0:00:02 > 0:00:04Flog It! is in the City of Dreaming Spires, Oxford,
0:00:04 > 0:00:08and our venue is the university's splendid Sheldonian Theatre.
0:00:30 > 0:00:35The Sheldonian Theatre was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the 1660s.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38Inside, the magnificent ceiling paintings show truth
0:00:38 > 0:00:41descending upon the arts to expel ignorance from the university.
0:00:44 > 0:00:48Our task today is to dispel any ignorance that this Oxford crowd
0:00:48 > 0:00:50might be harbouring about
0:00:50 > 0:00:54antiques and collectibles they've had lying around, and they don't want any more.
0:00:54 > 0:00:59It's our job to give them the best valuation possible before we take them off to auction.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Leading our team of valuers and imparting their knowledge
0:01:02 > 0:01:05are our experts, Charlie Ross and Tracy Martin.
0:01:05 > 0:01:10As well as working in an auction house, Tracy has written about 20th century collectibles.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13I'm really into social history.
0:01:13 > 0:01:16She loves to rummage around for antiques.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18What's in that bag there, young man?
0:01:20 > 0:01:23And Charlie Ross, who, having spent a lifetime in antiques,
0:01:23 > 0:01:25has seen and sold just about everything.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29But it's weird, because I've never seen anything like it.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32No. Can't say I have, actually.
0:01:32 > 0:01:33Well, nearly.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36- Might be worth a fortune, then! - I don't think so!
0:01:36 > 0:01:40Sometimes, you just never know and coming up, we've got some great lots going off to auction.
0:01:40 > 0:01:45There's a quality Corgi toy that Geoff has had since he was nine.
0:01:45 > 0:01:50I know you've been itching to play with it ever since we sat down at this table,
0:01:50 > 0:01:52in fact, I've been trying to stop you.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Come on, show me how it works.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58Jean wants to know if her early piece of porcelain was a costly mistake.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01- What did your husband paid for it? - £400.- Where did he buy it?
0:02:01 > 0:02:04In a Northampton house auction.
0:02:04 > 0:02:05Right.
0:02:05 > 0:02:07- By mistake.- By what?
0:02:07 > 0:02:12But there's no mistaking the quality of the gold pocket watch, brought in by Duncan and Gillian.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17Can you see? It says 17 jewels.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20- Most pocket watches will run on seven jewels.- Oh, right.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23So, the higher the jewel content, the more valuable the watch.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Stay with us to find out exactly what a jewel is
0:02:26 > 0:02:29and how much this watch is really worth.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35Everybody is now safely seated inside the Sheldonian, and what a wonderful interior.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37We're going to be in for a cracking day.
0:02:37 > 0:02:42Let's join up with our experts and it looks like Charlie Ross is first at the tables.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Elizabeth, I have seen some domes in my time, but I think
0:02:45 > 0:02:50you have won the prize for the biggest ever dome on Flog It!
0:02:50 > 0:02:53- Oh.- It's absolutely charming, that's the dome.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55I think the contents are awful.
0:02:55 > 0:02:58They're rubbish!
0:02:58 > 0:03:00It's not often I can meet somebody on Flog It! where
0:03:00 > 0:03:03I can actually speak my mind and they don't hit me.
0:03:03 > 0:03:04No, I agree.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07- Where have hidden it all your life? - In the attic.
0:03:07 > 0:03:09- What a very sensible place. - In the dark.
0:03:11 > 0:03:14- But you haven't broken it. - No, we've been very careful.
0:03:14 > 0:03:16How did you get hold of it?
0:03:16 > 0:03:21We had to clear my husband's aunt's house when she died, and that was there.
0:03:21 > 0:03:25We took it home and put it up in the attic with other bits and bobs.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27Did it have that gubbins inside it?
0:03:27 > 0:03:29Yes.
0:03:29 > 0:03:33- Because I don't think what's inside the dome has anything to do with the dome.- No.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37The dome is late Victorian, Edwardian,
0:03:37 > 0:03:391900, that sort of figure.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43I suspect originally, it may well have had a little tree
0:03:43 > 0:03:46growing up it with some branches and some stuffed birds in it.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49The Victorians particularly loved stuffed birds.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53I thought it should have birds in it, rather than that.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57These are silk flowers, which somebody has taken a huge amount of time in making.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Incidentally, there's a free vase with this dome.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06The vase is not English. I think it's Italian,
0:04:06 > 0:04:10I think it's Murano glass, made in the little island of Murano off Venice.
0:04:10 > 0:04:16Venetian glass, don't get excited by that, it's 20th century, not particularly exciting.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19It's gilt decorated and it's got some enamelling on the front.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22I think we've probably got a value
0:04:22 > 0:04:25of £10 or £20 for the vase inside, which helps.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28I think the dome is worth the best part of £100.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31It's an interesting point as to what somebody would put it.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Stuffed birds aren't everybody's taste nowadays.
0:04:34 > 0:04:39- You don't want to see it again, do you?- No, thank you. - As long as you live. Right.
0:04:39 > 0:04:41We're going to put an estimate of 50 to 100.
0:04:41 > 0:04:46- Don't tell Paul Martin but we're not going to put a reserve on it.- No.
0:04:46 > 0:04:52- No reserve.- We'll be very grateful for whatever we get.- For whatever comes. Thanks very much.- Thank you.
0:04:52 > 0:04:57No good hiding things from me, Charlie. I always find out eventually.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Next up, Tracy's playing around with Geoff.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08- We've got a real boy's toy here, haven't we, Geoff?- Yes, we do.
0:05:08 > 0:05:13Is this something that you had as a child and you've just kept in such fantastic condition?
0:05:13 > 0:05:18Yes, it was a Christmas present for about my ninth birthday, I think.
0:05:18 > 0:05:20It was played with and put back in the box.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23I love the box, I think the box is absolutely fabulous.
0:05:23 > 0:05:25It's survived quite well.
0:05:25 > 0:05:29You've been itching to play with it since we sat down at this table.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31In fact, I've been trying to stop you.
0:05:31 > 0:05:33Come on, show me how it works.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36The cab comes out, like that.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38That tilts, so you can have a look at the engine
0:05:38 > 0:05:40if you feel that way inclined.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43The back flips down.
0:05:43 > 0:05:48That's a 1966 World Rally-winning Mini.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50Various toys do different things.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52The tailgate comes up on that.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54How many cars have we got there?
