Laughing Sailor in Operation (VIDEO)

If you've been to visit Aston's Toy Auctions in the last month, you will have noticed the "Laughing Sailor" on display in our entrance hall. If you haven't seen him working, here's a short video clip:

He's available to buy in our Arne Toy Museum auction on 8th November. You can find him in the catalogue here: http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/astons-toy-auctions/catalogue-id-2891301/lot-19604020

By Kayleigh Francis

Arne Toy Museum Auction [VIDEO PREVIEW] - by Chris Aston

We've been so busy cataloguing this sale that I haven't managed to put aside much time to write about it - but luckily for me other people have!

The sale has been featured in The Antiques Trade Gazette, The Times, The Metro and of course the Collector's Gazette - who have also kindly produced these two videos following the process of putting the auction together.

A third video will follow tracking the auction itself and reporting on prices realised.

I was also invited onto the Alan Titchmarsh show on ITV to talk about some of the toys from the museum collection - you can watch this on ITV player until the 26th October, it's the 27th September episode!

By Chris Aston

Arne Toy Museum Catalogues [AUCTION PREVIEW] - by Chris Aston

Hot off the press!

Full colour glossy catalogues for the very special Arne Toy Museum Auction are now available for £8 each or £10 including UK postage.

Please call Marie Doherty on 01384 250220 or email info@astonstoyauctions.co.uk to obtain your copy.

The auction takes place at our main saleroom on Friday 8th November 2013 at 10am.

More details about the sale can be found on at www.astonstoyauctions.co.uk

By Chris Aston

Dressed for the Death Star! [FEATURED COLLECTION] - by Kayleigh Francis

Star Wars toys are a staple of our monthly toy auction at Aston’s Auctioneers, with Kenner and Palitoy figures and ships always being popular. This month, however, we have some different vintage Star Wars toys to show you…
 
Lot 128 includes two 1983 Acamas Toys costumes, Darth Vader and a Stormtrooper, which are still boxed and unworn.
 


Lot 130 is a classic Don Post Darth Vader helmet. This one is particularly interesting, as it’s a rare first issue from 1977 and still has its sticker attached on the inside.
 


Lot 135 is another item from Don Post, a full size latex Admiral Ackbar mask, released in the 1980s.
 


Lot 139 includes lots of masks! Mostly by Cesar and Ben Cooper, it’s great to see so many of these have survived with their tags intact.
 


Lot 155 is a boxed Palitoy Talking R2-D2. This item was exclusive to Palitoy, so was only released in the UK and can be sought after by collectors.
 


Lot 157 includes a Darth Vader figure carrying case which still has its original colour insert. This one is a first issue, and still has its mail-away shipping box.
 


Last of all, lot 158 includes some ARII Space Convoy model kits. These Japanese bootleg toys feature some great box art, with creatures looking very suspiciously like Star Wars characters – but with claws! These are very hard to find, and even a recent reboot of these kits are demanding a high price on the collectors market.
 


Take a look at our toy auction catalogue for the auction on Saturday 14^th September for more similar items, as well as a whole host of other toys.
 
By Kayleigh Francis

A day at our Toy Auction! [VIDEO] - by Chris Aston

[VIDEO]

A day at our Toy Auction!

 

Thanks to my good friend Bobby Bridgeman who has kindly put this video together for us!

Hopefully it gives a good idea of what a toy auction is like to those of you who have never attended one in person

 

Chris Aston