“Is that a bid madam or are you just wafting?”
There’s always a certain amount of frenzied heat during a sale at Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire but – thanks to the sheet roofing and the unseasonably hot spring day – I was becoming ‘one’ with the velour chaise on which I’d parked my rear. I was boiling but I didn’t dare fan myself with the auction catalogue lest I bought the four Hornby locomotives – to include the ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ – currently under the hammer.
Auctioneer Rik Alexander’s quip helped to pour cold water on one of the biggest misconceptions in the antique world; namely that you can end up securing a Jeremy Corbyn-shaped toby jug just by scratching your nose, waving to a friend – or simply wafting your face in a red-hot sale room.
Rik advised bidders at the ‘Toys, Trains, Dolls and Teddies Auction’ (May 23 2018) to ignore the TV cliche which sees people bidding with a twitch of a Roger Moore eyebrow.
“Make yourself and your bids clear and noticeable,” he instructed.
“No winking or nodding your head please. If you’re at the back my eyesight really isn’t that good,”
I buy a lot of lots from auctions (usually commission bids sent via email) but timidly avoided going to sale rooms because I’m a terrible fidget. Thanks to Rik, I now realise there’s no danger of having to lug home a Victorian bedroom suite just because I can’t keep my hands (or legs) still.
I mostly buy toys. So many toys, the house is becoming a little cluttered. Even the garage/compost bin and loft is full to bursting. Every so often it is vital to sell some of my pieces on. Invariably, I make tiny profits but sometimes I lose a little (cough) money.
The trip to the auction was for research purposes only. I wanted to know – as this sale included all manner of collectible toys like cars, trucks, trains, dolls and teddies – if I’d been buying the right thing.
I was NOT there to buy. I repeat – no buying at any cost. This was pure research. I’d ringed ten items that I coveted (for reasons I outline below).
The aim of the exercise was to make a note of the hammer price of each object then scour the internet and eBay for re-sale value.
Goodness knows how I found myself getting a bidder’s number (you need to register your details at reception if you want to participate). I’ve no excuse except to say I’d seen three gorgeous dolls in a cabinet (two sailors = swoon) in the reception area and I’d fallen in love….
It was almost inevitable that I’d come away with a ‘little’ purchase. In my defence, I love toys and there’s nothing like a live auction to get the blood pumping.
Here’s the story of Jolly Volley’s first ever toy auction in ten lots;-
Jolly Volley’s wish-list lot, number one (5037 in the auction catalogue)
What? One box of assorted, unboxed, play-worn die-cast vehicles; eleven items including a Corgi Ecurie Escosse racing car transporter, a Lotus Climax Formula 1 and a Dinky Ferrari 23H (see main picture), plus a very cute Dinky wheelbarrow.
Why? Just look at the sweet safari car (above), it would look majestic on a pile of old books (bought at a previous auction and currently taking up every bit of space in my garage). I also liked the Chipperfields Circus animal cage – just because it had little animals inside (animals hiding in the picture).
Estimate; £50-60
Hammer price; £85 plus costs
Re-sale value? Dinky Ferrari 23H typically sell for between £10-20 on eBay depending on condition. As for the Corgi transporter – they were selling for between £30-50 in May 2018. A circus cage sold for £12.50 on eBay (without a trailer).
Jolly Volley wish-list lot, number two (5164 in the catalogue)
What? An unboxed Schuco Examinico 4001 clockwork car, together with a Schuco Kommando Anno 2000 clockwork car, no keys, and a Schuco Examinco 4001 with key.
Why? I love clockwork, tin toys. These little German beauties were at the height of their popularity in the 1930s-50s. The elegant lines and the stream-lined curves…if only VW made cars like this.
Estimate; £30-50
Hammer price; £40 plus costs.
Re-sale value? A white/cream Schuco sold on eBay for £49.99 on May 29 2018.
Jolly Volley wish-list lot, number three (5166 in the catalogue)
What? More Schuco – this time rare clockwork hedgehogs circa 1930 in working order but not in the arms.
Why? Shucks – I just like Schuco.
Estimate; £150-200
Hammer price: £140* plus costs
Resale? Couldn’t find any hedgehogs on the internet but a tumbling 1930s bear sold for £152 on eBay and a Mickey Mouse for £83.