0:05:54 > 0:05:58Six cars. The headlights have got a fibre-optic headlight.
0:05:58 > 0:05:59Show me how that works.
0:05:59 > 0:06:04There's a little window here and when that's covered, and opened,
0:06:04 > 0:06:06the fibre optics come through.
0:06:06 > 0:06:09In itself, it's silly, but to me,
0:06:09 > 0:06:11when you're a kid, that means everything.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14You're going along and you're flashing your lights.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16Totally, it's all the fun of it.
0:06:16 > 0:06:21The other Minis, they don't exactly do anything.
0:06:21 > 0:06:24You love playing, don't you? You love playing with these!
0:06:24 > 0:06:27Yes, out it comes. It's just a stylised Mini.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32I think it's absolutely fantastic and it's every boy's dream to have something like this,
0:06:32 > 0:06:35especially with all the little gadgets and you can play with it.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38Hours of fun and joy.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40I just think it's absolutely fabulous.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44Because it's so much childhood memories,
0:06:44 > 0:06:47and like I said you've been itching to play with it again,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49are you happy to part with it, to sell it?
0:06:49 > 0:06:54Yes. It's been sitting in the bottom of a wardrobe now for years,
0:06:54 > 0:06:56and it's pointless leaving it there.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00- You want to pass it on to somebody else?- It's time for it to go.
0:07:00 > 0:07:04I have two children, they played with it and probably done the damage there is to it.
0:07:04 > 0:07:08It's done what it was originally designed to do, and pass it on now.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11As mentioned, there's some damage, obviously.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13Some paint chips and things like that.
0:07:13 > 0:07:17Corgi cars are very popular with collectors at the moment.
0:07:17 > 0:07:23Lots of men like yourself, reliving their childhoods and wanting to buy back their childhood toys.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25The toy market is quite buoyant at auction.
0:07:25 > 0:07:28Have you got any expectations of the money you'd like?
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Not really. It's never been about money,
0:07:31 > 0:07:33it's always been about the toy.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36OK, that helps me, to be honest.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38I'd like to put a reserve of £80 on it.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41I think it's going to get a little bit more, but we'll stick at 80,
0:07:41 > 0:07:44that's what we call a come-and-buy-me estimate.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48A pre-sale estimate of 80 to 150.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Hopefully we'll get the top end.
0:07:50 > 0:07:52- Are you quite happy with that? - Yeah, that's fine.
0:07:52 > 0:07:56Hopefully there'll be loads of men desperate to relive
0:07:56 > 0:07:59their childhood memories and will bid for this.
0:07:59 > 0:08:04What a great toy, and I can see the collectors getting carried away over this one.
0:08:04 > 0:08:10I've been pinned down by a lady with a very personal interest in British motoring history.
0:08:10 > 0:08:13Hillary, fascinating little enamel badges.
0:08:13 > 0:08:15Most of them are dated 1932-33. What are they for?
0:08:15 > 0:08:22I think they were for visitors that went to Brooklands, the racing circuit, years ago.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27They belonged to my uncle, Mr H Hubert Noel Charles,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30who was the chief designer of the MG motor car.
0:08:30 > 0:08:32Really, he designed the MG?
0:08:32 > 0:08:34Yes, 1930-1935.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36Gosh. Do you have an MG?
0:08:36 > 0:08:39I don't, unfortunately, no. I should have done, years ago.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42You missed out, you could have got one at half price!
0:08:42 > 0:08:43I should have done, definitely.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47And you've got lots of photographs and lots of memorabilia.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50- Lots of photographs and books. - Wonderful, how lovely.
0:08:50 > 0:08:52- Do you have sons?- I have two sons.
0:08:52 > 0:08:55That's brilliant. They've got that to look forward to.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59Definitely. One son lives and said, "Whatever you do, don't sell them."
0:08:59 > 0:09:01"Don't sell them, Mum!"
0:09:01 > 0:09:05You might be looking at around £40 to £50 per badge, so there's a lot of money's worth.
0:09:05 > 0:09:10Yes, I think so. They have been in the MG museum in Abingdon.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12They do belong there, you know that.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14You must loan it to them again.
0:09:14 > 0:09:16They do go there quite frequently.
0:09:16 > 0:09:19- Good for you.- I do have a carburettor at home as well.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22Not so interesting to look at, is it?
0:09:22 > 0:09:24No. A bit of old metal, that's how I look at it.
0:09:24 > 0:09:29Thank you. I just wish you had an MG parked outside, you could take me for a ride.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30I would do, definitely.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35It's always a delight to meet so many charming and interesting people at our valuation days,
0:09:35 > 0:09:38and it seems that everyone has a good story to tell.
0:09:38 > 0:09:45Right now, it's Jean's turn to confess to Charlie about her painted piece of porcelain.
0:09:45 > 0:09:46Jean, what have you got here?
0:09:46 > 0:09:49Well, I think it's a very early inkwell.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52- Yep. Do you know who made it? - Haven't a clue.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Right. Do you know what it's worth?
0:09:55 > 0:09:59I know what I paid for it, or I know what my husband paid for it.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01- What did your husband pay for it? - £400.
0:10:01 > 0:10:05- Where did he buy it? - In an Northampton house auction.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07- Right.- By mistake.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10- By what?- By mistake.- Tell me more.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Well, we went to the house auction
0:10:13 > 0:10:17and he wanted to buy a particular picture,
0:10:17 > 0:10:20so he put £400 down on this picture.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- But we couldn't stay because I had to go back home.- Yeah.
0:10:23 > 0:10:29So in the morning I phoned up and I said, "Did we get lot number 123?",
0:10:29 > 0:10:31whatever it was, and they said, "Yes."
0:10:31 > 0:10:33I said, "How much?" "£400."
0:10:33 > 0:10:36So we drove up to Northampton to get it.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38When I got it, they presented me with this.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41And I said, "No, no, we bought a picture."
0:10:41 > 0:10:44So they looked up on their paper
0:10:44 > 0:10:51and they discovered that instead of saying lot number 480, it was 488.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55And so we bought this instead of the picture.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57That cost us £400.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59Fancy buying a picture and it turning out to be this.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02- There you go.- It's marvellous.
0:11:02 > 0:11:03Now, this is Worcester.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05It's got no markings on it.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07I've had a look at the bottom of it.
