TIPPCO, GERMANY, CIRCA 1935

Mickey Mouse and the wild and wonderful world of Disney played a major role in Maurice Sendak’s collecting journey. Sendak’s love of Mickey Mouse goes back to the very beginning—both were born in 1928. This attachment quickly manifested in his budding collection, as Sendak would visit the movies partly to collect the Mickey Mouse bisque figurines given away at screenings. The Maurice Sendak archive still retains one of these early bisque figures. In the 1960s, Sendak began collecting Mickey Mouse in earnest. This rare motorcycle represents one of the jewels of his extensive Disneyana collection. Manufactured by Tippco (or T.C.O.) in 1930s Germany, this mechanical toy hails from the early days of worldwide enthusiasm for Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. Sendak was especially drawn to Mickeys from this earlier era, even comparing their proportions and expressions to his own iconic Wild Things. A similar Tippco Mickey and Minnie wind-up motorcycle from the collection of Monique Knowlton sold at Bertoia Auctions for $220,000 in 2024, setting the world record price for any Disney toy.