London 14 Flog It!

We all need a place to contemplate, and combat zones are no exception.

Here at the RAF Museum in London,

there is plenty to make you reflect.

So, stay with us as we wing our way through many of the exhibits.

Welcome to "Flog It!"

We've landed at the RAF Museum in North London,

so unbuckle those seatbelts and join me on our valuation day,

where the crowds have already started to arrive.

It's home to 100 historic aircrafts, including the Bristol Beaufighter

and the Sunderland - the last flying boat operated by the Royal Air Force.

The glorious aviation history here at Hendon goes back

to before the First World War,

when pilots were trained and then took to the skies

to defend Britain.

The museum showcases examples of the flimsy planes they used.

Well, with all of this to take in,

there is certainly no time to waste.

So, let's fire up the engines and get the show on the road.

We've got a fantastic crowd here today.

Hundreds of people have turned out, all laden with bags and boxes

full of antiques and collectibles.

And they are here to see our experts to ask that all-important question,

-which is... ALL:

-What's it worth?

Stay tuned and you'll find out.

Navigating us through the clouds today are our trusty experts,

Wing Commander Michael Baggott...

-You get tea and biscuits for that one.

-Oh!

-Thanks very much.

..and Rear Gunner Mark Stacey.

Might be worth a bit more if it was full.

THEY LAUGH

And already they are preparing to do battle.

-Ooh, ooh.

-Now, what do you think of that?

Ooh, can I hold it?

It's very exciting.

Am I wrong in saying that is actually quite old?

I think it might even be older than me.

Just let me take it into the car park near my car

to get a better look at it in the daylight.

Michael, I can run fast. Come back here.

MICHAEL LAUGHS

They will certainly be earning their stripes today.

The place is buzzing,

and let's hope that given the military connections here,

we unearth some really interesting finds.

As our experts get into their stride,

let's take a quick look at what's coming up on today's show.

The surprises keep coming for Michael...

I thought that was amazing enough

until I turned it over.

And that's fascinating.

Mark's on a promise.

If it makes 100, you get a hug.

What will I get if it makes 120?

Oh, I don't think I could say

-that in front of television.

-THEY LAUGH

And I have a puzzle for you.

What do the revolutionary socialist Karl Marx,

the punk impresario Malcolm McLaren and the author of

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Douglas Adams, all have in common?

It's a tricky one, but find out later in the show.

Well, the historic hangers here in the RAF Museum

are certainly providing a magnificent backdrop for our valuations today.

We have the super Marine Spitfire, much feared by the Germans

during the Battle of Britain,

capable of doing speeds of up to 348 miles per hour.

It was a short range, high-performance interceptor aircraft

and next to it, much more up-to-date, a Tornado F3.

But even that has now been superseded.

But two high-flyers that certainly aren't out-of-date are our experts.

And it looks like Michael Baggott has spotted a target.

Marjorie, thank you for coming in

and bringing these fantastic silver jewels,

I believe is the correct term for them.

Oh, is it now?

The fact that you've got two and they are very close in date

and they've got the same name on them, these must be family things.

They are. They belonged to my great-grandfather, William Kirkland,

who was a cabinet maker in the Camden Town area of London.

And then he passed them down to my paternal grandmother,

and then she passed them down to me about 25 years ago.

And since then, they've been sitting in a drawer in my bedroom.

Good Lord. What did you think when you received them

and opened the box and saw...?

Very large, very heavy, very ornate and what are they?

What are they? Well, you've done...

I can't claim the credit for this.

You've done a little bit of research.

Yes. It's the OGOTASP, is the

Original Grand Order Of The Total Abstinent Sons Of The Phoenix.

-Good Lord.

-That's a long name.

-That's a mouthful, isn't it?

-Yes.

Now, we've got PCN. Now, that's actually the rank, isn't it?

-That's the Past Chief Noble.

-Yes.

So, at some point, your great-grandfather was in charge.

And then as he has left, they start to present you with these jewels.

Now, obviously, they were doing well.

This one is 1892.

And he's a small chap. And then we move on to this one,

which is 1896.

So, obviously they are getting bigger

and better as time has gone on.

We've actually looked into this order,

and it began in America in 1842.

And then they moved over and expanded into the UK in 1849.

So, it's had a long history and it's kept going

at least 60 or 70 years.

But really in the 1920s and '30s,

the Temperance Movement tends to fall away.

Why in particular did the Temperance Movement suddenly

come in to the fore during this period of time?

