Second and final installment of the late Tom Sage Sr’s legendary collection of antique toys and trains to be auctioned Oct. 30 at Morphy’s
Following a resounding $2.6M auction debut in May, Part II of the Sage collection delivers more great rarities from a premier assemblage of European & American toys amassed over 57 years
DENVER, Pa. – Morphy’s May 2025 auction introducing the late Tom Sage Sr’s incomparable personal collection of antique toys and trains made headlines around the world when it closed the books at $2.6 million. The robust sale total was a validation of the visionary toy dealer’s discerning eye for quality and keen foresight in securing the finest examples of early toys at a time when no one could have predicted how their worth would escalate.
On October 30, collectors will have another chance to vie for treasures from the Sage collection when Part II, comprising nearly 300 lots, is presented at Morphy’s Pennsylvania auction gallery. Those who cannot attend in person are invited to participate by their choice of remote methods: absentee, by phone, or live via the Internet.
Even at the close of the exciting debut auction, which was topped by a magnificent 1904 Marklin Ferris Wheel (sold for $156,000), speculation was already brewing about what might be waiting in the wings for the second and final installment of the Sage series. If the top dozen or so lots in the October session are any indication, collectors of early transportation toys are going to be thrilled, because amongst the autos, trains, fire toys and boats are some of the finest and most obscure Marklin productions.
In his quest for the rare and the ultra-mint, Sage tracked down many pieces that were known to be either the only known example or one of very few to have survived. Some of the very best from that select category were intentionally set aside for the October 30 sale.
Leading the illustrious auction lineup is a Marklin Cat. Ref. 4070 functional live-steam-powered fire truck. Measuring 18 inches in length, it retains its original hose reels and hoses, as well as four period firefighter figures and three more that are contemporary. Its magnificent brass boiler has all of its original fittings and is in Excellent to NM condition overall. Only the lamps are replacements. This toy is one of the Sage collection’s premier pieces. It originally surfaced at a New England antique show in the early 1980s and is said to be one of very few survivors of its type. It is entered in the sale with a $150,000-$250,000 estimate.
With eye appeal and charm to spare, a Marklin hand-crank carousel, Cat. Ref. 1125, boasts a fantastic trompe-l’oeil canopy adeptly hand-painted to simulate cloth. It retains all of its original figures, horses and gondolas, and all of its paint is original. The music box hand-crank section has been masterfully replaced, but remarkably, every other part of this beautifully-detailed carnival toy is original, including the flagpole, flag, and the suspended “gold” balls that decorate the edge of the canopy. Standing approximately a foot tall by a foot wide and in Excellent condition, it is yet another toy in the Sage collection that can confidently be described as one of very few known. Estimate: $20,000-$40,000
A rank of luxe limos awaits bidders’ consideration and is headed by an outstanding circa 1909-1912 hand-painted Carette clockwork limousine finished in a scarce maroon color and accompanied by its original box. It retains its original tires, headlamps and beveled glass windows, and it has a period driver figure and three female passengers. In NM to Mint condition, it is estimated at $30,000-$40,000.
Another Marklin clockwork limousine, Cat. Ref. 5215/1, hand-painted in a warm chocolate-brown shade with mustard pinstriping and orange-framed windows, was manufactured around 1914. It has its original tires and headlamp, and although lacking its rear glass, it earns the grade of Excellent. Its pre-sale estimate is $7,000-$10,000.
A classic European racer, Gunthermann’s lithographed tin wind-up Gordon Bennett coupe is especially rare due to its length. At 12 inches, it represents the largest of several sizes of this model produced by the acclaimed German toymaker. It is decorated with a green clover leaf on its front and is marked with the number 5 in gilt, as well as SG on the back. Assessed all original, including the hand-painted driver and passenger figures, it is in overall VG to Excellent condition, however its rubber tires may have been replaced. The jaunty tin coupe will fly off the starting line with a $15,000-$25,000 estimate.
The star of the nautical section is a hand-painted Marklin 4-stack clockwork George Washington ocean liner. A sizable 36 inches long, it is assessed as Excellent and could possibly attain a higher grade if professionally cleaned. It is almost all original, with the only replacement pieces being the mast ladders and two of the lifeboats. This handsome craft could set sail with a winning bid of $60,000-$80,000. Also noteworthy amongst the German boats is a Rock & Graner 27-inch clockwork side-wheeler named London. Its side wheels were restored and the flag is a replacement, but the hull is otherwise in Excellent original condition. Estimate: $7,000-$9,000
Tom Sage had a great fondness for early European trains and owned many scarce examples, including a rare circa-1904 Marklin hand-painted III-gauge live steam LNWR locomotive (Cat. Ref. E4023), tender, and dining car (Cat. Ref. 1842/3). This train retains three original III-gauge figures inside the coach and is in overall Excellent condition for a live steam train. Morphy’s experts believe that, if professionally cleaned, it could achieve an even higher grade. Its only exceptions to 100% originality are the two replacement lamps on the locomotive. Undoubtedly one of the best toy trains in the Sage collection, it should reach its final auction destination somewhere in the vicinity of $50,000-$70,000.
Fans of I-gauge trains will find it hard to resist a Marklin hand-painted Anheuser-Busch Budweiser “King Of All Bottled Beers” refrigerator train car made sometime between 1906 and 1908. Just about every collector of early large-scale trains knows this highly-detailed, extremely attractive car and would jump at the chance to own one. The auction example comes with a Marklin freight car box (lacks lid) and is graded Near-Mint to Mint with zero signs of any use. Estimate: $12,000-$18,000
For those who pursue American cast-iron trains, there’s a Carpenter three-piece locomotive set in NM to Mint condition with two original cast-iron figures. Its original factory wood box has a red pictorial paper label identifying the toy as “Carpenter’s Iron Passenger Train, No. 21,” with the additional notation “With Puffing Locomotive.” Its auction estimate is $3,000-$5,000.
Also poised for the auction spotlight is an all-original Voltamp (Baltimore, Md.) II-gauge Interurban Trolley No. 2115. Measuring 20 inches long, it is finished in apple-green paint accented by gilt details and lettering. This toy would be a welcome addition to any railway collection and carries a pre-sale estimate of $12,000-$15,000.
The Thursday October 30, 2025 auction of Tom Sage Sr.’s Private Collection of Antique Toys & Trains Part II will be held live at Morphy’s gallery, 2000 N. Reading Rd., Denver, PA 17517, starting at 9 a.m. Eastern Time. All forms of bidding will be available, including absentee, by phone, and live via the Internet through Morphy Live. For condition enquiries, to leave an absentee bid, or to reserve a line for phone bidding, call Dan Morphy tollfree at +1 877-968-8880 or email [email protected].
