Monmouth Flog It!

This pretty little market town has a certain English charm about it,

yet it lies in the Wye Valley, in Wales.

Welcome to Flog It! from the border town of Monmouth.

There's been a settlement on this site since the Roman conquest

and from that time onwards,

Monmouth has passed back and forth

between the English and the Welsh far too many times to mention.

But today, Monmouth is most definitely in Wales,

being the county town of Monmouthshire.

Later, I'll be exploring the incredible landscape of this region

and discovering how it became a landmark on the tourist map.

But first, there's quite a queue gathering

at Monmouth comprehensive school.

What will we see today?

Royal Worcester porcelain, from England, or Welsh dressers?

Our experts, Mark Stacey and Charlie Ross,

are here to represent both sides of the border.

Mark, a local boy from the valleys,

and Charlie, the quintessential English gentleman.

Let's hope it doesn't all end in a battle.

But first, we start with another old foe of the English, the French.

Idwal, this is a real trip down memory lane for me.

Oh, the Babar stories are wonderful. I've been fanning through these.

I can remember being read from these books 50, er, years ago

and I looked through a few of them

and I recognise so many of the actual pictures,

not just Babar himself, but some of the characters in the books.

It's terribly exciting for me. How did you get hold of them?

Many, many years ago, I worked for a motoring organisation,

and in those days, I was on a motorcycle and sidecar.

-Yeah.

-And one day between Raglan and Usk...

-Yes.

..in one of the lay-bys, all these were thrown out.

-No!

-Of course, I looked through them...

-Yeah.

..collected them up and took them home.

The original author, Jean de Brunhoff, was French.

-So I understand, yes.

-Born in 1899.

These are dated...

1934, 35, 36, 37 and 38.

38's interesting because I thought he died in 1937.

-Presumably, they were just published the year after.

-Possibly. Yes.

So to have five in a run, at the end of his life, I think it's very

exciting and they were translated into lots of languages, obviously.

Published by Methuen's.

And I just think the illustrations are wonderful.

-Yeah. They are very nice.

-And I can remember that as whatever I was,

four, five-year-old, looking at this picture.

"The country of the elephants faded from sight.

"The balloon glided noiselessly along in the sky.

"Babar and Celeste, his wife, admired the view.

"What a wonderful journey. The air was warm.

"A light wind blew.

"And there was the sea, the great blue sea."

-It's just fantastic.

-Yeah.

I'd just like to stay here and read them all.

-There is one other image, look at that.

-Yeah.

I remember that so well. This particular volume

is about their trips round the world and where they went.

And they set off in this balloon,

and the thought of two elephants in a basket on a balloon...

-is just such a wonderful image, isn't it?

-Yes. Yes.

And they visit the most wonderful places.

It's beautifully written and because the size of them is so good,

it's visually wonderful for children.

And apart from anything else, they've got a value.

I think that these volumes are worth over £100.

-Are they?

-Yeah. I do. I think we'll estimate them at £100-£200

and I think there'll be no shortage of people wanting to buy these.

If I were allowed to buy them, I'd buy them myself,

but I'm not because I think my mother threw them all out.

Whether she put them on that lay-by?

You want to ask your mother, did she dump them on the roadside?

-Hello, Jean. Hello, Ron.

-Hello.

-Good morning.

Nice of you to come and support us here at Monmouth.

-This is your box, Jean?

-Yes.

-And what's Ron doing here?

He's come with me today to keep me company.

-He's your friend?

-Yes.

-Wonderful.

-Yes.

-To hold your hand?

-Yes.

-Something like that.

-I promise I'll be gentle.

-OK.

You've brought this fabulous little box. Tell me about it.

It belonged to my late mother-in-law,

so I don't know much about it except it's a little trinket box.

I thought I would bring it along.

-Do you like it?

-No. Not particularly.

I think it's quite fun. I don't think it's terribly old.

-I don't think we're looking at a great antique here.

-No.

What I like about it is somebody's taken the idea of this tortoise

and has made a box. This is not tortoiseshell,

this is carved wood simulated to look like tortoiseshell,

so we don't want viewers complaining

that we were doing tortoiseshell, because we're not!

-No.

-But it is wonderful.

When we open it up here, we've got a little bit of information there

which we'll come back to. Then this little handmade...

-did you do this, Jean?

-No.

I'm sure this isn't the original puller, but you pull that up and

then there's a little well inside, where you've got all this rather nice

sort of geometric parquetry work there, as well, which is rather nice.

I think what lets it down is the quality of the hinges

and the quality of the face, but this is very decorative,

the interior of it. And I notice you've brought in a little snippet

from a magazine, or newspaper, saying that one of these boxes,

a similar box, made £145 in a sale fairly recently,

-which I think is a damned good price.