Jolly Volley wish-list lot, number four (5169 in the catalogue)
What? A German bisque head doll – open and closing eyes, two teeth and marked ‘Germany 9’ on the back of the neck.
Why? Honestly – I liked her little pink dress and I thought I might be able to sell her for a profit. On the down side, doll’s fringe reminded me of one my mum inflicted on sister; it still gives me chills…
Estimate; £40-60
Hammer price; £30
Re-sale? A similar German ‘baby’ managed to secure £46.51 when it sold in March (2018).
Jolly Volley wish-list lot, number five (5170 in the catalogue)
What? A bisque head doll, open mouth, hands and fingers intact, marked to neck ‘Armand Marseille’
Why? I am a writer about all things vintage, I am NOT an antique expert. But even I am familiar with this German doll manufacturer based in Koppelsdorf from 1885-1930. They made moulded heads – not bodies and true experts can tell collectible heads from common noggins (the most common being 370, 390). This one was a ‘975’.
Estimate; £30-50
Hammer price; £45 plus costs
Re-sale? A ‘975’ mould marked ‘Otto Gans’ (this one wasn’t) sold for £190 in April.
Jolly Volley wish-list lot, number six (5166 in the catalogue)
What? Armand Marseille oriental doll, open and closing eyes. A nice face, shame about the dirty feet.
Why? Quite simply the most stunning and intriguing lot – for me – in the auction (the men and woman who came for the train locomotives would surely disagree).
Estimate; £100-150
Hammer price; £95 plus costs
Re-sale? Oriental dolls typically sell for £100-300 depending on condition. One doll site has a ‘mint’ condition one (perfect clothes, face and hands etc) for £595.
Jolly Volley wish-list lot, number seven (5173 in the catalogue)
What? Three Allwin felt dolls: a thin faced sailor doll, and another sailor doll, together with a female doll/pyjama case.
Why? All the nice girls love a sailor. Seriously. Naval dolls are very in at the moment. Plus, the skinny lieutenant reminded me of Oliver Hardy.
Estimate; £30-50
Hammer price; £140 plus costs
Re-sale? The star doll was probably the pyjama case; they are rare and I could only find one sale (ten years ago) when the doll achieved $200 on eBay (£150 in today’s market).
Jolly Volley wish-list lot, number eight (5176 in the catalogue)
What? A circa 1910 Steiff, golden plush teddy bear, straw filled, metal button in ear.
Why? The original and some say the best teddy bears – made in Germany by designer and artist Richard Steiff. It was after seeing farm animals with metal tags in their ears that Steiff began the button in the ear malarkey which has become so iconic (and much copied). This little chap had an underscored ‘F’ in his furry lobe.
Estimate: £2,000-£2500
Hammer price? £1,800*
Re-sale? It’s impossible to value Steiff bears by comparing sales. There are so many modern reproductions/replica bears about; it may be best to send a description and picture to a Steiff expert before you buy anything.
Jolly Volley wish-list lot, number nine (5175 in the catalogue)
What? Armand Marseille: A large bisque head doll, in original green velvet dress, kid leather and papier mache jointed body, Model ‘370’.
Why? It was scary. Rik Alexander said Hansons staff were convinced this little lady moved about the sale room – on her own. That is seriously creepy doll action. What makes her truly spooky is the eyes – stuck in the closed position – and the missing finger.
Estimate: £90-120
Hammer price; £90 plus costs
Re-sale? A 370 model with a missing thumb – but open eyes – sold for £75 in March.
Jolly Volley wish-list lot, number ten (5009 in the catalogue)
What? Corgi: A boxed Ford Thames ‘Airborne’ Caravan’, 420, lilac top with mauve bottom, slightly play worn.
Why? At Christmas, I traditionally engage in a little craft project which sees me putting tiny Christmas trees on cute toy cars; just like this one. Plus, there’s hardly a 50-plus woman on earth who doesn’t want to own a camper van. Even a tiny one….
Estimate; £40-50
Hammer price? £20 plus costs
Re-sale? From a few pounds to £80 in mint condition (the van and the box).
So there you have it; a flavour of an auction in the ten lots.
But which one on these ten lots did I I end up buying….?