0:11:07 > 0:11:09And it's early 19th century.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11So it's jolly nearly 200 years old.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14And it's really in pretty good condition.
0:11:14 > 0:11:20You can see these panels are hand-painted, as befits the best Worcester.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22Of peacocks. Beautifully coloured.
0:11:22 > 0:11:27Lift up the lid and we've got the inkwell inside.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29- Badly crazed, isn't it?- Yes.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33- But I don't think that is terminal, really, because that's not the bit you see, is it?- No.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37If the crazing had been throughout the piece I'd have been more worried.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41There is of course some crazing in some of these panels.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43But by and large, not too bad.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47- So this cost £400?- Yes.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Even though you thought it was a picture.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53I'm afraid I don't think it's worth £400.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56I think it's worth about £250-£300.
0:11:56 > 0:11:58- So, it's not too bad.- No.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03You never know, with two people on a good day with the wind behind them you may get your money back.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06- Or someone making a mistake. - Like you did. Yes.
0:12:06 > 0:12:12- I'd like to put a reserve on it of £200, and estimate it £250-£300. - Very good.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14- Thank you.- Thank you very much.
0:12:14 > 0:12:20Looks like Jean and her husband might have made a costly mistake.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24We are now halfway through, time to put those valuations to the test.
0:12:24 > 0:12:28You've seen the items, probably made your own mind up what you think they're worth.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31Let's find out what the auctioneer thinks, shall we?
0:12:31 > 0:12:33Or more importantly, the bidders.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36And for our auction, we are heading out to town to a sale room
0:12:36 > 0:12:38in Watlington, Oxfordshire.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43It's about half an hour before the sale starts but look, it's absolutely jam-packed.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45And that's a good thing for us because hopefully
0:12:45 > 0:12:50it means there'll be competition amongst the bidders for our lots.
0:12:50 > 0:12:55Going under the hammer we've got the glass dome of flowers that neither Charlie nor Elizabeth liked.
0:12:55 > 0:12:59Geoff is hoping his Corgi cars will drive the bidders wild.
0:12:59 > 0:13:03And finally Jean's selling her inkwell her husband thought was a painting.
0:13:06 > 0:13:11And auctioneer Simon Jones thinks it might have been mistakenly identified by our expert too.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Great story here. This belongs to Jean.
0:13:13 > 0:13:17- Her husband bought it by mistake in auction.- Good place to buy things.
0:13:17 > 0:13:21Charlie put £250-£300 on this.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25But he dithered a bit because he put a reserve of £200 on it.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28So his valuation really is £200-£300. What do you think?
0:13:28 > 0:13:32I think...
0:13:32 > 0:13:35A - that it's not early Worcester or early 19th century Worcester,
0:13:35 > 0:13:38but it's super quality.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41Yes, they'll get it away, but it will be a bit touch and go.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43- OK. Away at the lower end? - Lower end, yes.
0:13:43 > 0:13:49Gosh. If it sells at £200, they've lost 50%.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52If they'd bought a motor car they'd have lost 100%.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56But I'm not sure that would be much of a consolation to Jean.
0:13:56 > 0:14:00Anyway, first up it's Elizabeth's unloved dome.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04Elizabeth and Doug, your glass dome is about to go under the hammer.
0:14:04 > 0:14:06- Not literally.- No, of course not!
0:14:06 > 0:14:09We're looking for around £50-£60, hopefully £70.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13Not keen on the flowers. They didn't start out life together, did they?
0:14:13 > 0:14:16No, they're completely different, aren't they?
0:14:16 > 0:14:18- It would look lovely with a skeleton clock in it.- Ideal.
0:14:18 > 0:14:22If it doesn't sell, we can take it home
0:14:22 > 0:14:25and use the glass as a cloche in the garden.
0:14:25 > 0:14:27It's got to sell! It has no reserve.
0:14:27 > 0:14:32- I know.- It's a good idea, isn't it, as a little cloche?
0:14:32 > 0:14:33As a little bell cloche?
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Let's get down to business, this is it.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38There we go, nice flower arrangement.
0:14:38 > 0:14:40Under the dome shape.
0:14:40 > 0:14:41£50, £60 for it?
0:14:41 > 0:14:44£40 to start me?
0:14:44 > 0:14:46£40 I'm bid. 45 anywhere?
0:14:46 > 0:14:51£40? You all happy at £40? For the flower arrangement, all done at £40.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56- Yes, the hammer's gone down.- Good.
0:14:56 > 0:14:57£40.
0:14:57 > 0:15:01- It's better than nothing, isn't it? - Much better.- That's good, isn't it?
0:15:01 > 0:15:03- Yes.- Happy?- Yes, thank you.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Pleasure.
0:15:05 > 0:15:06At least it's profit
0:15:06 > 0:15:11and the glass dome is saved from being moved to Elizabeth's garden.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14Jean's up next with her inkwell mistake.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17This is a great lesson in being alert,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19staying focused in a packed sale room.
0:15:19 > 0:15:21Write the lot numbers down correctly!
0:15:21 > 0:15:25Because things do go wrong. I've bought the wrong thing as well.
0:15:25 > 0:15:27I've done that.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30I was sent to buy a rosewood table once and bought a piano.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Anyway, OK.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35The inkwell, it wasn't the picture you wanted.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37- You paid £400 for it.- Yes.
0:15:37 > 0:15:41Charlie, you put a valuation of £250 to £300.
0:15:41 > 0:15:45- Yes.- Now, I had a chat to Simon just before sale started.
0:15:45 > 0:15:47He thinks it might struggle.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50So, you had a word with him, didn't you?
0:15:50 > 0:15:52You've now lowered the reserve to £100.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56I'm sure it's going to go for a couple of hundred. It's got to.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57Let's think positively, OK?
0:15:57 > 0:15:59- We need to.- We do. Here we go.
0:15:59 > 0:16:04Lot 46 is the porcelain inkwell there. Nice bone china one.
0:16:04 > 0:16:05What shall we say,
0:16:05 > 0:16:07a couple of hundred pounds for it?
0:16:07 > 0:16:11£180 I'm bid, £190.
0:16:11 > 0:16:12Straight in at 180.
0:16:12 > 0:16:16- At £180 for the inkwell, all finished.- The hammer's gone down,
0:16:16 > 0:16:20- Straight in, straight out. - I wasn't that far out.- You weren't.
