Ready, teddy, go as traditional toy collections go on sale in Newbury auction

And the three-day auction from November 22-24 is the largest ever to take place at the saleroom, expected to total £200,000.

It includes various notable groups such as The Margaret and Gerry Grey private collection. They ran were one of the first teddy bear shops to open in the UK (Wellingborough, Northants) which gave them access to fantastic examples, especially during the mid-1980s as the antique bear market was taking off. Their Limited Edition collection comprises 221 lots of collectable Steiff toys and bears.

Another to watch out for is the Julia Morgan-Swinhoe collection is antique Bing teddy bears – from the German company better known for toy railways.

The final day of the auction will offer dolls including the Betty Fox Collection as well as Traditional Toys. The Betty Fox Collection comprises over 300 lots which were amassed over the last 60 years by Fox, a Midlands farmer’s wife, and is expected to fetch over £40,000. The collection consists of mainly bisque headed German child and baby dolls with some French examples.

These auctions are organised by SAS specialist Daniel Agnew, formerly of Christie’s. He joined SAS in 2013.

Here are five ideas on what to buy from the Special Auction Services Dolls & Teddy Bears Three Day Sale.

Tall teddy

This ‘exceptionally fine’ 2ft high Steiff centre-seam teddy bear from c.1910 (pictured top) is estimated at £5000-8000 as part of The Margaret and Gerry Grey private collection.

Bid via thesaleroom.com for the Steiff centre-seam teddy bear from c.1910.

Bing the money

Bing tumbling teddy bear c.1919 – estimate £600-800 at Special Auction Services on November 22-24.

The main focus of Julia Morgan-Swinhoe’s collection is antique Bing teddy bears, and highlights include a rare early Bing white mohair bear c.1908 (£800-1200), Fireball, a cinnamon mohair Steiff centre-seam bear c.1908, which is expected to fetch £2000-3000, and – pictured here - a Bing tumbling teddy bear c.1919 (£600-800).

Bid via thesaleroom.com for the Bing tumbling teddy bear.

Park Lane house for £1500

Late 19th century dolls’ house based on a Park Lane stucco town house – estimate £1000-1500 at Special Auction Services on November 22-24.

For fans of the miniature world of dolls’ houses, there is this late 19th century house based on a Park Lane stucco town house – shown here – which opens on both sides and at the base to reveal the basement, stables and carriage house (estimate: £1000-1500).

There is another brick painted dolls’ house, a ‘doer-upper’, dating around the 1830-40s, which is estimated at £500-800; and a large 1905 dolls’ house on a stand is fully furnished with early 20th century furniture and carries an estimate of £1000-1500.

Bid via thesaleroom.com for the late 19th century dolls’ house based on a Park Lane stucco town house.

Chubby princess

Schoenau & Hoffmeister Princess Elizabeth with original card tag – estimate £500-800 at Special Auction Services on November 22-24.

The Betty Fox Collection comprises more than 300 lots which were amassed over the last 60 years by a Midlands farmer's wife. It is expected to fetch over £40,000. The collection consists of mainly bisque headed German child and baby dolls with some French examples.

Highlights include a Kämmer & Reinhardt 101 Marie character sad faced girl doll (£700-1000) and a rare Phénix Star bébé (£2000-3000), a Paris bébé No 10 (£1500-2000).

Pictured here is a doll of the queen as a toddler: a rare Schoenau & Hoffmeister Princess Elizabeth with original card tag (£500-800). Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother was said not to approve of this doll as she thought it looked too chubby and as it didn't receive royal approval, it was not a big seller.

Bid via thesaleroom.com for the Schoenau & Hoffmeister Princess Elizabeth with original card tag.

Market placed

Mid-19th century German (Erzgebirge) turned and painted wooden market – estimate £2000-3000 at Special Auction Services on November 22-24.

The Traditional Toys category is led by a rare mid-19th century German (Erzgebirge) turned and painted wooden market, in its original wooden box with three men and four women with various fruit and vegetable stalls which is estimated at £2000-3000.

A large German clockwork window display of a nodding Father Christmas automaton smoking a cigar will also go under the hammer and is expected to fetch £800-1200.

Bid via thesaleroom.com for the mid-19th century German (Erzgebirge) turned and painted wooden market.