Well, the poor were largely fed on gin.

And the Victorians having such a very strong moral desire,

at least on the surface,

these societies became popular.

During the 19th century with an increase in pubs,

boozing among the working class was viewed as a wasteful

and illicit form of entertainment, which caused many problems.

It was fought against by the Temperance Movement.

The largest organization of its kind was formed

in this country in 1862.

And social reformers tried to convince working men

to spend their wages on clothes, food and middle-class comforts,

rather than on beer or spirits.

They are very specialised objects when they come to auction.

And I have to be honest, they are not greatly valuable

because of the movement it represents.

The condition of this one is lovely.

I think we'd be comfortable

if we put them into auction at £100 to £200.

Yep.

And then that gives it room for people to decide

-where they want to be on them.

-Yes.

They are a bit of our social history

and I'm delighted you brought them along today. Thank you so much.

Not to be outdone, Mark has also found something Victorian.

Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. What on earth have you brought in to show us?

-SHE LAUGHS

-Well, it was taking up

cupboard space and I thought you might as well have it

or somebody might appreciate it.

-This was a present...

-Really?

..which my in-laws had for their silver wedding.

-Did somebody not like them?

-We don't know.

My mother-in-law couldn't even remember

who'd actually given it to her.

Well, actually, no. I'm jesting with you, of course.

Cos I love it.

Well, at the end of the day, when my husband and I got married,

my mother-in-law said, "Ooh! You should have this.

"It's a lovely centrepiece."

And we looked at it and thought, "Hmm..."

We've got to go back to the Victorian period

where they loved dressing their dining room tables

and their sideboards.

And this would have been part of a set

that would have run down a dining room table.

And they would have kept, you know, sugared sweets

and things like that in it.

I like it because it's so...

emblematic of the Victorian style.

They loved anything over-the-top.

-It's flamboyant.

-Very flamboyant.

This cherub-like sea creature

being pulled along by beautiful mute swans,

but it is great fun with that nautilus shell.

-Do you know what the nautilus shell stands for?

-No.

-Rebirth. Life.

-Do you think my mother-in-law was giving me a subtle

hint? She gave it when we'd just gotten married. If it's rebirth...

-She was trying to tell me something.

-SHE LAUGHS

I have no idea and I'm going to move quickly on

to another subject, which is the date of it.

I think it is probably very late Victorian, 1899, 1900.

Really? I had no idea.

It's got a bit of age to it.

I like the bulrushes, again, which are the symbol of life.

Now, tell me, it's out in your house every day, isn't it?

-No, no, no, no.

-Oh, why not, Sarah?

-No, no, no.

Well, when it was given to us, when my in-laws gave it to us,

they couldn't remember who had actually given it to them.

So, I used to keep it in the back of the cupboard.

But when my mother-in-law came over

with any of their friends, we'd whip this out and say,

"Oh, yes, it's wonderful! One of our favourite pieces."

I think for somebody who likes to be over-the-top,

-this is the piece for them.

-It's very heavy.

Well, we're not, of course, valuating it by its weight.

-No.

-We would do if it were silver.

-THEY CHUCKLE

How much do you reckon it's worth?

I have absolutely no idea.

The money, I was going... If there is enough,

I want to split it half between a hospice and maybe

if I see something at the auction, buy something for my grandchildren.

Well, I'm not sure we're going to be far down that route.

I think we should put it sort of £40 to £60 on it.

-I'm happy with that.

-£40 discretionary reserve.

That's fine. I mean, it's just sitting in a cupboard.

You know, if two or three people really like it,

it might make 70 or 80 quid, you know?

It wouldn't surprise me, cos I think it's absolutely charming.

-I could live with that at home.

-SHE LAUGHS

-You're surprised at that, aren't you?

-No, no, no, no.

I don't know what's in your home, so...

We dread to think.

In a dark corner of the museum, there's a shipping container,

but it's no ordinary container.

It played a significant role in the aftermath of the Falklands Conflict

in which almost 1,000 Argentinian and British servicemen lost their lives.

I've popped away from all the hustle and bustle of the valuations

and the crowds to the peace and quiet of this container.

This was used as an RAF chapel at Port Stanley

in the Falklands Islands.

It's hardly glamorous, but it was a step up from what they started with.

When the hostilities between Britain and Argentina ended in 1982,

the airfield of East Falkland was renamed RAF Stanley.

And the first RAF church was set up in a canvas tent

that doubled as the padre's office.

