Largest Toy Collection: 'Jerni Collection' by Jerry Greene sets world record
NEW YORK, USA -- A collection of 35,000 vintage toys date from 1850 to 1940 and trains was assembled by the American collectorJerry Greeneover a period of 50 years; it include rare, handmade and historically significant European pieces , setting the world record for theLargest Toy Collection. Photo:World's Largest Toy Collection: A selection of highlights from the world's largest toy collection is on display, and for sale at Sotheby's until Feb. 28. Photo Courtesy of Sotheby's (enlarge photo)
The Guinness world record for theLargest collection of sports mascotswas set by Adina and Falk Hinneberg (Germany), who has 874 different official sports mascots.
Guinness World Records also recognized theLargest collection of toy soldiers, owned by Sergey Valentinovich Spasov (Russia), who has 661 different toy soldiers.
"I put it together piece by piece, and my quest for the highest-quality trains and toys took me to thousands of toy fairs and shows" in the United States, Greene said in a statement.
The collector, Jerry Greene, has kept theLargest Toy Collection In The Worldin five basement rooms of his suburban Philadelphia home, Sotheby's said. He says it's now time to part with it and wants to share it with the world, but wants to find a buyer who will acquire all of it.
The name Jerni combines the first names of the owner and his wife, Nina, Sotheby's said. Phtoto: A Sotheby's photo shows a portion of the Jerni Collection of 35,000 vintage toys, to be sold by the company. AP photo (enlarge photo)
The toys date from 1850 to 1940 and include rare, handmade and historically significant European pieces.
There are replicas of actual train stations, bridges and buildings destroyed during both world wars. There are also villages, carousels and Ferris wheels.
They represent some of the best known European and American makers of the golden age of toy manufacturing, including Marklin, Bing, Ernst Plant Carette, and Rock & Graner.
Sotheby'ssaid Greene hopes a public institution or individual will acquire all the toys and donate the collection to a museum.
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