On Thursday, May 29, Morphys will auction Part I of the lifetime personal collection of European and American antique toys amassed by the late Tom Sage Sr. (1939-2024) of Allentown, Pa. Widely acknowledged as a pioneer of antique toy dealing and collecting, Sage was known for his encyclopedia knowledge of toys and a well-cultivated international network of industry contacts with whom he conducted business for more than 50 years. While buying and selling rare toys was his full-time occupation, Sage also had a mental wish list of toys and trains he personally wanted to own. Over decades, he filled the slots on that list, and it is those pieces that will be offered in the sale. While every toy in the collection is a showstopper, the auction catalogs cover photo suggests the top seller may end up being Sages 1904 Ferris Wheel made by the revered German firm Marklin. One of only three or four of its type known to exist, in researching his fathers toys, Tommy Sage Jr., who heads Morphy Auctions Toys & Trains department, related that he had found copies of ca. 1910 photos taken in Brooklyn of the Ferris Wheels then-owner sitting with his son and holding this example. The Ferris Wheel can be traced back to the gentlemans relative who worked for a Brooklyn department store and who received the toy when the store closed down before World War I. Dad purchased it at Sothebys in 1994. It was one of his finest toys, and he thought so highly of it, he kept it in his bedroom, noted Sage. The Ferris Wheel will convey to its new owner with paperwork, the aforementioned copies of 1910 photos, and a Sothebys tag and receipt. The pre-sale estimate is $100,000-$200,000. In addition to rarity, another characteristic apparent throughout the museum-quality Sage Collection is exceptional, if not astonishing, original condition. Tom Sr. was one of the first antique toy dealers who weighed condition as the overriding factor prior to making any purchase. Tommy recalled, He recognized early on just how important condition was to the trailblazers who came just before him in the toy hobby. He took that as a cue to follow and would always pay a lot of money to obtain a perfect example. It took many years of dedicated searching for Sage to locate his 45-inch Marklin Amerika tin oceanliner. Made ca. 1909-10, it is an electric version, powered by a dry cell battery-operated motor housed within the hull and connected to two propellers via a drive shaft. Beautifully appointed and in stunning original condition, it represents the largest cataloged (Ref. 5050/11E) Marklin oceanliner of its era. My dad was very fond of large German boats, and this was one of his best, remarked Tommy. Also produced at Marklins original factory in Goppingen, Germany, the all-original Gefion battleship is designed with a distinctive ram front, a feature that was added to warships of its era for the express purpose of inflicting damage on enemy vessels. With respect to toy ships, the rule is, the bigger the ram front, the earlier the production. This particular toy, which comes with a crew of 11 original Heyde soldiers, dates to around 1904. Marklin rival Rock & Graner, which also based its operation in Goppingen, Germany, was the manufacturer of a 20-inch-long Wilhelm II clockwork side-wheel (paddlewheel) boat with a substantial front bow. Tommy Sage noted that his father owned some 70 antique toy boats, and of those, only two were paddlewheelers. He explained that they are especially rare because not as many were made in comparison to other types of marine craft. In the early 20th century, kids preferred battleships and oceanliners, so far fewer paddlewheelers actually made it to the marketplace, he said. Rare and desirable, the Wilhelm II is pictured in (David) Presslands Great Book of Tin Toys (New Cavendish Books, 1995). A classic that appeals to both toy aficionados and collectors of holiday antiques, a ca. 1912 Fischer Father Christmas car is lithographed on its red body with endearing images of teddy bears and other playthings. The rear section of the car is loaded with Christmas-themed goodies, including a small feather tree, a Cracker Jack mini Toonerville Trolley, and other small toys and novelties. Sage observed that the car is in mint condition and one of the finest of few known examples of its type. Tom Sr. was fascinated by early German trains and trams and acquired some fine productions, including a ca. 1900 Marklin clockwork tramway trolley. Handpainted in green with red and cream, the near-mint tram car still has its six original figures and four original catenary poles, with a 27-inch track on which to travel. Like so many important toys in the collection, this turn-of-the-20th-century charmer is illustrated in Presslands Great Book of Tin Toys. Tommy opined that it is the best of all trolleys in his fathers collection, describing it as absolutely beautiful. Tommy recalled that his father loved to place an antique Marklin lamp next to every antique toy car he displayed. His selection of Marklin lighting included single, double, and especially-rare triple-globe lamps. One of his best triples retains all three of its original globes, with appealing robins-egg blue original paint still present on its metal lamp post. Standing 16.5 inches tall and in excellent to near-mint condition, it is expected to sell for $8,000-$12,000. The Thursday, May 29, auction will be held live at Morphys gallery, 2000 N. Reading Rd., Denver, Pa., 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 toll-free at 877-968-8880 or email info@morphyauctions.com. All images courtesy of Morphy Auctions.