Harsh weather and an unreliable power supply meant a more robust

structure was needed.

The container was identified as a suitable option.

Doors and windows were installed, heating was supplied

and it was insulated.

And the altar cross is made from an Argentinian shell case.

The chapel was used by those stationed there

as a place of contemplation.

And now, people who come to visit the museum can come in here

and sit and reflect on what happened, really,

thousands and thousands of miles away.

It really is quite poignant.

With a huge crowd and bags still being unpacked,

there's no time to waste.

Lana is showing Michael a christening set.

-Is it your christening set?

-No, it wasn't.

It was actually given to my older brother because he's the Aries.

Well, it's meant to be. I'm an Aries.

He was waiting for me.

What we've got in this,

and it does help that it's in its fitted case,

is the beautiful baby spoon and pusher.

Now, it was traditional to give a christening spoon

from about the 16th century onwards.

In the 19th century,

you would have either a spoon, knife and fork

or you would have a christening mug

or you would have a christening plate.

And there are many, many combinations of these case sets.

Into the 20th century,

you get the baby spoon for feeding baby

and this...characteristically has this closed-loop handle.

That's had a bit of a squash.

And then on the larger sets like this,

you'll actually have the pusher.

What's very nice about this

is it is Asprey's.

And also, it's 1937.

So, we are just at the end of that explosion of Art Deco taste.

And the graphic designing on here is beautiful.

It's very Deco in conception.

Now, having a look at the marks,

you can see there that the Asprey's mark is over-striking another mark.

Oh.

Now, it's often the case that Asprey's used a silversmith called

Robert Edgar Stone.

And he is a very notable silversmith.

And people that know about Stone's work and appreciate it,

I think will attribute this set to him.

We have got a bit of damage, the squashing,

but if we take that into consideration

and said £80 to £120, would that be a figure you would be happy with?

Quite surprising, yeah.

Now, and why have you decided to sell it now?

It was sitting in my mother's cutlery drawer

all my life, never been used.

I mean, it probably got squashed

when we are playing with it as kids if we did.

And it's been sitting in my cupboard under my jewellery

in this little box and I thought, "The time has come."

My daughter is getting married. She certainly won't want that

-if and when she ever has kids.

-So, let it see the light of day.

Let it see the light of day. Let somebody who'll appreciate it,

let a collector or whatever, keep it.

-There are very serious collectors of christening sets.

-Oh, really?

Hopefully, we will sell at the top end of it,

if not a little bit more.

Depends if two people follow my attribution to Robert Edgar Stone,

then certainly we might be talking a couple of hundred pounds.

-Thank you so much for bringing in.

-No, thank you very much.

-A pleasure.

Well, what a day we are having here.

We've all been working flat out

including everybody here in the research area.

As you've just seen, our experts have found their first of three items

to take to auction.

So, before we take off and plot a route to the saleroom,

here's a quick recap of all the items that are going...

HE MAKES HAMMER SOUND under the hammer.

There is the Temperance medals, a reminder of Victorian morals.

A flamboyant table element,

but will the bidders share Mark's taste?

And will the stars align over the christening set?

Let's find out.

Anybody else, then? At 65, it goes.

Well, I've got a good feeling about today.

The sun is shining and this is the moment we have been waiting for.

It's time to put those valuations to the test,

and this is where we're doing it,

the Chiswick Auction Rooms. And the man on the rostrum

is William Rouse. I'm going inside to catch up with our owners.

Don't go away. There could be one or two big high-flyers.

45, 48, 50.

£50 in the middle of the room.

HAMMER BANGS Remember, there is commission

to pay in a auction here at the Chiswick Auction Rooms.

It's 15% plus VAT,

so do factor that into the hammer price.

But it does vary from saleroom to saleroom,

so check the details. They are always printed in a catalogue.

If you are unsure, ask a member of staff.

Don't get caught out.

95, 95 nearest to me...

So, let's see if the bidders are out in force for the Temperance medals.

I don't think I could qualify for the next item

because I do like a tipple,

so I'm not going to get one of these medals.

-Marjorie, do you like a tipple as well?

-I do.

-Well, you're not going to get a medal.

-No.

That's why you're flogging them, isn't it?

-Absolutely, yes.

-The Temperance medals.

I don't think we've put a big estimate on them and I think

they will find a new home, that's the most important thing.

-I hope so.

-Right, good luck both of you.

The silver and silver-gilt Temperance jewels.

