Antique toys have been on a roll over the past couple of years, with incredible rarities coming out of attics and basements to make their auction debuts. Every time a previously unknown or seldom-seen toy is unearthed and publicized, the collector market heats up. Milestone Auctions of suburban Cleveland, Ohio, will add even more fuel to the fire with an exciting Saturday, March 14, sale of 664 premium-quality American, European and Japanese toys spanning 125 years of production. The impressive lineup of most wanted pieces is the culmination of many months of diligent toy talk by phone and email and traveling to view collections, primarily across the United States but also beyond our shores. The variety is nothing short of amazing, with categories that include Japanese robots and space toys, windups, battery-ops, pressed-steel, cast-iron and many other types of popular antique and vintage toys. Nearly all of the brands that todays collectors favor can be found in Milestones online catalog, which documents how borderless the toy hobby is. American companies include Marx, Chein, Hubley, Buddy L, Kelmet, Keystone, Smith-Miller, Tonka and American National. European firms such as Gunthermann, Bing, Distler and Lehmann are in the mix, and from Japan, there are scores of toys made by Yonezawa, Nomura, Asahi, Linemar, Masudaya, Yoshiya and other manufacturers. Postwar Japanese robots and space toys are at the forefront of the auction, with a super-rare Yonezawa 13-inch-high battery-operated Jupiter Robot in the lead. All original and complete with crisp, bright colors and its correct remote control battery box, this extraterrestrial is seldom encountered in any condition, but the auction example is graded Excellent and even retains its original pictorial box. The bot worked when tested and will be in fine form on auction day when it steps into the spotlight with a $25,000 to $35,000 estimate. Mid-20th-century Japanese toys take the prize for imagination, and thats the first thing that comes to mind when examining the various quirky details on ET Japans 12-inch tin friction Honeymoon Robot Car. Possibly the rarest and most desirable space toy of all, its styled as a convertible, some say in the image of a 1957 Ford Sunliner. It has a diamond-shape antenna, robot driver, and robot passenger in the back seat with a TV screen showing rocket graphics. The rare example offered by Milestone is all-original, complete, and in excellent, clean condition (including the undercarriage). The friction works well, and the lithography cant be faulted. Its a very high-quality example, noted Miles King. Theres going to be some competition for that toy. The Popeye toy every character toy collector would love to own but rarely even sees is a 10.5-inch battery-operated Popeye and Olive Oyl Tank made by Linemar, the Japanese subsidiary of the U.S. firm Louis Marx & Co. Milestone will be auctioning a high quality one, and its all original and complete, including the figures of Popeye figure, with his original pipe, and Olive, who drives the vehicle. The tank itself is in stunning condition with bright colors and a perfect, clean battery box. It would be a challenge to locate a finer example, King stated confidently. The pre-sale estimate is $10,000 to $20,000. Another Japanese highlight is Aoshin Shotens 15-inch tin friction Batmobile, a blue version with distinctive tailfins. All original and appearing never to have been played with, the car is finished in a snappy color scheme with nice graphics and a full-body Batman driver. Its in excellent working order and comes in its original box with fantastic Batman and Robin with Batmobile graphics. A collector would have to look long and hard to find a superior example of this highly desirable toy. A great superhero toy that was made exclusively for the Japanese market, Nomuras 12-inch Yusei Kamen #2 battery-operated tin toy is all original, including the cape, and displays exceptional condition. It even retains its original 1966 sticker on the side. With a clean battery box and in very good working order, this exotic toy is estimated at $3,000 to $4,000. Whenever a child of the pre-WWII era received a toy like Buddy Ls 24-inch pressed steel Trench Digger, theyd roll up their sleeves for some rugged play in the backyard. Thats why its uncommon for a Trench Digger in nice condition to turn up at auction. Milestones sale includes an all-original example (including treads) with factory paint and decals. Graded VG-Excellent, this favorite of the late 1920s/early 1930s is estimated at $3,000 to $4,000. Toy collectors might have to compete with Halloween fans if they want to own an amusing 14-inch-tall Marx battery-operated Whistling Spooky Kooky Tree. All original and complete with its original pictorial box, the auction example is a light brown Summer version of the multi-action toy. Colorful, clean and in working order, it has a $2,000 to $2,500 estimate. This sale will be held at Milestones gallery located at 38198 Willoughby Parkway, Willoughby, Ohio, with a 10 a.m. start time (EST). In addition to live bidding at the gallery, Milestone welcomes all other forms of remote bidding: absentee, phone or live online through Milestone Live, LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable and AuctionZip. Worldwide shipping is available. For more information, call Miles King at 440-527-8060 or email info@milestoneauctions.com. All images courtesy of Milestone Auctions.