Star Wars designer gear!

Tim Weeks at Wessex Auction Rooms reported a busy recent sale, with many lots achieving respectable prices.

Star Wars just won’t go away – or so it seems. One of the highlights of the last Wessex sale included a Star Wars factory prototype, to with a boxed Airfix Star Wars Han Solo's Millennium Falcon model kit. This was complete, bagged, and with instructions; it also contained two of the green factory labels to the box lid, which had been signed off by the designers in terms of quality, marketing and safety. The kit was too, and marked as Provisional Standard. Part of a collection from a former designer, this shot off into space and achieved £260.

Back on terra firma, aboxed Corgi No.448 BMC Mini Police Van with Tracker Dog was in excellent condition with its inner display stand, dog and policeman figure. The van featured a red interior, had an intact aerial and was accompanied by a very good box. The only fault noted was that one tyre was missing (something easily replaced) and this interesting little set drove away to make £100.

Scarcely a sale ever goes by without featuring something from the prolific Britains stable – and this auction was no exception. Arguably the most interesting lot was the Britains 1978 Toy of the Year cased display diorama, containing a Britains MF Massey Ferguson 760. This was an excellent shop display item, described as in very good condition, and it went under the hammer for £280.

Lastly, something for the railway buffs in the shape of the ever-popular Tri-ang Hornby Battle Space series. A very reasonable £130 was the closing bid on a sealed R517 Satellite set: this contained the shunter, observation truck, the satellite launcher with satellite and, most importantly, the usually elusive Commandos. Track was included in this bargain price.