0:00:23 > 0:00:25Thomas Hardy said of the Dorset coastline,
0:00:25 > 0:00:29"The atmosphere below is languorous and so tinged with azure,
0:00:29 > 0:00:33"that what artists call the middle distance partakes of that hue."
0:00:33 > 0:00:35But this idyllic place of land
0:00:35 > 0:00:40and sea can transform from tranquil to tumultuous in an instant.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49We've travelled five miles from the English Channel to our valuation
0:00:49 > 0:00:52day venue, Lulworth Castle, where the water has followed us!
0:00:55 > 0:00:57And we'll be taking a look at the landscape
0:00:57 > 0:01:00and what it's like to live here later on in the programme.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03But right now, hundreds of people have turned up to Lulworth Castle.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05It is raining outside, so we brought them inside.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08But it hasn't dampened their spirits, because here they are,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11look, laden with antiques and collectables to show our experts.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13If they get a great valuation and you like it,
0:01:13 > 0:01:16- what are you going to do? - ALL: FLOG IT!
0:01:16 > 0:01:19And our experts are eager to share their knowledge,
0:01:19 > 0:01:22but some items have stumped even wise old Mark Stacey.
0:01:24 > 0:01:25Well, I've never seen one of those.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27Wow, what on Earth is that?
0:01:27 > 0:01:29It could be a rare find.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31And fountain of all knowledge David Fletcher
0:01:31 > 0:01:35has also got some mysteries to solve.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Some of them are modern, some of them are old.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41But the question is, are they silver, do you think?
0:01:41 > 0:01:43And that's the joy of antiques.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46But, luckily, they have spotted what this is.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50- Well, I just found a little cherub. - Is that a he or she?
0:01:50 > 0:01:53I don't know, it's very cherubic. I think it could be you in your youth, David.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56When I was cherubic.
0:01:56 > 0:01:58If you say so, David.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04And on today's show, David has found a fine four-fendered friend.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06I've been singing that song.
0:02:06 > 0:02:09It's been going round and round and round in my head.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12And Mark's got some of his own little friends.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16And they've all got rather sort of cheeky faces, haven't they?
0:02:16 > 0:02:19And David's got some surprises up his sleeve.
0:02:19 > 0:02:20You look surprised?
0:02:20 > 0:02:22- I'm staggered!- Good.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26But which will be the biggest surprise when they go under the hammer?
0:02:35 > 0:02:39Lulworth Castle and its estate is set in around 12,000 acres of land.
0:02:39 > 0:02:43It incorporates farms, villages and even five miles of coastline.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Later on in the programme I'll be giving a grand view of some of
0:02:46 > 0:02:50that land but right now, it's time to get on with our first valuation.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53And David's found something that's really pleased him,
0:02:53 > 0:02:56an unusual collection we rarely see on Flog It!
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Beverley, thank you for braving the foul weather
0:03:00 > 0:03:02and joining us here today.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06Now you've brought with you a collection of handwritten envelopes,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08and I can only really describe
0:03:08 > 0:03:14the collection as postal history, for want of a better word.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Erm, is this a subject you're interested in?
0:03:17 > 0:03:22No, we came by these albums...my husband used to work in a large house
0:03:22 > 0:03:28in Wareham, and when the owners died, about 15 years ago, there was
0:03:28 > 0:03:33a house sale, and these were in a job lot right at the end of the auction.
0:03:33 > 0:03:36The box went for about £5.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38My husband immediately was really taken by them,
0:03:38 > 0:03:40he's much more into history,
0:03:40 > 0:03:44and he said they were a fascinating account of life in the 1830s.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48Yeah, what interests me most of all about these letters is that
0:03:48 > 0:03:52- none of them have stamps, as such.- Mm-hm.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55Now, the postage stamp didn't come into being until the late 1830s...
0:03:55 > 0:03:59- OK.- ..and from that time onwards,
0:03:59 > 0:04:03- the person who sent the letter paid to send it.- Yes.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- Up until this date, the recipient paid.- OK.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10And none of these bear what we think of today as being conventional postage stamps.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14- But they all have post office franks on them.- That's right.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18But what also fascinates me is that many of them bear the name,
0:04:18 > 0:04:22beneath the address, of a member of the nobility.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24William Gladstone, in this instance.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Marlborough, in this instance.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Well, when my husband started investigating,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33it seemed that a lot of the envelopes were addressed to the Baker family...
0:04:33 > 0:04:35- Right.- ..and that Mr Baker was a solicitor,
0:04:35 > 0:04:39and these were letters of correspondence that he received,
0:04:39 > 0:04:44that possibly were then given to his daughters, who cut them out
0:04:44 > 0:04:47and, somehow, they then managed to get the signatures
0:04:47 > 0:04:51of the people who had been in correspondence with their father.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54So this would seem to suggest that the recipients of
0:04:54 > 0:04:58these letters, at some stage, brought them back to the originator.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03- Exactly, yes.- I can't prove that. - No, and I can't.- And neither can you.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05I mean, what I find is so fascinating about this,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08this is the sort of case which we are faced with all the time, really.
