Holy prices, Batman!

Warwick and Warwick’s July sale threw up some varied collectables, with Batman memorabilia doing very well indeed. Realising £556, the Louis Marx plastic Batmobile was more faithful to the original TV car than some representations in the marketplace. Although the box had gone soft it was largely complete and this, a Swansea-made, friction-powered model, isn’t sighted often. In contrast, the Corgi example is much better known and has survived in considerable numbers. Great play value always sets this version apart (don’t forget that it fired rockets and had a deadly tyre cutter up front) and consequently, values remain firm. The Warwick and Warwick example was almost mint, featuring bat logos on the hubs and came in a good box, making just shy of £500.

On a totally different tack, the diminutive Dinky Toys “The King’s Aeroplane” (reference 62k) was very unusual in its red, blue and silver paint scheme. The box said it all: an Envoy fitted with Cheetah engines, the real thing was good for over 200mph. This delightful example took off and reached £188.

Model soldiers are always a feature of this auction house and figurine collectors weren’t disappointed. A good example of a Wm Britains’ Arabs of the Desert set included two camels and riders, a pair of mounted horsemen and four Arabs on foot. The whole was supported by a (very necessary) trio of palm trees and was contained in a red box with the usual colourful label depicting these dashing, robed types charging over the dunes. The set (reference 224) realised £200.

Let’s not forget tinplate, either. Really good, mint examples with boxes continue to command the money, especially if the subject matter is transport-related. Such an example was a Wells Brimtoy trolleybus which was delightfully simple and boasted lovely printing, showing passengers in period dress. With its side panels proudly displaying “Buy British”, jingoism doesn’t come much better. A plain, utility card box accompanied the tinplate vehicle and this English eccentricity hummed along to reach a creditable £389.