What are they worth? £50 start me for the Temperance lot. 50 is bid.

55, 60, five, 70, five,

-80, five, 90 in the room.

-Good.

-They're finding this, aren't they?

-Yeah.

-100 on the internet.

Hang on, 110 standing.

110 standing. 120 seated. 130, 140.

No, 140 seated.

Anybody else? 140.

-Yes!

-Never mind. At least they are going to a good home

-and somebody will love them.

-I was surprised.

I thought they were all heavy drinkers in Chiswick.

-Obviously not.

-THEY LAUGH

Well, they've gone at mid-estimate.

Next, it's another one of Michael's valuations -

the Asprey baby feeders.

We have that lovely little silver christening set.

It would suit an Aries, that's for sure.

-It would.

-No-one else. THEY LAUGH

Unfortunately, that has slightly devalued it, hasn't it?

It has a one in 12 chance, hasn't it? Spot on.

-Good luck with that, anyway.

-Thank you.

-It's a bit of fun.

Here we are. It's going under the hammer.

420 are the two silver baby feeders.

-What are they worth?

-I can feel the tension. Come on!

50 is bid. 55. 55 is bid.

With me at 55.

-Aries.

-65. 70, 75 is my last.

80 is bid in the room.

Just. Just.

Anybody else want to come in?

At £80, we all done? They're going to sell.

For £80.

-Just in it.

-Just.

-That was close, wasn't it?

I was never in any doubt

-until he stopped at 55.

-THEY LAUGH

And I think that was a case of very good auctioneering as well.

-It was.

-It was like wrestling with an old sock, wasn't it?

It's like, "Come on, come on. Bid, bid, bid." And we did it.

-That's the main thing. Job done. Thank you so much.

-Thank you.

Another happy customer.

But can Sarah's unloved centrepiece find a new

home in fashionable West London?

We've got £40 to £60 on this with a reserve at 40.

Oh, easy, isn't it?

Easy, easy, easy. Come on!

-We are relying on you.

-60 to 80, 80 to 120.

It might even make 100.

If it makes 100, you get a hug.

What would I get if it makes 120?

Oh, I don't think I could say

-that in front of television.

-THEY LAUGH

This is the late-night version.

Anyway, good luck both of you.

I'm looking forward to this. Let's hope it makes 200.

Here it goes. It's going to the hammer.

A decorative 19th-century gilt metal table ornament.

This has had a good deal of attention during the viewing.

And I've got three commission bids.

-Three commission bids.

-Ooh!

-..won't be starting below £90.

-ALL:

-Oh!

-Hey!

-Straight in, didn't I?

-Oh, boy!

-110. 120.

130, 140,

150, 160.

170, 180. 190.

-I feel a weekend coming.

-THEY LAUGH

210 further way.

£210 on the grey sofa. 220 in the corner.

230, 240, 250.

250 near to me. Still at 250.

£250.

At 250, I'm going to sell it for 250.

-Yes, the hammer has gone down.

-That's unbelievable.

-£250.

-Thank you so much.

-That is amazing.

That's wonderful, isn't it?

That's unbelievable. It really is.

250 quid.

There's no accounting for taste, is there?

-It's a arbitrary subject.

-When he said there were three bids,

-I thought...

-But in fairness, there is accounting for taste...

-250 quid.

-HE LAUGHS

What a great result.

The bidders clearly fell in love with it.

This area around me here in West London

is a hive of activity now.

But if you wind back the years some 200-odd or so,

all of this was green countryside.

So great was the demand for London's expanding population

that all of this has now been developed.

And what hasn't been developed has become

rather unusual tourist attractions, as I discovered.

The great and the good and the not-so-good are all buried here.

People from all walks of life.

There are philosophers, artists, poets, authors

buried alongside bare-knuckle fighters, punks

and even one of the great train robbers.

There are no class distinctions here.

People who may never have met in life now lie side by side in death.

This is Highgate Cemetery in North London.

There are 53,000 graves housing 170,000 people here.

It was opened by The London Cemetery Company in 1839

to meet a huge demand for more space to bury the dead.

Highgate is on a hill. And in the 1830s,

this whole area was on the outskirts of London,

away from the burgeoning population.

Now, the census records show us,

in 1801, the city had a population of nearly one million people,

but by 1841, with the movement of the Industrial Revolution

and everything moving full tilt at such a pace,

that population had doubled,

making London the largest city in the world.

In the poorer areas, there was overcrowding and poor sanitation -

a perfect breeding ground for diseases like cholera,

typhoid and scarlet fever.

