THE FORBES COLLECTION OF MINIATURE VINTAGE TOYS SOLDIERS AND BOATS, FROM KINGS AND QUEENS TO LUXURY OCEAN LINERS AND WARSHIPS, IS GOING ON THE AUCTION BLOCK IN DECEMBER. THE CHARMING COLLECTIBLES HAVE BEEN ON VIEW FOR 25 YEARS IN A SERIES OF DIORAMAS AND VIGNETTES IN THE LOBBY OF THE FORBES MAGAZINE FIFTH AVENUE HEADQUARTERS IN GREENWICH VILLAGE. TOTALING 7,500 PIECES CRAFTED FROM THE 1870s THROUGH THE 1950s, THEY WILL BE SOLD IN 250 LOTS ON 17.DECEMBER AT SOTHEBY'S. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO BRING AN ESTIMATED $3 MILLION TO $5 MILLION. AMONG THE HIGHLIGHTS IS A 37 INCH LONG REPLICA OF THE CUNARD LINE'S LUSITANIA OCEAN LINER COMPLETE WITH TWO LEAD SEAMEN, A SEATED PASSENGER AND FIVE PAIRS OF LIFEBOATS. THE MAGAZINE'S LATE PUBLISHER, MALCOLM FORBES, PAID $28,600 FOR IT AT A SOTHEBY'S AUCTION IN 1983. AT THE UPCOMING AUCTION, THE VINTAGE TOY IS ESTIMATED TO BRING $100,000 TO $200,000. A CAST-IRON FRENCH GAS-POWERED ARMORED GUNBOAT WITH ZINC AND BRONZE DETAILS IS THE LARGEST TOY IN THE COLLECTION. FORTY SEVEN INCHES LONG, IT IS A REPLICA OF A 19th CENTURY BATTLESHIP AND THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE OF ITS KIND, SOTHEBY'S TOLD THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IN ANNOUNCING THE SALE. IT COULD BRING $200,000 TO $300,000. COMPANY VICE-PRESIDENT ROBERT FORBES SAID HE AND HIS BROTHERS DECIDED TO PART WITH THE COLLECTION TO GIVE 'OTHERS A CHANCE TO OWN THEM, COLLECT THEM, AND MAYBE EVEN WIND THEM UP ON A POND OR TWO AND WATCH THEM GO.' THE FAMILY AUCTIONED A SELECTION OF THE TINY TOYS FOUR YEARS AFTER FORBES' DEATH IN 1990, BRINGING A TOTAL OF $393,415 AT SOTHEBY'S. WHAT'S LEFT, INCLUDING INCH-HIGH AZTECS AND CONQUISTADORS, INDIANS SURROUNDED BY A STAGECOACH AND FOX HUNTERS, IS BEING SOLD IN DECEMBER.
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