-It is, isn't it?

-And I don't think we're going to match that.

-No.

-But you never know.

In the sale room, if two people really want it, then they will.

My own gut feeling, to be honest with you, is sort of £50-£80.

I think if we put it in at £50-£80, it shows people it's there to sell

and hopefully that will attract a few bidders and we'll make

slow and steady progress right up and over the 100, hopefully.

-Would be nice.

-What do you think about a reserve?

Seeing the advertisement there, I thought about 100, but whatever.

-If you want to put a reserve, we need to put it at 50.

-Yeah.

Is that all right? Are you happy with that?

-Yeah.

-Yes.

-Yes.

-And so why have you decided to sell it now?

Well, to declutter a little bit.

-And have you got a lot of things to declutter?

-Yes.

Wonderful. Thank you so much for bringing it in.

Christine, you've made my day.

-Have I?

-You've brought along a tiny

little pocket globe which I think,

if I can do that to show everybody,

is absolutely stunning.

-It is, isn't it?

-Oh, yes. How did you come across this?

Well, it belonged to my aunt and she gave it to my daughter

in the early '80s when she was housekeeper to an architect in Newport.

And I think it came from his house.

He either gave it to her or when he died they cleared the house

and she had lots of bits and pieces and it could have been among those.

-Property of a gentleman, a sort of a learned scholar.

-Oh, he was. Yes.

This is a wonderful scientific piece and it will be owned by somebody that was a scholar, a professional.

It spins on its axis, as you can see there.

And it's a terrestrial globe, you can see... you've got

the whole world there... and here, you've got the lunar cycle with the four seasons.

It's just beautiful.

Let's start with the case because that is so special.

It's got its original

little clips that holds it shut and its original hinge.

For its age, the condition is very, very good.

Next thing to look for on the little globe is a maker's name.

Now, the best globes you can go for, dating from the 18th century, are either the Carys or the Newtons.

Now, do you know which one this is?

-It's a Newton's.

-Is it?

-Yeah.

Well, let's have a little look at that and find... There it is.

-1818.

-Newton's new terrestrial globe.

1818. That's fantastic, isn't it?

Early part of the 19th century.

The condition of this is very, very good, actually.

It's starting to peel a bit there, in a few places.

The varnish is peeling. Could that be restored?

Yes. That can. The globe itself isn't damaged.

And these little transfers are all gauze which are stuck on.

I just think it's wonderful. The stories this could tell.

I know. You're making me sorry that we've decided to part with it.

-Well, do you want to change your mind?

-No.

-Do you? I mean, you can.

I've thoroughly enjoyed looking at this and musing over it and having the pleasure of sort of holding it.

-No. We won't change our mind. We will flog it.

-Why do you want to sell it?

Well, my daughter has no children and there's nobody to pass it on to.

She likes it but we decided maybe now's the time to flog it.

And the money will go in a new kitchen and bathroom.

Which brings us to the value of this little one really, doesn't it?

-Yes.

-Any idea?

-I have a rough idea, yes.

Go on, hit me with it.

I think, maybe, 600-800.

£600-£800 would comfortably sell it.

-OK.

-I think we should put a valuation of £800-£1,200.

-Really?

-Yes.

-That's amazing.

-But let's have a £700 reserve.

A fixed reserve at £700.

Yes. Lovely. Do they advertise them on the internet, as well?

Yes. It's on the internet so it'll get worldwide,

global attention.

Michael, I've seen some charm bracelets on Flog It! over the years,

but I think this is the best one I've ever seen.

-That's nice.

-For variation, quality and interest.

Where did it come from?

-Well, it belonged to my late wife's auntie.

-Right.

And because there were so many grandchildren and nephews

-and nieces, they raffled it off.

-You raffled it off?

-Yeah, between the family.

-Yeah?

And my wife's name was pulled out of the hat.

-So, that's how we came about it.

-Did she ever wear it?

-My wife?

-Yes.

-No, no. My auntie used to wear it.

-Have you ever counted the charms?

I think there's about 40 of them. There or thereabouts.

I've picked out two in particular which I particularly liked.

This one here which is a Continental charm, Art Nouveau style

with lovely enamel flowers on it and a little pearl drop.

It's French or German and, individually,

-I would think worth £30-£40 just on its own.

-Yes, yes.

And there is another little one here.

It was a brooch once and somebody has converted it or at least taken

the pin of the back of it and just put it on here for show.

But in the middle of the blue enamel here,

we have seed pearls around the outside,

in the middle, we've got a diamond.