0:05:08 > 0:05:14- Erm, the whole issue raises more questions than I can provide answers.- I know, yes.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18- It deserves a week's research, a fortnight's research.- Really?
0:05:18 > 0:05:20- But sadly I haven't got that time. - No.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23What I'm going to do in a moment is put a provisional value on them for you...
0:05:23 > 0:05:28- OK.- ..and suggest that the auctioneers very kindly do some homework for us.
0:05:28 > 0:05:32Now, if I came up with a figure of £600-£800,
0:05:32 > 0:05:34as a collection...
0:05:34 > 0:05:38- You look surprised?- I'm staggered! - Good. Well...
0:05:38 > 0:05:39I'm totally staggered.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43- I HOPE I'm in the right sort of area there.- Really?
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Now, if for any reason they think I've overvalued them dramatically,
0:05:47 > 0:05:50- or even undervalued them, they will get back to us.- Yes.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53But for the time being, we'll stick with that. We'll keep you posted...
0:05:53 > 0:05:55- Thank you.- No pun intended.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58..and I'll see you at the auction.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01How exciting! Well, I'm overwhelmed, thank you.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Good, thank you, and I'm really looking forward to the day.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06Good, yes, fascinating.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10Let's see if the auctioneer can shed more light on these stamps later.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13With stamp collectors, it's the rare ones with a darn good story
0:06:13 > 0:06:18and great provenance that command the highest prices.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22This stamp, called the British Guiana, dated 1856,
0:06:22 > 0:06:26recently broke all records when it sold at auction.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29It turned out to be the only survivor in a temporary run of just
0:06:29 > 0:06:32three stamps, while the postmaster of the time was awaiting
0:06:32 > 0:06:36a shipment from Britain of the proper ones.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Measuring just one inch square, it fetched a mind-boggling
0:06:39 > 0:06:43£5.6 million,
0:06:43 > 0:06:47proving the best things can come on small packages!
0:06:47 > 0:06:51Now Mark's found a set of objects on which is etched the monarch
0:06:51 > 0:06:54who would have ruled over British Guiana when it was still a colony.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58- Hello, Barbara.- Hello.- And this is? - Hannah, my daughter.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02You've brought in some typical gold bullion coins.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05We've got two full sovereigns and two half sovereigns.
0:07:05 > 0:07:06Where do they come from, Barbara?
0:07:06 > 0:07:11They actually belong to my husband who, erm...they were passed to him from his father.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14Other than that, I don't know any more about them, really.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17Well, it was a standard coin, of course, in Britain.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20These are all from the reign of King George V,
0:07:20 > 0:07:24so he reigned from 1910-1935.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26You can get variations.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30You can get...some of them are minted in odd mints,
0:07:30 > 0:07:32like Sydney or Perth in Australia,
0:07:32 > 0:07:35and some reigns are rarer than others, you know,
0:07:35 > 0:07:37if you had a George III or George IV...
0:07:37 > 0:07:40Other than that, the price is determined, really,
0:07:40 > 0:07:42by the gold bullion price.
0:07:42 > 0:07:48At today's prices, we'd be looking at somewhere around the £400-£500 mark...
0:07:48 > 0:07:50- Right.- ..for the four coins.
0:07:50 > 0:07:56So that's what we would put them in at, with a reserve of around £400.
0:07:56 > 0:07:59- Right.- It should comfortably do something like that.- Right, OK.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02- Would you be happy with that? - Yes, that's fine, yeah.
0:08:02 > 0:08:06- Well, Hannah's smiling. Look, Hannah's quite happy.- I know.
0:08:06 > 0:08:10You haven't sort of thought of keeping them? Because some people keep them as investments.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Well, they've just been sitting with a few other coins, that we found out
0:08:13 > 0:08:17aren't worth very much, so, really, they're not doing anything at all
0:08:17 > 0:08:21and I could buy a new dress with the money!
0:08:21 > 0:08:23So you're actually going to turn it into a practical use?
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Erm, I've got plans to. I don't know what he's thinking.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28Ah, well I'm glad you've got plans for it.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32Well, let's hope, really, that the gold price rises dramatically before the auction,
0:08:32 > 0:08:36- then we'll all be in for a surprise, won't we?- That would be lovely, we'll look forward to that.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40- We'll look forward to meeting you again.- Thank you, that's really kind.- You're welcome.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44Let's hope Barbara's husband is planning a shopping spree
0:08:44 > 0:08:45if these sell well at auction!
