Bertoia Auctions has announced it will offer the Jerry and Nina Greene Collection, regarded as one of the world's finest model train collections, in a series of auctions beginning in April 2016.

The collection was assembled over the course of 50 years by the couple, with pieces dating from the 1850s to the 1940s.

The collection contains pieces from the 1850s to the 1940s

It features many of the world's rarest examples from manufacturers including Marklin, Bing, Lionel, Ives, American Flyer, Carlisle & Finch and Voltamp, along with a treasure trove of antique stations and accessories.

"The Greenes' collection is phenomenal. It's one of the largest and most comprehensive toy train collections in the world," said Bertoia Auctions associate Rich Bertoia.

"Jerry and Nina didn't buy with just rarity in mind, they were also uncompromising when it came to condition. Even those pieces that aren't the only known survivors are still in a class of their own because they're simply the finest examples you could ever hope to own.

"To see so much quality and rarity in a single collection is very unusual, but to see consistently fine condition on top of that takes the collection to a whole new level." 

The first Bertoia sale is scheduled to take place on April 9-10, with subsequent auctions following later in the year.

"Because it is so vast, we really can't estimate how many auctions will be required to sell it all," said Bertoia. "It's a major undertaking and one that we're very proud to partake in."

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