And in those days, there was no health service.

In 1840, 125 people were dying in London each day.

England's capital was bursting at the seams

both with the living and the dead

and the city's graveyards couldn't cope

with the mounting number of dead, so a solution had to be found.

The answer was more places of burial.

Highgate was one of eight cemeteries

set up within a ring around the outskirts of the city.

'I'm meeting up with Ian Dungavell

'of the Friends of Highgate Cemetery Trust

'to find out more.'

-So, how did the cemetery operate?

-Well, it was a private company

-so it was set up to make a profit.

-Yeah.

You had to sell the most prestigious graves for the biggest price,

so they were in prominent positions round the front of the paths.

They're small architectural statements within themselves.

They were. They're actually quite individual,

so there's all sorts of different styles.

You would have a grave

which suited how you saw yourself in the world,

sometimes even with your address on it

to show what sort of classy person you were.

And then there's also the second rank.

So, these are people that had less money.

They're still private graves, but row upon row of them.

-If you were a commoner...

-Yeah.

..you could be buried in graves 30 feet deep, put below paths.

-So, that's one on top of the other?

-One on top of the other.

-And then below a path?

-And below a path.

-So, you got trodden on as well.

-THEY CHUCKLE

It was all about money.

And so they crammed them in. And eventually,

when the cemetery was full, they ran out of space,

they ran out of money, they locked the gates

and they went bankrupt.

And then the cemetery was taken over by a charity

and we look after it today.

The cemetery is on two sites. The west site was used first.

However, it filled up so quickly

that within just 15 years of Highgate opening,

the owners bought more land to the east,

which almost doubled the cemetery's size.

Like all cemeteries, Highgate has its fair share

of architectural statements and famous people

and, indeed, many of these tombstones tell their own story.

For instance, this is the largest and grandest

of all the privately-owned monuments.

It's an exceptional family tomb with breathtaking design and poignancy.

Just look at this.

It was commissioned by Julius Beer, a newspaper owner,

for his little daughter, Ada - and there she is, there -

who sadly died at the age of eight from scarlet fever.

No expense was spared.

This is a real show of love and tenderness.

But it wasn't just the wealthy who were given symbolic tombs.

I like the dog - a faithful dog - guarding the tomb.

-Who's tomb's that?

-That's the tomb of Tom Sayers,

who was the most famous Victorian bare-knuckle fighter.

This was the largest working class funeral of the 19th century

and Lion followed the hearse in his own carriage as the chief mourner.

-It was a really amazing sight.

-Aw.

Over 100,000 people lining the route up from Camden Town.

And I would imagine this was frequently visited back in the day.

It certainly was.

It's always been one of the most visited graves in the cemetery.

And on the day of the funeral, of course,

there were thousands of people around.

What did they do?

They were making all sorts of noise, sitting on graves.

It caused quite a scandal at the time

because it was like the working classes had invaded

the most famous middle class cemetery of the country.

Class was no obstacle, money was key

and this is why there is such a diverse mix of people here,

from the revolutionary socialist Karl Marx

to the great train robber Bruce Reynolds.

And each grave reflects the achievements of those in them.

Do a lot of people want their own graves personalised?

I think it's always about the person

rather than having a catalogue design.

One of the most interesting ones we've got of the modern period

-is the artist Patrick Caulfield.

-Yes, I noticed that one.

His monument is a great big slab of stone with the letters D-E-A-D -

dead - just punched through. It's really very striking.

That's very simple. It's quite minimalist, isn't it?

And absolutely unique.

-There's nothing else like it anywhere else.

-Yeah.

What about some of the more colourful characters?

One of the most colourful we've got here is Malcolm McLaren,

founder of the Sex Pistols, muse to Vivienne Westwood,

and he's buried in a grave with the death mask on it.

-That's so him. Very theatrical.

-Very attention-seeking.

And do you see people leaving things at graves?

One of the graves people leave things at is Douglas Adams,

who was author of The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy,

and people tend to leave pens

in a little vase in front of his grave,

so it's nice to see him remembered in that way.

More budding authors paying homage to the master.

It's also nice to reflect on our own mortality

and it's hard not to think about how you're going to be remembered

as you're walking along the paths here.

I think you're right, actually.

I do question my own when I'm walking around.

I'd like to end up here. Touch wood!

THEY LAUGH How much would it cost?

Well, it depends whether you're going to be full buried or cremated.