0:16:20 > 0:16:22- No. You've got to be happy. - I'm pleased with that.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25- You've lost little bit of money. - That was years ago.
0:16:25 > 0:16:29- You haven't left a bid on anything today, have you?- No.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31I think Jean's now learnt her lesson,
0:16:31 > 0:16:33to check the right lot numbers.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36Geoff's up next with his toy cars.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Will he change his mind and keep them though?
0:16:38 > 0:16:41£80-£150, somewhere around there we'd be happy with.
0:16:41 > 0:16:43Who have you brought along, Geoff?
0:16:43 > 0:16:44- This is my good lady, Carol.- Hi.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47Hi, Carol. Why is he flogging off his toys?
0:16:47 > 0:16:51They should be carefully boxed up in the attic for the next generation.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54That's what they've been for the last generation.
0:16:54 > 0:16:55- You're having a clear out?- Yeah.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59We have two sons, so who would you leave it to?
0:16:59 > 0:17:01- It goes.- It goes.
0:17:01 > 0:17:06I guess with two boys you'll be putting their stuff in the attic now.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08You can't get in there.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12I'm actually a bit concerned though because when we did the valuation,
0:17:12 > 0:17:15Geoff, he wouldn't stop playing with his cars.
0:17:15 > 0:17:17I don't blame him. That's what they meant for.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22- I'm worried he doesn't want to let them go.- Say goodbye, they're going under the hammer.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Lot 227, the Corgi car transporter.
0:17:26 > 0:17:30With the six cars in its original box.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Here we go.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35What can we say for that? £90 I'm bid, £95.
0:17:35 > 0:17:38£90 then, you're all happy at £90?
0:17:38 > 0:17:41£95. £100. £110. £120.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43£130. £140.
0:17:43 > 0:17:44£150. £160. £170.
0:17:44 > 0:17:46This is good!
0:17:46 > 0:17:49£190. £200. £190 then,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52standing by the door at £190. All done at £190.
0:17:52 > 0:17:53Brilliant result.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56Well done, Tracy.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00And well done you because obviously you've looked after it.
0:18:00 > 0:18:01The box is so important.
0:18:01 > 0:18:05I threw all my boxes away when I got my toy cars for Christmas.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08You've got to take Carol out for lunch now, don't forget.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10- Oh, is that the deal? - That's the deal.
0:18:10 > 0:18:14Well, it shouldn't be any old trucker's cafe for wife Carol.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17The Corgi car transporter exceeded all our expectations
0:18:17 > 0:18:20and was obviously a must-have for the toy collectors.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35While in Oxford, I've come to find out about a book which we all take for granted,
0:18:35 > 0:18:40yet which in its original form took 70 years to complete and ran to 10 volumes.
0:18:40 > 0:18:45Today, we know it as the Oxford English Dictionary.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50The Oxford English Dictionary was a great feat of Victorian ingenuity
0:18:50 > 0:18:55and determination as great as any engineering achievement of that age.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59And it still remains the ultimate authority on the English language.
0:19:00 > 0:19:05When it was first published in 1928 by the Oxford University Press,
0:19:05 > 0:19:07it listed over 400,000 words
0:19:07 > 0:19:12and included not only their meaning but their historical route too.
0:19:12 > 0:19:16To hear the story of this monumental undertaking icon to meet
0:19:16 > 0:19:21the Oxford University Press's head of archive, Martin Moore.
0:19:21 > 0:19:24So had the idea of the dictionary come about then, Martin?
0:19:24 > 0:19:29Well, the dictionary was the idea of a group of academics in London in the 1850s.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32They were called the Philological Society.
0:19:32 > 0:19:37And to mark Queen Victoria's reign, they decided to make a dictionary that was bigger and better
0:19:37 > 0:19:44than any made before, such as the great dictionary by Samuel Johnson in the 18th century.
0:19:44 > 0:19:49The problem with Samuel Johnson's dictionary was that it only listed 43,000 words
0:19:49 > 0:19:54and it was tainted by definitions that reflected his own prejudice.
0:19:54 > 0:19:59Most famously, he defined oats as a grain given to horses in England
0:19:59 > 0:20:02but which in Scotland supports the people.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06It is perhaps ironic then that the great genius of the Oxford English Dictionary
0:20:06 > 0:20:12was a Scot, James Murray, who took over as editor in 1879.
0:20:12 > 0:20:16So how did the project change under the leadership of James Murray?
0:20:16 > 0:20:19James Murray was a remarkable man, a schoolteacher from Scotland.
0:20:19 > 0:20:24He never had the money to go to university and get a formal degree,
0:20:24 > 0:20:28but it's quite clear he had a mind that would put most Oxford professors to shame.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31Among many other accomplishments,
0:20:31 > 0:20:36James Murray taught himself about 40 different languages.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39- Really?- He could speak, read and write them all.
0:20:39 > 0:20:42And he sees that the dictionary requires far more organisation
0:20:42 > 0:20:46and resources than the society had first thought.
0:20:46 > 0:20:52It's Murray who puts out an appeal to readers in the English language
0:20:52 > 0:20:55to come forward and to read texts for the dictionary.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59We begin to talk about hundreds and hundreds of readers
0:20:59 > 0:21:03sending in information to Murray and his colleagues.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08The readers worked as word detectives, scouring every possible type of printed text
0:21:08 > 0:21:11from medieval literature to scientific journals,
0:21:11 > 0:21:15from song sheets to recipe books, even wills,
0:21:15 > 0:21:17collecting words and their meanings.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20They then sent quotations to Murray and his team
0:21:20 > 0:21:23on half sheets of notepaper and within a short while,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25over a thousand quotation slips a day
0:21:25 > 0:21:29were arriving in an outbuilding in Murray's back garden.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35And you had to obviously check every single form that came back?
0:21:35 > 0:21:39Indeed. They have to take every piece of paper,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42they have to go round libraries in Oxford or beyond...
0:21:42 > 0:21:43Double-checking?
0:21:43 > 0:21:47Double-checking. And then check that everything written out by hand
0:21:47 > 0:21:53matches the printed version down to the very last full stop.
0:21:53 > 0:21:58You can see at the top left of this slip, the word "emperorship" has been written out.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01This is what dictionary makers call "the head word."
