December 9, 2000 — New York, NY – In a packed salesroom at Sotheby’s in New York today, 399 lots of Important
Robots and Antique Toys from the Estate of F.H. Griffith totaled $1.4 million. Competitive bidding for toys and robots
from this famed collection drove some prices up to two and three times their high estimates and established nine
records for various robots and toys at auction. Highlighting today’s sale was the Carpenter Tally-Ho Coach, circa
1885 which sold for $66,300 establishing a new record for a cast-iron, horse-drawn toy at auction.
Leila Dunbar, Senior Vice President and Director of Sotheby’s Collectibles Department said, “Just like Sotheby’s
sale of the Matt Wyse Robot Collection in 1996, the records set today prove that prices for robots and space toys
continue to conquer new frontiers.”
One record set this afternoon was for a Jupiter Robot, circa 1955 which sold for $45,600 against a pre-sale estimate
of $20/25,000. The auctioneer opened the bidding at $12,000 and two bidders in the salesroom vied for this
extremely rare robot with near mint condition box inspiring applause from the salesroom when it finally sold for nearly
two times the high estimate.
A friction powered Space Patrol Car, circa 1955 sped into the top ten lots for the day when it sold for $39,850 more
than three times the high estimate of $12,000. The highly sought after sports car, driven by a robot, inspired intense
competition which drove it to a record price.
Radar Robot a.k.a. Topolino set another record today when it sold for $27,200. This extremely rare robot had been
estimated to sell for $18/22,000.
Also included was the rare Diamond Planet Robot with original box and inserts which sold for $35,250 One of the
largest keywind robots, and in near mint condition, he had been estimated to sell for $30/40,000.
Eric Alberta, Vice President and specialist in charge of the sale said, “At $1.4 million, today’s sale stands as
Sotheby’s most successful toy auction ever held in New York. Collectors wait years for the opportunity that was
presented by the sale of the Griffith Collection today.”
Leading off today’s sale was a session of cast-iron toys which totaled a spectacular $606,750 for only 126 lots.
Highlighting the group was an extraordinary Carpenter Tally-Ho Coach, circa 1885 which soared to $66,300 more
than doubling a high estimate $30,000 and establishing a record for a cast-iron, horse-drawn toy at auction.
Among the other important cast-iron toys offered in the sale, another highlight was the Kenton Alphonse and Gaston
Automobile, circa 1911 which sold for $20,300. In excellent condition with the original driver and steering wheel, it
had been estimated to sell for $10/15,000.
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