-Yes.

-Again, you don't find diamonds studded into charm bracelets.

And, of course, the more usual ones, animals - always popular,

jet planes, which tells you that some of them aren't Victorian.

-No, that's right. Very true.

-Two padlocks.

The main chain itself is nine carat. So, a more ordinary gold.

There are one or two of higher carat value but not many,

most of it is nine carat. What made you think of bringing it along today?

-We just thought, it's never going to be used...

-No.

..so somebody might want it.

Yeah. When you were in the queue, did you think to yourself, this is worth X, Y, Z?

-I didn't have a clue.

-Not a clue?

-If it made £100...

-You'd be happy.

I'd be reasonably happy.

So if we said to you 350-450...

I'd be very happy. Very happy.

-Very happy, indeed.

-Good. Well, I shall watch for the smile on the sale day.

-That's right.

-Thank you for bringing it. It's no good leaving it in a box, is it.

Well, no. No.

So now it's time to get our first lots off to the auction room in Cardiff.

But before all that, I've taken a leisurely trip outside the town

to explore the breathtaking Wye Valley,

one of the most dramatic river landscapes of Southern Britain.

This beautiful valley winds its way

through five counties, crossing the borders of England and Wales.

Today, much of this landscape

is designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Last year, around a million people visited the Wye Valley and with this

spectacular scenery, it's easy to understand why, isn't it?

Over decades, this whole region has attracted artists and poets alike.

But what makes this place so special,

and who were the first people to discover and appreciate its beauty?

The answer takes us back to the 18th century and the first tourists who explored this area.

Amongst them was a man called William Gilpin, an English clergyman and a schoolmaster,

whose visit helped put the Wye Valley on the tourist map.

In a century when the educated classes favoured a sightseeing tour of European landscapes,

Gilpin wanted to introduce to them what was on offer in their own backyard.

Incredible scenery just like this and you don't have to travel far for that and he promoted the word

by producing illustrated guides, or tours, as they were known, based on his own experience

of travelling across Britain and his passion for the landscape.

And the first of his chartered journeys started right here on the banks of the Wye.

In the summer of 1770, Gilpin arrived in the market town of Ross-on-Wye,

hired a covered rowing boat and three men to navigate him

and embarked on a two-day journey down the river, which took him through

a section of the valley known as the Wye Gorge, with its steep wooded banks, scenic viewpoints,

like this one from Symonds Yat Rock, and historic landmarks such as Goodrich and Chepstow Castle.

It was, and still is, perhaps, the most scenic stretch of the valley.

Gilpin wasn't the first to go on what was known as the Wye Valley Tour.

People had been taking boat trips along the river since the 1740s,

but his book Observations On The River Wye

popularised the journey for the very first time.

It was published in 1782 and is arguably the first guide book in British history.

Through the decades that followed, people would flock here to the area,

armed with copies of the book,

take a boat trip and literally follow his itinerary along the river.

One of the key stops of the tour was the awe-inspiring Tintern Abbey.

Built as a Cistercian monastery in the 12th century, the abbey was in ruins

by the time of Gilpin's visit, but he found it a very enchanting piece of scenery.

And on behalf of the local museums in Chepstow and Monmouth,

Andrew Helm came to meet me and tell me more about William Gilpin and the Wye Valley tour.

What was Gilpin trying to achieve with his book?

Basically, his aim was to give people guidance

on how to actually appreciate landscape and to record it.

-His name is associated with the picturesque.

-Tell me about that.

The picturesque wasn't a term that Gilpin coined,

it was certainly around at the time, but Gilpin's take on the picturesque

was essentially that which would look well in a picture.

He wanted people to look at the landscape as if it was being painted.

So they would sit in their tour boat and paint a picture of what they were seeing.

But he had very definite rules about what was picturesque.

Gilpin was particularly keen on the deep gorge of the Wye Valley because

it gave you the natural frame for a picture, so you had side screens, you had the river as the foreground

-and you have the view disappearing into the distance.

-You had a vanishing point.

-That's right.

And this suited his theory extremely well.

How was it received? It must have been a limited audience.

Well, it was a limited audience.

It was the well-heeled, the middle class, aristocracy.

The king had a copy of his manuscript version of the Wye Tour.

He moved in those circles and he was known as a sort of an academic who was interested in landscape

and picturesque, and the theory of art and so on.

He was a good communicator.

-He was the one who got it down on paper.

-Yeah.

And circulated among his friends. And then it was published.

It turned into a book 13 years after he'd actually been on the Wye Tour

and it was as a result of his book that lots of other people came.

Yeah. So was the valley and the landscape entirely picturesque in the late 18th century?