0:08:45 > 0:08:50# Golden years... #
0:08:50 > 0:08:54For our next item, we're travelling from the dramatic coastline of Dorset
0:08:54 > 0:08:58to the more tranquil setting of a European city that's famously waterlogged,
0:08:58 > 0:09:01and David's brimming with good advice.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06- Hello, Marianne.- Hello. - Thank you for coming along today.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09Now, do you have any Italian blood in your family?
0:09:09 > 0:09:12- No.- No.- No, not that I know of. - Not that you know of.
0:09:12 > 0:09:19Erm, I ask because this wonderful picture frame is Italian.
0:09:19 > 0:09:20Oh.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23- You didn't know that? - No, I didn't.- No, OK.
0:09:23 > 0:09:29I think this could have been made in Venice in about 1880.
0:09:29 > 0:09:32- Really? - The end of the 19th century.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37The print it contains dates from that period as well,
0:09:37 > 0:09:41- so the frame and the image are contemporary with each other.- Yes.
0:09:41 > 0:09:46What I like about frames like this is they can tell us so much about
0:09:46 > 0:09:48decorative styles.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51This is in the Rococo style.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56Now, the Rococo style is characterised by C scrolls and S scrolls,
0:09:56 > 0:09:58- shell motifs like this.- Mm-hm.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03- It first came to England in the middle of the 19th century from France.- Yeah.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Today, it's not everyone's cup of tea.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07Do you like it?
0:10:07 > 0:10:10I like it, but I wouldn't have it hanging on my wall, I'm afraid.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Besides, it would pull the wall down, I think.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16"I like it but I wouldn't have it hanging on my wall!"
0:10:16 > 0:10:19Do you know, I'm inclined to agree with you, really.
0:10:19 > 0:10:23For many people it's a bit overblown, really, a bit florid.
0:10:23 > 0:10:27What I particularly like about it, and this is important,
0:10:27 > 0:10:30is that it's gilt wood, rather than gilt plaster.
0:10:30 > 0:10:34Now, fortunately, there is a little bit of damage.
0:10:34 > 0:10:38- I say fortunately because it enables us to prove that fact.- Yes, yeah.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41You can see quite clearly the ground wood.
0:10:41 > 0:10:44- Now, the gilding is gold leaf. - Really?
0:10:44 > 0:10:48So it's important, as far as its value is concerned, that it
0:10:48 > 0:10:51should be gilt wood, as I say, and not gilt plaster,
0:10:51 > 0:10:53- and that's typical of what we would expect to find.- Yes.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57- I have got a pair.- You've got a pair to it?- Yes, yeah.- That's great.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59- That makes a big difference.- Yes.
0:10:59 > 0:11:04- A pair is always worth three times as much as one.- One.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08That's a fact, which sometimes throws us valuers, but it's true.
0:11:08 > 0:11:13I think, erm, what will happen to this is that whoever buys it
0:11:13 > 0:11:16will take out the print, throw it away, throw the glass away,
0:11:16 > 0:11:20- and put a mirror plate in there. Convert it into a mirror.- Yeah.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24- The image inside, the print, is worth absolutely nothing.- Nothing.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27And, just imagine, this would look magnificent on a mantelpiece
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- above a big fireplace in a Victorian house.- Yeah.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31It would look absolutely superb.
0:11:31 > 0:11:35We need to think a bit about what its pair are worth.
0:11:35 > 0:11:41I would like to estimate them £100-£150, with a reserve of £100.
0:11:41 > 0:11:45Erm, not your cup of tea, perhaps not my cup of tea,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48but there will be plenty of people out there who would like to own this,
0:11:48 > 0:11:51even more, they'll want to own a pair, so I think we'll do all right.
0:11:51 > 0:11:53- OK, thank you very much.- Thank you.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56Now we just need someone with a big Victorian house
0:11:56 > 0:12:00to fall in love with these Italian frames-cum-mirrors.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05Right now, it's time for us to go over to the auction room for the first time,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09and here's a quick recap of the first three items that are going under the hammer.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13We've got Beverley's unusual early postal franks,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17but will they be rare enough to send the bids through the roof?
0:12:17 > 0:12:20There are the gold sovereigns belonging to Barbara's husband,
0:12:20 > 0:12:24which she'd like to swap for a dress.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26And Marianne's pair of Rococo frames,
0:12:26 > 0:12:29which David and she agreed would make a more appealing mirror.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31But what will the bidders think?
0:12:33 > 0:12:3730 miles away is the small but perfectly formed town of Sherborne,
0:12:37 > 0:12:40named by the Saxons "Scir Burne",
0:12:40 > 0:12:42because of the clear stream running past.