-Oh, I want a proper one.

-A proper one? Ooh, £10,000, £15,000.

But it's location, location, location, isn't it?

THEY CHUCKLE

This cemetery is probably one of the most famous in the world.

Its history, its architecture,

the people that are buried here make it a fascinating place to visit.

But the story doesn't end there.

It's more than just a tourist attraction.

It's a peaceful place - a place of contemplation and reflection.

Welcome back to our valuation day here at the RAF Museum in Hendon.

Well, they say time waits for no man,

so let's join up with our experts now and see what else they can uncover.

Mark's alighted on a colourful vase, but it's not all it seems.

-Jill, Ray, you've brought in a wonderful vase to show us.

-Mm-hm.

Very interesting. Where did you get it from?

From my mum.

She inherited it from my great-aunt.

And then when she died, Mum gave it to me.

-Oh, wonderful.

-I don't think she liked it much.

-And you've loved it?

-No.

-You don't like it?

-No. No!

It doesn't fit in with your home at all?

You see, I love it. I love the simplicity of it.

And when I first saw it, I thought, "This is by Della Robbia" -

a very small factory based in Birkenhead, in Liverpool,

who produced this wonderful sort of Art Nouveau,

Arts and Crafts, handmade, beautiful pottery.

But since looking at it,

we've discovered it's by an Italian artist

with the most wonderful name - Giovanni Carlo Valentino Manzoni.

-Right.

-Now, he studied in Turin

and he travelled over Europe and America

-and settled in Chelsea, in London.

-Oh, really?

And he was a neighbour of Conrad Dressler,

who co-founded the Della Robbia factory.

So, there is a connection there with Della Robbia.

It didn't work out and Manzoni started his own business,

producing wonderful, simple patterns like this,

which I love.

And this is dated, as well, 1896.

That's just after he left the Della Robbia factory.

It's almost Grecian. I think it's wonderful.

-I know you don't...

-I don't like it.

-..but I absolutely love it.

-Ray, what do you think of it?

-I love it.

-You love it?

-I love it.

Well, why are you letting her sell it, then?

It's Jill's item, so, you know, lady's choice.

Well, I think that's so magnanimous of you.

There's a little bit of damage. Somebody's bashed it a bit there.

But, of course, if you turn it round,

-you don't see it at all.

-No.

-It's like magic. It was there. Now it isn't.

-Perfect.

I've got to be realistic cos the market fluctuates for these.

My gut feeling is a wide estimate of between £100 and £200

and fix a reserve of 100.

So, we won't sell it below £100.

-And hopefully, that will attract the right bidders.

-Yeah.

-What do you feel about that?

-Yeah, that'd be great.

-Would you be happy with that?

-Yeah, definitely.

I love this piece and I've learned a lot about Manzoni,

so if nothing else, I can go away having learnt something.

-You can buy it.

-HE LAUGHS

If only I was allowed to, I would happily buy it,

but sadly, I'm not.

Michael has also uncovered something with an intriguing feature

belonging to Alan and Barbara.

Before I tell you anything about it,

can you tell me where you got it from?

Is it through the family or something you've bought?

Well, when we bought the house when we got married,

it was part of the contents of the house.

The house was just full of all sorts of things.

-We bought it fully furnished.

-Ornaments, whatever.

-Good grief.

-So, how long ago was that?

-53 years.

So, when you saw that as a young, married couple,

did you say, "Oh, what a wonderful object"?

-Or where did it go?

-I don't think so.

No, but it was unusual.

It was unusual. It is a bit different.

-So, we kept it.

-It's actually a fob seal

that a gentleman would wear on his watch chain.

Basically about 1820, 1830. You would seal your correspondence.

-You didn't have a sticky envelope.

-Yeah.

You had sealing wax

and if you didn't want to burn your thumb,

you had something you put down.

And this is sort of a mid-range version.

The frame that's mounting it is actually two pieces of metal

that have been stamped out on a fly press.

It would have been gilded. All the gilding has worn off.

I mean, it's not really sounding terribly good, as we stand.

That is, until you get your lens on it

and see what these little glass stones are impressed with.

Normally, it would be your crest or your initials.

This is an anti-slavery fob, which is quite remarkable.

We've got a figure that I think was devised by Josiah Wedgwood

of a bound slave kneeling on the ground

with his hands clasped and manacles.

And we can see here, it's got, "Am I not a man and a brother".

What a sentiment to have on something like that.