It's probably not what we'd think of as picturesque, because the whole valley,

from just above Monmouth down to Tintern, was a hive of industrial activity.

Iron-making and iron-forging was going on all along the river.

They were building ocean-going ships as far up the river as Monmouth,

so it was very heavily industrialised,

but this wasn't seen as a disadvantage by the picturesque tourists.

It all added to the fun of what was going on.

Yeah. We're sitting in the ruins of the abbey and it's so beautiful and still, here.

Gilpin arrived here on his second day of the tour. What did he make of it?

Two things upset him. First of all, the abbey was surrounded by the dwellings of beggars,

people who acted as guides to the abbey,

but they were regarded by Gilpin as a bit of a mess, really.

They took away from the picturesque of the abbey.

The other thing he didn't like was the regularity of the ruins

because he thought they were a bit too well formed,

so he advocated taking a hammer and bashing down some of these gable ends,

particularly that one there, cos he thought it was just not picturesque enough.

Just a bit too perfect.

Just a bit too perfect.

I think it's stunning.

Tourists weren't the only people drawn to the Wye Valley in the 18th century.

This landscape was a source of inspiration to many artists and poets.

Gilpin's book inspired many people to come to the area.

Turner, a famous artist, was among them.

He came twice in the 1790s to paint Tintern Abbey.

Why do you think people are drawn here? What is it about the place?

It's got wonderful pastoral fields all round it.

The river's running by. There are birds in the sky.

And wonderful woods and trees surrounding.

So it's an incredibly peaceful place.

Driving down the Wye or floating down the river, you come round the corner and see Tintern Abbey

and you think, "Wow". It still has that ability to knock your socks off.

It's just beautiful.

Andrew, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with me today.

Sadly, the Wye Valley boat tours of earlier years no longer exist today.

And visitors that come to the area are more likely to explore on foot with a rucksack or by car.

But what we can appreciate and take in and marvel at

is this magnificent scenery that drew Gilpin here some 240 years ago.

This is where all our items are going under the hammer,

the Anthemion Auction Rooms here in the centre of Cardiff.

On the rostrum is auctioneer Ryan Beach.

What will Ryan make of that globe?

It's lovely. It really is fantastic quality.

The nice thing is it's that bit smaller.

It's about two inches across when they're usually another inch bigger.

The only concerns, as far as the condition's concerned,

if you look closely at it, you'll see patches.

But the fact that it's got a little bit of wear, I think, is one of its virtues.

It's been used. It's been loved.

If that was in pristine condition, it would look like a reproduction.

It would. I mean, it certainly gives it charm, but again,

-collectors want things in as best condition they can.

-They're fussy.

I mean, it's the sort of thing that will go to a private collector.

-Let's hope the phone lines are booked.

-They are.

-Good luck.

Also going under the hammer today,

Idwal found his Babar books in a lay-by

and Charlie couldn't help wondering

if they were his own childhood copies.

My mother threw them all out.

Whether she put them onto that lay-by...

You want to ask your mother, did she dump them on the roadside?

Mark thought that Jean's tortoise box was worth less than she had hoped at £50-£80.

Will it come out of its shell at the auction?

Charlie was charmed by Michael's bracelet

and gave it a healthy estimate.

If we said to you 350-450...

I'd be very happy. Very happy.

First up, it's Jean's wooden tortoise box.

-Packed auction room.

-Oh, yes. Very busy.

I just hope we get the top end. Lovely tortoise.

Lots of work in that. So why are you selling the little fellow?

-I'm decluttering.

-Decluttering. What do you think of it, Ron?

-It's nice, but Jean said it's got to go.

-So it's got to go.

-It's got to go.

Trying to get rid of rubbish, really. Rubbish.

-It's not rubbish rubbish, is it.

-No.

-Just decluttering.

-It's a bit of fun.

-Yeah.

-But I think it'll appeal to collectors or dealers.

It's a nice little saleable lot. Hopefully, we'll get at least the £50.

Lot number 501. Tortoiseshell box in the form of a tortoise.

Lot 501.

Numerous commission bids, here. Start me straight in at £95.

-Ooh.

-95 I have to start. £95.

-Yes.

-At £95. 100, is there anywhere?

£95. 95. 100. And ten.

-We've got over 100.

-140. 150.

At £150. Back with me with 150. £150.

Are we all done, then? At £150.

Yes. Hammer's gone down. Well, that certainly wasn't slow off the mark.

-It wasn't, was it. Brilliant.

-150.

-Wonderful, isn't it?

-Yes.

Quality always sells.

Charlie and I have just been joined by Idwal in the nick of time.

