Tennants Auctioneers saw the sale of a toy which broke all their toy sale records on Friday, 25th May 2007.  Making £14,000 at the auction was lot 526, an American Schoenhut Humpty Dumpty Toy Set No. 20/84 entitled ‘Teddy Roosevelt on Safari’.  The toy was made of painted wooden elasticated figures and comprised Teddy Roosevelt, two other eastern figures, two natives and seen wild animals plus accessories.  Sold in its original wooden box, the set dated from 1910 and was made by Albert Schoenhut, the Philadelphia toymaker.

With two under-bidders on the telephones from the USA, this toy set was keenly contested and eventually sold to an English toy dealer who plans to return it to the USA.

The reason for it making such a high price at the auction was not only its rarity but also the fact that it related so strongly to the former American President, Teddy Roosevelt, and an example exists in the Washington Dolls House and Toy Museum, USA.

Entries are being invited for Tennants next Toys, Models and Comics Sale to be held in September 2007.

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