0:12:42 > 0:12:46Sitting next to pastures and rich lands, it appealed to settlers
0:12:46 > 0:12:48from the Romans to the Saxons,
0:12:48 > 0:12:52who liked it so much they built a magnificent abbey.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55You can still see what's known as the Monks' Conduit,
0:12:55 > 0:13:00in other words, their very own, but not entirely private, watering hole.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04Well, no wonder the auctioneers, Charterhouse, settled here too,
0:13:04 > 0:13:08which is where our objects are just about to go under the hammer.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11And on the rostrum today is auctioneer Richard Brummel.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Selling at £280.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16Just a quick reminder, if you're buying or selling at auction,
0:13:16 > 0:13:20there is commission to pay. It varies from saleroom to saleroom.
0:13:20 > 0:13:24Here, today, at Charterhouse, it's 15% plus VAT.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27So factor that in to the hammer price, but also deduct that from
0:13:27 > 0:13:31the hammer price if you're selling something, because it does add up.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35First, it's time for those typical gold sovereigns,
0:13:35 > 0:13:40owned by Barbara's husband. But, sadly, Barbara can't be here today.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43But we do have our expert, Mr Mark Stacey...
0:13:43 > 0:13:47- Thank you, Paul.- ..and you've valued plenty of sovereigns in your lifetime, haven't you?
0:13:47 > 0:13:52- Well, we do see a lot of them. - It's sort of standard fodder in the auction room.- It is, it is.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55And the price, obviously, is reflected in the current bullion prices.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58- Exactly.- So we've put, I think, a relatively safe £400-£500 for the four.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Which means they're going to sell, even if they go to scrap...
0:14:01 > 0:14:04- Exactly.- ..because whoever buys them at, let's say, £500-£400
0:14:04 > 0:14:07has got to pay commission, which is 15% plus VAT.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10If you add that to £500-£400, they will still sell
0:14:10 > 0:14:14- because they're tucked slightly under the bullion price.- We hope.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Anyway, let's put these gold sovereigns to the test. Here we go.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21And two half sovereigns, here. A lot of bids here.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24I'm straight in at 350, 380, 400, 420, 450.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26At 450, 480.
0:14:26 > 0:14:31At 480 now. At £480. I sell it at £480. Your last chance.
0:14:31 > 0:14:35Selling far away at 480, it sells at 480.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37- Yes! Straight in. - £480, top of the estimate.
0:14:37 > 0:14:40£480, in and out.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43- There's nothing more you can say, really.- No. Job done.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46And we hope that should at least buy Barbara a dress or two.
0:14:46 > 0:14:51In a moment, Beverley's curious envelopes with those early form of stamps on them,
0:14:51 > 0:14:54that David really prized, are going under the hammer.
0:14:54 > 0:14:58But first, Richard has something to say about the HIGH valuation.
0:15:00 > 0:15:02We've reduced the valuation of £600 down to £100,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05because now we've had a chance to have a good look at them,
0:15:05 > 0:15:07we can see that actually we've only got half the story.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09We've just got the front of the envelopes,
0:15:09 > 0:15:11the backs have all been cut off.
0:15:11 > 0:15:15In addition to that, they've also been stuck down just in the corners,
0:15:15 > 0:15:19so, as a result, they're worth a lot less than half a full envelope.
0:15:19 > 0:15:23That's a shame, but Beverley's stoical about it.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26- Now, you're happy still if you can get £100-£150.- Yes, absolutely.
0:15:26 > 0:15:29OK. Let's put it to the test, it's going under the hammer now.
0:15:29 > 0:15:31Straight in here at £50, I have bid now at £50 with me,
0:15:31 > 0:15:33at 50, 60, 70, 80, 90,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36at £90 I have now, at 90.
0:15:36 > 0:15:38£100 is bid, on the internet.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41It's an internet bid, at £100 I have bid, at £100.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44And 10, 120, competition. Someone else coming in here.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48At 120 now, 120. At 120, 130.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50At 130, 140. At £140.
0:15:50 > 0:15:54Interesting little collection here. At £140 I sell.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Last chance, fair warning, 140.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58Hammer's gone down, £140.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01- Yeah, well, he knew, didn't he? - He did, yeah.
0:16:01 > 0:16:03He's had a bit more time to do research.
0:16:03 > 0:16:05You do get put on the spot at the valuation.
0:16:05 > 0:16:07I must say, I'm indebted to the auctioneer for doing the research.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10It's just what we hoped he would do, and he's very kindly done that.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13- We got the right valuation in the end, and we sold them.- Absolutely.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15And my embarrassment has turned to glee!
0:16:17 > 0:16:19David, I wouldn't have done any better.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22It's so hard to put a value on something like that.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24It was really difficult, yes. No, I accept that.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26- But we've had fun, haven't we? - We've had a lot of fun, yeah.
0:16:26 > 0:16:32It happens to the best of us, and proves the point, rare doesn't always mean valuable.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Now, how will David fare with his next valuation?
