the best collections of Lionel postwar trains ever offered at auction.  The trains sold featured high-grade condition, original boxes and rarity. The second collection in the auction was from the estate of Les and Helen Gordon.

Every state in the nation was represented in the bidding and nearly 30 states were represented in person in the quiet town of Williamsport, Indiana. The two most watched items were the 1937 brass 700E scale Hudson prototype that soared to a new auction record price of $77,000. This train had all of the provenance back to its beginning in 1937. The second item to set a new auction record was a Lionel 6464-100 orange with a blue feather boxcar that had 1954 on the car. This car is one of only six known to exist and was offered with a presale estimate of $30,000–$40,000 and reached a staggering $74,250. This is far and above the highest of any Lionel car that has ever sold at auction. A Lionel 6464-300 Rutland boxcar was sold for yet another auction record of $21,150 due to the fact that is much harder to find solid shield variation.

A sampling of prewar highlights included a very unusual Dorfan 3931 brown caboose that sold to a very happy Pennsylvania collector for $4,565. The same collector was also the high bidder for the American Flyer prewar Knickerbocker cars for $3,630. Marklin prewar did well with the lead lot being a Gauge 1 Pabst Blue Ribbon boxcar that had playwear for $7425. A Carlisle and Finch 52 passenger coach went to an absentee bidder for $3,740. A Lionel prewar 00 boxed Hudson set sold for a strong $2,420, and going to the absentee bidder was an extremely high grade Lionel-Ives transition train set 5004 for $2,970.

Lionel prewar standard gauge did well in the auction as a boxed 392E steam Girard set reached $18,150 and a 400E steam engine and tender going for $2,970. A high grade boxed 918 Lionel scenic hillside sold for $3,795.

Among other unique items in the auction were great lots of paper and dealer related items. Examples include: a spiral bound Lionel 1937 master catalog for $3,135, a Lionel 1947 spiral salesman catalog hit $4,290, a 1948 brochure offering a Lionel large poster sold for $2,640, another foldout from Lionel advertising Christmas displays went for $2,035, a dealer display clear shell 2333 Santa Fe sold for $23,650, and two lighted Lionel dealer signs were sold for $3,685 and $2,750 each.

Many collectors attending the auction were very delighted to see a fantastic selection of high grade Lionel boxed sets. The real showstopper was a boxed and mint Lionel 2124W black GG1 Madison car set that was bid to just under $23,000 by several bidders in the crowd as well as bidders on the Internet. Other examples are a Lionel 1464W Union Pacific set at $6820, an uncataloged Lionel 508 Burlington set for $4,840, and an early 1432W steam set sold for $2,585.

A 2148WS Hudson set went up to $13,200, while an extremely tough 13078 Presidential GG1 passenger set went to a quite happy floor bidder for $16,500. A well-known Pennsylvania bidder purchased a Lionel 2513 Virginian set in mint condition for $9,900, and a delighted New York buyer tried unsuccessfully to buy set 2545WS several years ago and did not get the set but he was successful this time stepping up at $9,625. The same bidder also purchased a very tough Lionel 13088 set for $12,100.

Lionel items that were high grade or were of a particular variation also sold very well in the auction. One such item was an extremely desirable set of four 6414 autos  that are a powder blue color variation that sold for $7,920. Other interesting items were a Lionel 2341 Jersey Central for $4,950, a reissue Blue Comet sold for $3,400 and a reissue Brown State made it to $3,575. A 347 cannon range set sold for $4,015, a 2028 Pennsylvania GP went to $3,300, a solid shield 6464-300 went for $21,150, a 2347 Chesapeake and Ohio GP made only for Sears sold for $8,800, Lionel 2378 Milwaukee Road F3s went out at $3,960, a box only for set 2296W went for $3,300 and an unusual red letter variation 6464-1 Western Pacific boxcar sold for $3,795.

The next Stout Auctions Toy and Train Auction is scheduled for February 25 and 26 in Indiana,  followed by April 8 and 9 in a new facility in Pennsylvania. Stout Auctions can be reached by telephone at 765-764-6901 or via email at sales@stoutauctions.com.

FOR 12-31

THE STEPHEN D. PAINE SCHOLARSHIP AT SUFFOLK LAW SCHOOL JANUARY 6

tg/lsb set 12-22 #613951

BOSTON, MASS. — The Boston Art Dealers Association will host an event Thursday, January 6, at 6 pm, to celebrate the fifth anniversary of The Stephen D. Paine Scholarship. The evening will include an elegant dinner, speakers and the premier screening of Promising Artists, a video by Kat Tatlock. The scholarship was established in memory of Stephen D. Paine, who died in the fall of 1997 at the age of 65.

The Stephen D. Paine Scholarship is designed to support students who are entering their final year in studio art programs at colleges in the city of Boston. As young artists conclude their undergraduate studies, the Boston Art Dealers Association, BADA, would like to extend financial assistance to support their commitment to the making of art.

This year there will be an exhibition of work by the 2004 recipients and honorees at the Copley Society, 158 Newbury Street on February 10–March 5, with a reception, Thursday, February 10, 5:30 to 8:30 pm.

The event will be held at Suffolk Law School, Suffolk University, 110 Tremont Street.

For information contact Pepper Gallery at 617-236-4497 or peppergall@aol.com.