None of them….
Jolly Volley’s first live auction purchase was something I hadn’t even highlighted in the catalogue.
Whoops.
What? Line Bros: A Victorian pull along wooden toy horse.
Why? This little beauty is the main reason why I couldn’t bid for any of the Allwin dolls. As documented in ‘All the pretty horses’ – I blew my entire budget on an impulse buy. This is auction fever in action. I love early Lines Brothers toys. They are so rare, I can’t tell you how it felt to see this Edwardian pull-along horse (not Victorian – I’ve since studied the toymaker’s catalogue). This is a decision I took with the heart; not the head.
Estimate; £60-100
Hammer price? £140 plus costs which brought it to a little shy of £175.
Re-sale? G & J Lines Brothers horses are highly collectible but you have to be wary of fakes. Value is very dependent on condition. Prices on eBay range from £175 to £475 depending on condition.
Conclusion
If you have any interest in toys, furniture, pottery or jewellery – go to a live auction. You’ll learn so much about what people want; about values and what’s hot and what’s not. I’ve been buying cute toys, dolls and moth-eaten teddies regardless of their origin/condition or maker.
But a visit to an auction will show you – if you are buying to sell – that it pays to look for toys (or any collectible/antique) with a well-known name/brand/tag. You can see for yourself that the gleam in the collector’s eyes tells you they’ll stop at nothing to secure a missing item in their collection. For instance, a 1950s boxed Shackleton Foden vehicle (see below) must have been on someone’s wish-list as it was valued at £100-150 and sold for £330.
Also, you’ll learn the importance of buying for your customers and not yourself. For instance, I wouldn’t look twice at the a Tri-ang toy lorry marked ‘Littleover Transport Ltd Derby’. But it’s a sensible buy as it will appeal to toy collectors in Derby. This little truck had an estimate of £30 but sold for £95 because the seller had the sense to send it to a local auction.
The auction teach you to step outside your comfort zone. I wouldn’t give house-room to Star Wars toys but most of the 20 lots at Hansons – belonging to a private seller whose relative worked at the Palitoy factory – smashed their estimated values. An original “Yak Face” (carded) from ‘Star Wars Return of the Jedi’ had an estimated value of £40-60 and sold for £230. If you see one on a car boot; suspend your Yak face – it might be worth a punt.
But if you take anything away from a visit to the auction it’s to do your research before you go. Look on the internet for prices of any item you want to bid on. Work out (including auction fees) what your upper limit will need in order to make a profit. But don’t always rely on the valuers – check current prices. I recently bought some carded toys which were selling for £75-plus each last year. This year (May 2018) I’ve not even had a nibble at £20…
In fact, I am tempted to retitle this piece research, research, research – don’t just go to auctions. Read online articles/antique books/magazines and visit car boots, museums, brocantes etc and talk to experts (Hansons does free valuation days), stall-holders and collectors…that is the only way to hone your buying, and selling, skills.
Talking of which, don’t get carried away, especially at a ‘specialist’ auction. They are often packed with private collectors (dealers always need to factor in some profit) who want a certain Hornby locomotive/Corgi car in their collection and will go over the top to secure it.
You must also keep repeating the following phrase ‘plus twenty per cent and VAT’ whenever the auctioneer mentions a figure. Believe me, additional auction charges can soon wrack up to a nasty surprise.
An auction also will show you how much values fluctuate; there’s no real point asking an auctioneer ‘how much is this worth?’. It can change month on month, week by week. At the time of writing a plastic Trendy Girl Sindy Doll from the 70s is realising more than a Victorian bisque-face equivalent (these dolls commanded prices in the high hundreds/low thousands twenty years ago).
I’m almost tempted to say ignore all of the above because you should only buy something you love. There’s never any guarantees in life (especially when it comes to selling your vintage treasures) and you may have to live with your investment for a long time. Whatever I learned in the auction room – I’m not going to start buying toy cars or trains sets. I still love creepy dolls and threadbare teddies and spending an afternoon watching them being sold was such a thrill.
It’s probably my age but I cannot think of a finer way to spend an afternoon.
Hansons Auctioneers and Valuers
The Auction Centre
Heage Lane
Etwall
01283 733988
* final hammer price yet to be confirmed