0:16:36 > 0:16:38The pair of Italian pictures, brought in by Marianne
0:16:38 > 0:16:42and friend Liz are about to go under the hammer.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46I know they're yours, aren't they? I know you're best friends, but look, just there, look.
0:16:46 > 0:16:47You're in the right place!
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Hopefully, by the time we finish this chat, the hammer will go down
0:16:52 > 0:16:55and someone will come along and go, "Yep, I'm having those, taking them home."
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- You like these frames, don't you? - I think the frames are amazing.
0:16:58 > 0:16:59They're Italian.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02- I think there'll be enough people here who will.- Yes.
0:17:02 > 0:17:04- Hope so.- And I think they'll make great mirrors. Good luck!
0:17:04 > 0:17:07- OK, thank you.- Good luck, here we go! They're going under the hammer now.
0:17:07 > 0:17:10And I'm straight in there at £70, I have bid now.
0:17:10 > 0:17:1370, 80, 90, 100, and 10.
0:17:13 > 0:17:15- 120, 130.- Go on!
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- 140.- At £140, front right, £140 bid now.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21150, 160, 170,
0:17:21 > 0:17:24180, 190, 200.
0:17:24 > 0:17:28At £200 I have, still seated in the very front row, at £200 I have.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32Fair warning, I sell the pair. Selling at 200.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34- Yes! That's a good result. - Thank you.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37- £100 each, isn't it? - Yeah, lovely, thank you.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39It's a pleasure. I'm not always confident with my valuations,
0:17:39 > 0:17:41- but I knew they'd do all right. - Yeah.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51We're back at our valuation day venue, Lulworth Castle,
0:17:51 > 0:17:55and Mark Stacey has found a whole crowd of new friends.
0:17:56 > 0:18:02Joan One and Joan Two. I don't think I've ever had two Joans. I have now.
0:18:02 > 0:18:06You've brought this lovely selection of Chinese items in.
0:18:06 > 0:18:09- Are they yours, Joan?- They're mine, yes.- And what did you use them for?
0:18:09 > 0:18:14For dinner parties. Yes. I didn't always use the 12. Mainly eight.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18- But they were always used. - As names?- Yes, place names.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Now, where did you get them from?
0:18:20 > 0:18:24- I got them from Hong Kong, they belonged to my mother-in-law.- Right.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26I lived there, we all lived together,
0:18:26 > 0:18:29and when she died, of course, we took them over.
0:18:29 > 0:18:32- And when was that, roughly? - In the '60s.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35I don't think they would have been made a lot before that, actually,
0:18:35 > 0:18:37because they're simply marked underneath -
0:18:37 > 0:18:41sterling, Hong Kong - and there's a little maker's mark, which
0:18:41 > 0:18:43we haven't been able to find.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45I think they probably date to the, sort of, 1940s.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48- Yes, well, that's right, yes. - That sort of period.- That's right.
0:18:48 > 0:18:52- And they're rather charming. Do you like them, Joan Two? - I think they're very charming.
0:18:52 > 0:18:55Now, well, if we have a little look at this figure,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58I mean, you can see that they're all really modelled as
0:18:58 > 0:19:04little Chinese characters in different agricultural and fishing pursuits.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07Erm, I could certainly see them on my table if I was entertaining.
0:19:07 > 0:19:11- I think they'd make everybody laugh and it would get conversation going. - Yes, oh, absolutely.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14Because people would say, "Oh, what have you got?"
0:19:14 > 0:19:16And they could say, "Well, I've got somebody carrying milk,"
0:19:18 > 0:19:20It's rather fun.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22- But it's lovely that you've got a set of 12.- Mmm.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25What do you think they're worth, Joan One?
0:19:25 > 0:19:28Well, I'd like to think they're worth £100 or £200.
0:19:28 > 0:19:32I'd like to think, but they probably won't be, but they're so lovely!
0:19:32 > 0:19:35Do you know, you're quite right.
0:19:35 > 0:19:39I'm going to be a little bit meaner than that but only a little bit
0:19:39 > 0:19:42because I think we've got to try and encourage the bidding to go on.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44Right, yes.
0:19:44 > 0:19:45So I'm going to fall back on
0:19:45 > 0:19:48- an old auctioneer's cliche estimate...- Mm-hm...
0:19:48 > 0:19:54- which is 80 to 120.- Right.- And fix in the reserve at £80.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56Because I think that will give them a chance
0:19:56 > 0:19:59because at that sort of price maybe you'll find somebody will be
0:19:59 > 0:20:04- bidding a bit too enthusiastically...- Yes.- ..and we might get 120, 140 or something.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07- Right.- Would you be happy with that? - Yes, I'd be quite happy.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10And hopefully we can find a new home for them.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14I'd love to put my name on them but I can't, unfortunately, because I'm not allowed to buy them.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17But I look forward to seeing you both at the auction.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19- Yes, I look forward to coming.- See you soon.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23Well, as they say, sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind
0:20:23 > 0:20:29and with that valuation, I hope we'll lure in the bidders for such charming pieces.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Now, from whimsy to full-blown childhood fantasy.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Terry and Pamela, thank you for coming today.