0:22:01 > 0:22:06You'll see a sentence written out, showing how the head word, "emperorship",
0:22:06 > 0:22:09has been used in a certain text and then you can see
0:22:09 > 0:22:13a piece of information telling you where that sentence occurs.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15It's mind-boggling, isn't it? It really is.
0:22:15 > 0:22:21So, all the people that actually wrote in with these little forms were obviously academics themselves.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25I guess at that time, half the population of the country couldn't read or write anyway.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Literacy wasn't as widespread as it is now, certainly.
0:22:28 > 0:22:30But not everybody who contributed these slips
0:22:30 > 0:22:34of paper to the dictionary was a professional academic.
0:22:34 > 0:22:40One of the largest contributors to the first edition was a man called William Minor.
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Minor was an American surgeon.
0:22:43 > 0:22:48He served during the US Civil War and became very disturbed
0:22:48 > 0:22:51as a result of the experiences he went through there.
0:22:51 > 0:22:57He came to England to try and recover, but in fact he got worse and murdered somebody.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02And as a result of that, he was incarcerated for life in Broadmoor Hospital.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Of course, Dr Minor had nothing else to do with his life but to read.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08- Put pen to paper?- Indeed he did.
0:23:08 > 0:23:09Is one of these slips his?
0:23:09 > 0:23:11And as we can see here,
0:23:11 > 0:23:15this is one of the slips that he would send to Murray.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18Gosh, look at the tiny writing.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21He's one of the great invisible architects of the dictionary, as it were.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23One of the main people behind the scenes,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26contributing information to this amazing text.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30Minor wasn't the only unusual contributor to the dictionary.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34Murray had 11 children and they earned pocket money sorting the 3.5
0:23:34 > 0:23:38million quotation slips that Murray and his team had to deal with.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43Even so, it was obvious that the enormous task of cataloguing every word used in the English language
0:23:43 > 0:23:47would take longer than anyone had thought.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55- How long did it take him? - Well, it even surprised Murray, for all his genius.
0:23:55 > 0:24:00The first little part of the dictionary to five years to appear in print.
0:24:00 > 0:24:05And that went from the letter A to the word "ant".
0:24:05 > 0:24:09- You're joking!- This is just a tiny part of the language.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12Other bits of the language prove to be easier.
0:24:12 > 0:24:15The dictionary picks up speed as it goes along.
0:24:15 > 0:24:21But even so, sadly, James Murray did not live to see the end of the first edition of the dictionary.
0:24:21 > 0:24:25James Murray died in 1915.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29And by that time, the dictionary had got to the letter T.
0:24:29 > 0:24:34So, he could see the winning post, he just did not live long enough to get to it.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37It was left to other editors to carry on the work and so the
0:24:37 > 0:24:44first edition of this amazing piece of scholarship is finished in 1928.
0:24:44 > 0:24:50It does not take 10 years, it takes over 40 years to assemble this single text.
0:24:50 > 0:24:51Wow.
0:24:53 > 0:24:58Today, the complete Oxford English Dictionary contains over 500,000
0:24:58 > 0:25:03entries and 100 new words are submitted for inclusion every month.
0:25:03 > 0:25:08So it looks like the job Murray dedicated his life to will never truly be done.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20Back at the valuation day in Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre,
0:25:20 > 0:25:23we're busy collecting entries for the auction.
0:25:23 > 0:25:25Look at that. Isn't that scary?
0:25:27 > 0:25:31And Diana has come all the way from Sussex to get her dolls valued.
0:25:33 > 0:25:38Di, little and large. And you've brought these along to Oxford and you don't live here, do you?
0:25:38 > 0:25:40- No, I don't.- On a little trip.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Yes, yes. I don't think they've ever been to Oxford so I thought they'd like a day out.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48Have you ever been to Oxford?
0:25:48 > 0:25:50- No, I haven't. - That makes three of you. Fantastic.
0:25:50 > 0:25:53So you're hoping to pay for your trip to Oxford.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56- Indeed, yeah. Hope so. - Where have these come from?
0:25:56 > 0:26:00They were given to me by my mother, obviously when I was much younger.
0:26:00 > 0:26:04But the thing is that because of their fragile nature...
0:26:04 > 0:26:07They're porcelain-headed dolls, yes.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09I wasn't allowed to play with them much.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11Obviously they would break.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14I know she had them for her childhood as well.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18So they obviously go back a fair bit.
0:26:18 > 0:26:22- And is she still alive? - No, she's not. - If she were, how old would she be?
0:26:22 > 0:26:24She'd be 98.
0:26:24 > 0:26:29That's interesting. I think she had them probably new as a child.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Do you know who made them?
0:26:31 > 0:26:33- No.- Do you know where they were made?
0:26:33 > 0:26:36No. I know nothing else than that, no.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40If you look at the back of the necks of the doll, it will usually tell you all you want to know.
0:26:40 > 0:26:47- Oh, right.- I have looked at the back here, and there are the initials AM,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50which stands for Armand Marseille,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53who was a very famous doll manufacturer.
0:26:53 > 0:27:00Russian-born, emigrated to Germany and started a factory in Koppelsdorf,
0:27:00 > 0:27:04and was making dolls up until 1930.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07I'd think these are 1920 or thereabouts.
0:27:07 > 0:27:10- So they're German-made? - They're German-made dolls.
0:27:10 > 0:27:11It's in reasonable condition.
0:27:11 > 0:27:13When you lie her down, the eyes close.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16But I'm afraid the eyelashes have gone.
0:27:18 > 0:27:20There has been some damage to the hands.
0:27:20 > 0:27:23It's a composition body, obviously, not a porcelain body.
0:27:23 > 0:27:24Just the head is porcelain.
0:27:24 > 0:27:28The damage goes against her quite a bit.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31And fashion goes against her.
0:27:31 > 0:27:36- 10, 15 years ago, considerably more saleable than she'd be now.- Really?
0:27:36 > 0:27:40Yeah. But this is quite exciting, isn't it, this one.
0:27:40 > 0:27:44If we lift her up, lift up her skirt, pardon her blushes,
0:27:44 > 0:27:46mechanical - which you knew, presumably.
0:27:46 > 0:27:49- Have you the key? - I don't, unfortunately.
0:27:49 > 0:27:54- No, but presumably, wind her up and she walks along.- I think so, yes.
0:27:54 > 0:27:59I'm surprised that she'd maintain balance, to be honest.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Her feet are quite small and they aren't really flat at the bottom.
