SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. – Over the years, we’ve all heard the stories of “Mom” throwing out a vintage comic book or baseball card collection, but as time has passed, mothers have increasingly gotten the blame for discarding more-recent collectibles, like electronic games. Fortunately, one savvy mom who supervised a clear-out of her son’s recreation room in their Montgomery County (Pa.) home knew better than to put his sizable collection of old electronic games and accessories in the trash. She boxed up the goods and delivered them herself to Stephenson’s suburban Philadelphia auction house, where they will be sold on November 27.

The collection includes video game consoles, cartridges, joysticks and other controllers dating from the 1970s through 1990s, manufactured by such companies as Atari, Nintendo and Sega. Within the group are competition controllers for both Atari and Commodore systems. Among the role-playing games is a 2002 production “Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” in its original, still-sealed box. Also, there are roleplaying game books and several sealed card sets, including Wizards of the Coast’s “Everway” (1995), “Vanished Planet” (2003), and “The Shared Dream” (2017). A second-edition factory set of “Advanced Dungeons and Dragons” includes 750 trading cards.

The star attraction of the 450-lot sale is a single-owner collection of factory-boxed HO-gauge brass loco/tenders and train cars with a timeline spanning the 1970s through 2000s. Most of the plastic-wrapped original boxes have never been opened, allowing the trains to remain in pristine condition for decades. There are many examples by the Korean manufacturer Samhongsa, as well as a number of others by Alco (Japan), Overland Models by Ajin (Korea), Alpha Models (Korea), and Iron Horse Models (Japan).

A second toy train collection yielded many desirable Lionel O-gauge mint/boxed train sets and loco/tenders, many of them never opened, from the 1990s through 2000s. Highlights include a 1999 #28011 C&O Allegheny 2-6-6-6 steam engine and tender in sealed original box, estimate $650-$1,300; a 2000 UP Challenger #28064 black die-cast metal steam engine and tender in original box with shipping box, $650-$1,300; a 2000 PRR T-1 4-4-4-4 Duplex #28063 die-cast metal steam engine and tender in original box with shipping box, $400-800; and a #18045 NYC Commodore Vanderbilt Streamlined Hudson 4-6-4 steam loco and tender in original box with shipping box, $300-600.

The collection also includes some older trains from as far back as the 1930s, in gauges N, S and O. One of the earliest examples is a 1930s Lionel standard gauge black Bild-A Loco steam engine and tender #384, which is expected to sell in the range of $350-$700. Adding the finishing touch to this array of desirable trains is a nice grouping of vintage platform accessories, such as train stations, figures, signs, etc.

The auction’s wide variety of toys includes 1960s promotional cars, pressed-steel trucks, die-cast vehicles, and several Howdy Doody lots. Also worthy of special mention are a vintage heavy plastic RCA “Nipper” dog mascot store advertising display that stands 3 feet tall, estimate $200-$400; and a Batman Comics issue #181 from June 1966 that features the first appearance of supervillain Poison Ivy. It is estimated at $200-$400.

Stephenson’s Friday, Nov. 27, 2020 auction of Trains, Toys & Vintage Video Games will be held live at the company’s gallery, starting at 1 p.m. ET.  Guests are asked to wear masks and observe social distancing. Alternatively, bidders may participate absentee, by phone, or live online through LiveAuctioneers. Goods may be inspected at the gallery on auction day from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Stephenson’s Auctioneers’ gallery is located at 1005 Industrial Blvd., Southampton (Bucks County, metro Philadelphia), PA 18966. For additional information on any lot in the sale, call Cindy Stephenson at 215-322-6182 or e-mail info@stephensonsauction.com. Visit Stephenson’s Auctioneers online at www.stephensonsauction.com. View the auction catalog online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.