Rule Britannia!

Greenslade Taylor Hunt’s first specialist Collector’s Sale of 2017 proved to be a resounding success, according to the house’s Peter Rixon, with a selling rate of over 94%, and outstanding prices recorded across all sections.

Leading the way in a significant 170 lot model railway section was a superb O gauge Lee Marsh Model Co. GWR Dean Single locomotive “Britannia”, which made £1,600; this was followed by an unboxed electric Bassett-Lowke LNER Class A3 locomotive “Flying Scotsman” that realised £480. To underline the strength of the market for modern products in OO gauge, a Hornby “Devon Belle” train pack, with extra coaches, fetched £220, while a Bachmann limited edition BR Class 57 diesel locomotive, “Pendennis Castle” found a new home for £170. Also by Bachmann, a SE & CR Class C tender locomotive, in an attractive lined green livery, went under the hammer for £160.

One of the lots that generated the most pre-sale interest was a shoebox full of play-worn Star Wars figures, side arms and accessories. After feverish commission and on-line bidding, they finally sold to an overseas buyer for £480. Also no doubt tugging at nostalgic heartstrings was a hard-to-better, late period Meccano No.9 set from the early 1970s, with the contents still, incredibly, shrink-wrapped: this was bid to £320. From an earlier era, a rare “Dans les Airs” airship parlour game, with a damaged box, sparked interest, finally reaching £350.

Among the diecast models was a collection of mainly 1/18 scale Formula 1 racing cars, the first instalment of a single-owner collection: these brought £2,800 for their delighted vendor. This included £220 for three Minichamps team Brawn cars, as driven by Jenson Button. Two very clean Dinky 38 series cars, a maroon Sunbeam Talbot and a grey Lagonda, sold for a swish £180, while a Chad Valley Fordson tractor, with a repaired front wheel, minus its seat and in a rather world-weary box, still managed to plough on to achieve £160.

Stealing the headlines on the day, however, was a Jaques boxwood and ebony Staunton pattern chess set in a 19th century Gothic Revival carton-pierre casket. After a prolonged bidding battle involving two telephones and the Internet, a check-mate move was made at £5,000.