0:28:03 > 0:28:06You'd think she'd probably topple over.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11But never the less, the fact that she's mechanical must add something to the value.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14If we turn her over, look at the back of her neck,
0:28:14 > 0:28:16we'll find something.
0:28:16 > 0:28:19No maker's name, sadly, but the word Germany.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22So there we are, another German doll.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25And a number underneath - four and a half.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27That's the size head.
0:28:27 > 0:28:33Like a pair of shoes, the size of doll, going up to 13, 14 for a bigger-headed doll.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35For a big head.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39Exactly. So how much are we going to get you for them? How much do you want for them?
0:28:39 > 0:28:42- That's a different matter.- Well, as much as you can get, actually.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45Of course we'll be doing that. Well, the auctioneer will.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49I don't know. I thought perhaps 80 to 100 for each of them.
0:28:49 > 0:28:52Right, I don't think you're far out, actually.
0:28:52 > 0:28:58This is a doll, five to 10 years ago, that probably would have made £300. I know, I know.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00But sadly not any more.
0:29:00 > 0:29:02I think
0:29:02 > 0:29:0680 to 100 isn't a bad estimate. That's about right.
0:29:06 > 0:29:11I think this one has the potential to be worth more because it's mechanical.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13But the condition is no better.
0:29:13 > 0:29:21I'd like to estimate these dolls at 150 to 200 for the two, which is a
0:29:21 > 0:29:24- bit below what you thought, and a reserve at £120.- OK.
0:29:24 > 0:29:30Are you happy - well, you're not happy but you're reasonably satisfied with that?
0:29:30 > 0:29:33- I accept, yeah.- I think it's the right money, to be honest.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36They're not going to make three or four hundred pounds.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38If they do, we'll have a very, very lucky day.
0:29:38 > 0:29:40- We'll have a drink on it!- We will!
0:29:40 > 0:29:44Well, I think Diana's eyes were really opened to the true value of her dolls.
0:29:44 > 0:29:46She was a little bit disappointed.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49However I'm sure I'm not going to disappoint
0:29:49 > 0:29:53Duncan and Gillian, who have bought in a stunning gold pocket watch.
0:29:53 > 0:29:56So how did you come by this? This is a full-hunter.
0:29:56 > 0:30:00Well, we found it in a drawer at my mother's after she died in 1985.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04But I believe before that, it belonged to her brother.
0:30:04 > 0:30:06But the history before that, I don't know a lot about.
0:30:06 > 0:30:10It might have been grandpa's but I don't know the age of it at all.
0:30:10 > 0:30:16- So where's it been, Gillian? - In a drawer, in my jewellery box!
0:30:16 > 0:30:17Did you ever use it at all?
0:30:17 > 0:30:21Yes, I was in the Royal Air Force
0:30:21 > 0:30:24- and I used to wear it on my mess kit.- Did you?- With a waistcoat.
0:30:24 > 0:30:27God, I bet you were the envy of everybody there, weren't you?
0:30:27 > 0:30:30- Yeah.- This is lovely, a full-hunter which means it's built for hunting,
0:30:30 > 0:30:33shooting, fishing, something like this, you can be practical with it.
0:30:33 > 0:30:37A half-hunter would have just a little window in the front,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40slightly more delicate just so you could see the face.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44It's nice, it's got a subsidiary dial, look, a second hand.
0:30:44 > 0:30:45This is nine-carat gold.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49If you look on the back there, you can see the whole thing was made in
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Birmingham, there's the assay mark for Birmingham, the anchor sign.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56And there's the date letter, that was made in 1924.
0:30:56 > 0:31:01Earlier pocket watches would have needed a key to wind them, which you'd find on your fob chain.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04This is a self-winder. But looking at the back, if you can
0:31:04 > 0:31:08see here, look at that, it's also marked Rolex there but can you see?
0:31:08 > 0:31:11Look, it says 17 jewels.
0:31:11 > 0:31:12Yes.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15- Now, most pocket watches will run on seven jewels.- Oh, right.
0:31:15 > 0:31:19So the higher the jewel content, the more valuable the watch.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23- But when they talk about jewels, they talk about these little rubies. Can you see them in there?- Yes.
0:31:23 > 0:31:26That's what the movement is mounted on.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29Because they're so hard-wearing, they never wear down.
0:31:29 > 0:31:31And that's why it keeps such accurate time.
0:31:31 > 0:31:37One of these sold recently in auction in 2002 and it made £400.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39- Right.- A nine-carat one.
0:31:39 > 0:31:44But you've also got the fob.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48- That's lovely as well, that came with the watch, didn't it?- Yes.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50If I put that on here, look.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55It's 51.2 grams.
0:31:55 > 0:32:02The current price for gold right now is around £8.70 so if I put in
0:32:02 > 0:32:088.70 times 51.2 equals
0:32:08 > 0:32:12445.
0:32:12 > 0:32:17- so the chain alone is worth £445.- Gosh.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19In scrap value.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24So put the two together, we've got around £800.
0:32:24 > 0:32:26Gosh.
0:32:26 > 0:32:28- I'm surprised.- Yes.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31What do you want to do, do you want to put that into auction or
0:32:31 > 0:32:34do you want to keep it now you know it's worth a lot?
0:32:34 > 0:32:36- I think we still want to sell it.- Yeah?- Yeah.
0:32:36 > 0:32:41Well if you're happy, I'd like to put this into the sale with a valuation of £600-800.
0:32:41 > 0:32:47- OK? A bit of discretion on the 600 just to kick things off, get everybody excited. OK, happy?- Yes.
0:32:47 > 0:32:49- Yes.- We'll see what this one does later on.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52They often say you've got to have quality or quantity
0:32:52 > 0:32:56and Evelyn's got lots of both with her cigarette card collection.
0:32:56 > 0:33:03It includes some highly desirable cards from the tobacco manufacturer Taddy & Co.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07In my line of business, I quite often see collections of cigarette
0:33:07 > 0:33:11cards, Evelyn, but you've got the most amazing collection here.
0:33:11 > 0:33:14Some of them in their original boxes and everything.
0:33:14 > 0:33:17So how did you come to own such an amazing collection?
0:33:17 > 0:33:20- They were my father's.- Right.
0:33:20 > 0:33:26He's died and we've been helping my mother sort out all the stuff he's left behind.
0:33:26 > 0:33:27And all these cards were there.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29And he was obviously an avid collector?
