Although this item is geared more to a collector of comic/Disney items than actual mechanical ones, this rare piece is that of Walt Disney's first cartoon character, which is Oswald the Lucky Rabbit. Oswald starred in a series of 26 silent cartoons made by Walt Disney between 1927 and 1928 for Charles Mintz who contracted with Universal Studios for the distribution. When Disney lost the rights to Oswald, he developed Mickey Mouse. Oswald was the first Disney character to generate other merchandise such as a candy bar, a stencil set, and a pin back button. The Oswald character was later continued by Walter Lantz ( creator of Woody Woodpecker ) for Universal. In the early days of television, Universal added sound to some of the early Disney silent cartoons and these were shown on TV. In 2006 The Disney Company regained the copyright to Oswald. This wind up toy was made by the American firm of Irwin for Universal Studios. He has a key wind mechanism in the torso that when wound, the rabbit toddles back and forth. He has a plush face with felt ears and clothing, has a cloth banner sewn across the torso  reading " OSWALD Copyrighted Universal Pictures . An Irwin Product ".  He also has the paper tag pinned to the torso " DARLING TODDLER Pat. Pend. Wind me up and I will walk. An Irwin Product. " Irwin also made several other toys with this same basic movement. This is a rarely found toy. The only other known Oswald doll/toy was made in England by Deans Rag Book. US$ 3,500.

14 1/2" ( 37cm ) so-called " Waltzing Steiner " automaton-fashion doll with pale bisque shoulderhead with open mouth and two rows of tiny carved teeth, inset cornflower glass eyes with almond shaped eye cuts, pale feathered eyebrows and eyelashes, and wearing the original dark blond short curly wig with center part over the original cork pate. The torso is white kid over cardboard narrowing to the waist with the base consisting of an inverted cardboard cone containing the key wind mechanism. When wound and the on-off lever is released, the perfect bisque arms raise and then lower as the doll moves forward on three metal wheels in the base. The dress is simple , but original , made of pale printed cotton, with narrow waist and vertical pleats in back and pleated horizontally in front from the waist down. Besides being all original and nearly mint and in perfect working order, the piece still retains its original paper label on the front of the cardboard base reading " J. STEINER, fabricant, Rue de Saintouge. No 25, A PARIS, Prisette imp. pass. du Carre, 17 ". Also printed is " Livre 67 A M " , and then filled in in pencil " 29- 10 " and a surname that is illegible. The historical significance of this is that it dates the manufacture and delivery to 1867 with the actual month and day, as well as the name of buyer or retailer to be filled in at the time of actual delivery. The best and most original example of this particular item that we have seen! US$ 6,750.

14 1/2" ( 37cm ) French wind up mechanical doll, circa WWI- early 1920's, by Roullet and Decamps, sometimes known to collectors as " Fifi O'Toole ". Drawing somewhat from the French street urchin cartoon characters " Rin Tin Tin " and " Nenette " by artist " Poulbot ", there is also a male counterpart to the " Fifi O'Toole " mechanical. This example has a composition head with glass inset eyes, human hair wig and dressed in a shocking pink and lace dress with matching mop cap and carrying a red headed baby. When wound the doll moves from side to side and moves her head in an alternating motion. The colors are as bright as we have ever seen and the entire piece is in close to mint condition. ( Often when found, the baby is missing. ) US$ 2,250.