0:20:37 > 0:20:42- It's hardly open-car weather out there, is it, really?- Certainly not.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44But you've brought a coupe, or an open car,
0:20:44 > 0:20:48with you and, of course, it's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
0:20:48 > 0:20:51And ever since I saw it in the distance I've been singing that song.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53It's been going round and round and round in my head!
0:20:53 > 0:20:56Erm, I remember it very well.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59So, Terry, are you a collector of Corgi toys?
0:20:59 > 0:21:04I used to be, yes, yes, until I moved house and I had to...
0:21:04 > 0:21:07I got rid of them all because we were downsizing to a flat.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10- OK, right. - Because I had a big house.- Right.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14- My brother gave me this one.- Oh, OK. So that was part of his collection?
0:21:14 > 0:21:16- Yes.- Right, I see.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18So you bought these, your brother and you,
0:21:18 > 0:21:20- as adults rather than as boys? - Yes, yes.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Which explains why it's in such good condition.
0:21:23 > 0:21:25and in its original box.
0:21:25 > 0:21:28- With the price on.- With the price. 22/6, yeah.
0:21:28 > 0:21:32Yes, that's £1... 2/6...
0:21:32 > 0:21:35I can't remember, 12½ pence, isn't it?
0:21:35 > 0:21:37So it was £1, 12½ pence.
0:21:37 > 0:21:39It doesn't matter because it's worth an enormous amount more
0:21:39 > 0:21:43than that now. So you're just thinning your collection out a bit?
0:21:43 > 0:21:45It helps the old-age pension, I would say.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50And you were happy to see the collection weeded out, Pam, were you?
0:21:50 > 0:21:55- Yes.- Yes.- It was a whole roomful. - A whole roomful, right, OK.
0:21:55 > 0:21:58I see from the book you've brought along, not the original,
0:21:58 > 0:22:01the book itself was written by Ian Fleming, wasn't it?
0:22:01 > 0:22:04- I don't know.- Was it? - Yeah, the James Bond man.- Oh, right!
0:22:04 > 0:22:07So this was a bit of a departure, really, from his usual,
0:22:07 > 0:22:11sort of, genre. And I see that the film starred Dick Van Dyke,
0:22:11 > 0:22:15who I just about remember, and Benny Hill, the late, lamented Benny Hill.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19- Mm-hm.- Yes.- So what a cast that was. Anyway, I'm digressing, really.
0:22:19 > 0:22:21We need to think obviously about what it's worth.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Erm, it will help your pension a bit
0:22:23 > 0:22:27- but it's not going to send you off on a world cruise, I'm afraid.- No, no, we realise that.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Erm, but you expected that.
0:22:29 > 0:22:34I would suggest an estimate of about 80 to 120, if that's OK.
0:22:34 > 0:22:39- Can we have a reserve?- I think a reserve of £80 will be OK.- Yes, OK.
0:22:39 > 0:22:43- Yes. And let's hope that we have a pleasant surprise. OK?- Yes.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46- So you're both in agreement? - Yes.- Good.
0:22:46 > 0:22:48- OK. - If I get £100 I'll buy you a drink.
0:22:48 > 0:22:52Oh, I look forward to that, OK! Mine's a pint.
0:22:52 > 0:22:54The collectors ought to be out in force for that Corgi toy
0:22:54 > 0:22:57in pristine condition,
0:22:57 > 0:23:01especially if they enjoy a trip down memory lane, like David and I.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04# A fine four-fendered friend
0:23:04 > 0:23:06# Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
0:23:06 > 0:23:09# A fine four-fendered Chitty Chitty Bang! #
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Mark loves a trip down memory lane but on this occasion
0:23:12 > 0:23:16he doesn't go quite as far back as the object he's examining.
0:23:16 > 0:23:19And very interesting it is, too.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21Liz, Carol, nice to see you.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Where did this charming Snaffles print come from?
0:23:25 > 0:23:28It came from our father's home and, really,
0:23:28 > 0:23:32- we didn't know much about it at all, did we? No.- Well, he is quite well known.
0:23:32 > 0:23:35This is a print, of course, that's the first thing to make clear,
0:23:35 > 0:23:39this is a print but it is signed in pencil at the bottom
0:23:39 > 0:23:43and Charles Johnson Payne is the artist but he's known as Snaffles.