-I thought that was amazing enough until I turned it over.

-Yes.

We've got the same figure nominally, but we have,

"Am I not a woman and a sister". And that's fascinating.

This sentiment of a female slave, I've not seen before.

Now, obviously, these things are rare

and they've also now become eminently collectable.

-Have you considered value before?

-No.

-No.

You could be forgiven for thinking it was worth ten pounds,

and if it didn't have those seals in it, it would be worth ten pounds.

As a piece of anti-slavery, late Georgian ephemera,

I honestly don't know what it's worth.

So, I think we'd just be sensible to say £100 to £200,

put a fixed reserve of £100, and where on earth it will end up...

It may just be £100,

but it's an absolute joy to see something like that.

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

-Thank you.

That's an extraordinary find. And next,

Mark faces up to a comic book hero who simply goes up, up and away.

-Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No.

-No, it's Superman.

-Superman.

It's Superman. It's a Superman hoodie.

But more importantly, we've got a script from Superman one, 1978.

There's some good facts to know about this film, you know.

It starred, of course, the wonderful Christopher Reeve.

-At the time, it cost 55 million to produce this film...

-Yeah.

..but it grossed 300 million.

-It was so popular, wasn't it?

-Amazingly so.

And nominated for three Academy Awards.

Please tell me, how did you get this?

-Well, I actually won it on Multi-Coloured Swap Shop.

-No.

-Yes.

Gosh! I'm of a certain age where I can remember that.

-I enjoyed watching it on a Saturday.

-Yes. Yeah, it was good.

There was a competition to win the hoodie which the crew wore

and the scripts from Superman one.

And we managed to dig out the very clip.

This is something that you really can't get in the stores.

This is the actual script I used when I was doing the movie.

-It's the complete script of Superman one.

-That is marvellous.

And I'm going to personally sign it to whoever wins, from me to you.

-Let's have a look at the script...

-Yes.

..because you've got some key things here.

Of course, it's signed, "To Lisa - congratulations.

-"Best wishes, Christopher Reeve."

-Absolutely right.

Well, this is lovely, isn't it? And you've got all his...

-And then there's all the script.

-The script and the lines here.

I love all the directions, like,

"He turns left, moves forward looking terrified."

-SHE LAUGHS

-You've had it all these years.

-Yes.

-Why have you brought it along today? You want to flog it?

-Yes, yeah.

Well, I mean, I wore the hoodie when I was a child.

I actually wore it to the second Superman film.

Did you nip into a telephone box outside and change into it?

-THEY LAUGH

-I had a lot of comments about it,

but after that, I thought I daren't wear it

-cos it'll get spoilt.

-It will.

I mean, I will say you've kept it in remarkably good condition.

And you'd see this and you instantly know...

-WOMEN:

-Yes.

-..Superman, don't you?

-But it's blue because it was...

-Production.

-..worn only by the crew.

We think it's special and unique.

And there's going to be collectors out there that will be interested.

I always worry when people say special and unique.

You're absolutely right. It is. I think the crucial thing about this

is we have to get all these facts online at the auction house,

so people know when they're reading this

they're buying an authentic piece of Superman history.

Film memorabilia, particularly iconic films, are very sought after.

I would like to put it in at something like £200 to £300,

but with a fixed reserve of 200.

-Yeah.

-How do you feel about that?

-That's good.

-Yes, I think so.

-I'm pleased about that.

-Yes.

-It's good.

Because you don't want to sell it for less than that.

We said we didn't want it to go for nothing

-because it's too special.

-It's too special.

And it's special to us because, you know,

we actually did meet Superman later on

-and the films mean a lot to both of us.

-Yes.

Now, I'm afraid that's a line I never thought

I was going to hear today.

-"We met Superman."

-THEY CHUCKLE

-I mean, what more could you ask for on a "Flog It!"?

-Well, yes.

-Yes.

-And, of course, you mean me.

-Of course we do.

-Yes. Yeah.

Mark will be getting changed in a telephone box

if we don't watch him.

Well, what a fabulous day we've had here at the RAF Museum in London.

Every one of these aircraft tells a fascinating story

of our aviation history.

And hard at work underneath the wings,

our experts have uncovered some real gems.

And I think our magnificent crowd here today

have thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Have you?

CROWD CHEERS Yes! Well, thank you so much.

I've had a fabulous day as well and there's still so much more to see.

But, sadly, we have to say farewell

as it's over to the auction room for the very last time

to put those valuations to the test.