We've got five Babar The Elephant story books going under the hammer, from the 1930s.

-This is a lovely story, you found them in a lay-by?

-I did.

-I guess they weren't worth a lot of money then, were they?

-No. No.

-But they are now worth in the region of £100-£200, which is the valuation we put on.

-Yeah. Yeah.

They're great stories. And the colours are so good.

Condition's good. Somebody'll have a lot of fun with them.

Lot number 622 is The Story Of Babar. Five in the set here.

£100 I have to start. £100. 110.

-120. 130. 140.

-They're going well.

At 150. At £150.

-Are we all done, then? £150.

-Yes.

Sold. £150, in and out, virtually.

-Yeah.

-Lovely things, though. Good illustrations.

-Very nice.

Good for you for looking after them all that time.

They've been in a box in the attic for ages.

60.

20...

Next up is a gold charm bracelet.

There's 40 charms on this and it was valued by one charmer here, Charlie Ross.

It belongs to Michael. £350-£450.

-It's a great time to sell gold right now because the scrap value is right up there.

-Yeah.

But these certainly won't be scrapped.

They're quite precious. Happy with the valuation?

-350-450.

-Yeah. Very good.

I'd like to see it do top end. But actually, some of those charms are really beautifully, beautifully made.

-Yeah.

-And as you said, there are 40 of them.

-Yeah.

-So I think top end.

-OK. Top end.

That's what we're looking at. £450.

Let's find out what this lot think.

Lot number 71 is a nine carat yellow gold charm bracelet,

set with approximately 40 charms here.

Lot number 71. £260 I have to start.

£260. At 270. 280. 290. 300.

310. 320.

Back with me at 320. 330. 340.

-350. Takes me out at 350. Far back, it's 350.

-We've sold it.

370. 380. 390.

400. 410. 420. 430. 440.

450. 460. 470.

-Fantastic.

-At £470.

The gentleman sees it, at 470 now. At 480, fresh bidding.

At 480, gentleman standing, at 480 now. 490, fresh bidding. 500.

And ten. 520. At 520, back with the gentleman at 520. At £520.

Are we all done, then? At 520...

-Yes. At £520.

-Brilliant.

-There is commission to pay here.

-Yeah.

But what are you going to put that towards?

Towards a holiday.

Oh, catch the sun, somewhere.

-Exactly. Yeah.

-Where do you fancy going?

I don't know. Anywhere.

-Ask the missus.

-Yeah.

-Let her choose.

-Top end, there.

-I'm pleased with that.

-Brilliant.

-Over the top end.

-Very good.

Well, now it's my turn to be the expert

and next up it's the Newton's pocket globe which I valued at £800-£1,200. What a lovely thing.

-You made my day bringing that in.

-Did I?

How have you been feeling over the last month?

Looking forward to this moment?

Yes. Looking forward to it.

The day of reckoning, isn't it?

It's up to this lot now and not us.

Lot number 567 is the pocket globe.

Newton's terrestrial one. Lot number 567.

Numerous commission bids here. Start me straight in at £850.

-850 I have to start.

-Straight in.

£850. 880 is that? 880. 900.

920. Clears my book at 920. 950.

980. 1,000 standing. And 50.

1,050. 1,100, please. 1,100.

-1,150. 1,150.

-That's great.

1,200, please. 1,200. 1,250.

1,300. 1,350. 1,400. 1,450.

-Oh, I can't believe that.

-1,550.

1,600. 1,650.

Two dealers have locked horns, here.

My daughter'll be over the moon.

-1,700 on the phones. Anybody out?

-1,750.

-1,700 here.

-1,750.

-I'm tingling. I'm tingling.

1,800. 1,850. 1,900. 1,950.

At 2,000 on the telephone, here.

-2,000.

-At £2,000. At £2,000.

Are we all done, then? At £2,000.

Wow.

That's absolutely marvellous, isn't it?

I never dreamt it would get that far.

Gosh, it's got to be a world record for a little pocket globe like that.

-I thought if we reached the 1,000 we'd be, you know, doing well.

-Wow.

The money's going towards a new kitchen for your daughter.

I mean, it's going to get most of that kitchen, isn't it, most of the base units and wall units.

Yeah. That'll be good.

-Does she know you're selling this today?

-Oh, yes, yes.

She gave it to me to sell. She didn't want to come herself.

Oh, what a moment.

What a special moment.

Get on the phone and tell her now.

What a great day. What a great ending, as well.

We've had the best time ever in Cardiff.

It's great to be back here in Wales.

I hope you've enjoyed watching the show, plenty of surprises for you.

Do watch again because there's more to come.

So from Cardiff and everybody here, it's cheerio.

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