0:23:43 > 0:23:47And he produced a wide range of illustrations for magazines
0:23:47 > 0:23:49and periodicals at the time,
0:23:49 > 0:23:52from the early part of the 20th century onwards.
0:23:52 > 0:23:56And mostly we see lots of hunting scenes and lots of rural life.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58This is quite a humorous one.
0:23:58 > 0:24:01Obviously we've got a hard-working famer there,
0:24:01 > 0:24:04in his fields. It's just obviously harvest time, you know,
0:24:04 > 0:24:06you've got everything going on.
0:24:06 > 0:24:10And here are the bombers going over, obviously to do their duty,
0:24:10 > 0:24:14as it were, and he's shouting after them, erm,
0:24:14 > 0:24:19an expression of support with a naughty little word crossed off there.
0:24:19 > 0:24:21We don't know what the word is, it's been censored.
0:24:21 > 0:24:24Not on this occasion, I have to add, by the BBC.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27- This was on the original print. - Of course. Yes, yes.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30We haven't tried to cover any rude words ourselves.
0:24:30 > 0:24:31So we don't know what that is.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34But it's full of that wartime patriotic spirit.
0:24:34 > 0:24:36And they are quite collectable.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39Did you know anything about the artist before you found it?
0:24:39 > 0:24:41We have, sort of...
0:24:41 > 0:24:45It was my son, who's in the Army, and he seemed to know the name.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48He said, "I think he did some war paintings."
0:24:48 > 0:24:54And so he had a quick look and found a few of his paintings. And that's all we know, really.
0:24:54 > 0:24:58Well, he is a very well-known, a very famous artist in that period.
0:24:58 > 0:25:01He died in the 1970s, I think.
0:25:01 > 0:25:03And these are quite collectable, these prints, now.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06It's in the original frame, it looks in good condition
0:25:06 > 0:25:10but this has got a good, good feel about it.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14They do come up for auction quite regularly so we can gauge the price.
0:25:14 > 0:25:17They're normally estimated at around £300 to £500.
0:25:17 > 0:25:22Something like that. So I think that would be a sensible estimate and reserve to put on them.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25Maybe put the reserve at 300.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27Yup. Are we going to go for it?
0:25:27 > 0:25:29- Three?- Yeah, OK.
0:25:29 > 0:25:32There's a lot of discussion going on here.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34But it's sensible to do it now before the auction.
0:25:34 > 0:25:39I was going to say that, yes. Well, we've got another sister,
0:25:39 > 0:25:40so we've got to do the right thing.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45- I think we are, I think we should get over the £300.- If we're lucky.
0:25:45 > 0:25:47- Shall we go for three?- Yup.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Three at fixed so we won't go a penny below 300.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53- If you're happy we'll meet again. - Right, OK, thank you.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56Some sunny day at an auction house.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01Yes, you will, and hopefully with a nice big sale of this wonderful Snaffles print.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12It's hard to say goodbye to this place,
0:26:12 > 0:26:15especially surrounded by pastoral fields and jagged rocks,
0:26:15 > 0:26:18but goodbye it has to be as we're going over to the
0:26:18 > 0:26:21auction room for the very last time. Anything can happen, and here's a
0:26:21 > 0:26:25quick re-cap of the items we're taking with us.
0:26:25 > 0:26:28The delightful 1940s Chinese name-place holders
0:26:28 > 0:26:31brought in by the two Joans are set at a price to sell.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36Will this sleek as a thoroughbred Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
0:26:36 > 0:26:39turn everyone's heads at auction?
0:26:39 > 0:26:44And hopefully the three sisters will get their fixed price of £300
0:26:44 > 0:26:48and much more for the Snaffles classic.
0:26:48 > 0:26:52Back at the saleroom, first up it's those name-place holders
0:26:52 > 0:26:57with those lovely Chinese characters which would grace any table.
0:26:57 > 0:27:02- Belonging to Joan and...Joan as well!- Yes.- The Joans are here.
0:27:02 > 0:27:03- A right pair.- They are.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07I know you're related but you're also really good friends, aren't you?
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Oh, yeah, absolutely, oh, yeah, certainly.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12Well, we're going to find out what the bidders think in this
0:27:12 > 0:27:14packed saleroom right now. This is where it gets exciting.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17Anything could happen. Yeah. We could get that top end.
0:27:17 > 0:27:18Or you could be taking them home.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21If you take them home, you're going to throw a dinner party
0:27:21 > 0:27:22and invite Mark and myself.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24Oh! If they don't go I'll take them home.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26And I'm straight in at £50, is bid on that, £50,
0:27:26 > 0:27:30here with me at £50 I have. With me the main bid at 50, 60, 70,
0:27:30 > 0:27:3180, £80.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34Seated at £80 I have now. At £80 I have an away, now.
