VINELAND, NJ.- Bertoia’s Annual Fall 2016 Auction had been publicized as one of the company’s most diverse to date, and over the long weekend of November 11-13, that promise was fulfilled. Bidders paid aggressive, above-estimate prices for rare toys from dozens of popular categories, pushing the total to $1.9 million, inclusive of buyer’s premium.

The glossy, full-color auction catalog was the thickness of a good-sized city’s telephone book, a testament to the huge variety of toys, banks and holiday antiques Bertoia’s had carefully selected for the 2,194-lot sale.

There were buyers for everything, from diminutive penny toys to hefty steam plants, but it was premium-quality Marklin boats that sailed to the top of prices realized. A handsome Series II steam-powered Amerika liner was absolutely fresh to the market and consigned by the grandchildren of the original owner, who received the boat as a child in the 1920s. In spectacular, all-original condition, it commanded a winning bid of $59,000. Cruising to $35,400, a 30-inch, circa-1929 Marklin Rheingold paddleboat easily achieved its pre-sale estimate, as did the circa-1910 New York battleship that earned $23,600.

Ships were not the only Marklin toys to grab the auction spotlight. European trains and accessories from the Warren Heid collection had the full attention of railway enthusiasts on both sides of the Atlantic. A beautifully hand-enameled, fully accessorized Marklin Central Station in superior condition roared past its $15,000-$20,000 estimate to settle at $32,450. Other Marklin train highlights included a gauge 1 steeple cab, $5,900; an O gauge baggage car, $4,720; and an elaborately detailed O gauge suspension bridge with arch towers, flags, and statues atop pedestals, $10,620.

The demand for Continental transportation and character toys was evident, as well. A near-mint Lehmann Echo clockwork motorcycle with rider was especially desirable because of its colorfully labeled original box. Estimated at $5,500-$7,500, it sped off to a new owner for $11,210. A Carette 16-inch Deluxe Limousine with beveled glass windows, chauffeur and three passengers made a stylish exit at $8,850. Boxed and complete with cook’s spoon, a circa-1900 Lehmann Baker and Chimney Sweep surpassed expectations at $5,015.

An impressive Gunthermann 8-man (plus coxswain) clockwork scull with provenance from the esteemed Dick Claus collection had many paddles airborne before reaching landfall at $20,060. Its pre-sale estimate had been set at $13,000-$17,000.

Collectors of postwar automobiles love the grand size and realistic detailing on Japanese renditions of mid-century U.S. cars like the Asahi Chrysler Imperial offered at Bertoia’s sale. The shiny black 15-inch luxury sedan with cream interior came with its original pictorial box, which more than justified its strong $14,160 selling price.

Part I of Tony Lasala’s collection was a big hit with cast-iron toy enthusiasts. An astute collector for many years, Lasala was able to acquire rare and desirable pieces from early dealers and auctions. The top-selling cast-iron vehicle in the sale was a white, circa-1929 Arcade Bekins moving van, ex Donald Kaufman collection, which sold for $16,520 against pre-sale expectations of $4,000-$6,000. It was followed by a scarce green and orange 11-inch Kenton Pickwick Nite Coach, which quickly climbed up the bidding ranks to $10,620 against an estimate of $3,000-$4,000. “Tony’s toys made a lot of collectors happy,” said Bertoia Auctions’ owner, Jeanne Bertoia, “and they were very pleased to hear that we’d be offering Part II of Tony’s wonderful collection sometime next year.” (Visit Bertoia’s website for updates.)

A fine selection of cast-iron banks and doorstops crossed the auction block following the Lasala vehicles. Flying high above the group was a J. & E. Stevens Pelican/Man Thumbs Nose bank, patented in 1878. With an attractive near-mint japanned finish, it settled at $6,490.

Early American toys were led by a very rare Ives Leap Frog bell toy, also known as “Two Kids.” It was one of only two examples of its type that Bertoia’s experts had seen – the other being the one in Max Berry’s collection, which Bertoia’s auctioned in 2014. The Leap Frog entered in Bertoia’s Nov. 11-13 sale came from the estate of a North Carolina collector who had owned it for 20 years. Against a $7,500-$10,000 estimate, it garnered $14,160. And on the subject of extreme rarity, another early American highlight was a possible sole survivor: a circa-1880s Goodwin carriage with a small, seated child, as pictured in Blair Whitton’s book American Clockwork Toys 1862-1900. It surpassed its estimate range to sell for $8,260.

Because Bertoia’s November auction traditionally launches the holiday season for toy collectors, there is always a glittering section of Christmas antiques from which to choose, including Dresdens, Santas of various types, kugels, and glass ornaments. This year, the leader of the Christmas parade was Santa himself, in the form of a German belsnickle with glass icicle beard, mica “snow” on his coat and golden beads around his hood. A recent attic find, the 16-inch-tall candy container had been estimated at $8,000-$12,000 but provided a pleasant auction surprise for its consignor when it sold for $26,550.