Recent collectables sale fetches high prices at Wallis & Wallis

For those who are just starting their collections or perhaps venturing into a different area of collecting, the words ‘a quantity of...’ in an auction catalogue can be very welcome. When you want to build up your collection, quantity lots can offer a good value-for-money way of doing so. If there are some reasonable models included you might be able to trade them up in future and, sometimes, special items find their way into these selections, so they are always worth a look.

There were several ‘quantity of’ lots featured in the Wallis & Wallis Toy & Model Auction No 175 held at Lewes on Monday 5th September, many of which managed to combine both quantity and quality.

The recent Wallis & Wallis sales have featured some splendid HO gauge European model railway items and this auction certainly continued that tradition. Indeed, the very first lot reached one of the best prices of the day with £460 paid for a large quantity of mostly German-related HO gauge lineside structures, buildings, vehicles, accessories and some unmade kits. Interest in this opening lot far exceeded the pre-sale estimates of £125-150. Two lots featuring quantities of Fleischmann rolling stock, comprising 20 and 25 items respectively, also did well coming in at £300 apiece against estimates of £100-130.

Lot 49 was described as ‘a good quantity of OO model railway rolling stock and accessories’ and included coaches and wagons, buildings, platforms, trees, lineside equipment and electric colour light signals. Pre-sale estimates were £80-130, but the hammer came down at £340.

It wasn't just model railways that were available in quantity in this sale, of course. ‘A very large quantity of farm toys’ sold at £150, while ‘a large quantity of agricultural tractors and other items’ went for £300. Both of these lots were comprised of more than 100 items each. A quantity of unmade plastic kits from Airfix and other manufacturers sold for £290.

A selection of 16 Dinky Toys military vehicles sold at £280, while a dozen French Dinky military toys made £300. Eight Dinky Toys Bedford lorries made £330 with five Dinky Supertoys Foden 8-wheelers going for £320.

There were some fine individual models, too, such as the mint boxed CMC Exclusive Modelle 1/18 scale 1924 Mercedes Benz Targa Florio single seater, which sold for £95. Indeed, it was a good sale for racing car fans, too, with several splendid models from makers such as Carousel, Exoto, Fly Car, Minichamps and Scalextric.

Another strong area was the Britains figure selections with rarities such as the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) band in full ceremonial dress uniform reaching £200 and a Royal Horse Artillery set No 144 selling at £210.

The other lot to reach £460 at this sale was an attractive display of two steam power units, while a fine scale model of a horizontal single cylinder stationary steam engine sold for £310.

PICTURED: This CMC Exclusive Modelle 1/18 scale 1924 Mercedes Benz Targa Florio sold for £95.

This auction story was first published in the November issue of Collectors Gazette. To see which issues of Collectors Gazette are available to buy online, click here.