Robot-driven ‘Honeymoon Car’ in Morphy’s November Toys & Collectibles Auction sails into the stratosphere, landing at $233,700
Sale totaled $1.66 million, also featured 4ft-tall Villeroy & Boch terracotta Santa, $86,200; Complete set of 1959 Topps baseball cards, $67,650; Halloween ‘Lettuce Man’ lamp-form candy container, $20,910
DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s November 11-13 Toys & General Collectibles Auction launched a sweet honeymoon trip for a Japanese robot car that soared to an astronomical winning bid of $233,700. Extraordinarily rare and possibly one of only two known that retain their original pictorial boxes, the sensational fantasy toy known to space toy collectors as the “Honeymoon Car” led a stellar 1,375-lot auction lineup that totaled $1.66 million.
Made by ET (Japan), the silver convertible was complete and all original, with a blue windshield, large grille and tailfins typical of midcentury American cars. Why it is known in the toy-collecting hobby as the “Honeymoon Car” is unclear – even more so when considering one lithographed robot serves as the driver, while the other rides along as a passenger in the backseat, engrossed in a TV screen broadcasting an outer-space scene. Not exactly a love match! Undoubtedly, the colorful lithographed box added a tremendous amount to its desirability factor, perhaps even doubling the value of the elusive postwar gem. The box lid is lavishly illustrated in full color, with a depiction of the sleek convertible against a setting reminiscent of Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive. The lot attracted 37 bids before selling to a US-based buyer for almost three times its high estimate. To put things into perspective, this toy, which rolled out of Morphy’s gallery for $233,700, is more valuable than a 2026 Tesla Roadster, whose base price is expected to be around $200,000.
Another visitor from a faraway galaxy, a very rare Yonezawa (Japan) battery-operated Jupiter Robot arrived with its original pictorial box with all inserts and its correct plastic remote control. The toy showed no cracking whatsoever to its dome and was graded Excellent to Near Mint. Its line of provenance included the name of a visionary in robot and space toy collecting: the late Robert Lesser. This fine example of a coveted, boxed Jupiter sold at the midpoint of its estimate range, for $29,520.
A fellow who knows everything about toys, Santa Claus, made his presence known in the form of a wonderful 4ft-tall Villeroy & Boch terracotta figure. The three-dimensional depiction of the holiday gift-giver holding a fir Christmas tree is documented in the German manufacturer’s catalog from the year 1900 and may have been intended for display in a larger department store’s window. It was obvious that the artists behind the piece paid extraordinary attention to detail during every stop of the creative process. The original paint they applied had mellowed very nicely over the past 125 years, only adding to the beauty of the figure’s facial features. With prestigious provenance from the estate of famed antique toy dealer/collector Tom Sage Sr, the figure sold for $86,200 against an estimate of $30,000-$60,000.
Morphy’s toy sales have rapidly become known as an outstanding source for vintage sports cards. In the November sale, top money was paid for a complete set of 1959 Topps baseball cards. Totaling 572 cards, approximately 80% of which have already been graded, the selection included such highlights as a Willie Mays All-Star card No. 563 in PSA Mint 9 condition and approximately 35 Hall of Famers in PSA NM to Mint 8 condition, including a No. 10 Mickey Mantle and No. 514 Bob Gibson rookie card. A fabulous set that took the original owner years of dedicated searching to complete, it sold well above its high estimate, for $67,650.
Another great find for some lucky bidder was an incredibly rare 1955 Topps baseball cello pack graded PSA 6. One of few examples known and in NM condition, it sold near the top of its estimate range, for $33,600.
From the world of superheroes, a circa-1940 Marx Superman Rollover Plane was offered together with its colorful, profusely-illustrated original box. The toy itself was also all original, including its back fins, and its condition was graded Excellent. It sold for $5,412 against a pre-sale estimate of $1,200-$1,800.
Morphy’s team was pleased to welcome the worldwide contingent of toy soldier collectors who, for decades, had followed the late Ray Haradin’s Old Toy Soldier Auctions. As the new steward of auctions conducted for the OTSA brand, Morphy’s allocated 500 lots of military and civilian sets, figures and accessories to the November 13 session. A boxed W Britain 12th Lancers “Prince of Wales Own” Set No. 4 with bugler and officer figures, manufactured 1893-1896, sold for $5,904 against an estimate of $2,500-$3,500.
Holiday collectors were “all in” on 61 lots of vintage Christmas and Halloween goodies. A rare composition Halloween “Lettuce Man” candy container shaped as a lamp with a built-in candle holder proved irresistible. Its esoteric design included facial figures carved into the lamp’s shade, with translucent paper-insert-covered eyes, nose and toothy smile that had survived many decades in fine, undamaged condition. A prize for any collector of Halloween antiques or “veggie people,” the rare collectible was estimated at $2,000-$6,000, but after a battle that drove in 44 bids, it turned out the lights at a whopping $20,910. Additionally, a group lot of eight delightful Halloween jack-o-lanterns in various colors with a variety of expressions sold for $9,225 against an estimate of $1,200-$2,500.
To discuss consigning antique or vintage toys, trains, banks, sports cards, holiday items or other quality collectibles to a future auction at Morphy’s, please call Dan Morphy personally at 877-968-8880 (tollfree) or email [email protected]. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential and there is never an obligation to consign. Visit Morphy’s online at https://www.morphyauctions.com.