0:33:29 > 0:33:32Yes, but I mean a lot of these are from his childhood as well.
0:33:32 > 0:33:36So I presume they were his father's because this is only a sample of his collection.
0:33:36 > 0:33:40Really? Just a sample, so how many have you got in the entire...?
0:33:40 > 0:33:41- There are hundreds. - Hundreds and hundreds.
0:33:41 > 0:33:44And is there any particular sets that you like?
0:33:44 > 0:33:48- I like this one, this Cries of London.- Oh, Cries of London.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51- I think this is an interesting one. - And that's John Players' one.
0:33:51 > 0:33:54Let's just pop one out. They're just wonderful pictures, aren't they?
0:33:54 > 0:33:57- They are.- And this is the sellers and the people that are
0:33:57 > 0:34:01working the streets of London so just really, really lovely.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05I have a little favourite as well because I've had a little browse through them.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08And I love this Safety First.
0:34:08 > 0:34:15But they're the 1920s and '30s cars and I love fashion, anything fashion-orientated and the great
0:34:15 > 0:34:19thing about these is you can look at them and see what they were wearing.
0:34:19 > 0:34:24You can see the ladies in the little fur-trim coats and just a lovely collection.
0:34:24 > 0:34:28And I know that there are more than this so what sort of price did you have in mind?
0:34:28 > 0:34:30- I really don't know.- You don't know.
0:34:30 > 0:34:35Well, I can tell you that what we have here are Taddy's and Taddy's, depending again on the imagery on
0:34:35 > 0:34:42the front, whether it's a full set, whether there's a rare card in it, can make pretty good money.
0:34:42 > 0:34:46- Here, we're probably talking sort of about £5 per card.- Really?- Yes.
0:34:46 > 0:34:49- So are you quite pleased with that? - Yes.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52These are fab because they're in their original boxes.
0:34:52 > 0:34:59And I haven't personally seen a huge collection of cards like this in their original boxes before.
0:34:59 > 0:35:01But I want to put a fairly conservative estimate on it
0:35:01 > 0:35:03to encourage people to come along, have a look.
0:35:03 > 0:35:09- So I'm thinking of a region of around £100, £150 for the lot.- OK.
0:35:09 > 0:35:16In the hope that will encourage people to come along and cigarette card buyers, or collectors, they
0:35:16 > 0:35:23- like to have a really good look and look at each individual card, check on condition, things like that.- Yes.
0:35:23 > 0:35:30- So I think these could fly, so if you're happy, we'll put them in at £100-150 and see how they do.- OK.
0:35:30 > 0:35:36We're only going to be selling this small part of Evelyn's collection but it should give her a good idea
0:35:36 > 0:35:38of what the rest of the collection might be worth.
0:35:38 > 0:35:42If you're starting to declutter and want to find out whether your antiques
0:35:42 > 0:35:49and collectibles are worth anything at auction, why not bring them along to one of our valuation days?
0:35:49 > 0:35:54Check the details in your local press or log on to bbc.co.uk/programmes.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59Click F for Flog It, follow the links and hopefully we're in a town very near you soon.
0:35:59 > 0:36:05If you've got any unwanted antiques or collectibles you want to sell, we'd love to see you. Let's Flog It.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09Today we're selling our lots at the auctioneers Jones & Jacob
0:36:09 > 0:36:12in Watlington in Oxfordshire and coming up...
0:36:12 > 0:36:15We've got Diana's dolls which are looking for a new home.
0:36:15 > 0:36:20Evelyn's got an awful lot of cigarette cards to sell and our final lot is the superior quality
0:36:20 > 0:36:27gold watch, and heavy gold chain which our auctioneer Simon Jones has decided to split into two lots.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31This belongs to Duncan and Gillian
0:36:31 > 0:36:35and I understand why you've split them up because obviously it'll push
0:36:35 > 0:36:38- the watch collectors if they've got a lot of Albert chains. - That's right.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43But deep down, something in my heart is saying to me I hope whoever buys the watch, buys the chain.
0:36:43 > 0:36:46- Which way's it coming round first? - Watch first, chain second.
0:36:46 > 0:36:49I thought so. I hope they stay together, because they look good together.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53It would be nice to think they would but I'll lay money that they don't.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57No, but nevertheless, there's a combination here of around £600-800.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01That's right, I mean the gold in the chain itself is over £400 worth in
0:37:01 > 0:37:05the chain and there's probably jolly nearly the same in the watch itself.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08I don't think we'll have any trouble, there's a lot
0:37:08 > 0:37:14of really good silver and jewellery, gold in the sale and so they'll come and have a really good crack at it.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17I'm sure Simon's done the right thing and by splitting them up,
0:37:17 > 0:37:20we've a better chance of getting the top end of the estimate.
0:37:20 > 0:37:25Before that, it's the sale of the two German dolls, brought in by Diana.
0:37:25 > 0:37:30Unfortunately, the prospects for one meant this was a pair best kept together.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32Beautiful, beautiful quality on the heads, though.
0:37:32 > 0:37:34They always were, weren't they?
0:37:34 > 0:37:35Lovely, lovely workmanship.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39And one's slightly articulated, how does that work, do you know?
0:37:39 > 0:37:44I don't know, I haven't actually ever seen it working but it's got a mechanical piece inside.
0:37:44 > 0:37:50- The ordinary Armand Marseille bisque-headed dolls have really dropped in value.- Have they?
0:37:50 > 0:37:52Because they were fetching £200-300.
0:37:52 > 0:37:57They were, but they don't seem to be any more but the mechanical ones are of more interest now.
0:37:57 > 0:38:02OK. So fingers crossed, there's a collector here, that's going to want to add to their collection.
0:38:02 > 0:38:03Or more than one collector.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05Well, that's what we want, isn't it?
0:38:05 > 0:38:08Exactly, you know the game! Let's find out, shall we?
0:38:08 > 0:38:14Lot 240, it's the Armand Marseille bisque-headed doll.
0:38:14 > 0:38:16And another one.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19What can we say for those, 150 for them? 120 to start me, then.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23120, I'm bid, 130 anywhere?
0:38:23 > 0:38:26- Ooh.- At 120, 130. 140, 150.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28160. 170.
0:38:28 > 0:38:31160, standing by the door at 160. Are you all happy at 160?
0:38:31 > 0:38:33All done at 160?