0:27:34 > 0:27:36Seat 80, 90 on the internet,
0:27:36 > 0:27:38100 is bid. At £100, thank you, 100.
0:27:38 > 0:27:41- At £100...- On the internet!- ..110 on the internet.
0:27:41 > 0:27:45At 110 internet bid gets it, £110 I have bid at 110,
0:27:45 > 0:27:48- selling online at 110... - GAVEL BANGS
0:27:48 > 0:27:51- 110.- £110 sold online.- Much better. That's actually quite good.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54- Well, it was nearly the top end, wasn't it?- Yes, yes, that's fine.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57We're happy, Joan's happy, what a big smile! Happy, Joan?
0:27:57 > 0:28:00- Yes, very well done.- Absolutely, yes.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02And we are too with a solid sale there.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06Now, can we beat that with the truly scrumptious Corgi toy
0:28:06 > 0:28:08so many children enjoyed, like me.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13One of my favourite lots going under the hammer right now,
0:28:13 > 0:28:16purely because I had this toy Corgi car when I was a young lad as well.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19It's the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang one. It belongs to Terry and Pamela.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22- Terry's not here today, Pamela, is he?- No, he isn't.
0:28:22 > 0:28:24He's left you in charge. OK.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27Well, you're in safe hands, we have David here. I had this car.
0:28:27 > 0:28:30Do you know, the first thing I did when my mum bought it for me?
0:28:30 > 0:28:33- Rip the box apart, threw the box away and played with the toy.- Of course, yes.
0:28:33 > 0:28:37- Do not throw the boxes away, keep the boxes.- Absolutely.- Well,
0:28:37 > 0:28:40let's find out what the bidders think, shall we? It's here to go.
0:28:40 > 0:28:41It's going under the hammer now.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45Pretty Chitty Chitty Bang Bang model here and along with the book...
0:28:45 > 0:28:46You almost want to sing it, don't you?
0:28:46 > 0:28:48..and we're straight in here at £50 I have bid now.
0:28:48 > 0:28:5250, 60, 70 and at 80. Room bid at £80 I have, right at the back.
0:28:52 > 0:28:5680, 90, 100. At £100, 110.
0:28:56 > 0:29:02120, 130, 130 the front row, the very front row at £130 I have.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04You're out at the back, the internet outselling,
0:29:04 > 0:29:06- front row at 130... - GAVEL BANGS
0:29:06 > 0:29:09- Well!- That's good, that is more than they're making at the moment...
0:29:09 > 0:29:12- Really?- ..so I'm pleased with that.- Yeah, I'm really pleased.
0:29:12 > 0:29:13Good, excellent.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16Another good sale and over David's estimate,
0:29:16 > 0:29:20it's finally time for the print by famed illustrator Snaffles
0:29:20 > 0:29:24owned by the three sisters who've all made it along today.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27- Well, look, good luck all of you. - Thank you!
0:29:27 > 0:29:31And I'm sure you're going to have a little bit of a celebration
0:29:31 > 0:29:34- later on.- Oh, yes!- We've got the champagne ready.- Have you?
0:29:34 > 0:29:36Right, here we go, it's going under the hammer now.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39I've got a lot of bids here. I'm straight in here at £200, it's bid.
0:29:39 > 0:29:43At 200, 220, 240, 260, 280, 300...
0:29:43 > 0:29:48- We're going to go at 300.- ..320, 350, 380, 400, 420, 450. At 450.
0:29:48 > 0:29:55- 480, 500...- We've got the reserve price.- ..550, 580, 600, and 20...
0:29:55 > 0:29:57- It's climbing! This is the beauty of an auction, isn't it?- ..650.
0:29:57 > 0:30:01- This is where it gets exciting... - 700, you're out, madam.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04The internet is out, on the telephone, selling here at £700.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07- Your last chance, selling at 700... - GAVEL BANGS
0:30:07 > 0:30:10- Brilliant!- £700!- Excellent! - That's a good result.
0:30:10 > 0:30:12- That's a great result, isn't it?- Yeah!
0:30:12 > 0:30:14Well that's a lot of money that you can celebrate with.
0:30:14 > 0:30:16There is commission to pay, it's 15% plus VAT,
0:30:16 > 0:30:19we all have to pay that but, look, go out and enjoy yourselves, won't you?
0:30:19 > 0:30:22- We will!- Thank you!- And take care, thank you so much for coming in.
0:30:22 > 0:30:23- Thank you!- Thanks very much.
0:30:23 > 0:30:26And that's what we like, a runaway sale!
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Fantastic and plenty for the three sisters to share.
0:30:29 > 0:30:33- It's in the room and I sell, selling at 300... - GAVEL BANGS
0:30:33 > 0:30:36Everyone has gone home happy and that's what it's all about.
0:30:36 > 0:30:39See you next time for more fun in the auction room.