And here's a quick recap of what we're taking with us.

There's the colourful vase

by an Italian designer.

And the anti-slavery fob,

a rare piece of social history.

And I'm sure this Superman memorabilia

will hit the dizzy heights

in the saleroom.

So, it's back to the auction house to test the market.

Commission here is 15% plus VAT

and first up, Jill and Ray,

the husband and wife who don't

always share the same taste.

Divided opinion here. It's got to go, hasn't it?

-You put your foot down?

-It's mine anyway, so...

No, it's got to go. It's going to go. Definitely going to go.

Let's find out what the bidders think right now. Here we go.

Nice vase in good condition. And what's it worth?

I'm bid £65. Not enough. 70, I'll take, in the room.

-It's a start, if we get it. Come on.

-70. 75.

80. 85.

90. 95.

-Bid on the internet.

-Was it?

-Yeah.

-£100. On the internet at 100.

110 on the internet. 120.

120 on the internet for it. At 120.

Anybody in the room? No? At 120 on the internet.

-He's going to be selling, isn't he? He's going to be selling.

-120?

-Oh!

-He sold it, didn't he? 120.

-120.

Bit disappointed. I would have liked to have made it near the 200.

-And me.

-That's the market, I suppose, isn't it?

-Yeah, yeah.

The current market for them.

But nevertheless, could have done a bit more,

but, look, it's gone within estimate.

Great news for Jill who has finally got this out of the house.

Next up, the very rare piece of anti-slavery memorabilia.

-Alan and Barbara, good luck. Good luck.

-Thank you.

And I know Michael highly rates this next lot. So do I.

It's very ephemeral of its time

and for it to have survived is incredibly rare.

Here we go. It's going under the hammer right now.

A Victorian gilt metal swivel fob seal.

Start me £60 for it to go.

-£60.

-Yes, we're in.

-65 with me. 70. 75.

-We're in.

-80. 85.

-Keen bidder online, look.

-Picked up online.

-Yes. Not letting go now.

On the internet for 100.

120 on the internet now.

And £120 on the internet.

Anybody else want to come in? 120 it is.

140 it is. 140, it sells.

Hammer's gone down - £140.

-Good result.

-Brilliant.

-It's made a fair price

and a couple of people have had a bit of a battle for it.

That's good.

-And we enjoyed that, as well, didn't we?

-We did.

We really did enjoy that. Thank you for bringing it along, as well.

And now it's time for the film memorabilia

relating to our superhero.

Auctioneer William Rouse is sure there's a fan base.

This is unusual in that it's the first Superman

and, of course, it's signed by Christopher Reeve.

There can't be many original Superman scripts left,

so it must be, by its very nature, an unusual item,

so this is an opportunity to buy something,

if you're a Superman enthusiast,

that doesn't come onto the market very often.

So, time to test the water and I know a little fan myself.

-My son's into Superman.

-Oh, is he?

-Oh, brilliant.

-Yes, brilliant.

-Intelligent boy!

-Oh, yes.

-Absolutely.

-Shame you can't bid for it.

He'd love that, but it wouldn't fit him.

No, it wouldn't. Not yet. He's only little.

-Provenance is everything.

-Yes.

And you can't get a better provenance than this, can you?

-Absolutely not, no.

-No. So, good luck.

-BOTH:

-Thank you.

-OK? Good luck.

-Thank you.

Film and entertainment interest. Superman.

And I'm pleased to say I'm straight in at £200.

-Straight in at the bottom end.

-200.

210. 220. 230. 240. 250.

260. 270. 280. 290.

-Brilliant.

-300. 320. 340.

-Brilliant.

-360. 380.

400. 420. 440. 460. 480. 500.

-520. 550. 580.

-Oh, gosh!

In the room at 580 against me. The internet's silent.

At 580 in the room.

-I'm ever so happy. You've got to be tingling.

-That's terrific!

-I'm shaking.

-£580.

-But it's always so difficult for us as antique lovers.

-Oh, it is.

How would you value something like this?

-This is what you said.

-If somebody found it...

-You can't.

-And they certainly have found it today.

-They have.

-Oh, wow. I'm ever so pleased.

-So are we. Thank you.

-And do you know what?

That's a brilliant way to end today's show.

Sadly, we have run out of time here at the Chiswick auction rooms,

but what a moment to end on. A super moment!

I hope you've enjoyed the show.

Join us again for many more surprises in the next saleroom.

But until then, it's goodbye from all of us.