0:38:33 > 0:38:36Just, well done, Diana. 160.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39- I'm pleased.- Because you didn't want to take them home, did you?
0:38:39 > 0:38:43- No.- Where have they been anyway, since your mother passed away, in a drawer?
0:38:43 > 0:38:45- Cupboard under the stairs. - There you go!
0:38:46 > 0:38:51Poor things! Hopefully they've gone to a collector who'll give them a little bit of TLC.
0:38:51 > 0:38:54Now, we're selling a small part of Evelyn's cigarette card collection.
0:38:54 > 0:39:00- We've got a few hundred here but I know there's how many, 10,000 or something?- Altogether.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02- Altogether. - We haven't put 10,000 in.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05No, I know but that's a lot of collecting, isn't it?
0:39:05 > 0:39:07- That's grandfather and father?- Yes.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11You had so many, it was physically impossible for me to go through every one.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14- And they're so particular, cigarette card collectors.- Mm.
0:39:14 > 0:39:18- Yes.- There's probably one in there that could be worth hundreds.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22A lot of money, the missing one to somebody's set, the incomplete one.
0:39:22 > 0:39:24I think you should easily exceed the estimate.
0:39:24 > 0:39:25Fingers crossed. Good luck.
0:39:25 > 0:39:31The collection of Player's, Wills and other cigarette cards,
0:39:31 > 0:39:33all sorts in there.
0:39:33 > 0:39:3480, £90, start me for these?
0:39:34 > 0:39:38£80 I'm bid. 85. 90 anywhere?
0:39:38 > 0:39:4590, 95, 100. 110, 120.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49120, 130. 140.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53150. 160. 170. 160 then, seated at 160.
0:39:53 > 0:39:59It is yours at 160. All done then, at £160, you all done?
0:39:59 > 0:40:01- Hey, you were spot on. - Yeah, wasn't bad actually!
0:40:01 > 0:40:03- Excellent.- Complete guess!
0:40:03 > 0:40:08- £160. Well done, well done. Are you happy with that?- Yes, very happy.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11Does that give you a gauge on what the others might be worth?
0:40:11 > 0:40:15It does, yes. Although hopefully there's a very rare one in there.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17- Tucked away somewhere, yes. - That would be nice.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21What will you do with the rest of them? Are you going to carry on keeping them?
0:40:21 > 0:40:23No, I'm not going to keep them permanently, no.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26Maybe put them into auction here at another time?
0:40:26 > 0:40:28- Yes, yes.- Well, you've tested the market and it works.- Yes.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30- Good luck.- Thank you.
0:40:31 > 0:40:37Based on that sale, the rest of Evelyn's collection could easily make four figures.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41Now it's time to sell the Rolex watch and chain brought in by Duncan and Gillian.
0:40:41 > 0:40:45Simon Jones is having a break so the sale of
0:40:45 > 0:40:49these final lots will be handled by auctioneer Francis Ogley.
0:40:49 > 0:40:52I've been joined by Duncan because Gillian is down the front.
0:40:52 > 0:40:54She's got her eye on something that she wants to buy,
0:40:54 > 0:40:58it's a very close lot to the one where the watch is.
0:40:58 > 0:41:01The auctioneer's decided to split them up, you know that.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04He sent you a copy of the catalogue, the watch can go to a collector,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06the Albert chain may go to the jewellery trade
0:41:06 > 0:41:08but it may stay with the watch.
0:41:08 > 0:41:10- That's right.- I'm still hoping for that top end plus.
0:41:10 > 0:41:15I'm really hoping for that top end plus, there's been some good sales this morning already.
0:41:15 > 0:41:17- Flying out of the door, aren't they? - They are.
0:41:17 > 0:41:18- Great.- And nothing's been unsold.
0:41:18 > 0:41:20- No, nothing's sticking.- A good day.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23The auctioneer's happy. Right, let's make his day, shall we?
0:41:23 > 0:41:25And yours. Here we go. This is it.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31The Rolex full-hunter pocket watch, white enamel dial to it.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33300 for that?
0:41:33 > 0:41:36250, start me. 250?
0:41:36 > 0:41:40250 I've got. 250, 260 anywhere?
0:41:40 > 0:41:45260. 270. 270, 280. 290.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48300. At £300, selling at 300.
0:41:48 > 0:41:53- All done at 300? 310. 320. 330.- That's better.
0:41:53 > 0:41:56- Yeah.- 320 then. At £320?
0:41:56 > 0:41:57All done at 320?
0:41:59 > 0:42:02OK, hammer's gone down. 320.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04Slightly less than I was hoping for.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Yes, a little bit. Let's see if we can make it up on the chain.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09- See what happens with the chain. - Here we go.
0:42:09 > 0:42:14322, we have the Albert, a nine-carat gold Albert.
0:42:14 > 0:42:18Went with the preceding lot, the watch. 300 for that?
0:42:18 > 0:42:21290. 300. 310.
0:42:21 > 0:42:27320. 330. 340. 350. 360. 370. 380?
0:42:27 > 0:42:29At 370, at 370.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33380. 390? At 380.
0:42:33 > 0:42:38- 380. 390? At 380, all done at 380? - The hammer's gone down.
0:42:38 > 0:42:41- That's better. - That's better, isn't it?
0:42:41 > 0:42:43£380, both sold in the room.
0:42:43 > 0:42:45Interestingly enough, to separate bidders.
0:42:45 > 0:42:48- Yes.- So they did get separated. - They did get separated.
0:42:48 > 0:42:53That gives us a grand total of £700 which is pretty good because we said at the valuation, £600-800.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56- So it's in the middle of the estimate.- Yeah. Happy?
0:42:56 > 0:42:58- Yeah, happy.- That's good, isn't it?
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Well, the watch has been sat in the drawer, it's been doing nothing,
0:43:01 > 0:43:04and we've now turned it into something we can make some use of.
0:43:04 > 0:43:09The value of gold has gone through the roof in the last few years, and Duncan and Gillian's watch
0:43:09 > 0:43:13and chain have proved that you can get a great price at auction.
0:43:13 > 0:43:18That's it, it's all over and what a fabulous day we've had here in Oxfordshire.
0:43:18 > 0:43:23I hope you've enjoyed the show because I know our owners have, they've all gone home very happy.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26So until the next time, from us it's cheerio.
0:43:46 > 0:43:50Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd